16-05-2025
Horse racing tips: Friday, May 16
It's a fantastic Friday of racing – one of those days when there's a bit of something for everyone. My focus is on the six televised races (ITV1, 2-4.30pm), five of which come from the final day of York's Dante Festival and the other from Newbury.
I have a selection in each of those races, including a NAP in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup. The day also features Flat racing at Hamilton, Leopardstown and Newmarket, plus jump cards from Aintree and Kilbeggan.
Ron Wood's selections:
Odds provided by Betfair and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5).
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2.10 York – Fillies' Stakes (Listed, 5f)
LOVE OLIVIA didn't beat much of note on her debut at Wolverhampton, but she won by seven and a half lengths despite being green, and she was firmly ridden in a bid to educate her.
This contest was nominated as the target afterwards and she should improve and go well for Karl Burke, who trained the winner of this race in 2022 and 2023.
Selection: Love Olivia (2.10, York) @ 15/8 with Betfair
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2.25 Newbury – Class 3 Handicap (1m 2f)
Fifteen runners go to post here and there's a good chance that the lightly raced BURRITO, a well-bred gelding from the top yard of John and Thady Gosden, can prove sufficiently ahead of the handicapper to defeat some more exposed-looking rivals.
2.42 York – Class 2 Handicap (1m 2f)
THUNDER RUN struggled when trying to dominate in the Lincoln at Doncaster on his reappearance in March, but that's not an easy race to boss from start to finish and he shouldn't be written off. He faced 21 rivals that day and lacked race-fitness on slow ground.
He won a big handicap at York's Ebor meeting last summer – this track plays well to his forward-going style – and he should still have more to give, being lightly raced, with a good yard and having potential now stepping up in trip.
Selection: Thunder Run (2.42, York) @ 4/1 with Betfair
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3.13 York – Fillies' Stakes (Listed, 1m)
There are a few tempting options in this one but CONSECRATED gets the vote following her clear-cut debut win at Newbury.
That success came over 7f but she's bred for further so the step up to a mile should help this daughter of Frankel.
Consecrated is one of four fillies in this race who are entered in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, along with Glittering Surf, Gulya and Serving With Style.
3.45 York – Yorkshire Cup (Group 2, 1m 6f)
REBEL'S ROMANCE (NAP), who has multiple top-level wins over 1m 4f, may have lost a yard of pace so he now steps up to a staying trip for the first time.
But it was only last November that he won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf for a second time, for which he has a 5lb penalty, and even if he's not quite the force old, he's fancied to be too good for these rivals.
Charlie Appleby's runner should be fine over the added distance, seeing as the ground will be quick on a flat track and the trip is 32 yards short of a full 1m 6f.
4.15 York – Class 3 Handicap (5f)
The final ITV race of the day isn't an easy one, being a huge-field sprint handicap, but THE MAN (NB) is a horse of interest.
Following his debut win in a novice race at Southwell last year, he faced three tough tasks, but he kept showing plenty of ability without being able to produce a complete performance.
He ran in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot off a seven-week break and when light on experience, but showed plenty of speed under an inefficient ride. The Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood didn't unfold to suit him next time, and he then travelled well for a long way in a Listed race over today's course and distance before finishing weakly.
It's interesting to see that he has had a breathing operation in the off-season and has also been gelded. He now drops in grade and he might be able to carry his speed all the way this time.
Selection: The Man (4.15, York) @ 16/1 with Betfair
Star ratings explained
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy
⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims
⭐⭐ - tentative choice
⭐ - minimum confidence
