ITV Racing Tips - Ebor Festival tips and Sandown selections

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 20 Aug 2021

Jon Vine 20 Aug 2021

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We've published our tips for every ITV race on Saturday 21st August
The first four races on day four of the Ebor Festival will be shown live
Viewers also have two pattern races to take in a Sandown
Real World, Potapova and Primo Bacio feature amongst our tips

Expired

Primo Bacio winning here at York in May. (Getty)

ITV Racing fans have four races to take in from the fourth and final day of action at the Ebor Festival. As if that wasn't enough, we'll also enjoy two excellent pattern races from Sandown on Saturday too.

Let's dive into Saturday's ITV Racing tips.

Table Of Contents

Saturday's ITV Racing Schedule
Race 1 - Strensall Stakes Tips
Race 2 - Solario Stakes Tips
Race 3 - Melrose Handicap Tips
Race 4 - Atalanta Stakes Tips
Race 5 - City Of York Stakes Tips
Race 6 - Ebor Handicap Tips

Saturday's ITV Racing Schedule

Time	Track	Title
1:50pm	York	Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3) 1m1f
2:05pm	Sandown	Betway Solario Stakes (Group 3) 7f
2:25pm	York	Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 1m6f
2:40pm	Sandown	Betway Atalanta Stakes (Group 3) 1m
3:00pm	York	City Of York Stakes (Group 2) 7f
3:35pm	York	Ebor Handicap (Class 2) 1m6f

ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 21st August

Race 1 - Strensall Stakes Tips

Real World1:50pm York Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3) 1m1fGET 5/4 HERE

Although it's been eleven years since he last saddled the winner, Saeed Bin Suroor is actually the winning-most trainer in the Strensall Stakes with five victories, and REAL WORLD has an excellent chance of handing his trainer a sixth win.

Real World blew his rivals away from the front to win the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. Marco Ghiani then gave his mount an excellent ride to win the Steventon Stakes, picking off Derab in the closing stages and coasting home to win under hands and heels. Real World is the highest-rated runner in the field, he carries no penalty and remains open to further progression.

Race 2 - Solario Stakes Tips

Reach For The Moon2:05pm Sandown Betway Solario Stakes (Group 3) 7fGET 4/6 HERE

It's really hard to look past REACH FOR THE MOON, especially with only seven runners in the field.

John Gosden's colt finished a close second to two very good rivals on his first two starts, the second of those coming in the Chesham. Frankie Dettori's mount then destroyed his rivals to open his account at Newbury, and the runner-up that day, Harrow came out and won the big juvenile handicap staged on Yorkshire Oaks day.

Gosden has won the Solario with Too Darn Hot and Kingman in recent seasons, and another victory would see him match Sir Henry Cecil's record tally of six winners. Reach For The Moon looks a really exciting prospect.

Race 3 - Melrose Handicap Tips

True Courage E/W2:25pm York Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 1m6fGET 16/1 HERE

I'm going to back TRUE COURAGE at an each-way price in the three-year-old's version of the Ebor. Michael Bell's three-year-old has won his last three starts, and travels to York on the back of an excellent win over this trip on fast ground at Yarmouth.

Bell's three-year-old has been pushed up the weights by eight pounds since that victory, but Dylan Hogan - who's been in the saddle for all of True Courage's wins - takes three off his back, meaning he'll enter this competitive race near the bottom of the weights. I'm hoping his excellent form can continue.

Race 4 - Atalanta Stakes Tips

Potapova2:40pm Sandown Betway Atalanta Stakes (Group 3) 1mGET 7/1 HERE

Indigo Girl will clearly improve for that return fourth at Ascot, and John Gosden's filly remains the class act in this race. Yet, there are still question marks around her fitness and whether she has progressed between two and three.

I'd rather take a chance on POTAPOVA, who went into the Coronational Stakes at Ascot on the back of two impressive wins. Sir Michael Stoute's filly got a little outclassed on the day, in what was clearly a very good renewal of that Group One, and maybe the heavy ground went against her too. Now back in shallower waters on firmer footing, Pat Dobbs' mount can make an impact.

Race 5 - City Of York Stakes Tips

Primo Bacio3:00pm York City Of York Stakes (Group 2) 7fGET 5/2 HERE

Space Blues is arguably the best exponent of seven furlongs in the sport, but he'll have his hands full giving weight to Ed Walker's speedy filly, PRIMO BACIO.

Primo Bacio blitzed Creative Flair and Snow Lantern here at York in May, showing her rivals a clean set of heels in the closing stages. The gaps then didn't appear early enough for Walker's three-year-old in the Falmouth Stakes, but Primo Bacio stayed on gamely to finish fifth.

Despite stating his filly doesn't like soft ground, Walker then took Primo Bacio over to Deauville for the Prix Rothschild. Andrea Atzeni's mount struggled to settle behind a slow pace that day, and got caught up in a skirmish as she tried to find a good position from where to strike. In the end, Primo Bacio ran well to finish just two lengths behind Mother Earth in fifth.

Safe Voyage, Pogo and Highfield Princess all like to lead, so Primo Bacio could get a fast pace to aim at, and quick ground should see her to best effect.