York, Sandown and Chester Tips for ITV Racing on Saturday 11th June

The final weekend before Royal Ascot gives us meetings across the country but we’re focusing on the ITV Racing from Sandown, York and Chester for our Saturday racing tips as we look to top up the betting bank ahead of Ascot.

 

1:40 Sandown

The first race live on ITV is a wide-open 1m1f handicap.

The one for me here is MAPLEWOOD (9/2) for the Charlie Appleby team. Slowly away last time out here at York, he done well to pass several rivals to finish third of ten runners that day. He was a good winner at Windsor before that and I think this step back up in trip to 1m1f can see further improvement. Easily the most powerful connections in this contest and they will be hopeful of a big run.

 

2:00 York

The first race from York is the Queen Mothers handicap, a 1m4f race for the female jockeys.

I’ll chance THRONE HALL (17/2) here. He often runs his best races here at York and I suspect he may well have been laid out for this contest after three poor runs to start off the season. He’s dropped in the handicap so he manages to sneak into this race off a mark of 92. The Watson/Hampson pair are set to get married soon enough so this would be the ideal pre-wedding gift.

 

2:15 Sandown

The 2:15 from Sandown is a mile handicap for punters to get stuck into.

I’ll give SHEER ROCKS (17/2) EW a chance here. She was a very impressive winner on her first two starts at Chepstow and Bath albeit she was not beaten much. I’m happy to excuse her effort last time out as Epsom isn’t for everyone and given it was only her third career start, it might have come too soon in her career. This track will suit better and I’m hopeful she can resume improvement back under what could well be her optimum conditions.

 

2:35 York

The next race from York comes up at 2:35 and it is the JCB Handicap over 7f.

I like LION TOWER (9/2) NB here who arrived here in really good form. She was a very good second here at York last time out in a competitive handicap and she has surprisingly been left on the same mark for this. I think this drop in trip will prove to be no problem and it’s hard to see her out the frame in this handicap. She likes to sit handy which is often seen to best effect on the quick ground of York.

 

2:50 Sandown

The 2:50 is arguably the feature of the day, the 5f listed Scurry Stakes.

It’s hard to get away from CATURRA (11/8) here for the Clive Cox stable. He made a very encouraging seasonal reappearance over at Chantilly finishing a good second in a decent race. He then backed that up last time out behind Commonwealth Cup favourite El Cabello at Haydock last time out. He was very unlucky that day and was hampered at a crucial stage. He looks to have wintered well and if everything goes smoothly, it’s hard to see him being beat.

 

3:05 York

The Grand Cup Stakes is a a listed race over  the 1m6f trip.

I like MANDOOB (9/4) NAP here who should get her own way in front. She was a fine second last time out behind Al Aasy who brings Group level form to the table. A repeat of that effort will see her win this and I can see this race working out similar from a tactics perspective. There isn’t an Al Aasy in this race so she should prove tough to pass.

 

3:20 Chester

The one race from Chester is a very tricky handicap over an extended 7f.

The one for me is ROMAN DRAGON (15/2). You’d have to think the combination of a front runner drawn in stall 4 ridden by Frannie Norton and trained by Hugo Palmer is the perfect combination for a race round Chester and that is what we have here. He was unlucky last time out under similar tactics at Haydock finishing second trying to make all. Chester is a lot more suited to front runners of course and I think he’ll go close here.

 

3:40 York

The 3:40 is the final race on ITV and it is a trappy 6f handicap.

The one for me is SHOWTIME MAHOMES (8/1) EW. I thought he was good value for his win here at York last time out over this course and distance and I can’t see a reason why he won’t go close in this race as it appears a very similar winnable contest. He has a nice racing weight for this of 8’6 and stall 17 looks ideal based on the pace angle in this. He’s a very appealing each way price on all known form.

 

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