ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Selections at York’s Ebor Festival

It’s the final day of York’s Ebor Festival and ITV are also showing a couple of supporting races from Goodwood, giving punters plenty to get stuck into. I’ve zeroed in on the Knavesmire for my main plays, with two horses who look well placed to make an impact in front of the cameras.

14:25 York – Sky Bet Melrose Handicap

The Melrose is always one of the toughest betting puzzles of the week, a heritage handicap stacked with improving three-year-olds who are only just learning their trade. It’s a race where stamina and patience count for plenty, and I’ve come down on the side of TALISMANS TIME. He looks the right shape for this: progressive, uncomplicated, and already proving he can sustain a long run. The Hamilton success over ~1m5f wasn’t flashy on the clock but it was tidy and professional — travelled, moved into it on the bridle, then lengthened when asked.

That’s the attitude you want on the Knavesmire, where the straight can expose flimsy finishers. Sky Sports York’s long run-in should suit because he doesn’t rely on a single burst; he builds and keeps finding. A fair draw gives options to sit mid-division and angle out rather than needing a weaving ride, and the complexion of this race typically rewards the horse who can hold a position and grind from the three.

Plenty here are potential Group horses, but Talismans Time has current staying form in the book and still has upside from his mark. If they go hard early, he’ll be one of the few still lengthening through the line; if they steady it, he’s shown enough tactical pace to stay in touch before stretching late. In a race that can turn into a war of attrition, that blend of economy and stamina is exactly what you want.

15:00 York – Sky Bet City of York Stakes

The City of York Stakes has been elevated to Group 1 status this year, and it’s shaping up as a proper speed duel over seven furlongs with a sprinkle of depth and intrigue. I’ve gone with SEAGULLS ELEVEN, a colt whose form and trajectory suggest he's absolutely ready to step into this ring. He was supplemented late for this race after an eye-catching Group 3 win at Goodwood — not a flash 7f effort either, but one soaked in grit.

He was shaken up two furlongs out, quickened strongly under pressure, and held on gamely against seasoned rivals. That tells you two things immediately: he can handle cut-and-thrust racing at this level, and he seems to thrive on rising to a target. Connections clearly believe in him, and that late entry suggests their confidence has grown since Goodwood. Jockey James Doyle will know how to time his move and he’ll have options to sit just off the pace — key in a race that seldom stops for breath.

What really sells it is his adaptability and battle-hardened tune-up; this isn’t a raw juvenile, he’s a colt learning his way and doing it with substance. Yes, there are familiar faces lining up — the likes of Rosallion, Qirat, and Audience — but none are bombproof. A Group 1 over 7f at York is often won by the one who can stay relaxed, travel, then switch on the light when asked. Seagulls Eleven fits that mould and arrives with momentum, belief, and tactical savvy. He’s not just a bet at a huge 18/1 - he’s the story of the race if he delivers.