ITV Racing Saturday York & Sandown
A busy afternoon ahead on ITV Racing with 9 races live. Action from York where it’s the final day of the Ebor Festival and Sandown where there’s some fiercely competitive handicaps to get stuck into. Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing.
We also have a Tote Placepot for each day of the York Ebor Festival (landed the Placepot on Day 2) – Day 4
ITV Racing Schedule – 9 races live on Saturday
York 1.50 Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3) 1m1f
Sandown 2.05 Betway Handicap (Class 3) 1m2f
York 2.25 Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Class 2) 1m6f
Sandown 2.40 Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap (Class 3) 1m
York 3.00 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2) 7f
Sandown 3.15 Play 4 To Win At Betway Handicap (Class 3) 1m
York 3.40 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Class 2) 1m6f
Sandown 3.55 Betway Fillies’ Handicap (Class 5) 7f
York 4.10 Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Class 1) 5f
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York 1.50 Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3) 1m1f
Very competitive opener on day 4 and I am siding with one of the older horses ZABEEL PRINCE I think is being overlooked a bit in the market. He was running at a much higher level at the end of last season and you can put a line through his return to the track as he probably needed it. At this level now he isn’t chasing home Enable and Too Darn Hot so should run a big race at a track and trip he has won over before and I feel he is a bigger price than he should be. After all he is top rated in the field and that’s with good reason.
Lord Glitters won this two years ago but I think the main danger could be the improving Dark Vision who has been running really well this season and his form looks extremely solid. Epic Hero has been supported off the back of a win in Dubai in February but wouldn’t be for me as from memory can be a bit of a tricky customer.
Sandown 2.05 Betway Handicap (Class 3) 1m2f
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York 2.25 Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Class 2) 1m6f
Hamish won this last year for Haggas and Doyle so it usually throws up a smart staying type. The yard have strong claims of following up with FAVORITE MOON leading the betting this year. This promising type by Sea The Moon has looked progressive and put it altogether to pull clear with Subjectivist at Haydock last time, justifying good support in the process. He is up 7lb but there could be lots more to come and while this is competitive he looks to have leading claims.
Given the nature of the race I’m keen to include an each way selection too and COLTRANE seems to fit the bill for Andrew Balding. He comes here chasing a hat-trick and ran on well to justify cramped odds at Newmarket last time. He will need to keep improving as is up a further 6lb but I still have him ahead of the assessor and I can see him running well with this galloping track looking to suit. One worth mentioning at an even bigger price is FISHABLE for Tim Easterby. This Dutch Art colt is going the right way and has a likeable way of going so I could see him running into a place too.
York 2.25
Favorite Moon 10/3
Coltrane 14/1 each way
Fishable 22/1 each way saver
Sandown 2.40 Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap (Class 3) 1m
Wide open 16 runner handicap over the mile and the pace does look strong in this so ENIGMATIC who found the winning thread last time could really benefit from that and kick on now. He has won off 85 and the lower mark last time seemingly did the trick. With the race looking like it will suit he could follow up with James Doyle an eye-catching booking.
Golden Force was very good from the front last time and will give it a good go again to complete the hat-trick however he has a fair bit of competition for the lead so may be opposable at the front of the market. Still a danger as is Barossa Red and at a bigger price possibly Gin Palace.
York 3.00 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2) 7f
This doesn’t look the strongest Group 2 around and after a last gasp win at Goodwood ONE MASTER should hopefully have less trouble in-running in this. She is versatile regarding trip but 7 furlongs she has won a Group 1 at and with the showers Friday and Saturday she should have perfect conditions. She will take a lot of beating again.
I do really like Safe Voyage however he takes a bit of time to get going and I think the selection has a lot more speed at the push of a button and that should make all the difference. Threat has been nibbled at for Richard Hannon over probably his optimum trip but he needs to bounce back and until he does I’m not willing to chance him.
Sandown 3.15 Play 4 To Win At Betway Handicap (Class 3) 1m
Lyndon B justified favouritism in this last year for George Scott and James Doyle. There is no standout market leader this term with it 7/1 bar the field. I’m going to put forward three selections in the hope of finding the winner. MATTHEW FLINDERS is my main hope for Ed Walker. This colt confirmed debut promise behind Albaflora to open his account at Doncaster in June, beating First Winter. He possibly improved to chase home Roberto Escobarr at York and while that horse somewhat disappointed in the Great Voltigeur earlier in the week I still think it’s a strong piece of form and he can go close off a mark of 90 back down in trip.
GROVE FERRY is my second play in the race. I’m sure this horse is well handicapped off a mark of 89 and he ran a strange race on reappearance at Lingfield. He was bumped at the start before racing prominently. He then looked to get outpaced before running on strongly inside the final furlong. He only went down three quarters of a length and this test should suit. He will be finishing well when others have cried enough. My final selection in the race is FIRST WINTER who chased home Matthew Flinders before winning impressively at Windsor. He was better than the bare result last time and still has plenty of upside off a mark of 85 so has to be included. Main dangers include Cemhaan and Zegalo.
Sandown 3.15
Matthew Flinders 7/1 each way STEAMER
Grove Ferry 10/1 each way
First Winter 10/1 each way
York 3.40 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Class 2) 1m6f
This looks wide open so it won’t surprise you that I’ve taken three against the field at prices. My leading hope has to be PABLO ESCOBARR for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. This gelding by Galileo showed a great attitude to win a Group 3 at Goodwood last time and catches the eye stepping up to this trip for the first time. He is a big strong galloper who has a good attitude to boot so ticks plenty of boxes coming into this. I can’t see how he doesn’t run a big race and 11/1 is very appealing.
TRUE SELF is my second play in the race. This mare hasn’t fired in two runs since returning but it’s highly likely Willie Mullins had this in mind at the start of the season and she ran a big race last year finishing sixth off a 2lb higher mark. She needs to bounce back but looks handicapped to get involved and a first-time tongue tie has been added to the hood she wore last time. I think there is good reason to think she will show improved form and at 11/1 she looks a great each way bet.
MONICA SHERIFF is the other one I thought was worth including. She blew rivals away at Goodwood. That was one of the most devastating performances I saw last year and she went and backed it up in Group company in France on her next start. She hasn’t been seen since and is returning off the back of a 301-day absence so fitness is taken on trust but I think she is worth backing as scarily enough she could keep progressing.
York 3.40
Pablo Escobar 11/1 each way
True Self 11/1 each way
Monica Sheriff 14/1 each way
Sandown 3.55 Betway Fillies’ Handicap (Class 5) 7f
Fillies’ Handicap up next from Sandown and DREAM WORLD looks value against the favourite. She is 4lb below her last winning mark and stepped forward from her reappearance run to finish a close-up fourth at Doncaster last time. She tried to challenge but was held in the end and only actually went down by a length and three quarters. That was a huge effort at 18/1 and if she steps forward again off what we know is a workable handicap mark she can go close in an open race. She isn’t one for maximum faith but in a weak looking race I’m happy to give her a chance. You could even back her each way as some insurance.
CHLOELLIE is the other mare that caught my eye in here. She is a very consistent sort and she has been holding her form well since winning at Wolverhampton in March. 5lb claimer Marco Ghiani jumps on top and she is handicapped to go close so can’t be ignored at around 14/1. Plenty of dangers including Queen’s Course and Gilt Edge.
York 4.10 Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed Race) 5f
Love the look of this race with some good sorts in here. BEN MACDUI was only just beaten by Steel Bull who will be a top class horse and was well fancied for the Phoenix Stakes in Ireland but hit his head on the stalls. Kevin Ryan does well with his 2 year olds and he wouldn’t need to improve much to win this race and go on from here.
Acklam Express is the main danger with some top form and should run a place. Politics got the hang of things late on debut and duly improved to go one better at Sandown. The second Dark Illusion has won since so he will have his supporters with Oisin Murphy in the saddle. At a bigger price BLACKBERRY is 2-2 and has looked promising. She will need to find more to figure in this but is probably worth covering as an each way saver. Winter Power looked good at Redcar and was probably turned out too quickly when disappointing at Goodwood. Another one to note in a good race.
York 4.40 Sky Bet Handicap (Class 2) 1m2f
Gosden won this last year with Forest Of Dean but doesn’t have a runner this year weirdly. It’s fairly open but I was impressed with MAYDANNY at Goodwood and while an 11lb rise seems a bit harsh he is entitled to improve again and this track should play to his strengths so I think he is a deserved favourite. He had the likes of Derevo and Fifth Position trailing in behind so should confirm that form. Crowley is in red-hot form following his winning streak yesterday and with a minimal amount of pace on he may look to dominate again and could prove hard to catch.
My each way play in the race has to be LUCANDER for Ralph Beckett. This horse was a three-time winner as a juvenile and I thought he was going to be one to keep on side when he beat Convict here last year. He did run poorly behind Zabeel Champion at Newmarket last time so has a bit to prove but if he bounces back returned to this venue off an attractive mark I think his price is all wrong at 16/1 and he can go close. Dangers include Sinjaari who is bang there on the speed figures and Glasses Up who has looked very good the last twice albeit in lesser races.
York 5.10 Sky Bet Apprentice Handicap (Class 2) 5f
The final race of the York Ebor Festival and it looks a cracker from a pace perspective with the majority of these wanting to go forward. Plenty of winners this week have run well at the course before so SAMPERS SEVEN looks a decent bet in the finale after a very impressive win over course and distance last time. She is probably a bit unlucky not to have won her last 3 as with a bit more luck at Lingfield she would have gone close. To top it off she has one of the best apprentices around on in Cieren Fallon and should run better than her odds suggest.
As it is the last and the pace is so strong I am going to put one more in the mix ILLUSIONIST. He will come from the back and could be a bit better than his mark following a wind-op. Dangers include the favourite Meraas but any rain wouldn’t help his cause and Wonderwork who is 7lb higher in a better race but does look progressive so has to be feared.
ITV Racing Win Trixie
Given there are 9 races live on ITV Racing on Saturday we have placed a Win Trixie on our three most confident selections of the day.