TV TIPS – YORK EBOR FESTIVAL (WEDNESDAY)

13:55 York The Ebor meeting starts on the Knavesmire starts with a 20-runner five-furlong sprint, so not the easiest way to get things going for us punters. In previous renewals of this race on good to firm ground the winners have been drawn in 11, 15 (x2) and 18 suggesting a mid to high draw could be important. Kevin Ryan won this race back in 2013 and 2014 and he saddles the current favourite Lexington Abbey. This five year old is 0-6 at this track but does have a couple of second place finishes. Jamie Spencer gets the leg back up and he has had two wins aboard this son of Sleeping Indian. A consistent performer, who has ran some good races this campaign and is drawn high in stall 17. The first pick is Royal Birth, who is still relatively lightly raced for a sprinter at five year’s old. The son of Exceed And Excel had a good winter on the all-weather and Stuart Williams took advantage of a slightly lower mark when he won on the turf at Ascot last month. He followed that up with a good third at the same venue. Despite his poor showing at York previously I think he could have more to offer. Captain Colby is another to take a chance on. Drawn high in stall 19 and has won over further and at tighter tracks. He was squeezed for room when unseating Dougie Costello at Yarmouth last time and can be forgiven for that. He is a lightly raced four year old and if William Buick is able to get him out on terms then he could blaze a trail making him difficult to catch. Paul Midgley has a reputation for training sprinters. He saddles former Richard Hannon inmate Ninjango and could take advantage of a sliding handicap mark. This six year old hasn’t won since March 2015 and those wins have been over six furlongs and further but he is on a workable mark. Union Rose keeps hinting at ability but this four year old is probably suited by cut in the ground. Royal Birth (E/W) Captain Colby (E/W)

14:30 York The Hugo Palmer team come into this year’s renewal of the Acomb with a massive chance as they line-up their exciting two year old Best Of Days. The horse was bought by Godolphin after coming from last to first in taking fashion on debut to power clear of the field Sandown a month ago. The filly looked one to follow after that performance, but will likely be plenty skinny enough in the market for a race of this nature, so for all she is an obvious and unexposed contender, the more sensible play is take her on with an each way alternative. The Mark Johnston team looked to have provided just that for us with their battle hardened contender Bear Valley. The horse scooted clear to post a top speed rating last time out when winning at Glorious Goodwood and has shown progressive form in four starts in and around today’s trip. The win last time was in nursery company so this does represent a decent step up, but well worth a place in this field and looks a rock solid each way contender, especially if given a soft lead then it may prove hard to pass. Another horse who can go well is the William Haggas trained Lockheed. Another progressive sort who posted a solid second on debut then stepped up on that effort to win at Goodwood three weeks later and looks like there is more to come for trainer who boasts a good record in this race. Frankie Dettori booked to ride, so would be the most likely to take advantage if either of the first two fail to fire. Bear Valley (E/W)

15:05 York The Great Voltigeur Stakes looks to be a good opportunity for Idaho to get his head in front after a consistent season placing in some of the top races on the racing calendar. The son of Galileo has bumped into Harzand in three of his four starts this season, including seconds in the Ballysax and Irish Derby plus he was third in the Derby at Epsom. Without the presence of Dermot Weld’s charge he looks the one to beat if running anywhere near to his Group 1 form. Sir Michael Stoute won this race in 2011 and 2013, so he’ll be hoping Across The Stars can achieve the same success. However he carries a 3lb penalty for his success in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. He won that race in good style and will need to pull off the same sort of run to trouble Idaho. This is his first time experiencing quick ground but being a son of Sea The Stars he should be fine. Housesofparliament will relish this quick ground, which he showed his liking for in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. He’s a possible Leger type and may be suited to further. He was blunted by the ground at Royal Ascot and could outrun his odds. Imperial Aviator is an interesting prospect. He ran below par in the French Derby and hasn’t been since. He had showed his class in winning a Newbury handicap. This is his first attempt at this trip and if coping could be value. Idaho (WIN)

15:40 York This year’s Juddmonte international is a fascinating renewal that sees a mixture of seasoned group class horses and a few potential stars thrown into the mix as well. The undoubted favourite here will be Roger Varian’s Group 1 winning machine Postponed who could not have been anymore impressive when scorching the field to land the Coronation Cup when last seen back in June. He steps back in trip here to 1m2f and does need to prove himself as effective at this trip, but this race is known for putting an emphasis on stamina at this track so he will likely take some stopping in this one. The field contains a number of dangers, but the highest rated of those, Aidan O’Brien’s Highland Reel was beaten some four lengths by Postponed out in Dubai in March and looks held on that form despite winning a Group 1 last time out. Based on this, Postponed gets the nod to prevail once again here today, but there are dangers a plenty throughout the field. The main danger will likely come from Godolphin’s Hawkbill and the form of the Group 1 Eclipse triumph over the Ghurka and Time Test could not have worked out better with both since having won Group races. The ground is the main question mark for the Charlie Appleby runner as it has never before raced on ground this quick so may need to settle for the runner up berth today. Another horse who can run a big race at a massive looking each way price is the Hamdan Al Maktoum owned Mutakayyef. The five year old trained by William Haggas has record two wins out of two this season after returning from an injury layoff as the penny looks to have finally dropped. Those wins were over a mile, but this pacey horse would be a danger to all if proving as effective at this longer trip with Paul Hanagan in the saddle and is worth a small each way saver. Postponed (WIN) Mutakayyef (E/W)

16:20 York A handicap over 2m with 17 runners and the in-form filly Sweet Selection is the likely favourite for Hughie Morrison. The four year old has won her last three races over this distance and further making her a key player in this contest. She has gone up a total of 17lb for this winning sequence and Morrison is a shrewd cookie, so she could have more to offer. This does look a race of more depth but you can see her being on the premises in the closing stages. Iain Jardine has booked the useful 7lb apprentice Clifford Lee for the ride on Nakeeta, which could be a good decision. This five year old has gone close twice this season, including a narrow second in the Chester Cup. He was too keen at Ascot when second and seemed to empty on the run in. This trip may stretch him but with the claim he can hit the frame at a big price. The Cashel Man was a good second when staying on strongly from an unpromising position here in May. If George Buckell has learnt from that ride and puts this son of High Chaparral in a good position then he has the stamina and turn of foot to claim the prize pot. Oceane is another to enter considerations for Alan King following his two good runs of late that includes a win at Ascot. He’s a winner over this trip over obstacles and ran well on the level over two miles and five furlongs at the Glorious Goodwood meeting making a player. The final one to note is Life Less Ordinary, who claimed victory on the line at Sandown, which was a reward for some consistent runs. The step up in trip could suit by how strongly he finished that race and if there is support in the market he could be worth looking at. Nakeeta (E/W) The Cashel Man (E/W)

16:55 York The finale on the opening day of York’s Ebor Festival is the six furlong Betway Stakes and it could not be a trickier race with 20 runners set to line up. Typically these races are highly competitive affairs so it often pays to go with two runners with some decent each way value. The Mark Johnston stable are no stranger to success at this meeting and this is typically the point of the season when his horses come into their own and he looks to have a great chance to enhance that record with the well drawn Storm Cry. The two-year-old could not have been more impressive than when storming to six length success at Ripon albeit in a weak looking maiden. The form of the course and distance second to Nautical Haven looks even better form and this looks a more than fair starting point for the horse given it holds a number of decent entries and so is the first runner to get the each way nod. The Richard Hannon yard are another one who know decent success at the track and they also have been drawn well with their runner Mutawatheb. The form of the debut second at Goodwood worked out extremely well and the two year old then followed up that run with success next time out at Newbury. Only a respectable fourth stepped up to 7f last time though, so the return to six furlongs should suit. Sean Levey takes the ride as Paul Hanagan prefers the William Haggas trained Naafer and that has to be a worry for his chances. An interesting outsider who may just be worth backing at a double figure price is Burrishoole Abbey for the in-form Karl Burke team. The yard could not be in better nick, the horse made all to land the spoils at the second time of asking on similar ground to today’s. Tailed off last time stepped up to 7f, but a definite player back at 6f today if being allowed to dictate from the front and can definitely outrun its massive odds here. Storm Cry (E/W) Burrishoole Abbey (E/W)

This weeks episode we discuss The “Charles Byrne’s Coup”, the image of racing, Frankie’s 3000th winner, York’s Ebor meeting, give some antepost tips for The Nunthorpe and Ebor Handicap and more…