It has been a high quality week of racing at York. The crescendo to the Ebor Festival arrives on Saturday, with the big handicap itself, the Ebor, headlining the Saturday card.
GG tipster Joe Napier is on hand with our lucky 15 tips for the final day at York. All four of his tips run at the track.
York Racing Tips (Saturday 22 August)
At York’s concluding Ebor meeting card, Joe has four tips which make up our lucky 15 for Saturday.
1.50 York – Saber Strike (1pt e/w – 11/1)
Damysus’ form behind Item is very eyecatching now, but cheekpieces going on is a concern. He does not appear to be ungenuine, so something must be being worked on. The Gosdens are enduring a slightly torrid week anyway and there are alternatives. Also in first-time headgear is Saber Strike, for whom a tongue tie is now tried. William Haggas’ charge earned a big reputation heading into Royal Ascot. He had won his first two starts with aplomb, but was too keen at Ascot despite a respectable sixth-placed effort. In subsequent races, he has not been lively enough though, hence blinkers were tried at Goodwood. He ran a big race there over 1m in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes from miles too far back. He shaped as though an extra furlong may suit, which he gets here. There could still be something to come from him at this level when things fall right.
2.25 York – Vantage Code (1pt e/w – 12/1)
He is up a whopping 15lb, but Vantage Code may well have been targeted at this. The son of Ghaiyyath has stamina in his pedigree, so handicaps were always to be the making of him. A bold run arrived at Roscommon at the end of June over 1m2½f, but he has excelled even more since. A third at the Galway Festival over 1m4½f was followed by a rampant rout over 1m6f later on that same week. He would have needed a significant bump in the weights to make it into the field here. That is what he has got with that 15lb hike, but he clearly stays well, while also handling any ground. Now that he has found his niche, he could still be treated kindly off a low weight here.
3.35 York – Klassleader (1pt e/w – 15/2)
One run can often be forgiven, and it is here for Klassleader. The Lope De Vega colt improved throughout 2025, earning a win at the third attempt at Ffos Las, then finishing second on handicap debut behind Sing Us A Song at Haydock. He then cosily defeated that rival on return on the Knavesmire over 1m4f to begin this campaign. Ante-post markets reacted by making him favourite for this race, something he has lost since. That is because he ran no race at Newmarket, but it is possible that was a race more to keep him fit than anything else. His mark is unchanged, but he left a big impact at York back in May. With 1m6f likely to suit even better, this galloping type can land the big handicap prize.
4.45 York – Sale Shark (1pt e/w – 13/2)
Adonis is the standard-bearer, but Sale Shark ran a good race narrowly behind him at Goodwood. Hugo Palmer’s charge has run two good races in strong company, including a fifth at Royal Ascot in the Listed WIndsor Castle Stakes.He was on the wrong part of the track that day and may also have been inconvenienced by stall 1 most recently at Goodwood. On the wing of the field, Oisin Murphy had to consistently nurse him along over the downhill start of that 5f track. Having previously raced over 6f, he was outpaced for the majority. However, he stayed on really well, and was not beaten far by Adonius. Over this more testing 5f, he can bridge the gap.
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- York – first race 13:50
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides the GG Lucky 15 tips on Saturday 22 August, which include selections at York.
When were Saturday’s Lucky 15 tips for York published?
GG’s Lucky 15 tips for Saturday 22 August were published at 1.55pm on Friday 21 August.
Who is Joe Napier?
Joe Napier is the deputy editor of GG who gives tips and opinion throughout the week. He has been writing for GG for over four years and is hugely passionate about racing.
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