2 minutes As we prepare for this Group 2 flat race, we will assess the chances of the market leaders and provide odds and free bet offers
The feature race of the three-day Dante Festival is the Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes and although only six horses are set to go to post for this year’s renewal, it promises to be an excellent start to the British Champion Series’ long-distance division. As we prepare for this Group 2 flat race, we will assess the chances of the market leaders and provide odds and free bet offers from our partners and leading horse racing betting site, BoyleSports.
Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes Overview
The Yorkshire Cup is contested over a distance of 1m6f and has held Group 2 status since 1971. Open to horses aged four years and above, there’s a 3lbs allowance given to mares whilst previous Group 1 or 2 winners are handed a penalty of 5lbs or 3lbs respectively.
Tower Of London Tipped For Glory
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Tower Of London is the one to beat on Friday after earning two excellent wins already in 2024. Tower Of London landed a Group 3 at Riyadh in February before following up by winning the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan a month later.
Tower Of London ran twice in Britain in 2023, finishing second in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July before finishing a credible fourth in the St Leger.
BoyleSports’ Money Back Offer
Given Tower Of London’s position as the race’s red-hot favourite, BoyleSports latest money back offer provides you with some much-needed insurance. Simple place a bet on any race at York on Friday and if your selection finishes second to the SP favourite you will get your money back as a free bet.
Major Players
Former Grade 1 winning hurdler, Vauban heads to York for National Hunt champion trainer, Willie Mullins hoping to build on a solid handicap win at Royal Ascot last summer. Followed up by landing the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Naas in August before rounding off the year by finishing 14/23 in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup over at Flemington Park. Vauban is the oldest horse in the race but certainly not without a chance.
Stradivarius won a record three Yorkshire Cups in 2018, 2019 and 2022 for trainers John and Thady Gosden and the Gosden team are represented this year by Gregory. The lightly-raced four-year-old was last seen when 5/9 in the St Leger at Doncaster last September. As he begins just his second season, there’s a real possibility that he could find more at York.
Giavellotto won the race twelve months ago and returns this year eyeing a second straight Yorkshire Cup win. He has however failed to win any of his subsequent four races including back-to-back defeats to race favourite, Tower Of London already this year.
Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tower Of London | 5/4 |
| Vauban | 10/3 |
| Giavellotto | 6/1 |
| Gregory | 13/2 |
| Al Qareem | 10/1 |
| Naqeeb | 20/1 |
