Sunday ITV3 Racing Tips: Thirsk, Salisbury and The Curragh

We finally got back into the winner’s enclosure on Saturday. The day didn’t start too well with Graceful Magic never landing a blow. Posted (adv e/w @ 25/1) then ran a massive race, staying on nicely for 2nd when the gap appeared. Kasbaan ran a strange sort of race and was doing his best work when the race was virtually gone. Certain Lad (adv e/w 14/1) ran a nice race to grab 2nd, the winner was just too good. Island Brave won very nicely in the 2 mile handicap for us, defying a drift to 33/1. It wasn’t to be for Mere Green or Protected Guest, but it wasn’t a bad day overall. Check out Dave Stevos’ Sunday ITV3 racing tips below…

Sunday ITV3 Racing Tips: Thirsk 1.55pm – 5F Handicap (Class 2)

A field of 8 are due to go to post for this 5f handicap and hopefully they all run. If they do, Tanasoq could be the one to be on each way. This son of Acclamation is trained by Paul Midgley and his horses are hitting form. A former course and distance winner, he has yet to click into top gear this season. He did start back off a very difficult mark to be fair (95), but the handicapper has relented.

After three poor runs at Doncaster, Ayr and York he was dropped to a mark of 87. Last time out at Haydock he shaped well enough after a slow start and he was only 3.5L behind the winner. He is in off the same mark here, 3lb lower than for his last handicap victory. Graham Lee is riding with confidence too and at odds of 16/1 Tanasoq is the each way selection.

Sunday ITV3 Racing Tips: Tanasoq e/w @ 16/1

Salisbury ITV3 Tips: 2.15pm – 5f Handicap (Class 2)

Just 7 will go to post in this 5f contest and it looks wide open. We were on Konchek last time out when he was placed behind Tone The Barone at Ascot. He gets a 6lb swing in the weights with that rival and he only has a length to find. You would have to fancy him to turn that form around and he looks likely to make a bold bid for Adam Kirby and Clive Cox.

However, with Caspian Prince in the field he is unlikely to get an easy lead and they could cut each other’s throats in front. Mr Kiki and Poets Dance won’t be hanging around either and that could set it up for a closer. One that is versatile tactically is Encore D’Or and he loves small fields too. 6 of his last 7 wins came in fields with 7 runners or less and he has won when held up. The ground is fine, his trainer had a winner on Saturday and at odds of 20/1 Encore D’Or is worth chancing each way.

Salisbury Sunday Tips: Encore D’Or e/w @ 20/1

ITV3 Live Tips Thirsk: 2.30pm – 6f Handicap (Class 3)

A field of 10 horses are due to line up in the stalls for this 6f contest. Abate and Swissterious meet again after locking horns last time out at York and both should be thereabouts at the finish.  The bookies haven’t missed those two though and at a bigger price perhaps Royal Prospect can go well for each way players. Trained by Julie Camacho, this 5yo showed signs he was coming back to form at York last time.

That was his first run after a wind op and he showed up well for a long way. He was 5L behind the winner and it was a big improvement on his seasonal return. Horses can take a run or two to regain their confidence after wind surgery and he could step up on that run returned to Thirsk. He was a handicap winner here on good to soft off 81 last June and he showed fast ground held no fears when subsequently winning off 85 at Redcar. He is in off a pound lower mark today and at odds of 16/1, Royal Prospect is the e/w pick.

Sunday ITV3 Racing Tips: Royal Prospect e/w @ 16/1 (4 Places)

Curragh Sunday Tips: 3.10pm – Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)

The feature race this Sunday on ITV3 is the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. This 2yo 6F sprint has attracted 10 in total, 2 Starspangledbanner fillies and 8 colts. Ventura Tormenta and The Lir Jet are over from the UK to try and take home this pot and only a short head separated those two at Chantilly last time out (6f gd/sft). Off identical terms and on similar ground there won’t be much between them again today.

Steel Bull has looked a top prospect on both runs thus far. He scored in a Goodwood Group 2 last time out, following up on an impressive debut win at Naas. The son of Clodovil spearheads the home challenge and it would be no surprise if he won it. One that could go well at a bigger price is Aloha Star. This filly pulled off a shock when winning at 33/1 here last time.

She previously won a Bellewstown maiden, not a conventional route for a Group 1 performer. The horse she beat last time, Frenetic, is well regarded and with a rating of 103 this filly should be bang there with the colts given her 3lb weight for sex allowance. Good or softer ground should be ideal for her and at odds of 14/1 Aloha Star is the each way selection.

Sunday Curragh Tips: Aloha Star e/w @ 14/1 NB (4 Places Skybet)

Sunday ITV3 Racing Tips: 3.25pm – Sovereign Stakes (Group 3)

Accidental Agent is a horse I have a lot of time for and I think he is massively overpriced for this. Beat a nose in it last season, this race has likely been on Eve Johnson Houghton’s radar for some time. This former Queen Anne winner reappeared in that race and ran a cracker in 5th at 100/1. That showed that plenty of his old ability is still there and you could forgive him his poor run last time at Windsor.

This horse is best when coming late off a strong pace and with Marie’s Diamond in the field this should be a truly run race. He will relish the fast ground, unlike some of the others in here that would prefer a bit of cut. If he doesn’t lose too much ground at the start Accidental Agent is more than capable of making his presence felt . At odds of 25/1, he is the each way pick.  

Sunday ITV3 Racing Tips: Accidental Agent e/w @ 25/1 NAP

Sunday Curragh Tips: 3.40pm – Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Group 3)

At the prices I think Back To Brussels is worth backing each way for the Stacks and Chris Hayes here. This filly has struggled for consistency and her last run at Naas wasn’t too clever. However, she previously ran a massive race in a Listed race down in Cork when chasing home Sonailya, who re-opposes here.

There was only half a length between them that day and while the Twomey horse is now 2lb better off, it is still hard to see there being much between them at the finish. Sonailya is around a 6/1 shot for this race, while Back To Brussels is as big as 66/1. The top two, Millisle and Speak in Colours are the class acts in this race but with 3 places on offer I’ll be taking a chance on Back To Brussels  e/w  at 66/1.

Sunday curragh Tips: Back To Brussels e/w @ 66/1