Saturday tips: four tips for York and Sandown

You have to overlook a couple of disappointing runs - without obvious excuses bar from coming after a break - to give Chillingham a chance here, but I’m prepared to give the six-year-old another roll of the dice in a much lower grade than he has contested for the past two years. Trainer Ed Bethell has switched the headgear for Chillingham and that may help him focus, while it’s not too long ago that this gelding was running really well in the highest grade of handicap - including over this course and distance. Becky Smith is a strong jockey booking (in a very strong field of riders) and hopefully she will not overdo the waiting tactics on this horse, who has got going too late on occasions. At his best Chillingham could outclass these, and hopefully he will appreciate this lower grade. 

This is a competitive heat, but I think Obelix could be in better form than his recent form figures may suggest. 

Obelix won off a mark of 82 at Haydock last season and then looked like he might well be able to win off higher, but while he hasn’t scored since he hasn’t had things go his way on occasions, including on his penultimate start when not getting involved in the Thirsk Hunt Cup. 

Obelix came back to form last time behind Mirsky (winner again since) in a race that might prove to be a strong one, and given that the Julie Camacho stable is ticking along nicely at present and he might prove a value option here.

Musical Touch is a lightly-raced and very much improving sprinter in a race populated by largely exposed types and the four-year-old can get back to winning form in a race that might be tailor made for him. Richard Fahey shot back to form in good handicaps at Epsom last weekend and the trainer is always to be feared at York, and his Mehmas gelding looks to have lucked out with a good draw near to what seems a likely stronger pace amongst the usually favoured lower numbers.Musical Touch has already won over this trip this season and, with a decent 5lb claimer on board, this looks a good opportunity despite the huge field. 

Baltic runs in the Fittocks Stud colours worn by many stayers that have climbed through the handicap ratings to become useful performers, and this very well bred gelding might well be the latest. The five-year-old certainly started last season off a very low mark after showing very little in maidens yet rattled up a five-timer and now sits 30lb higher in the handicap than for his first win. Still only rated 88, I believe it’s unlikely he’s stopped yet.This big son of Frankel badly needed his reappearance run and has been given time to gather himself after that, while the booking of Colin Keane very much takes the eye and I definitely think he will be a different proposition here.