ITV Racing Tips on August 22nd - Saturday's tips for York and Chester
The Ebor Festival reaches its climax on Saturday, with ITV Racing broadcasting five live races from York and two from Chester. Key contests include the City of York Stakes and the Ebor Handicap. Expert tips back Geryon in the Strensall Stakes, Whipcracker in Chester’s Handicap, and Ten Bob Tony in the City of York Stakes, among others. Conditions such as ground softness and recent performances strongly influence selections. Punters are advised to monitor horses well-suited to the forecast conditions and recent form for the best betting value.
- Free tips for the ITV races on Saturday 22nd August
- York and Chester feature on the ITV Racing schedule
- Ten Bob Tony, Lazy Griff and Air Force One feature in our selections
- ITV Racing Schedule
- 1:50pm York - Strensall Stakes Tips
- 2:05pm Chester - Safe Gambling Handicap Tips
- 2:25pm York - Melrose Handicap Tips
- 2:40pm Chester - Chester Stakes Tips
- 3:00pm York - City Of York Stakes Tips
- 3:35pm York - Ebor Handicap Tips
- 4:10pm York - Constantine Handicap Tips
ITV Tips
The Ebor Festival draws to a sensational conclusion on Saturday, with the City Of York Stakes and the Ebor headlining the day four card. ITV Racing will be showing five races live from York, plus a couple of competitive races from Chester, including the Listed Chester Stakes.
Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races at York and Chester.
ITV Racing Schedule
| Time | Track | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1:50pm | York | Strensall Stakes (Group 3) 1m1f |
| 2:05pm | Chester | Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (Class 2) 7½f |
| 2:25pm | York | Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1m6f |
| 2:40pm | Chester | Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed Race) 1m6½f |
| 3:00pm | York | City Of York Stakes (Group 1) 7f |
| 3:35pm | York | Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1m6f |
| 4:10pm | York | Constantine Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 6f |
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 22nd August
1:50pm York - Strensall Stakes Tips
Plenty hold chances in Saturday's opening Group Three. George Scott's recruit Ridari is worth watching in the market, especially if the ground remains on the soft side. GERYON (11/2) drops back down in trip after an excellent effort at Glorious Goodwood, and Ger Lyons' raider gets my vote.
Progressive at two, Geryon has improved with each start at three. Gary Carroll's mount ran well behind the excellent Purview in the International Stakes at the Curragh, before claiming a maiden Group victory with an emphatic success in the Group Three Meld Stakes at Leopardstown.
Having shown plenty of boot at Leopardstown, I didn't really fancy Geryon over a mile-and-a-half in the Gordon Stakes, but Lyons' raider ran a cracker to finish a clear second behind the equally progressive Enceladus. Despite that fine effort, this nine-furlong trip seems much more suitable for Geryon, and three-year-olds have a good recent record in the Strensall.
2:05pm Chester - Safe Gambling Handicap Tips
WHIPCRACKER (10/1) could be worth chancing in the first of our ITV races at Chester. Richard Hughes' five-year-old hasn't won since his juvenile days, but went close in several big nine-furlong handicaps last season, clocking RPRs in the low 100s on a couple of occasions.
After a pipe-opener in Ireland, Whipcracker ran very well when third behind Linwood in the Spring Cup at Newbury, before a runner-up effort behind the rampant Respond here at Chester in May. Whipcracker hasn't been seen since then, as Richard Hughes has been waiting for softer ground. Hector Crouch's mount has his conditions on Saturday, and dropping down in trip could suit this fast-starting handicapper.
2:25pm York - Melrose Handicap Tips
It's rare to see a Group winner run in the Melrose, let alone a Queen's Vase winner. Limestone was only handed a mark of 105 for winning that Group Two, and Ryan Moore takes the ride on Joseph O'Brien's Royal winner.
I'm going to go in again on MYTHICAL BAY (12/1), who I backed in a similar handicap at the July Festival. Andrew Balding's three-year-old travelled sweetly throughout, before getting the better of Magnetude after a ding-dong battle down the home straight.
Mythical Bay relished some extra cut in the ground when romping to victory at Newbury in June, so conditions on Saturday should be ideal. Oisin Murphy's mount was only upped five pounds in the handicap for that effort, and should run another big race under a light weight of just 8-10.
GALILEAN QUALITY (14/1) also boasts form with Magnetude, having traded victories with that rival earlier in the season. Karl Burke's gelding then beat Baltic Fleet at Wolverhampton, earning his spot in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, where Pierre-Louis Jamin's mount ran really well to finish sixth.
Burke's charge returned to Ascot in July, and made a winning debut over 14 furlongs. Galilean Quality still looked a little green, but found plenty in the final two furlongs to hold off a strong older rival in Fireblade. A four-pound rise for that win seems fairly lenient to me, and Galilean Quality boasts winning form on softer ground.
2:40pm Chester - Chester Stakes Tips
Back to Chester now, where LAZY GRIFF (9/4) looks to have an excellent chance of bouncing back to form.
Charlie Johnston's charge finished close behind Lambourn on all of his three-year-old starts, first here in the Chester Vase before placing in both the British and Irish Derbys. After an enforced lay-off, Lazy Griff made his comeback in the Sagaro Stakes at Sandown, before returning to that venue in July to land the Listed Coral Marathon Stakes.
Johnston's colt beat a rapid retreat after attempting to track a ferocious pace on fast ground in the Goodwood Cup, so that flop is easily forgiven. Underfoot conditions at Chester will be much more to Lazy Griff's liking, and this 14-furlong trip should be ideal for this classy stayer.
3:00pm York - City Of York Stakes Tips
Despite a stunning victory at Royal Ascot and an excellent run in the Sussex Stakes, TEN BOB TONY (8/1) can be backed at 8/1 for Saturday's sole Group One.
I was all over Ed Walker's gelding when he ran in the Tattenham Corner Stakes at Epsom, as seven furlongs on juicy ground were his optimum conditions, and Ten Bob Tony ran well to claim a narrow victory. Fearing both the ground and trip were against him, I ignored the outsider when he lined up in the Queen Anne Stakes two weeks later. Yet, Kieran Shoemark's mount summoned a monstrous performance out of nowhere, running down More Thunder and Opera Ballo to claim a shock Group One success.
Walker's stable star finished fourth on his most recent outing at Goodwood, where Ten Bob Tony ran a mighty race to finish just two lengths adrift of two excellent three-year-olds, and an RPR of 121 proved that his Royal Ascot performance was no fluke. Walker's five-year-old is in the form of his life, and returning to seven furlongs won't bother him. 8/1 is too nice a price to pass up.
3:35pm York - Ebor Handicap Tips
Read our full guide to the 2026 Ebor Handicap to get the latest odds, key recurring trends and our two against the field at York.
Visit our Ebor Handicap Live Stream page to watch any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.
4:10pm York - Constantine Handicap Tips
I'm going to have to side with AIR FORCE ONE (15/2) again, after Geoff Oldroyd's sprinter got us off to a flying start in the opening handicap of the meeting. Air Force One went into Wednesday's opener in excellent form, and went on to score in excellent fashion, pulling clear of some well-fancied rivals after storming into contention from off the pace.
Oldroyd said after that victory that Air Force One was in the form of his life, so it's no surprise to see him turned out quickly again this week. PJ McDonald's mount has landed another excellent draw in stall two, and this progressive five-year-old is more than capable of challenging again under a five-pound penalty.
One that interests me at a much bigger price is PURE LEGEND (33/1). This son of Mehmas was a consistent performer over seven furlongs and a mile during his time in France, and ran well in a strong handicap on his debut for Kevin Ryan at Thirsk.
Kevin Stott held his mount up at the rear that day, and had to wait for the gaps to open before mounting a challenge. Pure Legend picked up well, but could never really find a clear path to the post, and crossed the line full of running back in sixth. Six furlongs will be a new discipline for Pure Legend, but the ground is certainly in his favour on Saturday, and I fancy he'll take well to this new distance.
Verdict
Saturday's Top ITV Tips:
Lazy Griff
2:40pm Chester
@9/4 - 5 Units
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Geryon
1:50pm York
@11/2 - 5 Units
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Air Force One
4:10pm York
@15/2 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
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Ten Bob Tony
3:00pm York
@8/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £10
with promo code NEWBONUS
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