2020 York Day 1 Tips and Preview Of live itv races

Sunday was another tough afternoon but again, we didn’t finish empty-handed. Rainbow Jet may need softer ground than she got and she isn’t one to lose faith in yet. Fennaan was denied a clear run and was unlucky not to place. Blackcastle Storm was backed off the boards and managed to land e/w bets in 4th (adv 20/1). Darksideoftarnside was always behind and for a horse that usually races prominently those tactics were never going to work. Mr Lupton (adv 22/1) ran a blinder to finish 3rd while Queen Of Rio probably hated the ground. The Ebor Festival kicks off on the Knavesmire this week. Check out Dave Stevos’ 2020 York Day 1 tips below…

2020 York Day 1: 1.45pm Symphony Group Handicap (Class 2)

Although this is a very big field, plenty of these are not guaranteed to see out the full 5.5f furlong trip. On good ground there shouldn’t be much of a draw bias and from stall 18, Mubaalegh could go well. This 94 rated son of Dark Angel has already scored over 6f three times in France when trained by John Hammond. He also won a race over 5f there and all four of his wins came on good (2) and good to soft (2). He gets his ideal conditions on Wednesday and he ought to strip much fitter with his comeback run under his belt.

That run came at Ascot over 5f off a mark of 87. It wasn’t a bad effort at all, beat 4L into 6th behind Tone The Barone. The handicapper generously dropped him 3lb for that run and he is in off 94 here. In August last year he finished 2nd in a Listed heat in Germany and Inspired Thought was 1.5L behind in receipt of 8lb. She is rated 90 so on a line through her this fella could be feasibly handicapped. The trip looks ideal and at odds of 22/1 Mubaalegh is the e/w pick. 

2020 York Day 1: Mubaalegh e/w @ 22/1 (6 Places)

York ITV Tips: 2.15pm – Acomb Stakes (Group 3)

This 7f Group 3 contest for 2yos is not the easiest to weigh up. The one I like at a double figure price is Praise of Shadows for Marco Botti and Ben Curtis. This fella made a very good impression when winning over 7f on debut at Chester. He was hampered at the start but made short work of his opponents, winning by an eased down 3L. That was only 9 days ago so clearly he must have come out of it well to be taking his chance here.

Marco Botti rarely sends 2yo runners to York but when he does, they usually run well. He has had just 8 juveniles run here down through the years, with 1 winner and 4 top 4 finishers. This son of Exceed and Excel is bred for the job too, his dam being out of 1993 Lowther winner at York (G2) Velvet Moon. Marco Botti’s horses usually come on plenty for their debuts and at odds of 11/1 Praise Of Shadows is worth chancing each way.

York Wednesday Tips: Praise Of Shadows e/w @ 11/1 NB

ITV Live Tips York: 2.45pm – Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2)

Mogul is the favourite for the G2 Voltigeur Stakes, a 12f heat for 3yo colts and geldings. He beat Highland Chief at Goodwood last time by 0.75L and there won’t be much between them again.  Regular readers will be well aware that Pyledriver is a horse I hold in high regard. I thought he would run well in the Derby but that was a farcical race. You can put a line through it and he is better judged on his superb win at Ascot.

We were on him that day and he travelled powerfully through the race and looked the winner a long way out. His detractors said he was fit from a run and some of the others were having their first starts, but I don’t buy that. This fella is a serious horse and that is reflected in the fact he is joint top rated. He had Mogul well behind at Ascot, the good ground at York will be fine and at odds of 12/1 Pyledriver is the e/w NAP of the day.

2020 York Day 1: Pyledriver e/w @ 11/1 NAP

York Wednesday Tips: 3.15pm – Juddmonte Stakes (Group 1)

Only five go to post for the Group 1 Juddmonte but boy is it a quality field. Ghaiyyath heads the market after his Eclipse win against Enable. He had the likes of Japan, Deirdre and Regal Reality behind him too and it was a serious performance. Lord North was massively impressive at Ascot in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. He is on a 4 timer now and on a line through Japan he should be bang there at the business end.

Wonder mare Magical also arrives here after 3 successive wins, all at G1 level. She hosed up at the Curragh last time and she chased Enable home on her only previous visit to York. 2000 Guineas here Kameko will be looking to make amends after a luckless run at Goodwood. He has yet to race at this trip though and the jury is out on whether it will suit.

Rose Of Kildare completes the field and we were on at when she won here last time. She loves the track, will relish the trip and even though she is 80/1, I don’t think she will be disgraced. With only 5 runners this is probably a race to just watch and enjoy. However, if you can get an e/w bet for 3 places on, I wouldn’t put you off having a small interest on Rose Of Kildare at silly odds.

Wednesday York Tips: No Bet  

2020 York Day 1: 3.45pm – Sky Bet Handicap (Class 2)

This 16f handicap has attracted a field of 17 and the one that looks potentially overpriced is Blue Laureate. Paul Hanagan has his first ride back at York since returning from injury and he is 1/4 for this owner. He is 9/62 with a further 20 top 4 finishes for Ian Williams so hopefully this horse will be doing his best. Blue Laureate was well beat behind Just Hubert last time but that was over 20f. This drop back to 16f should show him in a much better light.

The trip at Goodwood (20f) was just too far for him and his form on the level at around 16f is solid. He admittedly ran poorly in this last season but he ran well over 14f on his only other outing here so he should be fine on the track. On his penultimate run at Newbury (16.5f gd) he ran a cracker off 93 to be 4th behind Reshoun and his only other start at 16f resulted in a head 2nd off 92 on his reappearance at Haydock. A repeat of either of those two runs would see him in the shake up here. At odds of 28/1, Blue Laureate is the each way selection.

2020 York Day 1: Blue Laureate e/w @ 28/1 (5 Places W Hill)