STAR jockey Frankie Dettori has been given a big winning chance for York's Ebor Festival race meeting which started today.

The chirpy Italian ace rider was last night booked to take the saddle on gelding Charley Bates, the likely favourite in tomorrow's big race, the Tote Ebor Handicap.

Dettori has not ridden the John Gosden-trained horse this season, but rode him in all three races Charley Bates had last year as a juveinile, being placed on each occasion.

Gosden said that the owner wants Dettori to take the mount.

Jimmy Fortune rode Charley Bates earlier this season and Francis Norton was in the saddled when Charley Bates was third to Jardines Lookout in the Goodwood Cup.

Huge crowds poured into York today for the start of the bumper three-day meeting, which is rated one of the best racing festival's in Europe.

Kazzia heads a field of 11 fillies to stand their ground at the final 48-hour declaration stage for the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks at York tomorrow.

The Godolphin star bids to retain her unbeaten record after victories this season in the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas and Vodafone Oaks.

Victory on Knavesmire could then see Kazzia tackle the Rothmans Royals St Leger at Doncaster next month as she attempts to become the first to complete the fillies' Triple Crown since Oh So Sharp in 1985.

Leading the opposition will be Sir Michael Stoute's Islington. The daughter of Sadler's Wells was eighth to Kazzia on the very testing ground at Epsom, but was back to top form with an impressive success in the Vodafone Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Aidan O'Brien's Quarter Moon and Starbourne, runner-up and fourth respectively to Kazzia at Epsom, renew rivalry, as does Jeremy Noseda's Mellow Park, sixth in the Classic.

WINNERS of the Evening Press attheraces Ebor meeting tickets competition will be enjoying the action at Knavesmire this week.

Winners of a pair of tickets each were: Shaun Canner, Goodramgate, York; Susan Collins, Water Lane, Hemingbrough; Miss Potter, Huntington Road, York; L Bailey, Moorfield Way, Wilberfoss; D V Smith, South Duffield Road, Osgodby, Selby; T Barker, Frances Street, York; G Coughlin, The Village, Stockton-on-the-Forest; Miss C Helm, Parliament Street, Norton; and Miss C Watson, Adelaide Street, York.

Updated: 12:04 Tuesday, August 20, 2002