York Racing Tips - May 15th

York takes centre stage on Thursday with a seven-race card that features a premier Derby Trial in the Group Two Dante Stakes at 3.45.

The action kicks off at 2.10 and runs through to the finale at 5.25 and we have provided selections and analysis for three of the races on Wednesday’s card.

Thursday Racing Tips

bet365 Betting Offer

3.45 York - The Lion In Winter

The Lion In Winter looks set to justify his position at the front of the Derby Ante-Post market with victory in the Dante Stakes this afternoon.

The son of Sea The Stars achieved a high level of form as a two-year old despite being restricted to just a couple of starts. He readily accounted for the subsequent Group Three winner Ides of March with Listed-placed Currawood back in third on debut at the Curragh.

He then landed a good renewal of the Group Three Acomb Stakes at this track, lowering the Juvenile track record in the process. That form has been strongly boosted by the third-placed Ruling Court winning the 2000 Guineas earlier this month.

While clearly not short of pace, The Lion in Winter’s future surely lies over staying trips, with plenty of stamina on the dam side of his pedigree and his sire himself a Derby winner.

He looks likely to improve for the outing given the time off the track, however Adien O’Brian’s yard have been dominating the classic trials and are operating at 39% strike rate over the last two weeks, with 18 winners from 46 runners.

2.10 York - Vantheman

Course form is often important at York and Vantheman has hit the frame on both previous attempts over this course and distance, with those two efforts coming in big field handicaps.

His second-placed finish at the Dante Festival last year was particularly eye-catching, given his high draw, splitting horses that were drawn 1 and 2. The draw will be a factor again here and he is out in stall 15, but with the likes of Zulu Chief drawn outside him he should get a solid pace to aim at.

He should improve for his recent reappearance over 6f, that form has been strongly boosted by the first and second filling the same placings in a heritage handicap, while the sixth and ninth-placed runner have won since.

He is just 2lb above his last winning mark and remains open to further progress this season with the drop back to the minimum trip in his favour.

3.13 York - Sea The Fire

Sea The Fire is strongly fancied to land her second Group contest now back against her own sex with her reappearance behind her. Her biggest victory to date came at last year’s Ebor festival at this track, winning a Group Three over a slightly shorter trip.

She also had some useful efforts at the top level, narrowly denied by Opera Singer in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and unlucky not to finish closer when producing a massive run in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

She has conditions in her favour and ought to take some beating at this level at a track that clearly suits.