ITV Racing Tips from Architect Tips with a Saturday each-way double at the Ebor Festival.
15:00 York
An excellent line-up for the Group 2 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes and while Kinross returned to winning ways in the Lennox Stakes last time, I fancy the chances of the runner-up from that race ISAAC SHELBY (best price 7/1) to potentially reverse the form and take the spoils before a tilt at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October.
An impressive all-the-way winner of the Greenham Stakes on his return, he was marginally denied in the Group 1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains in France on his next start when a neck second and then ran a good race to finish fourth in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot despite racing keenly throughout. He again raced keenly when last seen in the Lennox Stakes but came within a neck of beating Kinross, putting up a brave effort in defeat. He is probably a better horse going left-handed as well given he is unbeaten in two starts, albeit both of these wins were gained at Newbury, though this course has a few similarities.
He is rated only a pound lower than Mutasaabeq and Al Suhail but gets five pounds from both of those, as well as five pounds from Kinross. I think he is a few pounds better than his initial rating on a left-handed track, so with three places up for grabs, he is a standout value pick and could easily win this with more to come.
16:10 York
An ultra-competitive Sky Bet Constantine Handicap but LETHAL LEVI (best price 11/1) has posted some really good efforts this campaign and is back on the same mark of 96 as when a neck second over course-and-distance back in May.
This four-year-old is a model of consistency and also ran a big race here two starts back when carrying top-weight in the Sky Bet Dash Handicap, finishing a creditable fifth of 15 having been sent off joint-favourite.
The form has been upheld very nicely since, as the winner has subsequently landed the Stewards Cup while the second has won twice since and the third went close in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon when last seen.
He is also set to carry a much lower weight than his fine performance here two starts ago as well, and acts effectively at his best on this sort of ground, anything that ranges from good to firm, good to soft.
He is reasonably drawn in stall 9 and connections reach for the cheekpieces. All things considered, he is very much one to consider with five places variously available back at a course that suits and his mark being within range.
