The tipsters table, York Races, Saturday, July 15, 2017

It’s John Smith’s Cup day with a stellar cast of steeds battling out the 1m2f stamina test for a mouthwatering £124,500 first prize.

But who is up for the cup? Over to our resident tipster…

Turpin writes:

Twenty runners line up for the 3.05 race with the market likely to be headed by Ballet Concerto, UAE Prince and Sixties Groove.

Preference is for the latter who has risen steadily through the ratings, from 63 in June last year to today’s mark of 98 – an astonishing progression.

But has the handicapper got his measure yet? Turpin thinks not, and that there is more to come, after witnessing the gelding’s effort in the Duke of Edinburgh at Ascot – a storming fifth, having started just too far back.

Probably a bit harsh to blame jockey Adam Kirby for that blip, having scored with him last season; but Turpin is heartened by the hiring of veteran French ace Gerald Mosse to do the business today.

Victory Bond gets a valuable 3lb pull from jockey Adam McNamara and is fancied to make the frame.

Earlier (2.30), there seems little to touch Barsanti over the 1m 5f of the Silver Cup distance. The nap selection should be followed home by Rare Rhythm for a good forecast return.

The tipsters table, York Races, Friday, July 14, 2017

It’s the John Smith’s meeting with Saturday’s big handicap the highlight of the weekend’s European races.

Today the big race is the Unibet Summer Fillies Stakes. Over to our resident tipster, Dick Turpin.

Turpin writes:

Artistica bids for a four-timer in the feature race (3.15). Victory in a six-furlong Nottingham listed race in May was enough to catch Turpin’s eye.

The German-bred three-year-old went on to frank that form on home turf in a Group 3 contest at Baden-Baden just a fortnight later.

Queen Kindly, a course and distance winner last year, is a clear danger to the selection, but preference for the runner-up choice goes to Gheeda, one of three Haggas runners, whose Sandown fourth (behind Battaash) last month was boosted when Battaash trotted up again at the weekend.

Haggas’s Lapilli is a confident selection for the 4.55 sprint.

Unraced for nearly a year, the powerful gelding looks set to score at the main expense of Paul Hanagan’s Desert Law and Paul Midgeley’s Tylery Wonder and Merry Banter.