ITV Racing Tips: Check Out RaceOlly's best bets for York on Thursday

Having tipped up runaway Duke Of York Stakes winner Highfield Princess (advised 18/1) yesterday, RaceOlly is back for his best bets on day two of York's Dante Festival, and he has five selections on what should be a cracking day's racing on the Knavesmire...

13:50 York - Paddy Power 'Making Flat Less Flat' Handicap

A single figure draw is pretty important in these backed up by the fact only two (both drawn 11) horses have won from double figure draws in the 13 renewals of this, that being said this is the smallest field for some time and the only other time the field was this small stall 11 won. It’s less likely they’ll split or have one side hugely favoured with the small field and the probability they’ll come together. That in mind I’ve taken a chance on STRONG POWER from stall 12, who's well handicapped returning to the turf. He’s already won three times this year on the all weather and continued to go close off marks as high as 95 lately so handicap mark of 87 is eye catching here especially considering he was running as well on turf as he was all weather when last mixing it up. Five-year-olds have won two of the last three runnings and Alice Haynes has had two runners at York before for one winner. 

15:00 York - Paddy Power Hambleton Handicap

LION TOWER was a four-time winner last season and returned with an excellent effort in the Thirsk Hunt Cup when he was beaten just over a length despite being drawn in stall 14 and having a tough task made a lot harder. Can be marked up for that effort for sure and good draw here in stall 2. Grant Tuers excellent season last year was mostly thanks to his older horses, his horses aged 'four and above had a 22% win rate and it’s worth keeping an eye on them again as he looks to prove that was no one off. Two of those older horses wins came here at York from 12 runners, a 17% win rate.

15:35 York - Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes

DARK MOON RISING is interesting here upped in trip and has shown enough already to make the huge odds available here very appealing. Went off just 9/4 fav for a listed race on the all weather at Newcastle over shorter last month and ran like this step up in trip would be perfect which is backed up by breeding also. Ran a good race to finish 3rd here back in October in a race that was boosted several times since and is rated higher than several well fancied runners in this with plenty of optimism for further improvement. Yard won this in 2014 with The Grey Gatsby.

16:10 York - British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes

GET AHEAD is very interesting in this and ran a massive race in the Queen Mary at Ascot last year, even more impressive that she came back lame and missed the rest of the season after. Excuses over six furlongs at Kempton and ran a huge race in five furlong listed race at Bath and plenty to like about her profile in a race like this. Trainer Clive Cox has been in good form lately with four winners from his last 22 runners and fillies have won six of the last 12 renewals, only one filly ran last year and she placed and two the year before with the one beaten a short head. 

16:45 York - Frank Whittle Partnership ebfstallions.com Maiden Stakes

This one might seem a bit crazy but URBAN DANDY I’ve decided to take a chance on here and I’ll tell you for why. There was a little bit of money before the off on debut nine days ago at Wetherby but ran green and didn’t get a chance to show what he could do. Related to three winners, two of which won at two-years-old and trainer Tony Coyle has a 20% place rate with his two-year-olds over the last five years and has had a two-year-old winner here at York in that time. One of only two in this with experience and that can’t do him any harm with that behind him now and worth a little play at a massive price.