ITV Racing Tips on May 15th - Dante Stakes day selections at York

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 14 May 2025

Jon Vine 14 May 2025

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Free tips for the ITV races on Thursday 15th May
The Dante Stakes headlines another quality card at York on Thursday
Old Cock and Star Of Mehmas feature in our selections

Expired

York racecourse. (Getty)

Thursday's Tips

ITV Racing Schedule
2:10pm York - Lindum York Handicap Tips
2:42pm York - Hambleton Handicap Tips
3:13pm York - Middleton Fillies' Stakes Tips
3:45pm York - Dante Stakes Tips
4:18pm York - Westow Stakes Tips

The second day of York's Dante Festival is headlined by the namesake race of the meeting, and The Lion In Winter will be looking to advertise his Derby credentials in Thursday's main event. Along with the Dante, Thursday's viewers will also enjoy the Group Two Middleton Stakes, which was won last year by future Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine, Bluestocking.

Here are my best betting tips for Thursday's ITV Races at York.

ITV Racing Schedule

Time	Track	Title
2:10pm	York	Lindum York Handicap (Class 2) 5f
2:25pm	Salisbury	Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai "City Bowl" Handicap (Class 3) 1m6f
2:42pm	York	Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap (Class 2) 1m
3:13pm	York	Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes (Group 2) 1m2½f
3:45pm	York	Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2) 1m2½f
4:18pm	York	British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes (Listed Race) 5f

ITV Racing Tips - Thursday 15th May

2:10pm York - Lindum York Handicap Tips

Most of the pace seems to have been drawn on the high side of the track, so VANTHEMAN (8/1) could be well-placed to mount a challenge in stall 15.

Kevin Ryan's sprinter won two of his six starts as a three-year-old, scoring at Newcastle on his reappearance and at Pontefract over the summer. Vantheman finished a close second to Jubilee Walk at this meeting 12 months ago, and found the ground a little too slow for his liking when he returned to the Knavesmire in York.

Tom Eaves' mount travelled powerfully into contention on his reappearance at Newmarket, but the step up to six-furlongs, combined with the rain-softened ground, saw Vantheman drop back to fifth on the run to the line. Returning to the flat five furlongs on faster ground will certainly suit and Vantheman remains open to improvement during his four-year-old campaign.

2:42pm York - Hambleton Handicap Tips

The potent Ed Bethell and Callum Rodriguez partnership won this race with Point Lynas 12 months ago. This year, they'll team up with OLD COCK (9/1), who'll have to bounce back from a last-place finish in the Lincoln on his reappearance.

Bethell's four-year-old didn't make his debut until the spring of last year. Old Cock won nicely on his second outing at Ayr, before making a winning handicap debut over ten furlongs at Haydock. Rodriquez's mount then finished last of nine at Pontefract, but returned to winning ways with a powerful triumph at Haydock the following month.

Old Cock ran well for a long way when fourth on his final outing here at York in September, where the softer ground didn't seem to suit. Things didn't go to plan for the bottom-weight at Doncaster in March, but the conditions of this race should suit Old Cock better and Rodriguez should be able to slot in behind the pace from stall five.

see the fire york — Oisin Murphy riding See The Fire win The Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York. (Getty)

3:13pm York - Middleton Fillies' Stakes Tips

With that reappearance run at Sandown under her belt, SEE THE FIRE (6/4) should take the world of beating in this Group Two.

Andrew Balding campaigned his filly at the highest level as a three-year-old and See The Fire produced a superb effort to finish just a neck short of Opera Singer in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. Oisin Murphy's mount claimed her sole victory of the season with an impressive triumph in the Strensall Stakes here at York, before rounding off her season with a pair of three-length defeats in the Sun Chariot and the Champion Stakes.

See The Fire finished the Gordon Richards Stakes like she needed the outing and I'd be surprised if she didn't improve plenty for that return to the track. Most of the rivals she'll face on Thursday are Group Three horses at best, and this trip should prove too sharp for the strong-staying Nakheel.

3:45pm York - Dante Stakes Tips

Read our full guide to the 2025 Dante Stakes to find out if we're with or against The Lion In Winter in Thursday's Derby trial.

Visit our Dante Stakes Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Thursday's races at York via a mobile or tablet.

4:18pm York - Westow Stakes Tips

Aesterius and Tropical Storm hold obvious claims in this Listed sprint. I quite like the chances of STAR OF MEHMAS (9/2), following an encouraging reappearance at Chelmsford.

Richard Hughes' filly ended her juvenile campaign with three straight victories, including an impressive triumph in the Listed Harry Roseberry Stakes at Ayr in September. From a wide draw in the Chelmer Fillies Stakes two weeks ago, Ryan Moore had to work hard early and sat wide throughout the turn, but still managed to mount a powerful challenge, only to fade back to third on the run to the line.

Dropping back to the minimum distance seems like a smart move and fillies have a decent record in the Westow Stakes. Star Of Mehmas is a big danger to the top two in the market.