ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Double at York & Sandown

Star Jasmine, 0.5 pts E/W, 11/2, 5 place

Normally I tend to shy away from amateur jockey races, as they can often throw up some odd results, but I really like the chances of STAR JASMINE (best price 11/2), who should come into her own over this longer distance. 

This daughter of Churchill has been crying out for a step up in trip based on her finishing efforts in her four starts to date. She only found one too good in her first couple of starts on the all-weather before making a winning turf debut at Bath. 

That race was run on testing ground, and she powered through it to record a near-two-length success. A tardy start ultimately cost her on handicap debut at Hamilton last time out, as she would have gotten her nose in front in another few strides. 

She finished third but lost nothing in defeat, and the handicapper has only put her mark up 1Ib, which is very generous. Sophie Smith, who has ridden several winners this year and has loads of experience for an amateur, will take the ride.

With all things considered, I think George Boughey’s filly will take plenty of beating in the opener. The combination of this longer trip and very lenient mark should see her right in the thick of the action at the business end. Five places widely available.

Mascapone, 0.5 pts E/W, 8/1

MASCAPONE (best price 8/1) could turn out to be a horse that is way ahead of the handicapper at present and undoubtedly has more to offer after just a handful of starts. 

He has caught the eye in defeat numerous times now, especially when a luckless fourth at Newmarket in his penultimate start, where he would have won if he didn’t have to wait for a gap to appear. 

Once in the clear, he flew home to be nearest the finish, and he was right on the heels of horses rated 90+. He subsequently shaped very well on his return from a long absence at Newcastle when fifth and returns to the turf off the same mark.

Stall 15 might make life a little more difficult, but Jamie Spencer is likely to delay his challenge for as long as possible, so don’t expect this horse to be hurried into the race anytime soon. This race will be run to suit him. 

Furthermore, he currently holds entries in the likes of the Royal Hunt Cup, the John Smith's Cup, and the Bunbury Cup, so he’s definitely well thought of, and given that this race is less demanding, he’s one to consider. Five places widely available. 

Boardman, 0.5 pts E/W, 10/1

This could be the time to catch BOARDMAN (best price 10/1), who is a former C&D winner, and he can now operate from a 7Ib lower mark than when he won a stronger race at Chester last year. 

This eight-year-old is a horse capable of defying a mark in the 100s judged on his big-weight performance at Chester when defying 9-10 off a mark of 97 by an easy three lengths in a class two race. This is a class three, and he’s down to a mark of 90 now.

His last five wins have been off either this mark or higher, and the ground will be in his favour as well. There’s bound to be lots of pace on offer, with plenty of confirmed front-runners likely to take each other on, and if he can spy clear daylight, he must go well. 

Five places are widely available for Boardman.

Klondike, 1pt WIN, 10/3

KLONDIKE (best price 10/3) has been highly tried since making a winning debut at Newbury, and with fitness now assured and Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle, this four-year-old is fancied to make a serious impact. 

After winning his first outing, he did very well in his next couple of starts in Listed/Group races, and although he disappointed on his final start last term, he shaped nicely on last month’s handicap debut/return at this course. 

That run should have taken the freshness out of him, and the return to this longer distance here should suit. His form puts him marginally ahead of Chesspiece, who disappointed last time out, so this is a good chance for him to open his account for the campaign. 

Brunel Nation, 0.5 pts E/W, 8/1

In the Horseradish Catering & Events Roodee Handicap, I am fascinated by the participation of BRUNEL NATION (best price 8/1), who really caught my eye at Goodwood three weeks ago and is fancied to continue his improvement with another big effort this weekend.

Richard Hughes’ charge has raised his game this year, winning back-to-back races earlier this year, including at Newmarket in his penultimate start. After being hampered when leaving the gates at Goodwood when last seen, he consequently forfeited a lot of ground and was never going to win from the position he was in. 

To his credit, no horse was hitting the line as strongly as him. In the end, he was beaten by less than three lengths and would have been even closer without being denied a clear passage. From an unchanged mark, he is fancied to continue his fine run of form, with Finley Marsh reunited. 

Four places widely available for Brunel Nation.

Blue Prince, 0.5 pts E/W, 8/1

BLUE PRINCE (best price 8/1) has been on my radar for a while, and despite competing in the same race as our other selection, Brunel Nation, it would be foolish to leave the former alone here, having been very competitive when finishing third off this mark the last two times. 

David Evan’s three-year-old is a very strong finisher, and given that he’s often threatened to win off this sort of mark on numerous occasions, this could be the time he finally does. Richard Kingscote, who is a specialist at this course, is back on board. 

Four places widely on offer for Blue Prince.

Midnight Affair, 0.5 pts E/W, 25/1

The Churchill Tyres Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap looks like the most competitive race on the card. However, I am drawn to the claims of Richard Fahey’s MIDNIGHT AFFAIR (best price 25/1), who shouldn’t be underestimated here and might outrun her odds.

Richard Fahey’s charge was very useful as a juvenile, finishing second on debut at Newmarket to the 100-rated Soprano before comfortably going one place better at Beverley, beating the 101-rated Flora Of Bermuda. 

Following that success, she then performed very well to finish ninth of 26 in the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. She was then down the field in a Group 3 at Newmarket next time, but can be excused for that effort as she clearly hated the soft ground. 

After seven months off, she made her return at York on her handicap debut and wasn’t beaten all that far when finishing seventh of 17. With that outing under her belt and stepping up in trip off a two-pound lower mark, there is a chance she could reinvent herself. Cam Hardie rides.

Five places widely on offer for Midnight Affair.