ITV Racing Tips on Wednesday, May 11th
ITV are broadcasting six live races on Wednesday afternoon, including five from York as their three day Dante Festival takes centre stage. 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.
Gaassee (1.50 York)
The opening contest on day 1 can go the way of GAASSEE who won three of his four starts for connections last season. The son of Sea The Stars finished third on his racecourse debut at Lingfield last September but never looked back after that.
Lining up at Chester on his second racecourse appearance, William Haggas’ colt routed his six rivals with a staggering performance – sauntering effortlessly to victory by a whopping fifteen lengths.
Following his emphatic Chester success, Gaassee comfortably followed up under a penalty at Newcastle before rounding off his three-year-old campaign in handicap company at Kempton off a mark of 85. A five-length winner on that occasion, he defeated a subsequent three-time winner in Trevolli despite conceding eleven pounds to the eventual runner-up.
Last year’s winning connections will expect Gaassee to make a winning return on Wednesday afternoon and with further improvement to come as a four-year-old, William Haggas’ progressive charge is difficult to oppose and can get favourite backers off to the perfect start.
ITV Racing Tips. The smartly-bred Gaassee can land the ITV opener for trainer William Haggas.
Tulin (2.05 Newton Abbot)
The sole jump race on the ITV schedule can go the way of TULIN who should have plenty more to offer following recent wind surgery.
Successful at Taunton on his opening two starts for trainer Paul Nicholls in maiden and novice company, the five-year-old shaped with promise when switched to handicaps. Pitched into Listed company last October at Kempton, Tulin chased home the higher-rated Balko Saint over two miles and finished nicely clear of subsequent Lanzarote hurdle winner and Martin Pipe runner-up Cobblers Dream.
A neck second at Exeter in November soon followed, however, Tulin failed to shine when last seen at Wincanton. Never travelling from an early stage, the five-year-old always looked to be struggling from flag fall and ultimately finished a well-beaten fifth despite attracting strong market support once more.
If his lacklustre performance at Wincanton can be forgiven, Tulin has the form to be seriously competitive off his current mark of 124 and if the wind operation has the desired effect, Paul Nicholls’ charge will be tough to beat especially with jockey Angus Cheleda taking off a valuable 5lb.
Tulin can give Paul Nicholls a winner on the Newton Abbot card.
Nomadic Empire (2.25 York)
There are plenty of runners to consider in this wide-open sprint contest but it may pay to take a chance on NOMADIC EMPIRE who steadily improved last season as a three-year-old and should strip fitter following his eye-catching return at Ripon.
Highly tried as a juvenile, David O’Meara’s sprinter endured a frustrating start to his three-year-old campaign last year, reaching the frame in handicap company on three of his eight starts but ultimately failing to get his head in front.
However, despite proving expensive to follow, Nomadic Empire deservedly returned to winning ways towards the end of the season, landing a five-furlong handicap at Leicester off a mark of 93 in September, before following up over six furlongs at York from a 6lb higher mark just four days later.
After rounding off his three-year-old campaign with a creditable fourth on the Knavesmire back in October, Nomadic Empire made his seasonal return at Ripon last month over the minimum trip. Racing towards the rear of the field, the four-year-old was unable to find a gap inside the closing stages despite travelling much the best and was extremely unlucky not to finish closer than third.
A return to his favourite venue on Wednesday afternoon should ensure another bold display from Nomadic Empire and David O’Meara’s sprinter can land the spoils before tackling bigger targets as the season unfolds.
Nomadic Empire ran an encouraging race at Ripon last month and can land York’s second race.
Dragon Symbol (3.00, York)
A four-time winner for trainer Archie Watson, it will be fascinating to see how DRAGON SYMBOL goes on his first start for Newmarket trainer Roger Varian.
The four-year-old grey colt burst onto the sprinting scene last season after racking up four impressive victories across the all-weather and turf. Pitched into Group company on his following six outings, Dragon Symbol was unfortunate not to add to his tally, finishing runner-up on four of those six outings including in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and July Cup at Newmarket.
Third in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on his only previous visit to York, Roger Varian’s talented sprinter will be expected to go close with his sights slightly lowered ahead of his eagerly anticipated stable debut.
Dragon Symbol (right) can gain a first win in Group company on debut for Newmarket trainer Roger Varian.
Emily Upjohn (3:35 York)
It’s difficult to ignore the obvious claims of EMILY UPJOHN at the head of the betting following her staggering Sandown performance last month.
A cosy winner of a Wolverhampton novice on her debut last November, the Sea The Stars filly could hardly have been any more impressive when demolishing her eleven rivals on seasonal return at Sandown by nine and a half lengths. Shaken up inside the final two furlongs, the unbeaten filly showed a potent turn of foot to quicken right away under Frankie Dettori and leave her rivals toiling behind.
Currently vying for favouritism for the Oaks at Epsom next month, Emily Upjohn will be difficult to overhaul if turning up on the Knavesmire in a similar mood on Wednesday and connections will be confident the progressive filly can maintain her unbeaten start and take her record to a perfect three from three.
The banker on day 1? Emily Upjohn (left) will be a warm favourite to maintain her unbeaten start in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes.
Samburu (4.10 York)
It could be a quickfire double for trainer and jockey as SAMBURU appears to hold leading claims in the seven-furlong handicap contest.
The Kingman colt was seemingly unfancied when sent off 11/1 to make a winning debut at Yarmouth last October, however, despite the relative ease in the market, Samburu created a taking impression at the Seaside track, staying on under hands and heels to run out a comfortable winner by just under two lengths.
Returning from a 191-day break, Samburu confirmed the promise of his opening victory when making it two from two at Salisbury back in April. Ridden to lead inside the final furlong, Samburu only had to be nudged out under Frankie Dettori to see off the late challenge of Taratari.
With the yard giving the unbeaten colt a preliminary entry in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, a mark of 88 could seriously underestimate the true ability of Samburu and this looks like an ideal race for him to extend his unbeaten sequence before being aimed at bigger targets later on in the year.
Jockey Frankie Dettori can make it a double with Samburu in the fifth race from York.