ITV Racing Tips - Friday 16th May 2025

14:10 – York

The final day of the Dante meeting kicks off with the listed Marygate Stakes and a 5f sprint full of unexposed fillies is not a betting heat I want to be involved in here.

Harry’s Girl and Love Olivia head the market at around 2/1 the pair of them and that is no surprise due to their connections and both winning on debut.

14:42 – York

I am not convinced that this is a too strong of a handicap for the grade and there also looks to be a real lack of pace on paper too.

I was pretty keen on THUNDER RUN for the Lincoln at Doncaster but he did too much too soon that day – on a day where front runners struggled big time.

He was progressive as a 3yo, winning a handicap here off 96 and also finishing a good 4th in the Balmoral at Ascot on just his sixth start.

With the lack of pace in the race, I expect Clifford Lee to try make and all here from stall 4 and with fitness now behind him, I would expect a bigger performance.

He goes up in trip today but should love the ground and he is a horse that I expect to be a group performer down the line, so I think at anything over 5/1 looks a sound proposition today.

THUNDER RUN 11/2  1PT EW

15:13 – York

This looks a really good race for a listed fillies’ contest with a few fillies ready to defend their unbeaten tags.

Consecrated is probably the ‘sexiest’ as she was very impressive on debut at Newbury beating one of Beckett’s comfortably. That same filly (Breckenbrough) then saw the behind of GULYA at Ascot.

De Sousa would have had his ride back that day if he could as GULYA was an unlucky loser when 2nd there – just not getting out in time and finishing with lots of running.

Her only run as a 2yo now looks strong too as she was 2nd to Whirl who won the Musidora earlier this week and I think she is the one with the best form in the book and looks solid to me at 11/4 to exact revenge from her last run.

Glittering Surf has to be a player too following her smart win at Kempton and Owen Burrows is in red hot form so far this season, operating at a 39% strike rate.

GULYA 11/4 1PT WIN

15:45 – York

Rebel’s Romance certainly brings some intrigue to the Yorkshire Cup, and he is certainly the one to beat here, providing he gets the trip. I see no reason why he won’t and even though he carries a 3lb penalty, he is still the best horse at the weights.

Sweet William will likely need the run as per John Gosden’s interview yesterday and Continuous has been disappointing since winning the St Leger really.

Overall, I would be shocked if Rebel’s Romance didn’t win this but at 5/4, I can pass him by.

16:15 – York

Generally, I would say this race is a punting nightmare but there is a horse I think could be way ahead of his mark and that is AGAINST THE WIND.

Kevin Ryan’s horse was a decisive winner at Thirsk on his comeback and although it wasn’t a great race, it was the manner of how we he went through the race that impressed me most. He also only got a 6lb rise for that comfortable win.

Against The Wind also ran well here in the Goffs Half Million when finishing 5th and that can’t be a negative to his chances.

In an ideal world I would like Tom Eaves to get a toe into the race as I think he could really suit settling behind a strong pace, but I wouldn’t be too upset if he tried to make it due to his natural speed.

He is generally available at 5/1 and I think that is a fair price for this progressive sprinter.

AGAINST THE WIND 5/1 2PT WIN