ITV Saturday Preview - 15/06/19

Multellie opens up our tips at York and the ITV card on Saturday afternoon, when she heads to the Queen Mother's Cup Handicap for Lady Amateur Riders.

Sitting bottom of the pile in the betting, she has had her form doubts this season, but her trainer Tim Easterby has an excellent record in this race, and is certainly one to watch in the market between now and the off.

Her mark continues to tumble down after a series of defeats, but she is just 3lb above her last winning mark, where she bolted up at Ripon in September.

Ground expected to be no better than good-to-soft, and she does have winning form close to this part of the world on a rain softened surface.

The second race of the afternoon comes from Sandown and it sees the Listed Scurry Stakes over five furlongs and in this hot sprint contest we have gone for the consistent Leodis Dream.

This three year old gelding is set to have Oisin Murphy on board which is always a dream but this David O'Meara trained gelding before his last run could not stop winning.

Before missing the break in a big fielded sprint contest at York he had won five in a row and if handling the soft conditions he could get back to winning ways.

The JCB Handicap over seven furlongs hosts as many as twenty horses, so we have selected both Great Prospector [14/1] and Golden Apollo [20/1].

Great Prospector represents the Richard Fahey yard who have been in decent form of late going into the royal meeting next week.Well drawn, the four-year-old has had no win since his debut but has put together plenty of useful efforts, including his third-place finish at Haydock on his latest start on soft ground.

Should go close once again, likewise Golden Apollo - another of our selections for trainer Tim Easterby. He was a beaten favourite last time out at Ripon finishing seventh, but was a bunch finish and was much closer to the leaders than the result suggests.

The chestnut gelding loves it round the knavesmire, and last got his head in front here back on this card in June 2017 in another big runner field.

Chester only have one race on the ITV broadcast and we have gone for the Mark Johnston and Franny Norton trained Gravistas to take the Class 2 Handicap.

This three year old has been very progressive throughout his career finishing runner up four times in this sort of events over this trip of 1 mile four furlongs.

Last time out he broke the spell of seconds to land a nice contest at Newmarket and if handling the soft ground has a real chance of doubling up with a nice handy draw.

The next race is the Listed Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes over one mile and six furlongs, and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Mekong will be loving every inch of rain that falls his way.

He pipped Austrian School for second in the Group Three Henry II Stakes at Sandown on return, and proved how well he goes on heavy ground when running away at Haydock in September.

Usually runs with great consistency all on all ground conditions but one off day at Newbury, but the rain will certainly play to his strengths over others.The one to definitely beat, as Ryan Moore takes the ride.

Hateya is our next selection and it comes in the Class 2 Randox Health Handicap over one mile where we think the Jim Boyle trained runner has a great chance.

This season the four year old filly has been in consistent form with a good seasonal reappearance third and two good seconds to back that up.

His latest run is the one that catches the eye when just being pipped in a photo finish on the Friday of the Derby festival and it looks as if this step up in trip will more than suit.

Again another big field on the card sees twenty-two line up for the Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Sprint Handicap over six furlongs, and Rathbone and Victory Day are our two fancies.

Rathbone has been in top form for Kevin Ryan this season, winning two from two starts, and has been raised 6lb higher in a much more competitive race.

He looks ready for the climb and it can be hard to stop horses on a roll from producing repeated performances.Striking at Pontefract and Leicester this term, he will need to prove it on a slower going, whilst Victory Day remains a very lightly raced three-year-old and looks well in at the weight on his first start in a handicap.

He struck easily in a six furlong maiden at Ripon last time out and travelled very strongly before drawing clear.Could be something bright here for William Haggas, and must make the shortlist as a big potential improver.