ITV horse racing tips and best bets for York and Yarmouth on Wednesday, May 13

Day one of the Dante Festival gets underway at York Racecourse on Wednesday and Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh returns to cast his eye over proceedings.

ITV are showing five races from York and one from Yarmouth, leaving our resident racing reporter with lots of action to uncover.

Kieran McHugh’s horse racing tips

Having treated myself to a break courtesy of our success at Aintree, I have since returned from my nice cruise to find the country in turmoil.

Not such which MV is having a worse time currently: Magnier? Hondius? Or HMV?

Quite ironic that a cruise ship named after famed cartographer Jodocus Hondius should find itself in such uncharted territories.

Surprised Coolmore has not named one of their two-year-olds after it yet.

Anyway, it could be worse – they could have found themselves in the Strait Of Hormuz. 

Because the onboard entertainment fell ill, I stepped up to the plate before being fired.

Global pandemic round two, Iran war, VAR and Kier Starmer’s in the poo.

Billy Joel who?

14:20 (York) – Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap

Sing Us A Song has been improving and can put his last race at Epsom behind him. 

Dark Moon Rising has a bit to find on recent form but is a course specialist, who has contested harder races than this in the past.

Suggested bets: SING US A SONG (WIN), DARK MOON RISING (E/W) 

14:40 (Yarmouth) – Sky Sports Racing 415 Handicap

It is hard to look past Kinswoman here, having placed in all but one start.

Her form is solid and it would be a tad disappointing if she was not to succeed today.

Rocking Ends has finished behind some nice horses in his career and arrives here from a spell in Bahrain.

He might need the run but is a nice alternative to the favourite.

Suggested bets: KINSWOMAN (WIN), ROCKING ENDS (E/W)

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14:55 (York) – Churchill Tyres Handicap

Binhareer gets the vote over Tuca Salamenca due to the ground being ‘Good’ and the nature of his win here in October was impressive, leaving room for improvement.

Strike Red is the definition of a course specialist, always saving his best for York.

There is a chance he could be aimed at some targets later on in the year but he normally gives a good account of himself around here.

Suggested bets: BINHAREER (WIN), STRIKE RED (E/W)

15:30 (York) – Minster Stakes (Group 2)

Cool Hoof Luke’s form when winning the Gimcrack here ties in nicely today and has had a few races since his layoff, he could go well back at the scene of his biggest victory.

The ever present Diligent Harry has started this season off well and was bang there in the Abernant against a lot of these, he can go well again if he reproduces that form.

Suggested bets: COOL HOOF LUKE (WIN), DILIGENT HARRY (E/W)

16:05 (York) – Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Group 3)

Felicitas is two-from-two and has won over this distance and although she may lack the form of some of these, she was impressive by Sandown and could have won by further.

Sea The Storm made hard work of her last victory, over this distance but she can come on for that – as Sea The Stars progeny tend to improve with age.

Suggested bets: FELICITAS (WIN), SEA THE STORM (E/W)

16:40 (York) – Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap

Al Najashi is on a winning streak of five and until he is defeated, it would be remiss to go against him.

First Time has not been out of the first two since his debut and makes his stable debut for the Fahey’s today.

He could have gone under the radar and it helps that jockey Barry McHugh (no relation, I think) is in pretty good form also.

Suggested bets: AL NAJASHI (WIN), FIRST TIME (E/W)

As ever, best of betting luck to you all.

(Selections are correct at time of publishing. Be aware they are subject to change, horses could be removed from race, and meetings may be abandoned due to bad weather.)