Sunday ITV Racing Tips From The Curragh, York and Newbury

It was just one of those days on Saturday. Tanfantic got upset in the stalls and ran no sort of race. He is better than that. Euchen Glen went to the front just as I hoped, but Nicholas T didn’t get the gaps when required. Bella Vita drifted like a barge but ran a cracker. She just missed out on 3rd and she too was denied a clear passage. Secretarial showed up well for a long way but faded badly, while Keystroke again disappointed. There is another feast of racing on both sides of the Irish Sea today. Check out Dave Stevos’ Sunday ITV Racing tips from the Curragh, York and Newbury below…

ITV Live Selections: York 1.55pm – King Charles II Stakes (Listed)

The one that looks overpriced here at odds of 14/1 is Stormy Girl. Trained by Rebecca Menzies, this daughter of Night Of Thunder has run blinders on her last two starts at Listed level. After finishing 4th in both races, surely black type will be gained sooner rather than later.

Her run behind Liberty Beach on her seasonal comeback was a superb effort (6f gd/sft). It looked like she ran out of puff in the last 50 yards but it was a fine run. Althiqa finished 0.75L ahead of her next time at Haydock and she won a Listed heat in France next time out. This does look a hot race but Stormy Girl boasts some seriously decent form and at odds of 12/1 she is the e/w pick.  

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Stormy Girl E/W @ 12/1

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Newbury 2.15pm – bet365 Handicap (Class 2)

A total of 10 sprint handicappers go to post in this 6f handicap at Newbury. The one I’ll be taking a chance on here at huge odds is Bernardo O’Reilly for Richard Spencer with Martin Dwyer in the plate. This 6yo son of Intikhab has not performed well on his last three starts. However, every cloud has a silver lining and he is back down to his last winning mark of 90.

There has been a drop of rain this morning at Newbury so there should be a slight bit of give in the ground. That will suit the selection perfectly as he doesn’t want extremes. It was too soft for him on his last two runs of last season. His return at Ascot was likely needed too and given he has C&D winning form, his trainer probably had his eye on this race. His trainer is in great form and at odds of 40/1 Bernardo O’Reilly is the e/w selection.

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Bernardo O’Reilly E/W @ 40/1

ITV Live Selections: York 2.30pm – William Hill Handicap (Class 2)

A 5f sprint for 3yo+, this race has attracted a field of 13. The one I like here at a nice price is Lahore for Phil Makin and Rowan Scott. He won on his seasonal return at Doncaster off 96 for this jockey. The all weather didn’t suit next time at Newcastle and he was kicked in the stalls on his last start. The handicapper dropped him to 101 after that effort and he should appreciate returning to York.

This son of Elusive Quality ran a stormer here last season over 6f on soft ground. In off 97 that day he was only 2L behind Gulliver and 1L behind Danzeno in 3rd. Thanks to Rowan Scott’s claim Lahore is now 4lb better off with that rival and that should help him to turn that form around. He is more than twice the price of Danzeno and at odds of 18/1, Lahore is worth backing each way.

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Lahore e/w @ 18/1 (4 Places)

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Newbury 2.50pm – Super Sprint Stakes (Class 2)

This 5f conditions race will see 25 juveniles go to post and it looks a minefield. David Loughnane did us a big favour with Caroline Dale placing at Ascot and I am going to stay loyal to him here. He clearly has a few talented 2yos this season and Kim Wexler could go well for him in this off an absolute feather weight of 8-1.

She found just one too good on her debut and that Godolphin runner had already had a run. She showed up well for a long way at Chepstow that day before fading in the final furlong over 6f. On that evidence the drop back in trip to 5f here ought to suit. She is a half brother to Anticipated who was 3rd in the Windsor Castle and 2nd in the G3 Molecomb Stakes. She has a nice draw in stall 28 and at odds of 28/1, Kim Wexler is a speculative pick in an open race.  

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Kim Wexler E/W @ 28/1(5 Places)

ITV Live Selections: York 3.05pm – Summer Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3)

It doesn’t get any easier in this race, an 18 runner Group 3 over 6f for fillies and mares only. We were on Shimmering Dawn when she ran 9th behind Judicial at Newcastle last time. She didn’t get the best of rides there but she has yet to convince on turf. The one I like at a nice each way price is Last Empire for Kevin Ryan and Tom Eaves.

This daughter of Pivotal shaped very nicely last time behind Liberty Beach at Haydock (6f gd/sft). She didn’t find daylight until late in the day but she flew home when she did. She was less than 2L behind the winner at the finish and right behind the likes of Maid In India and Queen JoJo. With a clearer run here she can beat those two rivals and that could be good enough to get a place. At odds of 16/1 Last Empire could go well for each way players.

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Last Empire e/w @ 16/1 nb (5 places)

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Newbury 3.25pm – Steventon Stakes (Listed)

Walkinthesand is the one I’ll be taking a chance on here at a decent price. Trained by Richard Hannon, this son of Footstepsinthesand needs to bounce back from a poor run at Ascot. However, in fairness to him it was a big ask on his return on ground probably softer than ideal. He should strip much fitter now and the return to a sounder surface will suit.

His best form has come on decent ground and he last won off 105 in a 10f Newmarket handicap off 105. He has a couple of placed Listed efforts in the book too and they both came on good/good to firm. He has just under 3L to find with Fox Tal on their meeting at Doncaster last September but he is 4lb better off at the weights with that rival here. 20/1 looks to big for a horse with his ability and Walkinthesand is the each way selection.

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Walkinthesand E/W @ 20/1

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Curragh 3.45pm – Sapphire Stakes (Group 2)

The first live race of the day from the Curragh is the 5f Group 2 Sapphire Stakes. Only 7 will go to post so it makes limited appeal from an each way perspective. The good to yielding ground should suit Make A Challenge and it will be fascinating to see how he gets on against English raider A’Ali. They head the market at very skinny odds and it is hard to look beyond them. If there was 3 places e/w I’d be putting Rapid Reaction up at 28/1 but it is hard to see her beating the two market leaders. Not a race I’ll be getting involved in. No bet.

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: No Bet

ITV Tips: Newbury 4.00pm – Marsh Cup Handicap (Class 2)

The final live race from Newbury on ITV4 on Sunday is this staying handicap. 11 will go to post and with Hollie Doyle taking over in the saddle, perhaps Just Hubert can deliver now he gets his preferred ground. He has not performed well on his last four starts but two of them came on the all-weather and the other two came on easy ground.

When he has had good ground or better at 12f or further his form figures read 163151. That suggests that he could bounce back to form on today’s ground and he is only 2lb above the mark off which he won comfortably at Musselburgh last season. Hollie Doyle has yet to ride a winner for William Muir in 12 attempts, so hopefully her 13th one is lucky! At odds of 12/1 Just Hubert is the each way selection.

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Just Hubert e/w @ 12/1 (4 places)

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Curragh 4.15pm – Kilboy Estate Stakes (Group 2)

Eight fillies have been declared for this 9f Group 2. The one I like here is Ridenza for in form Mick Halford and Ronnie Whelan. I fancied this filly to go well in the Irish Guineas but she was a non-runner due to quick ground. She instead reappeared at Leopardstown in a G3 and ran really well to finish 3rd behind Know It All. She was admittedly over 3L behind the winner at the finish but she travelled supremely well before the lack of a recent run probably told in the final furlong.

The slight step up in trip should help this nicely bred daughter of Sea The Stars. Returning to a kinder surface should be in her favour too. Mick Halford’s horses are running much better now too after a slow start when action returned. This does look a decent race but I think Ridenza could be a touch above these in terms of class and at odds of 6/1 she is the NAP of the day.

Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Ridenza Win @ 6/1 NAP