TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

Action from York and Goodwood make up Saturday’s live ITV action with the prestigious Ebor Handicap set to take centre stage.

Here’s the teams full race previews and tips for every live race.

13:50 YORK

A competitive race with many holding a good chance. King’s Gambit has been racing in classy races and has the best form figures, but he must defy a 9lbs penalty. Bowmark weakened in the French Derby, but he can bounce back from that. He has the weight allowance but maybe is better left watched. A chance could be taken on Checkandchallenge. He was good in this race last year and goes well at York. That was arguably a better race and if you can forgive his recent form, he could spring a surprise.

CHECKANDCHALLENGE (WIN)

(Kieran McHugh)

14:05 GOODWOOD

Rhoscolyn comes here off the back of a nice win at Glorious Goodwood over 1m but is versatile having won 3x over C&D including this race in the past. But he benefitted from the rain that day and won’t get such conditions here.

Mudbir has a better chance of repeating his Glorious Goodwood, the conditions are similar and over the same 7 furlongs, the 2nd ran a huge race in defeat at York this week and he looks the most likely winner in my opinion.

At a bigger price, Billyjoh is often consistent without being able to get his head infront. He as the ability just can’t always seem to put it together, it wouldn’t surprise me were he to run into a place.

MUDBIR (WIN)

(Toby Darby)

14:25 YORK

Tarriance comes to the Knavesmire after winning comfortably over this distance at Sandown last time, only up 4lb which looks very lenient and could still be a well handicapped Colt as he holds a St Leger entry, he's likely to be sent off favourite. Pole Star also looks a well handicapped Colt after winning twice over this distance, has to prove he handles Good to Firm but if he does then this St Leger entry looks well above the handicapper after only been risen 3lb. Cape Breton's turf form is only 1/6, but his win and second came on Good to Firm so that may be key, trying the extra two furlongs here but being by Frankel he should get it. Novelista and Many Men have form with Tarriance but Many Men looks to have more scope for improvement out of these two, he's won over 2 mile but might not want the ground as quick as it is, that could leave him vulnerable. 

POLE STAR (E/W) 

CAPE BRETON (E/W)

(Liam Hall)

14:40 GOODWOOD

Tricky race here quite a few of these runners don't have particular good recent form to go on. Or have a good strike rate when it comes to winning.

Dream Harder looks a Chester specialist Goodwood is clearly a different track. Majestic has been running in Middle East but is now 11 pounds higher than his last winning mark in UK hard to back. 

Incensed is on a high mark on the turf and perhaps given his form on all weather seems more suited to that. Crystal Flyer another who seems more at home on the all-weather.

Its a short price currently and I hope it drifts. But Prince Of Seas looks the solid option. He is here of receiving weight all round. Jack Dace takes another 5 pounds of as well given his conditional jockey status. 

Ralph Beckett has started to turn a corner after a slow start first few months into the flat season and the winners seem to keep coming so perhaps its good to stay on side with a yard in good nick

PRINCE OF SEAS (WIN)

(Luke Tucker)

15:00 YORK

Rosallion hasn’t quite shown his best form this season following a respiratory infection that ended his 3yo campaign but it’s acceptable to consider he had a good comeback run, followed by races he could have won against Docklands and Qirat at the top level. He travels well in his races so 7f should be fine and it could be an inspired diversion now this is a Group One but he is looking very short overnight.

Never So Brave has progressed well from handicaps for Andrew Balding and Maranoa Charlie should be respected despite question marks over the ground and whether he can lead it out all the way here.

Lake Forest looks primed for this as a previous Gimcrack winner, withdrawn in this race last year and is a credible each-way alternative for those not keen to pile on the favourite.

LAKE FOREST (E/W)

(Alan Morris)

15:35 YORK

Willie Mullins won this prestigious race in 2023 and runs three in an attempt to take home the £300k prize once again. Of his trio of runners, Hipop De Loire returns having finished fifth in the race last year and if granted a clearer passage this time around would have a major chance, while Ethical Diamond impressed with how strongly he travelled when winning at Royal Ascot when last seen and with stamina assured from his time over hurdles looks sure to play a hand in the finish.

Henry De Bromhead trained last years’ winner Magical Zoe and in a bid to emerge victorious again relies on Ascending who arrives in top form having won his last three, the latest being the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He looks a solid each way option.

From this side of the pond, Majestic Warrior is a progressive horse who won decisively at Thirsk when last seen and looks ready and capable of taking this step up in both trip and class, yet for our selection we turn to Almosh’her who never got involved when down the field in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot (a race won by Ethical Diamond) however impressed when beating three next time out winners in the Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap here on the Knavesmire in May. With that course form a distinct positive, I think the Karl Burke runner can bounce back and play a major role here today.

ALMOSH’HER (E/W)

(Dean Kilbryde)

16:10 YORK

Trainer Richard Spencer is having a blistering season with his sprint handicappers and he could be set to claim another big race here. The yard send out a trio of runners including the hat trick seeking Two Tribes. With the addition of Ryan Moore being booked for the ride it’s hard to be convinced that the hike in weights will be enough to stop him. With solid course form in the bag Two Tribes should be firmly etched in everyone’s shortlist.

Of his two stablemates Twilight Calls has the better results here at York and could be an alternative to the more fancied Spencer runner.

Elsewhere Northern Ticker, Dark Thirty and Strike Red are capable at this level and hail from yards who’ve had plenty of success here before.

Another that deserves a mention is the relatively lightly raced Pocklington who produced one of his best efforts to date when 5th in a similar race over this course and distance. A repeat of that effort should see him go close once again.

A case can be made for a large chunk of the field so Two Tribes and at a price Dark Thirty make most appeal.

TWO TRIBES (E/W)

DARK THIRTY (E/W)

(Rory Paddock)