5 minutes Check out my latest ITV Racing tips below
Today, ITV Racing takes us to York, Sandown and Chester with the Listed ‘Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup’ being the feature at 15:00 where the winner can expect to collect just shy of £40,000. Recent winners of this race include Cavalryman (2012) dual winner Clever Cookie 2014/15 and notably 2023 Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight who landed the prize in 2022.
With the temperatures set to be on the increase and dry weather predicted I'd expect the ground to stay on the good side providing perfect racing ground for everyone. I have my analysis and tips for three races across the board with a small stakes Trixie being the recommended punt for the day.
14:40 Sandown
5f (5f10y) BetMGM Scurry Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo)
Coto De Caza (3/1) is top rated in the field and signed off last season with a cracking Group 3 win at Newmarket in the Cornwallis Stakes. Remains open to plenty of improvement and is respected for the Simon Crisford yard that is among the winner's.
The fillie Star Of Mehmas (5/2) will likely go off favourite for the Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore combination. She has only tasted defeat once over this trip which came last time being beaten a head in a Listed contest at York. Her race fitness could prove crucial against her main challenger.
Hold A Dream (4/1) has form with Star Of Mehmas on their comeback run where he finished just ahead of our favourite here. Subsequently ran okay in a well contested Listed race at Newbury and is being tried back over 5f, here, where he made his debut. Interesting contender with low mileage and shouldn't be far away.
Town And Country (9/2) ran on well belying big odds in a Cork Listed race last time out. This Irish raider is a rare runner here for Henry De Bromhead and is another that hasn't had many chances.
Analysis
Coto De Caza is the selection here despite the lack of a recent run in the hope he may be a Group horse in waiting. Richard Hughes has a good record with sprinters and if raring to go has the strongest form. Star Of Mehmas has done nothing wrong in any of her starts and looks and honest type to give the selection most to think about.
15:00 York
1m6f (1m5f188y) Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
From sprinter to stayers in this prep race for the Ebor with 5 runners going to post. Absurde (6/4) and Al Qareem (9/2) reoppose after their third and second respectively in the Ormonde at Chester last time where the former appeared to be doing his best work late on. You'd fancy the Willie Mullins horse would be favoured to turn the tables this time over the slightly further distance on this track.
The lightly raced Godolphin horse, El Cordobes (9/2) looks worth a try over this trip having landed a mile and a half Handicap at Newmarket on returning to these shores backing it up with a good run stepping up to Group company when third at Newbury last time.
Alsakib (3/1) returned to action when fourth of five in the Yorkshire Cup last time out and you'd expect this Group 3 C&D winner to come on for that. Andrew Balding's horses are flying at the moment and I think he's the one to beat.
Analysis
Not a lot to separate the principals on ratings but Alsakib looks the one to beat returning to his favoured track and trip with that run under his belt from last time with the yard flying. Absurde will be popular for the Champion Trainer, Willie Mullins and the trip should be ideal for this Melbourne Cup fifth who has a lot of class.
15:20 Chester
7½f (7f127y) Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap (Class 2) (3yo)
The one televised Chester race is a tricky 7 1/2 furlong Handicap where Jouncy (100/30) looks set to go off favourite for the red-hot Andrew Balding. Racing in the famous Juddmonte silks he hasn't fired in two runs this season in better company than this and you get the feeling today maybe the day he gets his head back in front, running in his first Handicap from a decent draw in 3. A lot to like about his profile and should go close.
The top weight Star Anthem (9/1) is one that has dropped into Handicap company in his last two starts but hasn't appeared to have given his running in either start. Is too soon to write him off and has EW chances being another drawn to attack from stall 4.
Milford (4/1) comes out of stall 5 and changed hands from Karl Burke to Julie Camacho in the Spring. Left his first run of the season form well behind him when finishing a very close third in a big field Handicap at York last time where he had Frankies Dream (5/1) behind him that day. Frankies Dream has subsequently gone on to frank the form by winning at York two weeks later. With potentially more improvement to come from Milford off only 1lb higher he looks sure to go very close.
Mini Matrix (8/1) represents Hugo Palmer who is another yard going great guns. He has the plum draw in 1 and it will be interesting to see if his recent gelding operation brings about some improvement. His last run was over C&D and although only finished 7th he wasn't disgraced on what was only his first Turf run.
Analysis
Milford is the selection on his third start for Julie Camacho providing he comes on again for his recent third at York. He has a good draw to race up near the pace. With the Badling yard going great guns it would be no surprise to see a better showing from Jouncy who can chase him home.
