Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips From The Curragh, York and Ascot

I banked on the rain arriving before racing on Saturday and unfortunately it didn’t come in time. Summa Peto was slowly away and never figured. Cold Stare looked like he might play a part at the finish but the ground was too quick for him. Tell Me All ran poorly too and never really travelled. Tadleel was an unlucky 2nd, his jockey’s decision to switch for room probably costing him the race. Neither Ugo Gregory nor Western Duke handled the ground. Dave Stevos is hoping to get back on track today, check out his Sunday ITV4 Racing tips from York, Ascot and the Curragh below.

ITV4 Live Selections: Ascot 1.55pm – Betfred Handicap (Class 2)

First up on Sunday is an 11 runner 5f handicap. Blue De Vega was still in at the time of writing but he may not run after his Newmarket win on Saturday. With quick ground looking likely the one I am backing here is Konchek for Kirby and Cox. This talented horse has amazingly got just one win to his name, a debut maiden success back in 2018.  

He had some superb form subsequently, including a 2L defeat to Advertise in a Group 2. He stayed in Group company for the first three starts of last season, his best run coming here behind Calyx in a G3 (6f gd/fm). Eventually he made his handicap debut off 98 at Newmarket and was only beat 2L by Kinks. His last two runs were encouraging off 93 and he is up 1lb to 94. Trip and ground look ideal and the cheekpieces are discarded. At odds of 8/1 Konchek is the e/w selection.

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: Konchek E/W @ 8/1

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: York 2.10pm – Sky Bet Handicap (Class 3)

The one I like in this tricky looking 7f handicap is Danielsflyer for Michael Dods and Connor Beasley. He is a regular in valuable handicaps on both sides of the Irish Sea and he has placed form in top races at Galway and Leopardstown off marks in the 90s. The son of Dandy Man rattled the crossbar a couple of times last season off 89 and 91.

He was only 4L behind Firmament when 6th of 20 off 92 on his last visit to York and he is now 7lb better off with that rival. Danielsflyer did run poorly on his return to action at Doncaster over 8f but that trip stretches him. His best form by far is at 6f and 7f and he is well suited by strongly run races.

This race should be run to suit him and he is dangerously well handicapped off 85. He’ll need to be winning to get into some of the top handicaps later in the season so hopefully he will be doing his best here. Danielsflyer looks overpriced at odds of 18/1 in comparison to Firmament given the swing in the weights from when they met here last season and he is the each way selection.

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: Danielsflyer E/W @18/1 (4 Places)

ITV4 Live Selections: Ascot 2.30pm – Betfred Handicap (Class 2)

Only 9 go to post in this 12f handicap and on quick ground Protected Guest looks massively overpriced. George Margarson’s son of Helmet needs it good to firm and he hasn’t had those conditions yet this season. The closest he got was good ground over 10f on his seasonal comeback. He shaped pretty well that day under a considerate ride and it was likely needed.

You can put a line through his last run as that came on soft ground. That will have helped from a fitness perspective though and he should be in tip-top shape today. He ran a blinder here back in September when beat a neck off 94. So, there are no worries about him handling the track. All of his career wins have come at Yarmouth but Ascot holds no fears and at odds of 25/1 he looks well worth chancing each way, once the rain stays away.   

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: Protected Guest e/w @ 25/1 NB

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: York 2.45pm – Dash Handicap (Class 2)

A race that has been won by some seriously good horses in the past, 13 will go to post this year. Tim Easterby is always a trainer to note at this track and Golden Apollo could run big for him here. This 6yo son of Pivotal is a former C&D winner and he was a fine 4th in this last season off 90. He is just a pound higher today and the good ground should suit him better than the softer conditions last season.

Golden Apollo won the Ayr Silver Cup last season off 88 and he usually takes a couple of runs to hit top form. He didn’t shape too badly on his return at Ascot. However, he was far too keen last time at Pontefract. Jason Hart rode him in this race last term and he was unlucky not to win given he was hampered at the start. David Allan is on board today and at odds of 16/1 Golden Apollo is the e/w NAP of the day.  

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: Golden Apollo E/W @ 16/1 NAP (4 Places)

ITV4 Live Selections: Curragh 2.55pm – Sky Bet Club Handicap (Class 2)

The big race of the day in Ireland is the Tattersalls Gold Cup. A 10f Group 1, only 6 will go to post and 4 of them are trained by O’Briens. Aidan runs Armory, Sir Dragonet and the hot favourite Magical. Joseph runs Buckhurst and you would think this could be another 1-2-3-4 in an Irish Group 1 for the family. However, Leo De Fury already did us a favour this season and if anything can break the O’Brien stranglehold it could be the son of Australia.

Jessica Harrington’s promising colt is clearly on the upgrade. He hammered a classy sort in Fleeting by 3L on his comeback here last time. It was soft when Buckhurst beat him by a head here last season and on better ground Leo De Fury could turn that form around. There is rain forecast tonight and that wouldn’t suit Shane Foley’s mount. However, if there is good in the description he could sneak a place at odds of 14/1.

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: Leo De Fury e/w @ 14/1

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: Ascot 3.05pm – Valiant Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3)

Agincourt very nearly did us a huge turn here at the Royal Meeting at a huge price but she is a lot shorter today. You can forgive her last run at Newmarket on account of the soft ground. She will be much more at home on the quicker ground here and Ryan Moore is an eye catching booking. Of those at the top of the market, she appeals the most.

Billesdon Brook is a formidable opponent and she ran a blinder behind Nazeef last time. She won’t mind the quick ground and her trainer is in fine form. However, she has failed to produce her best on both previous visits to Ascot and at the prices she is worth taking on. One that could outrun her odds is Lady Bowthorpe for William Jarvis and Kieran Shoemark.

This filly was a winner on her return at Lingfield and then got no run next time in a handicap off 85 at Newmarket. She was travelling well with nowhere to go and she could have finished much closer. She subsequently did extremely well to finish within 2.25L of the winner last time out in a Listed heat at Pontefract. Lady Bowthorpe was posted wide throughout, got no cover and it was no surprise she tired late on. Hopefully she is held up here and if she gets the gaps at the right times she could go well. At odds of 20/1 Lady Bowthorpe is the e/w selection.

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: Lady Bowthorpe e/w @ 20/1

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: York 3.20pm – Lyric Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)

Franconia is a warm order for this after her impressive Listed win at Newbury last time (10f gd). The form has been boosted by those behind her since and she looks a proper horse. Hopefully all 8 go to post for each way purposes. One filly that could go well returned to better ground at huge odds is Craylands. The same connections also run Eva Maria, who is a shorter price. However, she looks a shade more exposed than her stablemate.

The 3yo daughter of Golden Horn is only rated  83 but she gets a nice weight for age allowance from her older rivals. She pulled way too hard early last time at Newcastle yet was only beat 1.25L into 3rd. That was admittedly in a handicap off 83 but she showed plenty of promise. The fact Callum Shepherd chooses to ride her is another plus as he would have the pick (6 wins and 17 top 4s from 32 rides for the owners). If she settles better a big run could be on the cards and at 33/1 Craylands is the e/w pick.

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: Craylands e/w @ 33/1

ITV4 Tips: Ascot 3.40pm – Princess Margaret Stakes (Group 3)

The closing live race on ITV4 is a 6f Group 3 for 2yo fillies. Our old friend Caroline Dale is second only to the Ballydoyle raider More Beautiful in the betting. That is hard to understand given the margin between them in the Queen Mary. The O’Brien filly is priced up on reputation rather than form and I much prefer the claims of the David Loughnane trained filly. She shaped as though 6f would suit at the Royal Meeting and she can confirm the form.

Santosha is also trained by David Loughnane and he says he can’t split them. She ran a blinder in a G2 last time at Newmarket on soft ground and her maiden win came on good. Unlike the top two she is a 6f winner and she could pick up the pieces if they go too hard early. Not a betting heat for me but if you put a gun to my head I’d back the Loughnane fillies in a reverse forecast. 

Sunday ITV4 Racing Tips: No Bet