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ITV Racing Tips on August 20th - Free tips on day one of the Ebor Festival

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Tue 19 Aug 2025 13:34

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Jon Vine 19 Aug 2025

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Free tips for the ITV races on Wednesday 20th August
The Ebor Festival begins at York on Wednesday
Italy and Fireblade feature in our ITV selections

Expired

York racecourse. (Getty)

Day 1 Tips

1:50pm York - World Pool Handicap Tips
2:25pm York - Acomb Stakes Tips
3:00pm York - Great Voltigeur Stakes Tips
3:35pm York - Juddmonte International Stakes Tips
4:10pm York - Stayers Handicap Tips

The ever-popular Ebor Festival gets underway on Wednesday and viewers have got a quality card to enjoy at York. The Juddmonte International Stakes headlines the opening card, with the Acomb Stakes and Great Voltigeur Stakes leading up to our Group One feature.

Here are my best betting tips on day one of the 2025 Ebor Festival.

ITV Racing Tips - Wednesday 20th August

1:50pm York - World Pool Handicap Tips

Large-field sprint handicaps - especially at York - would be among the least-profitable races that I bet on. Nevertheless, we're going to kick the Ebor Festival off with an each-way punt on BERGERAC (16/1).

Kevin Ryan's sprinter can usually be relied upon to produce his best at York. Bergarc won this race back in 2022, and ran on well to finish sixth from a tricky wide draw in last year's renewal. Tom Eaves' mount has placed fifth and second on his two visits to York this term, before claiming his first victory of the season at Hamilton in June.

Since then, Bergarc has suffered one-length defeats in the Gosforth Park Handicap at Newcastle and the Scottish Stewards' Cup at Hamilton. Ryan's seven-year-old is still capable of winning off a mark of 93 and, looking at whether the pace has been drawn, stall nine should be ideal.

2:25pm York - Acomb Stakes Tips

ITALY (15/8) was beaten by a Charlie Appleby runner in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, but I fancy he'll have the measure of Godolphin's favourite, Distant Storm on Wednesday.

Aidan O'Brien's youngster - a strapping colt by Wootton Bassett - went off as the 4/6 favourite at Newmarket following an impressive debut win at Leopardstown. Italy took a while to get going and was pushed wide across the track by Venetian Lace, but kept on well to finish second behind Saba Desert, who enjoyed a much smoother trip down the stands' side of the straight.

The form of Distant Storm's debut win has worked out fantastically well, but Aidan O'Brien is convinced that Italy has improved for that trip to Newmarket and no jockey is better at riding York than Ryan Moore.

superlative stakes — Italy (right) finishing second to Saba Desert (near) in the Superlative Stakes. (Getty)

3:00pm York - Great Voltigeur Stakes Tips

Talking of Aidan O'Brien, the master of Ballydoyle will saddle four of the seven runners in this year's Great Voltigeur Stakes. Dual Derby winner, Lambourn is the overwhelming favourite, but I don't fancy either backing the favourite or siding against him. I'll leave this one alone.

3:35pm York - Juddmonte International Stakes Tips

Read our full guide to the 2025 Juddmonte International Stakes to find out who we've backed in Wednesday's feature.

Visit our Juddmonte International Stakes Live Stream page if you plan on watching any of Wednesday's races via a mobile or tablet.

4:10pm York - Stayers Handicap Tips

Fresh off his success at the Shergar Cup, FIREBLADE (15/2) has a good chance of claiming back-to-back wins. Dylan Cunha's four-year-old ran Suraj Narredu ragged, pulling his way to the front going into the bend, but Fireblade kept on gamely to secure a convincing victory.

James Doyle had ridden Cunha's four-year-old on his two-mile debut at Ascot the previous month, where Fireblade ran a lovely race to finish third. A five-pound rise doesn't seem overly harsh for that Shergar Cup victory and Fireblade can progress further on his third start over this distance.

Verdict

Ebor Festival Day 1 Tips

Ebor Festival Day 1 Tips:

Italy

2:25pm York

@15/8 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

in free bets

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Bet at BOYLE Sports

Fireblade

4:10pm York

@15/2 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

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Bet at bet365

Bergerac E/W

1:50pm York

@16/1 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £10

with promo code NEWBONUS

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Bet at Betgoodwin