York Tips: Fortune favours the brave on Saturday

There are seven UK and Ireland race meetings to choose from on Saturday and I am particularly drawn to the action taking place in York.

Coincidentally, all my picks are from races which have extra place offers, and you can check them out below. There's a seven-race card to look forward to and I have picked out three runners for you to consider. Check out my York Tips for Saturday, July 26 below.

14:00 York - Alzahir @ 10/1

The second race of the day is a Class 2 handicap over 6f and there is a stacked field of 22 runners declared for this contest. But with Betfred offering five places instead of four, you may feel more open to backing a horse in this one.

There are several with decent claims but I'm putting faith in someone who I've successfully tipped on his last two starts, the one and only ALZAHIR for Jennie Candlish's yard.

The five-year-old ride at Chester in June was impressive so I had confidence in him at Epsom at the beginning the month as the odds-on favourite. I was then surprised to see him at an attractive 12/1 at Ascot, which then drifted to 20/1 at the start of the race. The son of Sea The Stars delivered again, so he is looking in great shape ahead of his latest visit to York.

He has been thriving since undergoing wind surgery in February and he comes in as a strong contender at another eye-catching price, with his 3lb rise not excessive at all in the circumstances.

Four-for-four is a real possibility in my eyes and I'm intrigued to see if he can keep it up.

14:40 York - Bay City Roller @ 6/1

There's a much shorter field, seven to be exact, declared for the next race. A Group 2 Stakes race over 1m 2f, and BAY CITY ROLLER is the one who stands out for me, representing George Scott's yard.

The three-year-old had a glowing beginning to his career, winning on his first three starts last season. The gap between September to May halted momentum but he has still delivered two promising second-place finishes at Sandown and Saint-Cloud, with the latter being over Saturday's trip.

Improvement will be needed over this distance to build on the fast start to his career but he remains unexposed and Scott and connections will feel as though there is more to come from him.

Ground conditions look favourable and the consistency with having Callum Shephard in the saddle for the sixth consecutive outing will only add to his cause.

15:20 York - Fortunate Star @ 10/1

This Class 4 handicap over 5f is another that contains a stacked field, with 20 declared for this one, but thankfully this is another race where Betfred are kindly offering five places instead of four.

FORTUNATE STAR, who is currently listed as the third favourite is the one I have my eye on, operating for Declan Carroll's yard. The five-year-old has made huge strides in his progress on his past two rides at Doncaster and Haydock, which were both this month.

An eight out of 10 finish at Thirsk towards the end of June raised concerns but they quickly faded with a commanding three-length victory at Haydock over Saturday's trip.

He then stepped up to 5 1/2f at Doncaster last time out, posting a respectable second-place finish - and he was only beaten by a nose against Winged Messenger. Fortunate Star looks like he still has more to give and the return to 5f at York might just suit him perfectly.

EXTRA PLACE RACE - Betfred are paying five places instead of four.

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