Derby hopefuls will take centre stage on day two of York’s Dante Festival and we’ve got ITV racing tips for five races from the Knavesmire on Thursday.
Alongside the showpiece Dante Stakes, there is a Group Two contest for older fillies, a Listed-class affair for sprinters and two ultra-competitive handicaps featuring huge fields.
York Tips Thursday
14:20 Tip
14:20 Lindum York Handicap – Air Force One
Geoff Oldroyd’s charge secured a convincing course and distance success in a 19-runner contest last July before going close in two more hot handicaps here and returns in fine spirits following a Beverley victory, when striking late and fast after having to wait for a gap.
14:55 Tip
14:55 Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap – Sea Force
This William Haggas-trained gelding ran with credit when a close sixth of 17 at this venue last August prior to scoring at Yarmouth and should now be spot on for a return to winning ways following a couple of encouraging efforts this term at Musselburgh and Thirsk.
15:30 Tip
15:30 Middleton Fillies’ Stakes – See The Fire (NAP)
Andrew Balding’s classy mare was campaigned exclusively in Group Ones after claiming this Group Two prize by 12 lengths a year ago and was placed in races like the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Nassau at Goodwood before being beaten by just a neck in the Prix de l’Opera.
See The Fire was eased back into action with a Listed win at Nottingham less than three weeks ago and that should leave her fully tuned up for this return to York.
16:05 Dante Stakes Tip
16:05 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes – Christmas Day
After cleaning up at Chester last week, Aidan O’Brien looks poised to strike gold with yet another Derby hopeful in this Group Two contest.
The master of Ballydoyle has not landed this leading Epsom trial since saddling Cape Blanco to claim victory in 2010, but Christmas Day heads to the Knavesmire with major claims after winning his last three starts, most recently springing a minor surprise in last month’s Ballysax Stakes.
That form looks solid enough, with his stablemate and runner-up Endorsement going close again in the Leopardstown Derby Trial last weekend behind James J Braddock, who was only fifth in the Ballysax.
The Dante is one of few Derby trials that has been dominated by British horses in recent years and the home team this time around is headed by the Haggas-trained Morshdi, who was rerouted to York after missing last week’s Dee Stakes at Chester on account of the ground.
This Dubawi colt was last seen winning a Listed prize at Newmarket, although that form has not exactly been franked, with runner-up Poseidon’s Warrior and fourth-placed Isaac Newton finishing well beaten since.
16:40 Tip
16:40 British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes – Aspect Island
James Owen’s Showcasing colt outran his odds of 33/1 when beaten only two and a quarter lengths into seventh against older horses in the Abernant Stakes over six furlongs last month, his first start since a superb effort to finish third at the Breeders’ Cup.
Going back against his own age group over the minimum distance, he is hard to oppose for the in-form Owen team.
ITV Racing Predictions
York Predictions Thursday
Air Force One – 14:20 Lindum York Handicap, York
Sea Force – 14:55 Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap, York
See The Fire (NAP) – 15:30 Middleton Fillies’ Stakes, York
Christmas Day – 16:05 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes, York
Aspect Island – 16:40 British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes, York
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