Ebor Festival: Key Irish Trainers to Watch at York One of Britain's most-loved Flat festivals begins on Wednesday afternoon as the Ebor Meeting at York gets underway. Four days of thrilling action lies ahead on the famous Knavesmire turf and we're looking at some Irish trainers that may have their sights on York success. Katie McGovern Katie McGivern's parents were both heavily involved in racing so it's little wonder she has followed suit. She spent some time in the saddle herself, but is now making her way as a trainer. The qualified physiotherapist is based in Co Meath and will have her second ever runner at York when Kendall Roy tackles the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap over 5½f-furlongs on Wednesday afternoon. The four-year-old gelding has a healthy five wins in 15 starts, including UK successes at Windsor and Thirsk along with two decent handicaps the minimum trip at the Curragh last season. He's on a workable mark of 90 and has Colin Keane on board as the McGivern team take a pop at this £61k prize. Tony Martin One Irish trainer that always prompts close scrutiny when he saddles a UK runner is Tony Martin. He's a shrewd operator and will send out Alphonse Le Grande in the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap over two-miles on day one. Winner of the Chester Cup and the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in his previous British raids, he is seemingly on a fair mark and Martin has chosen this target initially, with the gelding also entered at York on Friday. The trainer could be represented by Westminster Moon or En Or in the Ebor itself on Saturday as he looks to add to the win of Heartbreak City back in 2016. Paddy Twomey Paddy Twomey will be hoping for York success with some of the strong team he's sending over from his base in Golden, Co Tipperary. On day one, he's set to unleash the unbeaten Carmers in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, where he'll take on dual Derby winner Lambourn for Twomey's neighbour Aidan O'Brien — who typically brings a stellar team to York throughout the four days. Twomey's Wootton Bassett colt has three wins in as many starts. He won the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan (1m5f, good) on his second outing in May and then followed up in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot in June over a furlong extra. He was game there in the hands of Billy Lee and the form has worked out well, with subsequent Group 1 winner Scandinavia amongst the beaten horses. Twomey's team could hardly be in better form heading towards York, with a 44 per-cent strike-rate of late (4-9). He could also send out Bonus Time and No Alibi in the British EBF Fillies' Handicap over 7f on day two, while Bond is entered in the Convivial Maiden Stakes later in the week as Twomey bids to improve on his record of one winner from five previous runners on the Knavesmire turf.
