ITV Racing Tips – Thursday 14th May 2026 Best Bets for York & Salisbury

Day Two of York's three-day Dante Festival is televised on ITV on Thursday, 14th May. Classic clues will be on offer in the Group Two Dante Stakes, with Christmas Day looking to maintain Aidan O'Brien's excellent record in Derby trials in 2026.

We have gone through all televised races on Thursday, picking out ITV horse racing tips, and an accumulator for ITV racing.

The coverage of the second day of the Dante Festival kicks off with a handicap over five furlongs. Low draws excel at York, meaning that Against The World could be interesting in first-time headgear on his first start following wind surgery.

The four-year-old has won three from 14 starts under rules, and brings previous track experience to the table after an excellent third in a 22-runner handicap last May. Soft ground went against him last time, and a return to a sounder surface should see him in a better light.

ITV also covers one race from Salisbury on Thursday, with a handicap over a mile and six due off at 14:40. Personal Best comes out on top based on RPRs, and he returns to the track following a 197-day break with the Jonathan Portman yard among the winners.

Goes well fresh after winning on reappearance in 2024. The distance will be no major issue after finishing a credible second at Nottingham on back-to-back starts at the end of last season.

Next up is the Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap, run over a mile. Point Of Contact represents the in-form Andrew Balding team, and he should improve after being gelded.

Showed promise at points last season, including when not beaten far by the talented Fifth Column, who was recently second in the competitive Suffolk Handicap, over course and distance in August. Point Of Contact is versatile on all ground, and looks to be on a handy mark.

The Group Two Middleton Fillies’ Stakes is due off at 15:30, with the betting headed by last year’s winner See The Fire. However, the trends indicate siding with a runner with fitness on their side without a win.

Therefore, Red Letter could be of interest with Colin Keane booked aboard. The four-year-old has won three from nine starts on the turf, and wasn’t beaten far when third in the Group Three Alleged Stakes.

Likely needed that return effort, and she has some interesting form lines, including winning on a pair of starts in Ireland last season, and finishing two lengths behind Desert Flower in the Group One 1,000 Guineas.

Aidan O’Brien has dominated the Classic Trials this season, and that trend could continue in the Group Two Dante Stakes. Christmas Day made a winning return to action when stepping up in trip at Leopardstown, beating Endorsement by just under a length in the Group Three Ballysax.

That form has worked out really well, and he could be open to plenty more improvement with Ryan Moore aboard for the first time.

ITV’s coverage on Wednesday comes to a close with the Listed Westow Stakes over five furlongs. Aspect Island is drawn low, and that should benefit the James Owen-trained runner, who will have Oisin Murphy aboard. Ran with credit on return against older horses when seventh at Newmarket, and the drop back to five furlongs should suit.

Was talented over the trip throughout his juvenile campaign, finishing third in both the Group Three Cornwallis Stakes and Group One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.