Dante Festival tips: York best bets from Dave Nevison

Our resident pundit and website tipster Dave Nevison picked 10-3 and 2-1 winners on Tuesday and likes three runners on Thursday, including two at York on day two of the Dante Festival. Enjoy all the action live on Racing TV.

1.50 York: Regional

I went over the proverbial cliff with this horse last season but I have dusted myself down and I believe that he is worth sticking with. I’m still expecting to get my cash back this term.

I picked up some good place money along the way with him in these big handicaps, including a cracking third-placed effort in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, and connections will presumably be looking at following a similar road this season.

My decision to stick with him is largely based on the cracking form of his trainer Ed Bethell, who seems to have found a way of converting last year’s good placed efforts with other horses. Hopefully Regional can continue that trend.

3.00 York: Astro King

This is a field full of good-class handicappers but not many would be able to run a close third in a Hunt Cup - even at their very best – like Astro King managed last season.

He also posted a couple of lesser efforts last term where he went off at very short prices and disappointed, and it is no surprise he was sold or that he was gelded when he got to the Daniel and Claire Kubler yard. Their slide rule approach to the form book is paying off, with the stable heading up the trainer rankings and it is certainly possible that Astro King would enjoy the routine of a different and very competent yard.

Connections will get their £36,000 sales price back in one hit if their new recruit can land one of these big mile handicaps.

3.25 Perth: Haribo Collonges

He looks on the up and might be able to run up a sequence in summer jumps handicaps.

Haribo Collonges looked very professional when breaking his maiden over course and distance last time, challenging over the last and surging clear off top weight in a modest event. He is slightly up in grade here, but once again Brian Hughes is in the saddle which is handy.

Conditions are pretty much the same as last time and he can follow up.