Today's tips: Racing preview and best bets

Racing betting tips: Friday May 17

1pt win Qitaal in the 2:45 York at 16/1 (General) - min 14/1

1pt win Al Qareem in the 3:45 York at 17/2 (William Hill) - min 8/1

1pt win Raffle Ticket in the 6:20 Aintree at 13/2 (General) - min 5/1

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

2:15 York

The form of It Ain't Two’s win in a novice at the Craven meeting has been advertised since by the wins of Miss Rascal and Seraphim Angel and that race looks the key piece of form in analysing this Listed contest. It Ain't Two won despite looking ill at ease in the track at Newmarket and she should be seen to better effect on this flatter track. William Buick is an eye-catching jockey booking, and she should go well again.

2:45 York

We saw on Thursday that it’s possible to set a strong pace and be hard to catch at York, and that points the way to QITAAL in this handicap. The selection failed to handle quick ground at Epsom on his penultimate start, but that modest run is sandwiched by excellent efforts at Doncaster and Goodwood on softer ground. He showed an excellent attitude when beaten a neck by Maghlaak last time, and he is well drawn to gain an early advantage again here. He needs to be on his mettle to add another win to his record, but he may well prove hard to pass if gaining an uncontested lead.

Stressfree was beaten a length and a half when second to Qitaal at Doncaster in March and had excuses on heavy ground at Ripon last time, with neither ground nor track looking ideal, and he looks a danger if bouncing back, being 7lb better off with Qitaal in this rematch.

3:15 York

Devoted Queen is arguably the pick here on form, but she made rather hard work of winning at skinny odds at Kempton in April, and it’s a slight concern that runner-up Marcella was unplaced in Listed company at Goodwood next time. She looked good on debut at Newmarket, though, so it would hardly be a surprise to see her enhance her reputation.

True Cyan gave the impression in the preliminaries that she would improve markedly for the run in the Nell Gwyn and she shaped in kind, outpaced before staying on well up the hill to finish fourth to Pretty Crystal. Her hold-up style was a disadvantage on the day and there are valid reasons to expect a much better showing now. She offers value against the likely favourite.

3:45 York

A prominent ride ought to prove an advantage in the Yorkshire Cup as there isn’t a great deal of pace in evidence, and that could give a decisive advantage of the likeable AL QAREEM. Karl Burke’s charge doesn’t want the ground too quick, but the showers of Wednesday and Thursday have taken any sting out of the turf, and that will be in his favour.

Al Qareem was beaten a neck by Hamish in the John Porter Stakes at Newbury when the pair were making their respective seasonal debuts, and I liked the way he rallied late in that 1½m contest. The longer trip here is in his favour, and he remains underrated when getting his conditions having beaten Thursday’s Middleton Stakes winner Bluestocking giving her 12lb last autumn, for example, and only Hamish (now a non-runner here) has beaten him in three subsequent starts.

6:20 Aintree

RAFFLE TICKET has been a decent money-spinner for the Pointers column over the past couple of years and with conditions ideal here, he can get back to winning ways.

He got stuck in the mud at Exeter last time and that run is easily forgiven, and if you concentrate on his previous win at Doncaster where he beat future Freebooter winner Cruz Control, he still looks well handicapped today.

With track, trip and ground all likely to suit, he looks overpriced to bounce back to winning ways tonight.

Posted at 0955 BST on 17/05/24

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