See Andy Newton’s York ITV Horse Racing tips on Thursday 14th May – including 1-2-3 best bets and key stats for the main races.
The three-day York Dante Festival continues into Thursday with FIVE more ITV Racing scheduled on the afternoon.
These include the Middleton Stakes and Dante Stakes – one of the key Epsom Derby Trials in recent years.
Andy Newton’s ITV Horse Racing Tips: Thursday 14th May 2026
- 2:20 York: STURLASSON (e/w)
- 2:55 York: SHOUT
- 3:30 York: SEE THE FIRE
- 4:05 York: CHRISTMAS DAY
- 4:40 York: ASPECT ISLAND
PLUS – also catch me this week (and every week) on the popular FINAL FURLONG PODCAST, with host Emmet Kennedy as we look at the best of the weekend action.
York ITV Horse Racing Tips On Thursday – More Derby Clues On Show In Dante Stakes
2:20 – Lindum York Handicap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 5f ITV
Last year this handicap actually produced the winner of the G1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot in American Affair.
And with the sprinting division so open at the moment, it wouldn’t shock me to see it happen again.
Trainer Tim Easterby has won two of the last 6 runnings so his I’m Next could be worth a look at a fair price.
In fact, his two wins came with the old-boy Copper Knight, who is back for more aged 12 and also still runs for Easterby.
While with 88% of the last 17 winners NOT winning last time out, having at least 4 wins to their name and a top 5 finish last time out – these three stats could help us find the winner.
So, with all this taken into account a chance is taken on the John Ryan-trained STURLASSON.
He was a close silver last time at Bath and is back on the same mark, while the booking of Oisin Murphy, is an obvious plus.
Draw 10 gives Murphy options and having been rated as high as 93 back in 2024, then a mark of 88 looks within range still for this 5yold.
🥇STURLASSON (e/w)
🥈Copper Knight
🥉I’m Next
Key Stats 📈
- 16/17 – Raced at York before
- 15/17 – Failed to win last time out
- 15/17 – Won at least 4 times
- 15/17 –Top 5 last time out
- 14/17 – Had run in the last 5 weeks
- 13/17 – Came from a single-figure draw
- 11/17 – Aged 6 or older
- 9/17 – Returned a double-figure price
- 9/17 – Favourites placed
- 8/17 – Returned between 8/1 and 16/1
- 7/17 – Carried 8-10 or less in weight
- 6/17 – Rated between 86-92
- 2/17 – Trained by Tim Easterby (2 of last 6 runnings)
- 2/17 – Favourites
- Copper Knight won this in 2019 and 2021
- 2025 Winner: American Affair (7/2 fav)
2:55 – Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap Cl2 (4yo+) 1m ITV
We’ve the winners from the last two runnings back for more – with Point Lynas 9lbs higher than his 2024 win.
While Old Cock is only a pound higher than his 2025 success.
The last two winners have also hailed from gate 5, so Walsingham will be trying to keep that run going.
Plus, stall 6 has a good recent record too, which is a plus for the consistent Cerulean Bay.
Sea Force for the Haggas camp will be popular too after a good third at Thirsk last time out.
But I’m going to give another chance to the Crisford runner SHOUT, who was well backed the last day at Newbury (fav) – but was only 13th.
Wasn’t the best away that day but was still only 5 lengths off the winner Linwood and is down a pound here.
While prior to that was beaten 4 lengths in the Lincoln and is 2lbs lower from that run.
This is another ride on the day for Oisin Murphy, who has won on the horse in the past and York looks the sort of track that cold suit him (first run here).
As he’s often held up and races off the pace, with the long straight in his favour. And the yard also won this pot in 2023 with Croupier.
I’ll take Shout to come home the loudest.
🥇SHOUT
🥈Cerulean Bay
🥉Old Cock
Key Stats 📈
- 19/20 – Rated between 96-105
- 19/20 – Won over a mile
- 18/20 – Carried 8-7 or more in weight
- 18/20 – Returned 10/1 or shorter
- 15/20 – Aged between 4-6 years-old
- 15/20 – Favourites placed in the top 4
- 14/20 – Raced in the last 6 weeks
- 14/20 – Came from a single-figure draw
- 11/20 – Won at least 4 times
- 9/20 – Aged 4 years-old
- 8/20 – Placed last time out
- 3/20 – Winning favourites (1 joint, 1 co)
- 1/20 – Won last time out
- 11 of the last 12 winners carried 8-13 or more in weight
- Trainer Edward Bethell has won the last 2
- 4 of the last 7 winners stalls (5) or (6)
- Point Lynas won this in 2024
- 2025 Winner: Old Cock (9/2)
3:30 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m2½f ITV
A shame we’ve only got the four runners here, but it’s still a fascinating affair with them all having chances.
However, despite very classy on her day, the trip is just the known for the three-time Group One winner Fallen Angel.
With her only try over 1m2f resulting in a 4th at Longchamp.
A similar thing applies to Red Letter, while this Ger Lyons runner has 8lbs to find with the two top-rated – Diamond Rain and SEE THE FIRE, who won this race last season in scintillating fashion (watch below)
And so, she looks the safest bet to repeat the feat again in 2026, having returned last month with a win at Nottingham.
Yes, she only just clung on at the end that day to win by a neck but likely needed it after 5 months off.
The Andrew Balding yard are in good order too, whereas the form of the Charlie Appleby team (Diamond Rain) is questionable at present.
See The Fire to prove too hot again.
🥇SEE THE FIRE
🥈Fallen Angel
🥉Diamond Rain
Key Stats 📈
- 21/21– Aged 4 or 5 years-old
- 18/21 – Favourites placed
- 17/21 – Won over 1m2f before
- 17/21 – Placed in the top 4 last time out
- 16/21 – Priced 7/2 or shorter in the betting
- 13/21 – Having first run of the season
- 12/21 – Winning favourites (including 9 of last 16)
- 11/21 – Raced at York before
- 10/21 – Had won at least 4 times
- 7/21 – Winners from stall 4
- 6/21 – Raced at Newmarket last time out
- 4/21 – Won at York
- 4/21 – Won last time out
- 4/21 – Trained by John Gosden (3 of the last 7)
- 3/21 – Winners from stall 1
- 2/21 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
- 1/21 – Irish trained winners
- 1/21– French trained winners
- Trainer Andrew Balding has won 2 of the last 8
- 2025 Winner: Sea The Fire (8/11 fav)
4:05 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (3yo) 1m2½f ITV
The Dante has been a decent Derby Trial in recent years – with 11 horses doing the double and the last Desert Crown in 2022 and before him Golden Horn in 2015.
We’ll have to see if we get another this year.
CHRISTMAS DAY delivered an early season present to Aidan O’Brien last time out when winning the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown – and has been popular in the betting for this and the Derby since.
That form has been boosted with James J Braddock (5th) winning the Derby Trail at Leopardstown last Sunday, and having won his last three now this Camelot colt is certainly a horse on the up.
It’s hard to knock his chance and so is the call to give O’Brien a fifth Dante win.
Of the rest, I think King’s Trail, who was 9th in the 2000 Guineas, can do better now upped in trip. But, as previously mentioned, the form of the Appleby yard would be the worry.
Andrew Balding won this a few years ago with The Foxes and has the unbeaten Item – but this is a big step up on his Bath Novice Stakes win.
While the William Haggas runner Morshdi, who was pulled out of last week’s Dee Stakes due to the ground at Chester, will be another popular pick.
Prior to that he’d won well at Newmarket, when landing the Feilden Stakes over 1m1f and looks the sort that can progress further upped in trip.
He’s won here at York in the past too, which is a plus – but the form of that recent win at HQ has taken some knocks since.
Therefore, hopefully we can celebrate Christmas in May.
🥇CHRISTMAS DAY
🥈Morshdi
🥉King’s Trail
Key Stats 📈
- 19/23 – Finished third or better in last race
- 19/22 – Went onto run in the Epsom Derby (4 won)
- 16/23 – 8/1 or shorter in the betting
- 15/23 – Previous race that season
- 15/23 – Won last race
- 10/22 – Went onto be placed in the Epsom Derby
- 5/23 – Won over 1m2f before
- 5/23 – Favourites (1 joint)
- 4/22 – Went onto win the Epsom Derby
- 3/23 – Won by trainer Aidan O’Brien (won it 4 times in all)
- 3/23 – Won by jockey Ryan Moore
- 3/23 – Trained by John Gosden (3 of last 11 runnings)
- 3/23 – Ridden by William Buick
- 2/23 – Winners from stall 2
- 1/23 – Raced at York before
- Only 3 winning favourites in the last 18 runnings (1 joint)
- Desert Crown (2022) and Golden Horn (2015) were the last Dante winners to go onto win the Epsom Derby
- 11 Dante Stakes winners in total have gone onto win the Epsom Derby
- 2025 Winner: PRINCE OF ARRAS (18/1)
4:40 – British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo) 5f ITV
This has been a good race for those drawn in gates 1-5 in recent years and has also been a kind contest for jockey Danny Tudhope and trainer David O’Meara.
They team up with the unbeaten Manatee Mehmas, who went into many notebooks after a facile debut win at Donny last month.
Revival Power is a proven CD winner here to and that will be a positive despite a 216-day break.
While Simplify and Dickensian are others to note with consistent profiles.
But it’s hard to get away from yet another Oisin Murphy runner on day two at York – ASPECT ISLAND.
This James Owen-trained 3yold was a close third in the Breeders’ Cupo Juvenile Turf Sprint last October and returned with a fair run (7th) in the Abernant Stakes last month.
He’ll be better for that run and is also eased in class here today, back into a Listed race.
Plus, will also head here as the top-rated (106) in the field and draw 2 looks good based on the stats.
At bigger prices, the Ed Walker runner Black Star Boy could carry on improving and outrun his odds.
🥇ASPECT ISLAND
🥈Manatee Mehmas
🥉Black Star Boy
Key Stats 📈
- 14/14 – Had won over 5f or 6f in the past
- 10/14 – Won between 1-2 times before
- 10/14 – Drawn in stall 1-5
- 10/14 – Placed in the top 5 last time out
- 10/14 – Ran no more than 6 times
- 9/14 – Rated between 98-103
- 9/14 – Had run at the track
- 9/14 – Irish bred
- 7/14 – Placed favourites
- 7/14 – Won last time out
- 4/14 – Winning favourites
- 4/14 – Ridden by Danny Tudhope
- 2/14 – Trained by David O’Meara
- 7 of the last 11 winners drawn between 1-4
- 2025 Winner: Tropical Storm (4/1)
