Dave Nevison: my free horse racing tips for York on Friday

There’s a great prelude to the weekend action on Friday with the Group One Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket and some really competitive handicaps at York, where I am getting involved. As ever, you can watch all the action on Racing TV.

Empirestateofmind has been most consistent this season and looks to have plenty going for him here.

He has continued to improve, despite being beaten, since he won at Thirsk in another big-field handicap and still looks fairly treated off a mark of 95.

His draw in stall 5 looks ideal for a horse who likes to be up there and both his trainer, John Quinn, and jockey, Jason Hart, are enjoying very good form at present. All going comes alike to this five-year-old and a good run looks assured.

This cheaply bought runner has certainly found racecourses lined with gold on each of each of his starts. He’s won each of his four starts, including a very valuable nursery and a big sales race at The Curragh.

He is in another here and it’s probably his toughest assignment to date. I believe he will be up to it as he proved himself over the course and distance on his penultimate start and has a smart turn of foot. Danny Tudhope takes over from his usual jockey but that is no concern, especially at York.

Has run two cracking races on his latest starts, being beaten less than a length in Ayr Bronze Cup last time.

It is arguable that he could have done even better in both contests had he not raced in the disadvantaged group in massive fields.

He might well have got the best of the draw here in stall 10. The middle is often the best place to be at York and certainly looks to be the case on Friday with several pacesetters drawn nearby.

Mattice has had plenty of racing this season but ran his best race last time and shows no sign of going over the top. Also, he will not be inconvenienced by this drop back down to the minimum trip.