ITV will be televising seven live races on Saturday with action from the final day of York’s Ebor Festival and from the middle day of Goodwood’s August Bank Holiday meeting.
- 1:50 York: Sky Bet Strensall Stakes – Bowmark @ 9/2
- 2:05 Goodwood: Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap – Mudbir @ 5/1
- 2:25 York: Sky Bet Melrose Handicap – Golden Handshake @ 11/2
- 2:40 Goodwood: Livescorebet Total Betting Experience Handicap – Prince Of The Seas @ 4/5
- 3:00 York: Sky Bet City Of York Stakes – Rosallion @ 6/4
- 3:35 York: Sky Bet Ebor Handicap – Ascending @ 14/1
- 4:10 York: Sky Bet Constantine Handicap – Pocklington @ 6/1
The live ITV racing opens with the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York. Heading the betting is King’s Gambit for Harry Charlton who was third in the Great Voltigeur at this meeting last year and was also third last time out in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. Next is Bowmark for John & Thady Gosden who ran out of steam in the French Derby but could suit the drop down in trip.
A trio of Class 2 handicaps follow with the Virgin Bet Handicap over 7f at Goodwood, followed by the Melrose Handicap at York over 1m6f and the Livescorebet Handicap back at Goodwood which is run over 1m4f.
The highest class race of the day follows at York, the Group 1 City Of York Stakes. This 7f race was promoted from a Group 2 for this year and now carries a prize fund of £600,000. Current favourite is Richard Hannon’s Rosallion who had been set to compete in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deuville last Sunday but was withdrawn due to a bruised foot. Shock 150/1 Sussex winner, Qirat, who defeated Rosallion that day is back at around 18/1.
Next up from York is one of the big betting heats not just of the week but of the summer on the flat, the Ebor Handicap. With a maximum field of 22, this 1m6f contest is normally a tricky puzzle to solve. Willie Mullins has won this race twice and saddles current favourite, Hipop De Loire. We think some value might lie with another entrant from a jumps trainer, Ascending for Henry de Bromhead, who won the Ascot Stakes at Royal meeting.
We stay at York for the final live race of the day, the Constatine Handicap, a Class 2 sprint over 6f. Pocklington for Geoff Oldroyd was unlucky in the Dash Handicap here last month and can run a big race.