Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Wednesday including two Minster Stakes tips and a 50/1 York fancy

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York, 14:20 - Back Sing Us A Song @ 9/25.50

Ralph Beckett-trained Sing Us A Song put in a decent effort on his return to action at Epsom last month, finishing third to Night Breeze. He was no match for the winner but is entitled to take a step forward from his first run of the campaign, and could be worth keeping onside under James Doyle. 

From a rating of 95, the son of Camelot could be capable of a bold bid, 5lb higher than his last winning mark. He remains unexposed and could still be on an upward trajectory, however, making only his ninth start in this contest, and has previously beaten current favourite Klassleader over a mile-and-three-quarters at Haydock.

There should be more to come from the four-year-old gelding, who remains a horse to note this season and could enjoy a fruitful year on track.

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Bet of the day: York, 14:55 - Back Rousing Encore E/W @ 16/117.00

Last year's winner Rousing Encore will bid to defend his crown from a 5lb higher mark this time around, holding solid each-way claims once again for Ruth Carr.

The likeable gelding is a consistent performer, who often puts in creditable efforts and rarely disappoints. He has plenty of course form in his favour, and, although he's higher than his latest wins at the weights, he has been competitive from a similar rating in recent runs, including when second on reappearance at Newcastle in March.

With plenty to like about his chances under regular rider James Sullivan, Rousing Encore has the ability to record a second successive win in this contest and shouldn't be discounted, representing value at odds of 16/117.00.

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York, 14:55 - Back Indian Run E/W @ 25/126.00

Bidding for a first success since his Group Three Acomb Stakes win here in 2023, Julie Camacho-trained Indian Run could be worth supporting from a mark of 88 in handicap company.

The five-year-old gelding hasn't quite matched the level reached as a juvenile, when achieving a mark of 105 for former trainer Eve Johnson Houghton, but has been somewhat competitive over the past year or so, performing with credit in races won by now 117-rated More Thunder and now 110-rated Amaram, respectively, beaten only a length-and-a-half on both occasions when giving weight to the winners.

Whilst he has lacked consistency and has struggled to pose a serious threat in recent outings, Indian Run is on a workable mark and has shown he still retains ability and is able to compete with hugely talented rivals who have franked the form.

His latest run at Newmarket on 2,000 Guineas Day is worth putting a line through considering he didn't break well, and, from a 2lb lower rating with the benefit of a recent run, this could be the time to catch him on a going day, at a track where he enjoyed the best day of his career to date.

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Minster Stakes, York, 15:30 - Back Cool Hoof Luke E/W @ 8/19.00

Cool Hoof Luke enjoyed Group Two success in the Gimcrack Stakes here as a juvenile, beating a number of noteworthy opponents including subsequent Group One winners in Shadow Of Light, Big Mojo and Camille Pissarro.

Absent for 526 days following his win on the Knavesmire, the Andrew Balding-trained contender returned to action with a creditable third in Listed company at Lingfield in January, before recording a third career success at Wolverhampton when last seen, stepping back up to the 7f trip.

Back over 6f here, he remains unexposed, a lightly-raced colt who could still be capable of showing any amount of improvement. He has shown he still retains plenty of ability and, if able to build on the form shown during his debut campaign, he could be capable of progressing beyond his current rating of 108 and becoming a real force in the top level sprints this term.

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Minster Stakes, York, 15:30 - Back Jasour E/W @ 14/115.00

Five-year-old grey Jasour is another to consider in this Group Two sprint under Jason Hart for Clive Cox.

The son of Havana Grey shaped with a huge amount of promise earlier in his career, beating the likes of Lake Forest and Mountain Bear to Group Two success as a juvenile, winning a Group Three in his first start as a three-year-old, as well as finishing third to Inisherin in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Things haven't panned out favourably for him since then, but he has shown to still retain ability on occasion and finished a decent sixth in the July Cup last year.

In his penultimate start on his return to action, Jasour was beaten only a length by Aramram in a Listed Doncaster sprint, before lining up in the Group Three Abernant Stakes where he finished sixth, failing to get the run of things. He could be worth keeping onside as he possesses plenty of talent on his day and could be able to outrun his odds as he seeks a fourth career win.

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Musidora Stakes, York, 16:05 - Back Sea The Storm @ 6/17.00

Sea The Storm doesn't hold the flashy entries of most of her rivals in this Musidora Stakes field, but the daughter of Sea The Stars is a promising filly, who could be capable of showing plenty of improvement in her second start for her new yard.

Now trained by William Haggas, Sea The Storm made a successful start on yard debut when narrowly denying her new stablemate Pierian at Wetherby. The runner-up, who was making her debut, finished over four-lengths ahead of the third and could turn out to be another nice prospect, a beautifully-bred daughter of Palace Pier out of Great Havens, a sister to Nathaniel who has produced multiple black-type achievers.

During her debut campaign last term, Sea The Storm was able to get off the mark at the first time of asking for David Menuisier at Sandown, beating a couple of subsequent winners including recent Chester May Festival heroine Cherry Baker and now 85-rated On Message, a dual winner since. She was sent off at odds of 4/51.80 for a Baden-Baden Group Three where she found only Alsterperle, a previous second in Listed company, too good.

The step up to a mile-and-a-quarter appeared to suit when last seen, and another go at this level over a longer trip may allow her to fare better than when seen in Germany last term. She has proven her credentials at this level, which should hold her in good stead, and remains unexposed with the scope for further progression in only her fourth career start.

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York, 16:40 - Back First Legion E/W @ 9/110.00

Richard Hannon-trained colt First Legion was beaten only a length-and-a-half in his previous appearance at York, when rated 4lb higher as a juvenile in a competitive handicap at last year's Ebor Festival.

He wasn't able to improve on the outing in subsequent runs last term, but did appear to take a significant step forward from his reappearance in April to finish fourth to Ten Carat Harry at Newmarket on 2,000 Guineas Day.

From an unchanged mark of 90, the son of Mehmas could return to winning ways in this contest by recording a first win since his debut success on the Knavesmire at this meeting twelve months ago. He placed in Listed company last term and could prove better than his current rating suggests, still capable of showing further improvement.

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York, 16:40 - Back Awraad E/W @ 50/151.00

Awtaad filly Awraad is a big price for in-form trainer Gemma Tutty in this competitive 7f handicap.

This is only her seventh career start and she has already shown she's capable of outrunning her odds when a length-and-a-quarter fifth to Ruby's Angel at 50/151.00 in a competitive nursery handicap at last year's Ebor meeting here. She subsequently placed at Listed level at Ripon, and, although she has failed to build on those promising performances, it may be too early to give up on her.

Entitled to improve for her seasonal reappearance at Pontefract, there could be more to come from Awraad, who is on a potentially workable mark of 80 with Rhys Elliott, who partnered her in her previous run on the Knavesmire, claiming 5lb in the saddle.

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