Oli Bell with his best bets for York Dante Festival

What a fascinating three days we have ahead of us at York’s Dante Festival. There is some excellent racing on the cards where plenty more Investec Derby questions will be answered. I love York, there is always a great atmosphere there and the action is inevitably top quality. 

I’m currently at the Knavesmire before we go on air for day one and the rain is coming down pretty hard now, looking like it’s set in. Keeping that in mind, here are my ones to watch at the meeting:

Thursday

The Dante Stakes at 3.30pm is the race synonymous with the meeting and it has already created one of the week’s biggest talking points so far.

In the past 72 hours there has clearly been a massive gamble on Crystal Ocean, who is now 3/1 with Sky Bet for York’s big race and as short as 10/1 for the Derby.

This is a decent renewal and will be the acid test for Sir Michael Stoute’s three-year-old to see if he’s got what it takes to be justified as an Epsom contender. Have the gallop watchers been getting over-excited or is the horse the real deal?

I think Cracksman is too short at the top of the market at 11/4 ahead of a very good field ready to take him on. 

The Dante is the flagship race and the best trial in the country, for me. Cracksman is already an Epsom Derby Trial winner, having triumphed at the course last month, and although his form in winning looks ok, the manner of the victory showed why I wouldn’t want to be backing him at the top of the market.

You have to respect connections – who also had Golden Horn – but even jockey Frankie Dettori said to Matt Chapman in an interview on At The Races that the horse needs to improve.

A horse that stands out for me and one I like at the price is Joseph O’Brien’s Rekindling at 13/2. He beat Douglas Macarthur and Yucatan last time out at Leopardstown in April.

He brings good form into the race, the conditions should suit. I think he’s the value bet. 

It’s a fascinating contest and in a Derby market that at this stage doesn’t look particularly clear, it does have the feel that a horse could be able to grab an opportunity here and stake their claim.

AP O’Brien runs Exemplar in the Dante (8/1), but could also be forgiven for having one eye on those Derby chances because of Venice Beach’s success in the Chester Vase last week.

Currently 14/1 for the Derby with Sky Bet, Venice Beach looks like he’s got a bit about him. He’s not the finished article, but looks an exciting prospect when it all clicks.

Friday

There’s another excellent card on Friday, with the Yorkshire Cup leading the way. It will be great to see if nine-year-old local favourite Clever Cookie (13/2) can win the race for a second year running – there won’t be a dry eye in the house if he does.

Saturday

Our attentions head south for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. Ribchester (5/2) is clearly the one to beat, but I wouldn’t rule out Ballydoyle’s Somehow at 5/1. I was really impressed with how she won the Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes last time out at Newmarket

It’s shaping up to be an intriguing race and I’m looking forward to seeing the final card, as well as just how the ground and conditions could possibly change with rain forecast.

Rishi Persad will be presenting The Opening Show in the morning – and we want you to be involved. We’re creating our very first The Opening Show Photo Finish, made up of your images.

Using #theopeningshow, tweet us your photos of you having a great time at the races, your drawings, your artwork or your pictures with racehorses both past and present to stand a chance of featuring.

Talking of ex-racehorses, I’m spending the weekend at Overbury Stud near Cheltenham, where I will be meeting Alan King’s popular former hurdler Franchoek and some of their other amazing horses.

I’m really looking forward to being shown around one of the most successful National Hunt studs in England.

The best of the rest…

Shannon Gabriel may have broken the hearts of scores of West Indies cricket fans, but his antics in the middle against Pakistan certainly raised a smile on this side of the Atlantic – as did the commentator’s reaction.

Roston Chase’s heroic century had almost saved the series-deciding Test in Dominica and all tail-ender Gabriel needed to do was to keep his cool and face one more ball in the game’s penultimate over.

Instead, the Trinidadian had a rush of blood to the head and decided to charge leg-spinner Yasir Shah, only inside edging the delivery on to his stumps and handing Pakistan a first series win in the Caribbean.

For me, the home commentator instantly summed up the frustrations and upset of an entire region. Quite often professionalism dictates that you stay calm, level and neutral. But there was no holding back for this exasperated presenter as he quite brilliantly – and rightly – exclaimed “why did he do that?” following the number 11’s moment of madness.

The Roland Garros French Open is less than a week away now and Rafael Nadal (4/5 outright) is looking unbeatable, particularly after his Madrid Open win and with Roger Federer pulling out. Nevertheless, it’ll still be a great tournament to watch live on ITV4.