Kalpana returns to action in the Yorkshire Oaks

The Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks takes place on Thursday at 3.35 as part of York's Ebor festival, with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Kalpana heading the field. The Andrew Balding-trained mare, ridden by Colin Keane, is the clear favourite at forecast odds of 5-4, and is the one to beat according to Racing Post.

Kalpana has registered all three of her Group 1 wins at Ascot, including the King George last month, and has also shone at Newbury on her 2026 reappearance and won at Newmarket. She is unraced at York, but the straight course is expected to suit her.

The Sun also makes Kalpana the selection, describing her as the 'most likely winner' for Balding and Keane, and noting that she 'goes on any ground'. After beating the colts in the King George, the paper says it will be 'very hard for the girls to deny her'.

Main rivals: Minnie Hauk and Johanna Walsh

Enjoying the best race of her life in the King George may not be necessary if Kalpana reproduces that form, but Minnie Hauk, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, is a leading contender. She won the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks last summer and was beaten a head in the Arc at Longchamp. She was a creditable runner-up to Ombudsman at Royal Ascot in June, but was disappointing either side of that and finished well adrift of Kalpana in the King George last time. Racing Post suggests she can go head to head with Kalpana if back to her best, with forecast odds of 7-2.

Johanna Walsh, trained by Joseph O'Brien and ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, is also prominent in the betting at 4-1. She won the Irish Oaks at the Curragh and was pipped by Earth Shot at Royal Ascot. Racing Post tips her as one of the main rivals to Kalpana, noting her improvement.

Other contenders

Tattycoram, trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Eddy Greatrex, is a progressive three-year-old who won a Listed race at Goodwood in May and the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at Newmarket. She is available at 12-1.

Earth Shot, trained by William Haggas and ridden by James Doyle, finished second in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot behind Johanna Walsh, but reversed those placings in the Irish Oaks. She needs to resume her progress, according to Racing Post, and is priced at 20-1.

Inis Mor, trained by David Menuisier and ridden by Oisin Murphy, beat Earth Shot by a head at Goodwood and was placed in the Prix de Diane and the Irish Oaks. She is also 20-1.

Legacy Link, trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by William Buick, won the Musidora at York in May and finished second in the Oaks at Epsom. She is 16-1.

Sparan Nua, trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Rossa Ryan, won a Group 3 at Cork in June and was placed in the Irish Oaks, but flopped at Leopardstown last time. She is 20-1.

Sugar Island, also trained by Aidan O'Brien but ridden by Ronan Whelan, finished third in the Oaks at Epsom but tailed off in the Irish Oaks. She is the rank outsider at 66-1.

Verdict: Kalpana sets the standard

Racing Post's tip is Kalpana, with Johanna Walsh and Minnie Hauk as the main rivals. The paper notes that Kalpana sets a tough standard for the others to match in what could be a vintage renewal. The Sun agrees, saying that having beaten the boys in the King George, it will be hard for the fillies to deny her.

Other races on the card

The Sun also looks ahead to other races on Thursday's card at York. The Group 2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes for juvenile fillies over six furlongs features Star of State, trained by Joseph O'Brien, who made an eye-catching debut when chasing home Livenka at Fairyhouse in July before winning at Leopardstown. Dylan Browne McMonagle takes the ride.

In the Harry's Half Million By Goffs sales race over six furlongs, Sun Goddess, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, gets 5lb from Tokaido and is drawn 17. She won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last time and looks a 'monster', according to The Sun.

The card also includes a handicap over one mile at 3pm, where Checkandchallenge has dropped to a mark of 99 after finishing third at the track behind The Lost King. Callum Shepherd rides for William Knight. In the Listed British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes over 1m4f, A La Prochaine, trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by James Doyle, is noted after finishing third at Chester and fourth in the Oaks.