ITV Racing Tips: Four Tips For Day 1 Of York Dante Festival

It's day one of York's Dante Festival on Wednesday 13 May, with the quality action on the Knavesmire taking place in front of the ITV Racing cameras. Steve Chambers previews the star-studded card, which includes the Group 2 Minster Stakes and Group 3 Musidora Stakes. He has four selections during the afternoon...

14:20 York - Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap

Sing Us A Song got the better of Klassleader when the pair clashed in a 1m 6f Haydock handicap at the end of September, and the pair are back locking horns in the 14.20pm at York on Wednesday. Both sit prominently in the betting, at the time of writing, but it's possible that Klassleader has more progression to come this season and can land this contest in style.

A winner prior to that fine Haydock run, Klassleader oozed class when bounding to victory at Ffos Las on his handicap debut. That success came over a mile-and-a-half, and a return to that trip here should see him in a better light. He struggled to see out the 1m 6f in that Haydock event, so a drop back in distance should suit. He was only given a 2lbs rise for that Haydock run, and with only four runs on his record the Lope De Vega colt looks more than capable of progressing rapidly this season.

William Haggas is likely to have bigger targets for him later on in the campaign, and with Tom Marquand in the saddle, everything is set for a huge run in a cracking opening contest in front of the ITV Racing cameras.

14:55 York - Churchill Tyres Handicap

A winner off a mark of 101 at Wolverhampton whilst under the stewardship of Archie Watson, Kylian will take his chance off 100 in the Churchill Tyres Handicap at 14:55. Now trained by sprint king Robert Cowell, the five-year-old has shown recent signs of returning to his best, and he looks to capable of causing a shock in this at double-figured odds.

Unable to figure over five furlongs in a few runs, Cowell elected to send him back over six furlongs and he was a very creditable third at Leicester at the end of last month. Remaining at six furlongs for this contest, he will be bidding for his first win at York on his fourth start at the track. Having previously competed in the Listed Westow Stakes at York, he showed when seventh in a hot handicap at the Ebor Festival that he can run well in big field events.

With a Listed win in Germany on his CV, he's one that, if everything falls right on the day, could upset a few progressive sprint handicappers, and he's certainly one of the class angles in the race.

15:30 York - Go Local Stores Minster Stakes

A devilishly difficult renewal of this Group 2 contest will see a whole host of contenders line up with a notable chance of landing this event. The likes of Big Mojo, American Affair and Cool Hoof Luke have shown to be real elite sprinters, but the one to side with on Wednesday is Harry Eustace's Time For Sandals, who is the sole filly in the Minster Stakes at 15.30.

She showed her quality last season when rocketing to a shock 25/1 win in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, and a repeat of that effort would certainly be good enough here. She disappointed on her first start of the season last month in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket, but she should improve immeasurably for that run here.

Having been seen twice before her Royal Ascot win last season, she is one that could improve as the season goes on, so that run at Flat HQ should bring on notable improvement. The daughter of Sands Of Mali will make her York debut here, but if she can perform at the track then she could well storm to victory.

16:05 York - Tattersalls Musidora Stakes

Fourth in the Fillies' Mile at the end of last season, Legacy Link certainly has the strongest form on show in the Musidora Stakes at 16:05. John Gosden is looking to join Sir Henry Cecil on nine Musidora Stakes victories and Legacy Link can be that filly that sees the legendary handler join Cecil at the top of the most wins as a trainer in this event.

Making her seasonal reappearance here, the daughter of Dubawi, who is a 10/1 shot for the Oaks at Epsom in a few weeks, could improve for that outing. The fillies' Classic at the start of June is sure to be her main target, but the Fillies' Mile form has been boosted with second that day Venetian Lace finishing third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. She is a filly that should relish the step to a mile-and-a-quarter here, and has lots of improvement to come.

The likes of Felicitas, Moments Of Joy and Sea The Storm shall put up bold bids, but Legacy Link looks the one that could shape into a real Group 1 filly this campaign, and she's entitled to be a warm order for this.