TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

13.55 York The Group 3 Strensall Stakes kicks off the final day of York’s Ebor festival and a select field filled with quality lines up for this tricky looking opener. David Menuisier’s horses have been in fine fettle as of late and the booking of Paul Hanagan for the ride on Make Time looks to be a clear indication that they expect their horse to be competitive here. The Makfi Colt looks to be an improving type with two wins and two runners up spots from just five career runs, but the likelihood is he may just find one or two of these battle hardened foes too hot to handle today. David O’Meara sends former race winner Mondialiste in here to reclaim his title and the Group 1 winner looks to have a great chance here off the same mark two years later from the first triumph. The 7yo is getting on in the years now and hasn’t won in a few years now, but his narrow defeat to Success Days in the Group 2 York stakes last time out would suggest he is well capable of landing this here today and he will likely run his race. But preference instead is for the Sir Michael Stoute trained 4yo Mustashry. The mount of Jim Crowley in the Hamdan Al Maktoum silks could not have been anymore impressive when overcoming a horrible draw to land a valuable pot at Chelmsford last time out. The manner and ease of the victory suggest there is plenty more to come from the Tamayuz colt and he looks a typical 4yo improver from the juggernaut yard so expect him to pounce late to strike here and land his first Group honours. MUSTASHRY (WIN)

14.10 Goodwood A typically competitive renewal of the Group 3 Prestige Stakes for 2yo fillies, raced over 7f, kicks off the action from Goodwood. John Gosden’s Verandah is the likely favourite for the contest after impressing on debut at Kempton, but this represents a decent step up in class on her turf debut and her price looks short enough to look elsewhere for the value. Mark Johnston has his crop in fine form at the minute and he puts his faith in the highly tried filly Izzy Bizu to retain the title that the yard landed last term with Kilmah. The talented filly has already got four wins to her name and will be a typically battle hardened graduate from the Scottish trainer, but she may be vulnerable to a more unexposed type. Jeremy Noseda knows the time of day when it comes to training quality horses and he looks to have yet another exciting filly on his hands here with Quivery and she looks the one to be on here. Jamie Spencer retains his partnership with the unbeaten filly. She done it very nicely on debut and showed she came on loads for that experience when following up in a novice stakes contest last time out at Newmarket, so with more improvement likely she looks the bet at a nice each way price. QUIVERY (WIN) – NAP

14.25 York The Melrose Handicap looks an absolute minefield for punters with 20 runners all declaring for the 1m6f contest. Godolphin come here double handed looking to win the contest for the first time since 2011 and last time out winner Bin Battuta looks to be there most likely winner here although Martin Lane’s mount is stepping some three furlongs up in trip so that is a bit of an unknown. Ed Walker looks to have a nice prospect on his hands with the talented Dark Pearl who is very lightly raced for this stage in his career. He is yet to bet out of the frame in all four career starts which have all come this season, and he can give his running here, but he may just find one or two better once again today. It makes sense instead to side with Mark Johnston’s Sofia’s Rock. The horse has been ultimately disappointing for the yard despite winning twice already this season as they clearly had much higher hope for him. Jim Crowley retains the ride and the Rock of Gibraltar colt could actually be feasibly treated here based on his third in the Bahrain Trophy over 1m5f at Newmarket back in July. He has been crying out for a further test of stamina which he gets today and he will likely take some pegging back if he gets to the lead today, so he gets the nod at a massive looking each way price. SOFIA’S ROCK (E/W)

14.45 Goodwood The Grosvenor Sport Handicap looks a tough nut to crack for the class 2 7f contest with a number of powerful yards eyeing the winning enclosure. John Gosden’s Johnny Barnes is a consistent sort who has competed at a decent level for a long time and he looks to have slipped to a decent mark now, but his losing run stretches back some 500 days now and he may again be vulnerable again here to an improver. John Bethell’s Truth or Dare was an impressive winner last time out when scoring over course and distance at the Glorious Goodwood meeting and he has made the frame on his last four starts now so expect him to be bang there again today, but may struggle to follow up under a penalty here. Preference instead is for Ed Walker’s Ultimate Avenue who has been knocking on the door in two starts this term and his narrow third behind Ekhtiyaar at Newmarket last time out looks to be working out well and he can get his head in front here with the assistance of Jamie Spencer. The each way price about him is an absolute bonus and he looks the one to be with here. ULTIMATE AVENUE (E/W)

15.00 York The Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes looks like a really exciting renewal this term with a number of speedy looking 2yo’s lining up for some top yards here, but once again the Mark Johnston yard may just hold the answer to this one. The Scottish trainer sends his speed merchant Cardsharp here and the return to a quicker surface here can see him reap revenge on both De Bruyne Horse and Nebo here today. The horse has already landed two races this term in very impressive times and he could easily have more to come and wouldn’t need much to add the Gimcrack to his Group 2 July stakes trophy. He gets the confident nod here to take another step forward with more improvement expected by the yard and he may just be difficult to peg back if he gets to dictate the pace up front. The Charlie Hills trained Nebo got the better of the selection last time out when neither of them were a match for the impressive Barraquero that day. He may find it difficult to confirm the running with the selection under vastly different conditions today as he seemed to relish the mud that day, but he is also entitle to improve for the experience. But the biggest threat to the selection will likely come from the Kevin Ryan trained Stormbringer. The horse was mightily impressive when landing a Novice Stakes contest at Redcar. The runner up has since come out and won so he really could be anything and may prove the big threat. CARDSHARP (E/W)

15.20 Goodwood The Group 2 Celebration Mile is the highlight race of the day from Goodwood and last year’s champion is back to defend his crown. David Simcock’s Lightning Spear was an impressive winner of the race twelve months ago and this looks a weaker renewal this year so Oisin Murphy’s mount looks to have the perfect opportunity to win the race again. He has some smart form to his name this season as well to suggest he is still in good nick and trained on as a 4yo. The third place behind Here Comes When in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes last time out is the clear best form on offer and he will take a lot of stopping if repeating that here so gets the confident nod. The Clive Cox trained Zonderland rates the biggest danger to the selection if resuming his 4yo career at the same level as last term, but hasn’t been seen since decisively beaten by the selection in this contest 12 months ago. LIGHTNING SPEAR (WIN)

15.35 York The Ebor Handicap is traditionally one of the toughest betting heats of the year for the punters and this year’s renewal looks no different. Scottish trainer Iain Jardine is having the best season of his career so far this term with his yard firing on all cylinders and his determined stayer Nakeeta looks to have a rock solid chance of making the frame here today. The Sixties Icon gelding looks to be on a nice mark after making the Frame in his last two races and the 5lb claim of talented young jockey Callum Rodriguez coupled with a nice looking draw has given the horse a real attractive mark to attack from here today so he is a definite each way bet. Sir Mark Prescott’s Flymetothestars found trouble in running when an unlucky third in the Northumberland Plate and he hasn’t been seen since that effort, so he looks poised to once again run a big race here today, but he looks very short in the market for what he has achieved so far on the track. Ralph Beckett’s Magic Circle was an easy winner here earlier in the week and if showing no ill effects of a second appearance in quick succession then he would definitely be a danger to all here after slipping in at the bottom of the handicap. Preference instead, is for another each way play on the Sir Michael Stoute trained Dubka. The 4yo Dubawi filly was only narrowly denied in the Group 3 Lillie Langtry last time out over 1m6f and the extra furlong will definitely suit Josephine Gordon’s mount here today. She has placed twice in four runs already this term, has a nice draw which can help her play to here strengths and she should make the frame. NAKEETA (E/W) DUBKA (E/W)