The final day of York‘s Dante meeting takes place as we head into the weekend. With the Classic trials out of the way, the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup is the feature.
Matty Sutcliffe has been providing his tips on the Knavesmire. Here are his four best bets for the final day at York.
York Racing Tips (Friday 15 May)
Matty has a tip for the Yorkshire Cup, as well as for three other races on the card.
1:45 York – Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-80) – Style Of Life 12/1 1pt EW 5 places
Four of Harriet Bethell’s seven runners in course handicaps have run into the money and Style Of Life can follow suit. Since equipped with a tongue tie, the New Bay mare has respectable form figures of 72121125 (3-8) in handicaps and was last seen finishing a two length fifth from a wide draw at Chester off top-weight.
Prior to that, her hattrick attempt was thwarted at Pontefract when a length second to 9/4 favourite Walsingham, who took a class four handicap at Ascot off 3lbs higher next time out and is now rated 10lbs higher having won again last month. The third there also franked the form, having won twice at Catterick now rated 6lbs higher.
She’s proven to go well fresh, and the return of PJ McDonald is a positive signal of intent given he’s two from two on the mare.
2:55 York – Support Macmillan Charity Raceday On 13 June Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-100) – Ashnak 20/1 1pt EW 5 places
I was at Ripon last month when Ashnak was a length third to Prydwen in the feature contest, and he went immediately into the tracker. The Sea The Moon gelding, formerly in the hands of Francis Graffard and the Aga Khan colours, switched hands for £35,000 to O’Meara last July who has to always be feared with his French recruits.
He was an eye-catcher when a tenderly handled sixth on yard debut at Doncaster in March, with the fifth going in next time out. The seventh also won next time out, being the fourth, so that for worked out nicely.
He looked to be coming with a winning run down the outside at Ripon next time out, hitting the front a furlong out before weakening into third late on. The winner wasn’t far away next time out in a German grade two, and this drop back to twelve furlongs looks to suit on that evidence.
3:30 York – Design Tonic Out Of This World Spaces At The Races EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (2yo) – Niewiadoma 5/1 1pt WIN
I’m a big advocate of taking on two-year-olds, particularly those well fancied, who made all to win next time out and instead siding with those who’ve come past rivals and with that in mind I’m keen to take on those to the fore of the market here, and instead side with Niewiadoma.
The £40,000 daughter of Cotai Glory was only 6/1 on debut when a comfortable winner at Thirsk, and she won that race with a considerable degree of promise having shaped in need of the experience.
She broke well from stall four under Hollie Doyle, and took a lead off the 8/11 favourite. She began to hang left under pressure, but once she straightened up she quickened up smartly to run out an easy winner. Admittedly, the favourite failed to give her running. But the second franked the form when beating the third next time out, and the distant sixth also won next time out.
She was able to quicken up smartly there with a sub-11 second fourth furlong, and given she hails from the family of the smart 2019 Lowther second Liberty Beach she’s evidently bred to be a talented filly. With natural improvement, I’d expect her to show up strongly.
4:05 York – Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Rahiebb 16/5 2pt WIN
I was fairly confident in the chances of Rahiebb at Chester, thus it only makes sense to be on his side here. The son of Frankel was progressive last season after winning on debut, before finishing second on handicap debut at this meeting. He split the subsequent King Edward VII Stakes and G3 Gordon Stakes winner, now rated 115, and the Melrose runner up there, now rated 19lbs higher, giving 10lbs and 8lbs away to them respectively.
He was a length third in the Queen’s Vase next time out, and bounced back from a bizarrely run race at Goodwood to finish a neck second in the St Leger. That looked a strong renewal, given first and fourth had won the Goodwood Cup and the Epsom Derby respectively, and they’ve both come out to win their four year old debuts.
This is a tough starting point, but he arguably brings the best form from last season and given he goes well fresh, any natural improvement suggests he could rank highly in the staying division this season.
Matty Sutcliffe’s York Dante Meeting Day 3 Tips for Friday 15 May
1:45 York – Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-80) – Style Of Life 12/1 1pt EW 5 places
2:55 York – Support Macmillan Charity Raceday On 13 June Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-100) – Ashnak 20/1 1pt EW 5 places
3:30 York – Design Tonic Out Of This World Spaces At The Races EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (2yo) – Niewiadoma 5/1 1pt WIN
4:05 York – Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Rahiebb 16/5 2pt WIN
NiewiadomaMatthew Sutcliffe’s Best Bets – Friday 15 May
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for Day 3 of York’s Dante Meeting, which takes place on Friday 15 May.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 11.45am on Thursday 14 May.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.