Three tracks feature in our ITV Racing preview for their Saturday, 14 June broadcast. Most of the action comes from York including the latest Race To The Ebor qualifier, the Grand Cup. Sandown Park and Chester also feature.
From the Esher venue in Greater London, it’s the Scurry Stakes for three-year-olds uphill on the sprint course and a mile handicap. On the Roodee, meanwhile, the sole race on terrestrial television runs over the very specific distance of 7.5 furlongs.
Supporting action from York includes the Queen Mother’s Cup, a female amateur jockeys only handicap over a mile-and-a-half, and the Macmillan Sprint for three-year-olds. As ever, the ITV cameras capture variety from three historic racecourses.
With so much to take in during the final broadcast before Royal Ascot, we called on our experts to take a look through this first. They have their eyes on horse racing betting sites for some value in the markets. Read their thoughts on all seven races below.
ITV Racing Preview for Saturday, 14 June from York, Sandown & Chester
1:50 York – Class 3 7f Handicap (0-95)
Haydock Hell Nook second Dashing Darcey was an unlucky loser the last day, meanwhile. The handicapper has been kind in only nudging Geoffrey Harker’s colt up 1lb for a narrow defeat. Dashing Darcey can confirm form with Blue For You who, now aged seven, may lack the speed for going back down in distance.
Our Havana and Palmar Bay are also prominent in the betting but, despite neither being fully exposed, haven’t run on tracks like York before. It’s interesting that Andrew Balding pitches Al Shaqab’s Humam against his elders down in trip here. As a three-year-old, he receives 10lb weight for age that could make all the difference.
Bunbury Cup hero Aalto has always needed his reappearance, while last year’s winner Tolstoy is 10lb higher in the handicap. Yanifer is the other course and distance scorer in the line-up, but again looks in the grip of the assessor. Topweight Telemark has a 5lb claimer easing his burden, but that’s an indication Simon & Ed Crisford don’t think he win off his rating.
2:05 Sandown – Class 2 Mile Handicap (0-100)
🏆 @OLBG Spring Cup Handicap 🏆
🥇 Ebt’s Guard
🥈 Urban Lion
🥉 ClassicA fight to the finish for Ebt’s Guard with jockey Lewis Edmunds and trainer William Muir & Chris Grassick 📸 pic.twitter.com/3M9XHOhsxP
— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) April 12, 2025
Although now 4lb worse off at the weights, Urban Lion is a fresher horse and this stiffer mile might be ideal for him. Others to consider include Theoryofeverything off an unchanged mark from his Haydock fourth where plenty went wrong. If rain really hits Sandown, then Lattam has twice finished second from his current 95 rating for Julie Camacho.
Course and distance winner Asteverdi concedes race fitness all-round, meanwhile, so might need the run. Tribal Chief didn’t fire in a valuable handicap in France last time, but could bounce back if judged on his two previous Newmarket seconds. None of the other really make much appeal based on current form.
2:25 York – Class 3 1m 4f Queen Mother’s Cup (0-90)
Course and distance runner-up MAGHLAAK can go one better than at the Dante Festival for 2023 winning jockey and trainer Jody Townend and Adrian Paul Keatley. This yard often has winners on ITV Racing. Maghlaak is worse off at the weights from last time with Saratoga Gold, yet has a top amateur riding him now.
Born Ruler is a big threat according to the betting, but Sir Mark Prescott’s charge has stamina doubts. If replicating last season’s Jorvik Handicap third behind subsequent Ebor runner-up Kihavah, then Chillingham has obvious claims off 4lb lower for Ed Bethell. Saligo Bay has won his last two under amateur jockeys, meanwhile.
Serena Brotherton has landed this more than once, so her mount Heathen can’t be ruled out. The Horse Watchers and trainer David O’Meara have a strong stayer over this trip and one who gets further. My Dream World is lightly-raced and should come on for his reappearance for Ben Brookhouse.
2:40 Sandown – Listed 5f Scurry Stakes
Coto De Caza didn’t take up her engagement in France earlier this month, so lacks a recent outing. She is also worse off at the weights with Star Of Mehmas from their last encounter. More interesting is Henry De Bromhead sending Town And Country over from Ireland, meanwhile. She just failed to land a race in this grade at Cork the last day.
Those with course experience need big improvements on all known form to get in amongst the market principals. Kullazain has less to find than Pearl Of Windsor, but still must find more for James Tate. Proudly Yours and Marty Hopkirk make up the numbers to the dead eight, but there’s little each-way value on this race.
3:00 York – Listed 1m 6f Grand Cup
Balding runner Alsakib landed the John Smith’s Silver Cup over course and distance last summer, meanwhile. He’s a player too after a gelding operation and his reappearance fourth in the Yorkshire Cup here last month. El Cordobes looks the better of the four-year-olds, but didn’t automatically shape like going up in trip would suit when third in the Aston Park at Newbury.
3:20 Chester – Class 2 7.5f Handicap
Handicap debutant Jouncy mixed it up in Pattern races as a juvenile, so could be well-treated off a reduced mark of 97. In makes more sense, however, to focus on those more hardened to such a task. York third and fifth MILFORD and FRANKIES DREAM look worth hedging your bets on with the pair. As the latter has won since their Dante Festival clash, the former is 7lb better off at the weights.
It’s a significant amount. Milford only missed out by a neck on the Knavesmire last month. An easier track like Chester should see him get the extra half-furlong too. Frankies Dream has been in good form of late, however, and Jennie Candlish could continue making hay with him.
Of the others, Hugo Palmer runs two and Miami Matrix has become a gelding since his reappearance. He was only beaten a couple of lengths over course and distance, so should strip fitter for that now. The remainder are more difficult to make cases for.
3:35 York – Class 2 6f Macmillan Sprint Handicap
On the other side of the draw, low number horses of interest include Dark Cloud Rising and Loom for local trainers O’Meara and Richard Fahey. The latter probably had too much too soon last time when pitched in against his elders, but now returns to racing fellow three-year-olds. Double Rush, meanwhile, may have been laid out for this since April by Charlie Hills.
The favourite doesn’t have a good record in this mad dash up the Knavesmire, however, and Balding’s Marchogion is now 5lb worse off with American Style for yet another Yorkshire yard in the Kevin Ryan stable. Dark Cloud Rising was behind them in third at Newmarket, but the handicapper has actually dropped him 1lb.
Many others will fancy their chances too. Ollie Sangster’s Tuco Salamanca has two engagements on the card, but can’t run in both. Fast Track Harry is lightly-raced, yet the Cox stable aren’t firing right now and also run Diligently. Northern Ticker is topweight for Michael Dods, while Irish raider Brigid’s Cloak has been consistent of late.
