ITV Racing Tips: When Ryan is called upon, kindly take note

On virtually the eve of Royal Ascot we could hardly wish for a better Saturday in front of the ITV cameras. It's the 54th Macmillan Charity Day at York, and we're there for four including a £60k+ sprint handicap and a Listed mini-Ebor over that iconic 1m 6f, stamina-testing trip. Two from Sandown also, featuring another Listed heat; and a cracking handicap from Chester. SEVEN races all told, kicking off at 13:50.

I'm sure the great Yorkshire trainer Miles Henry (Peter) Easterby will be on everyone's mind on the Knavesmire, having passed away this week at the age of 95. What a life, what a career, and what an indelible impression made upon the fabric of the sport. A giant who handled two of the greatest hurdlers ever to look through a bridle - Sea Pigeon and Night Nurse - plus a host of other star turns both on the level, and over jumps. RIP and thank you, Sir, from one of your millions of admirers.

Horse Racing Odds

Fast Racing Results

Full ITV schedule;

York
13.50 - 7f MacMillan Handicap
14.25 - 1m 4f Queen Mother's Cup (Amateur Riders Handicap)
15.00 - 1m 6f Skybet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup (Listed Race)
15.35 - 6f MacMillan Sprint Handicap

Sandown
14.05 - 1m Bet MGM Handicap
14.40 - 5f Bet MGM Scurry Stakes (Listed)

Chester
15.20 - 7 1/2f Ladbrokes Handicap

Rationale;

13.50 York - Diligent Resdev e/w @ 17/2

Any Easterby family winner would be very poignant today for the reasons alluded to in the introduction. This four-year-old gelded son of Due Diligence must have a bright chance of going close at the very least, and as we're paying four places each-way that's the way I'll be playing.

This one is trained by the combination of Peter's brother Mick and son David, fairly locally, in Sheriff Hutton. Diligent Resdev last appeared 19 days ago at Redcar over 6f and was beaten 2l, staying on. Better judged arguably on his previous effort at Ascot a couple of weeks earlier, over a stiff 7f, beaten 3.75l when fading close home.

That was his second run after making a seasonal bow at Musselburgh (fine second, again over today's trip of 7f). He should now be absolutely at peak revs for this, an easy 7f seems to be his trip (York is a flat, galloping track that favours handy types), and this is a Class 3 handicap - he's both won and run well in Class 2 contests over the past nine months or so.

A typically feisty, super-competitive York heat to get us started.

14.05 Sandown - Classic @ 7/2

One of trainer Richard Hannon's longest-serving supporters now, as we look at Mrs Julie Wood's five-year-old Dubawi gelding Classic.

Consistent sort this, and gets a welcome though modest bit of respite from the handicapper, who's dropped him a pound down to 87. His last winning mark was 89, so we're in victory territory if he can put it all together on the day.

Last time at Newbury he was staying on well over this mile trip in this grade (beaten 3.5l) and this much stiffer Sandown test up the hill should suit - AND he's won here before.

Did I mention Ryan Moore's been booked to ride? Always sit up and take note when the maestro is engaged by the Hannon yard. Years of hard evidence point to the successes enjoyed as a result.

14.25 York - Chillingham @ 7/1

Trainer Ed Bethell is based around 40 miles north-west at Middleham, and the yard is flying - 24% strike-rate over the past 14 days. He fields a six-year-old gelded son of the mighty Ulysses here, Chillingham, as talented lady riders compete for the prestigious Queen Mother's Cup.

Three wins from 17 starts so far, he drops down to a Class 3 today and gets a couple of pounds respite from the handicapper. With the yard flying and no issues stamina-wise with the mile-and-a-half I'm hoping he'll be primed and ready to run a blinder for the excellent Becky Smith.

There are any number of dangers and some big names in opposition - Jody Townend most notably - but could we have another local success?

14.40 Sandown - Town And Country @ 4/1

Man of the moment Colin Keane rides this three-year-old Irish-bred filly for the great Henry de Bromhead and she arrives with two good Cork second-place finishes to her name this campaign - time to step up, methinks.

This is a Listed prize and it was in the same grade that she failed by just a head 39 days ago to a Haggas inmate who nearly then won the G2 Sandy Lane at Haydock (First Instinct; beaten 0.75l).

Form looks rock-solid, and carrying 8st 13lb Town And Country has got a couple of pounds advantage over one or two of her rivals that could prove crucial. Crackerjack of a race.

15.00 York - Alsakib @ 9/4

A small but select field, for this June 'Ebor.'

My selection Alsakib is a five-year-old Kingman gelding in the care of Andrew Balding at Kingsclere. James Doyle, on board for one of his previous 14 runs, again takes the mount.

Last summer he scored over course-and-distance in a G3 from another of today's rivals Al Qareem, and he's 5lbs better off this afternoon. He was narrowly beaten here on seasonal reappearance in the G2 Yorkshire Cup 29 days ago and can account for the likely favourite Absurde, raiding from the WP Mullins camp.

A tremendous race in prospect, and a nice pot of close to £40k is up for grabs.

15.20 Chester - Milford @ 7/2

Lovely to be taking in a heat from historic Chester, and this is a decidedly warm-looking Class 2 handicap over 7.5f.

My selection Milford is a three-year-old Kodiac gelding trained by Julie Camacho in North Yorkshire, with one win so far from seven starts.

He's been keeping some pretty lofty company and he's got ability - his handicap mark has risen from 82 to today's 94 since August last year and today's jockey jockey Callum Rodriguez had a nice winner for Ed Bethell the other day at Catterick.

No previous Chester experience to fall back on but comes here after a fine York spin 31 days ago (beaten a head, for which he was raised a pound). Drawn in the five box isn't the best but only nine are due to start and I doubt even here that will prove insurmountable around this tightest of circuits.

Smashing race for £25k and change to the winner.

15.35 York - Marchogion e/w @ 17/2

A Class 2 sprint worth in excess of £60k to the winner - one of York's trademark contests and of course a fiendishly tricky puzzle to solve.

We're paying FIVE places e/w for this one, so that's DEFINITELY the way I'm leaning with 22 due to face the starter! Marchogion is another housed with Andrew Balding, and regular pilot Dave Probert has the riding assignment.

The three-year-old Mehmas colt is two-from-eight in terms of wins, and one of those was last time out, at HQ, 27 days ago. In this grade and at the 6f trip he obliged impressively, a performance that certainly didn't escape the notice of the assessor.

He's up 7lbs accordingly today to a mark of 92 but he's on a steep upward curve, seems to love fast ground, and could be up to defying the penalty. Got a bright future I reckon, and could be destined for bigger things.

ITV Racing tips from Betfred Insights.