Horse Racing Tips: Sam Turner's best bets for day one of the Dante meeting including a 12/1 pick

Sam Turner's Best Bet - York, 14.20 - Back Stressfree each-way @ 11/26.50

Backing Stressfree isn't for everyone.

The six-year-old is a rather mecurial character who hasn't delivered as many victories as his talent would merit, however he ran well in this event 12 months ago when beaten a head and should find conditions to his liking once more.

A respectable comeback at Ripon where the son of Anodin rather typically found trouble in running before charging home under Mark Winn is likely to have put the selection spot on for his return to the Knavesmire, a track where he recorded one of his career best efforts last August in the Ebor Handicap.

Danny Tudhope returns in the saddle and the old partnership might just go one better than 12 months ago for a stable that always looks to target this meeting.

York, 14.55 - Back Pocklington @ 9/110.00

A recent wind operation might be the catalyst required for Pocklington to improve two places on his commendable performance in a hot contest run at the Ebor meeting.

The selection has yet to score in three starts on the Knavesmire, but he charged home under P J McDonald in a similar event in August and could find himself drawn in a handy position from which to attack in this typically fiercely-contested renewal.

The five-year-old is unlikely to race too far from the pace and double figure quotes seem perfectly fair for a horse that has been beaten half a length and three quarters of a length in his two career efforts over course and distance.

York, 14.55 - Back Tropical Storm @ 12/113.00 

The case for Tropical Storm isn't quite so straightforward given the son of Eqtidaar was beaten 10 lengths in this event last year and has yet to shine over six furlongs.

However, that defeat 12 months ago doesn't tell the whole story as the selection was still travelling well behind the speed when daylight disappeared and he was hampered.

Two defeats since being gelded last autumn have ensured his mark has slipped to 93 (from 97) and on both starts at Musselburgh and Goodwood, Tropical Storm has looked as though he is ready for a step up in trip.

He has the visor on today and, although stretching out in distance with the first-time headgear fitted wouldn't normally be my preferred choice of action, I will risk a modest win bet as the four-year-old has won on two of his previous three trips to York.

Minster Stakes, York, 15.30 - Back Quinault each-way @ 11/112.00

One or two of the contenders for the Group 2 Minster Stakes may well have Royal Ascot as their ultimate mid-summer goal and that could open the door for the loveable Quinault to reignite his love affair with the Knavesmire in this sprinting feature.

The Stuart Williams-trained gelding has only suffered defeat once in four starts at today's venue and that came in Group 1 company last summer in the City Of York Stakes when he was 25/1 to beat the likes of Rosallion, subsequent Prix de la Foret winner Maranoa Charlie and Saturday's impressive Haydock scorer Lake Forest.

That assignment was clearly a step too far at the time, but the selection has an enviable record of 10 wins from 21 starts when he returns to the track within 28 days so his effort at the Guineas meeting over an inadequate five furlongs without the hood applied should have put him spot on for this test.

His draw in 13 isn't ideal as he is a little more towards the stands' side than has looked ideal of late at York, but he might be able to dominate from that berth with a couple of main rivals in close proximity like American Affair and Time For Sandals more likely to take a lead.

Now read Katie Midwinter's York bets