ITV Racing Tips on Thursday, May 12th
ITV are broadcasting six live races once again on Thursday afternoon, including five races from York as the Dante Festival continues. Racing Tips have provided insight into all six scheduled races, with a selection to follow in each. Check those out below, alongside today’s best bets – which are free to view on site now.
Alligator Alley (1.50 York)
Copper Knight will bid to record a remarkable seventh victory over course and distance on Thursday afternoon and while the eight-year-old rarely runs a bad race on the Knavesmire, he does appear to be a shade too high in the weights and last season’s winner may struggle this time around.
At the current prices, ALLIGATOR ALLEY is certainly worth a second look on just his second start for trainer David O’Meara.
Formerly trained by Joseph O’Brien, Alligator Alley had some high-class form to his name as a juvenile. Runner-up to Liberty Beach in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, he soon doubled his career tally with a comfortable victory at York in Listed company before being sent to contest the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint that same season.
Despite losing his way somewhat as a three-year-old, Alligator Alley made an encouraging start to life with David O’Meara at Wolverhampton back in March. Returning from a 533-day absence, the five-year-old ran with credit to finish third behind subsequent winner Highfield Princess and all-weather specialist Tone The Barone.
The five-year-old will have come on plenty for his recent stable debut in March and connections will expect Alligator Alley to be seriously competitive off his mark of 95 on Thursday afternoon.
David O’Meara and Daniel Tudhope can team up and land the opener at York on Thursday.
Viadelamore (2.05 Salisbury)
A 5lb higher mark shouldn’t prevent another victory for VIADELAMORE, who opened his account on handicap debut at Redcar over ten furlongs when last seen.
Prior to his first career victory, James Ferguson’s three-year-old had shown plenty of promise in his three outings as a juvenile, including when chasing home three-time winner Symbol Of Light in novice company over a mile at Wolverhampton.
Well supported ahead of his seasonal return at Redcar, Viadelamore created a taking impression when getting off the mark over 1m2f, staying on strongly, he readily pulled clear of his seven rivals in the closing stages under jockey Daniel Muscutt to run out a comfortable winner at the line.
With further improvement to come, James Ferguson’s charge looks difficult to oppose at the top of the betting and rates a confident selection.
Salisbury host a competitive seven-race card on Thursday.
Thunder Kiss (2.25 York)
Sir Michael Stoute landed this twelve months ago with Queen Power and is represented by Noon Star and Ville De Grace in this year’s renewal. Both are entitled to plenty of respect, however, the vote on this occasion goes to Irish raider THUNDER KISS who has proven to be a model of consistency for trainer Ger Lyons and created a big impression when winning on her seasonal reappearance last month.
The talented grey mare took her form to new heights last season for connections, reaching the frame in Group company on four separate occasions as well as registering three victories in the process.
Following a 181 day break, the five-year-old continued her fine run of form when effortlessly landing her fifth career win in Listed company at Cork over twelve furlongs. Travelling well in front under jockey Colin Keane, Thunder Kiss never looked to be in any danger and quickly pulled away from her rivals inside the final furlong to win by four and a half lengths.
The drop back to ten furlongs shouldn’t pose a problem for Thunder Kiss given how easily she went through the race last time out, and connections will be confident the progressive grey mare can take another step forward as she returns to Group company on Thursday afternoon.
Trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane will be looking for further success with Thunder Kiss
Cruyff Turn (3.00 York)
North Yorkshire trainer Tim Easterby regularly finds the winner’s enclosure on the Knavesmire and it would come as no surprise if connections have targeted the Hambleton Handicap for CRUYFF TURN for quite some time.
After failing to show much in his six outings at two and three, Cruyff Turn improved markedly during his four-year-old campaign, winning four handicap contests including at York’s Ebor Meeting when taking the Clipper Logistics Handicap over course and distance last August.
Returning as a five-year-old at Haydock in April, he shaped very much in need of the run following a 210 break when finishing sixth behind Archie Watson’s progressive four-year-old Excel Power. Well supported in the Thirsk Hunt Cup on his following start, Tim Easterby’s charge wasn’t beaten far when finishing in mid-division after racing prominently throughout the one-mile contest.
Cruyff Turn should be spot on for Thursday’s assignment and with the five-year-old currently available at a double-figure price, he is certainly worth supporting in search of his second course and distance success.
Cruyff Turn (right) can record another course and distance success in the Hambleton Handicap.
Desert Crown (3:35 York)
Available at 33/1 less than a week ago for the Derby, DESERT CROWN now finds himself the second favourite for the Epsom Classic next month despite making just one racecourse appearance.
However, Sir Michael Stoute’s highly-touted three-year-old created a taking impression when making a winning debut at Nottingham last November dove the one-mile trip. Nudged out on that occasion under Richard Kingscote, the Nathaniel Colt strode effortlessly clear to win by five and a half lengths – a race that Group 1 winners Space Blues and Mishriff previously landed.
Although the form of that race is open to question, there is no denying Desert Crown could be a high-class three-year-old for connections this season and with the yard previously winning the Dante Stakes six times in the past, Desert Crown is taken to make a winning return on Thursday before putting his reputation on the line at Epsom next month.
Derby contender Desert Crown will look to give trainer Sir Michael Stoute his seventh victory in the feature Group 2 Dante Stakes.
King Of Bavaria (4.10 York)
Trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore were in flying form at Chester last week, teaming up for five winners on the Roodeye. The pair will be hoping for further success with KING OF BAVARIA on Thursday as the three-year-old bids to take his record to three from four.
Unbeaten as a juvenile, King Of Bavaria was pitched into Listed company on his return at Navan and while he was unable to maintain his unbeaten record, the three-year-old shaped well from off the pace in fourth in a race that ultimately suited those who raced prominently.
With the trainer and jockey combination operating at well above 30%, it’s difficult to see past King Of Bavaria and it will take a mighty performance from one of his seven rivals to lower his colours.
King Of Bavaria will be strongly fancied to give Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien another winner.