Horse Racing Tips: Mark Milligan's best bets for Yorkshire Cup day at York

York, 14:20 - Back Lilt @ 17/29.50

Having put up Lilt on 1000 Guineas day, I was disappointed that she ended up being a non-runner there, but I'm keeping the faith as she hopefully makes her reappearance in this listed contest.

William Haggas's filly is from a fine family and created a really good impression when winning her sole start on heavy ground over 7f at Doncaster last October.

Although she only won by a neck that day, Lilt and the second-place finisher Hollywell Stream pulled a little way clear of the third and that in itself is a good sign.

The form of that contest probably doesn't amount to a great deal in the context of a race such as this, but there's little doubt that Lilt is bred to be a pattern-class performer and I made the point in a previous column that Haggas wouldn't be one to pitch a horse in too deep on just their second start if he didn't think they were up to the task.

The selection will need to improve given this probably looks a deeper contest than the one she was originally scheduled to return in, but Lilt is open to plenty of progression with just the single start under her belt.

York, 14:55 - Back Warrant Holder @ 3/14.00

This extended 1m 2f handicap sees the 1-2 from last year's contest taking each other on again and there was only a head to separate Thunder Run and Tony Montana in that 2025 renewal.

The winner put up a fine performance carrying top weight that day and will need to pull off just as good an effort if he's to defy a big weight once again this year, while there shouldn't be much between both he and Tony Montana once again.

However, they could both be vulnerable to John & Thady Gosden's Warrant Holder, who showed improved form on his final start of last season, taking a Newcastle handicap with plenty to spare.

By Frankel out of a Dubawi mare, hopes would have been high that Warrant Holder would prove more than just a handicapper when setting out and that may well be the case this term, as he'll likely be fast-tracked into listed or Group company should he defy a mark of 100 here.

The Gosden team have really hit their straps of late and the big Knavesmire Friday crown could well be greeting a Royal winner at the end of this contest.

Yorkshire Cup, York, 16:05 - Back Rahiebb @ 16/54.20

Roger Varian's Rahiebb looked a real stayer when finishing second in the St Leger on his final 2025 start and he can stamp himself a genuine contender for the top long-distance events this season with a win in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup.

The son of Frankel won on his debut last season and then didn't finish out of the first four on all his subsequent starts, culminating in that fine runner-up finish behind Scandinavia on Town Moor.

Under the pump some way out, the selection kept to the task bravely all the way to the line and had dual Derby winner Lambourn behind him that day, form that was franked when that one made a winning reappearance at Chester last week.

It could be that Rahieeb will be at his very best over 2m+ plus this season, but he should be sharp enough to get away with 1m 6f on this return and he is taken to get the better of Ralph Beckett's Amiloc, who himself had a fine three-year-old season and ought to have more to offer this term.

Now read Sam Turner's Friday tips including a 10/111.00 York bet