Regulars at York have enjoyed a host of high-class sport already this year thanks to the presence of Royal Ascot and there is more to come next this with the Ebor meeting.

The three-day festival, normally the highlight of the season on the Knavesmire, features several championship races as well as competitive handicaps.

The fixture kicks off tomorrow with the Juddmonte International Stakes, a race which grows in stature year by year.

The 10-furlong Group One contest has been landed by some great horses over the years, with the likes of Halling, Giant's Causeway, Sakhee and Falbrav sticking out in the memory from recent times.

It will be an international race in name and nature this time, with Japanese ace Zenno Rob Roy and Italian star Electrocutionist set to take part.

A wonderful day's racing also features the noted St Leger trial the Daily Telegraph Great Voltigeur Stakes, won last year by Rule Of Law, who also took the Doncaster Classic.

Day Two provides the betting highlight of the week, the totesport Ebor - an ultra difficult mile-and-six-furlong handicap, which will almost certainly include the usual mixture of experienced stayers and classy, lightly-raced types.

It is a race that Luca Cumani loves to win and his Zeitgeist is a leading player in the ante-post betting this time.

Alongside the Ebor is the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks over nearly a mile and a half. It is always an interesting race that sees the best fillies and mares clashing and has been won by Sir Michael Stoute four times in the last five years.

The Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes supplements a fine card.

The classiest event of Thursday is the Group One VC Bet Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs, another race with a number of greats on the roll of honour and it could see the return of King's Stand winner Chineur this time.

Adding further to the occasion is the top juvenile fillies' contest, the Jaguar Lowther Stakes

The weekend's racing is fairly quiet but Chester race from Thursday through to Saturday and the crowds will flock to the Roodee to watch some generously-funded races.

Sandown also hold a two-day fixture, the highlight of which is the Iveco Daily Solario Stakes, a Group Three for juveniles on Saturday's Variety Club Day card.