York Racing Tips: Best Bets for Dante Festival Friday

Friday’s York Tips

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It’s the final day of this year’s Dante Festival at York and I’ve picked out four contenders to follow on betting sites from the seven-race card, which is headlined by the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup.

Mission possible for those opposing Synchronicity

The layers are understandably taking no pre-race chances with Synchronicity but they may try to ‘get’ her closer to the off and if you’re intent on backing her, I’d probably be inclined to wait.

There’s no doubt that Ed Walker’s full sister to Ombudsman impressed on her debut, winning a Newbury newcomers’ race in style. It’s a race that is working out very well but she’ll need an awful lot of improvement for it if she’s to better the form already shown by PACIFIC MISSION.

Andrew Balding’s Lope De Vega filly is 1-4 so far but her close second in last season’s Group 2 May Hill at Doncaster (1m, good to soft) and her second in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (1m, firm) were both excellent efforts in the contest of this race and she has the form on the board.

There’s never usually any fitness issues with this yard and at the prices on horse racing betting sites, I think she looks the best value in the field.

York tip 1: Pacific Mission – 1pt win @ 7/2 (Ladbrokes)

Warrant Holder can catch his rivals

Last year’s winner Thunder Run and second Tony Montana return for another crack and both are able to race off the same official marks as 12 months ago. The latter has the better draw, the former having to come from stall ten, which is not impossible here but won’t help.

However, more pertinent for both is, perhaps, the presence of WARRANT HOLDER, who is both well drawn and also looks to be well treated. The Gosden’s four-year-old signed off last season with All Weather success at Newcastle (1m4½f) and the way he has so far been prominent in his races should serve him well with this drop back to 1m2f.

He’s been gelded in the winter and has run well on both occasions when fresh in his career to date. With the stable in very good form, he’s the one for me. At bigger prices, Castle Stuart could well outperform his odds too.

York tip 2: Warrant Holder – 1pt win @ 10/3 (bet365)

Yorkshire Cup may be to Rahiebb’s liking

Breeders’ Cup Turf fourth Amiloc heads the market and he’s clearly very good. Favoured at the weights by just 1lb with RAHIEBB, he’s probably the right favourite and it would be no surprise if he proves good enough to win.

The selection, meanwhile, has won just once. That came on his debut in March last year at Newcastle. He progressed with every run from then on, only being beaten a neck in last season’s St Leger.

Trip and conditions suit Roger Varian’s charge and his trainer pointed out several times last year that he was a big baby, still learning and he’d be a much better horse this year. That Doncaster form is probably the best on offer, and there’s little wrong with the form of the trainer’s string, so if his theory is correct, then the son of Frankel looks a value alternative to the ‘jolly’ at the prices on betting apps.

York tip 3: Rahiebb – 1pt win @ 7/2 (William Hill)

Balding’s runner worth his weight in gold

A typically tricky-looking York sprint, where the usual conundrum is compounded by several who appear to have stronger claims being drawn middle to high, which isn’t usually ideal on a sound surface.

Only one horse drawn higher than ten has obliged in the last decade, which tempers enthusiasm for the selection OLD IS GOLD to some extent and an each-way bet is suggested.

Andrew Balding’s three-year-old was well fancied at Sandown last time, only to blow the start and with it his chance. If that money was well-founded in the case of his well-being, then those taking the plunge were unfortunate.

I think he’s still got the potential for a fair bit more from a 1lb lower mark this time and, having been gelded prior to that last run, hopefully he can settle down and concentrate on the job.

With five of the top seven in the betting having double-figure draws, I am hoping that the pace might come on the selection’s side of the track and am prepared to stick with him but to smaller stakes than might otherwise have been the case.

York tip 4: Old Is Gold – 1pt each-way @ 7/1 (BOYLE Sports)

Free bet offer for York

Tote have a money back special race for Friday’s racing at York, with punters entitled to their stake back as a free bet should their selection finish second or third in the 13.45 race.

Head to Tote’s promotions page, opt in to the offer and then place a wager on the opening race of the day.

If your horse finishes in the top three but doesn’t win, Tote will refund losing wagers in free bets, up to a maximum of £10. Only the win part of any each-way bets will be eligible for a refund.

The Tote credit is valid for seven days and can be used on any UK and Irish racing pool bets.

Gamble responsibly

If you’re having a bet on Friday’s racing, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.

Betting can be addictive, and it’s important to stay in control of your gambling, whether you’re using online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites, bingo sites or any other gambling platform.

Never treat gambling as a way to make money, never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop.

Gambling sites offer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options, to help you stay in control.

But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don’t hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.

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