Horse Racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s Lucky 15 for Saturday’s ITV Racing

13:50 York – Beringer

Lord Glitters won this in 2018 and is a real favourite in the David O’Meara yard. He ran well in a Group 2 at the track last time and even finished fourth behind Mohaather on his first run of the season.

Zabeel Prince was disappointing at Leopardstown when favourite for a Group 3 race. He just didn’t enjoy the smoothest passage in that race, so you can forgive him. He did win the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp in May 2019, so this gelding is no mug.

Dark Vision and BERINGER clashed at Pontefract and Alan King’s horse was unlucky not to win. I am going to have a bit each-way on Beringer here.

14:05 Sandown – Cozone

Tenbury Wells had a comfy win at Ascot last time, and the 5lb rise may not be enough of an anchor but I am looking elsewhere. COZONE won at Sandown over course and distance just over a month ago and was well supported that day on his first handicap start. I reckon there is more to come from Amanda Perrett’s colt and he is only 5lbs higher in the weights.

York Races Ebor Festival

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14.25 York – Kipps

This is a toughie to solve. I was taken with the run of Midnights Legacy at Haydock in June, when getting up to beat Indigo Lake by half a length. Only up 2lbs for that, he will again be on the premises now.

A Star Above and Mambo Nights are very closely matched on running at Goodwood, while Kings Charisma has to step up after a 6lb rise for the win at Thirsk.

The one I keep coming back to is KIPPS. He had Arthurian Fable behind him when he was second to Hukum at Ascot. Hukum came out and won a Group race at Newbury impressively, so the form is really strong. They tried Kipps in blinkers last time at Newmarket and he hated it.

The ground got messy there too and he was floundering. However, the wind is drying the ground at York all the time and he is the one for me.

15:40 York – Verdana Blue

Pablo Escobarr won the Glorious Stakes Group 3 at Goodwood last time and sets a quality tone for this race. Fujaira Prince is one that I loved at Royal Ascot and he delivered in style, he is a smart performer with few mile on the clock and definitely deserves his place towards the head of the market.

Willie Mullins’ True Self won at Flemington in Australia last year and is much travelled. William Haggas’ Monica Sheriff is another that is interesting, this one is on a real roll and won at Saint Cloud in a Group 3 on her last start in October and has won her last five races.

Another Irish raider Pondus comes from the Joseph O’Brien stable and has already won a Melbourne Cup in these colours. That could be the eventual aim with this runner too. He has Group race form and finished fourth at Leopardstown last time.

The one that really interests me though is VERDANA BLUE was second over a trip that was too far for her at Royal Ascot and this 1m 6f distance is more like it for her. It’s interesting that Ryan Moore keeps the faith. She is rated 160 over hurdles, and if you subtract 45lb off that, it gives you a rough idea of her capabilities on the Flat at around 115. She races off 102 in this so that should make her really competitive. in a race where Paddy is paying the first 6 home.