YORK EBOR - 3.40 -: 7 Nakeeta @ 11/1 / 3 Muntahaa @ 16/1 (bits of 20) / 15 Platitude @ 25/1 - all 1/2 point each way - SKYBET odds to 7th / WH odds to 6th! (mot to 5th)

A quality field of 20 runners although may be not the proven stamina laden race or top quality in depth of some years, nevertheless a very tough conundrum. There are literally 20 live dangers so I will focus on the tips!

NAKEETA won this last year off a mark of 103, not much more this time around and has been given plenty of time to recover from a trip to Melbourne in November. It is not surprising it has taken time to come to hand, this is clearly the seasonal target and I anticipate a bold and brave run in defence of the crown. The PROVEN STAMINA here and ability to handle the Course is a huge advantage and the double figure odds of 11/1 or close, represent cracking each way value - especially with William Hill or Skybet!

MUNTAHAA usually contests higher quality races at a mile and John Gosden is a master at dropping Group Horses in to top handicaps off big weights. The trip is the only concern as if it gets it and runs to form it is a live contender. The near misses over similar at Chester bode well, this is a more galloping track, but also an easier track to "switch a horse off" as opposed to the constant turns at Chester, if it gets the trip I think that the 16-20/1 is a license to steal money to be honest and it is a risk worth taking.

I looked at Whiskey Sour but kept coming back to PLATITUDE at much bigger odds. The Yard do great with progressing older long distance decent Class horses, Amanda Perrett a superb Trainer and a  chip off the Harwood years and  the types her dad developed down in Sussex. A horse that travels well in to races, I think the form last time at Goodwood under-estimates how well the horse travelled that day, and a lot more time and racing lines to compose and deliver a challenge here, I fancy it to out-run very generous Odds.

YORK 4.50 2 Alfarris @ 6/1 / 5 Pivoine @ 6/1 - 1/2 point each way each - PP + BV + SKY go odds to 5th.

I really can't find much that I think will threaten these progressive horses who raced last at Goodwood. ALFARRIS came out on top that day and the manner of victory suggests is can handle the penalty, PIVOINE though has no luck and with the Trainer in excellent form and a crack 3lbs Claimer booked, hard to see either out of the 5 places, and I can't find anything I fancy more to come home 1-2.

GOODWOOD 3.15 10 Vale Of Kent @ 7/1 - 1/2 point each way 

Mark Johnston deserves all the praise and platitudes coming his way. He has always dared to do things differently and has many unique ideas now being widely copied. He has never been afraid to speak his mind nor speak out and his horses always tough to beat. This Course and Distance winner is a typical type and drawn in Stall 4 will do what MJ horses usually do here, race prominently and ask something braver to tough it out longer and faster than it does to win the race. It is a simple formula, no ne though does it better!

That's all the Horse Tipping for Saturday.