Saturday Racing Tips: Kate Tracey likes a big price in the Ebor

Chance two at big prices in Melrose

One of the most competitive handicaps of the season is the Melrose Heritage Handicap for 3yos over 1m6f at York at 14:25. As we expect, the race is again wide open so it's worth chancing a couple.

I've run my usual trends for this contest which reveal some interesting factors. A rating of 92 is optimal as is a middle to high draw. The Melrose has gone to horses who are ridden in mid-division or held up in four of the last five years which again, looks likely to play out this year.

A good amount of conditioning is notable so a horse should have had four or five runs already in the season. A one-month turnaround is ideal and there is a preference for horses who won last time out. If failing that, horses who placed in a maiden or a handicap on their latest outing shouldn't be dismissed.

The first horse who ticked plenty of boxes was Savvy Knight who must bounce back from being overturned as the 8/11F last time out. He looked a very smart horse when winning his first three starts- all of which came this season.

He ran a solid race on his second handicap run which came in the King George V Stakes behind Secret State and Deauville Legend who finished 1-2 in the Great Voltigeur on Wednesday.

That is a solid piece of handicap form where Savvy Knight finished fourth beaten just 1 ¾ lengths.

It was understandable therefore, that he should be sent off as the odds-on favourite last time out in a three-runner Sandown handicap. That was a trappy contest however, that conspired against him on his first attempt at 1m6f. He looked green again and will have learnt plenty from his run.

Off the same mark here, he is worth chancing to bounce back at 17.016/1 in first-time cheekpieces.

The other selection to consider is the rank outsider at 34.033/1 in the form of Mr Alan who is far too big a price to ignore. George Boughey's representative has been seen to good effect over staying trips this season. He too, ran a solid race in the King George V Stakes last time out to finish eighth.

He became outpaced over the 1m4f on that occasion and was held up in rear which wasn't the place to be either.

This step up in trip should only aid Mr Alan as he runs off the same mark as last time out. His hold up style of racing will suit far more here than at Ascot and he has a good draw to boot in stall 9.

Kinross to prove himself as the best seven furlong specialists

Seven-furlong races are certainly specialist contests and we have almost all the horses we'd associate with this unique trip running in the Group 2 City Of York Stakes at 15:00..

Many of these contested the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood over this trip last time out where Sandrine came out on top. The pace certainly held up on that occasion with both the winner and the third, Pogo being ridden prominently.

The only horse to make up any ground in the Goodwood Group 2 was Kinross who won this race last year. Kinross finished just a neck second behind Sandrine despite being ridden in rear and became squeezed on the far rail inside the final furlong.

Frankie Dettori certainly had to take his chance with his daring run against the rail however, it ultimately backfired.

Kinross did well to finish as close as he did and was certainly, the eyecatcher of the race.

Kinross may not have the rain softened ground he prefers but he can still prove himself as the best 7f horse in the race and win the City Of York.

Calling to have Ebor run to suit

The main event of the Ebor Festival at York comes up at 15:35 in the form of the Ebor Heritage Handicap for 4yo+ over 1m6f.

Once again, there are plenty of notable trends to follow for the race. Six-year-olds have won four of the last six renewals of the Ebor. The race has been won by a horse rated 108 in the last three years. Middle to high draws are preferable as are hold up performers.

Horses who have had three or four runs already in the season are favoured with their latest start coming six weeks to two months ago. Ideally a horse finished in the frame in a group race last time out but running well in a handicap should also be considered.

One horse who ticks a lot of boxes is Calling The Wind who is a big price at 34.033/1. Richard Hughes's runner drops back into a handicap here after running well to finish third in a Listed contest last time out.

We know that stamina is no issue at all for this gelding after he ran over two miles on his latest couple of starts.

He is a very consistent performer so should run his race once more and he won't be hindered by this drop back in trip either.

He finished second in the November Handicap at Doncaster on his final outing of last year, running off the same mark he's on here of 103. He was beaten under two-lengths in that competitive handicap over 1m4f which was a career best effort.

Calling The Wind should have the perfect set-up for this race with his hold up style likely to be favoured once more.

He probably would have appreciated a rain shower or two to get into the ground however, he's proven himself as a far more ground versatile horse than first thought.

Running off a very fair mark, back in a handicap that should be run to suit, Calling The Wind is likely to be bang there once more in refitted cheekpieces.