ITV Racing Preview Saturday
8 races live on ITV Racing on Saturday afternoon with the Ayr Gold Cup taking centre stage and the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes from Newbury. Here you will find our in-depth previews for every single race. We will also list main dangers to our selections.
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
ITV Racing Saturday Schedule
1.40 Newbury Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (Group 3) Class 1 5f
1.55 Ayr Jordan Electrics Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed Race) Class 1 1m2f
2.15 Newbury Dubai Duty Free Handicap Class 2 1m2f
2.30 Ayr QTS Ayr Silver Cup Handicap Class 2 6f
2.50 Newbury Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes (Group 3) Class 1 1m3f
3.05 Ayr Scotty Brand Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) Class 1 6f
3.25 Newbury Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) Class 1 6f
3.40 Ayr QTS Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) Class 2 6f
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Newbury 1.40 Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (Group 3) Class 1 5f
Not the strongest Group 3 in the world and it looks an ideal opportunity for EQUILATERAL to get his head in front. He has been running so well in defeat and if repeating his last run at the Curragh in the Group 1 Flying Five he will be tough to beat here. He is sometimes better after a break but I am willing to overlook that in a race where he does look the best horse.
Tinto has run some cracking races and if the blinkers can get him back to his best he could outrun his odds, with that said Tis Marvelous is the most likely danger. Lazuli was hugely impressive at Sandown in June but hasn’t really built on that so has a bit to prove right now.
Ayr 1.55 Jordan Electrics Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed Race) Class 1 1m2f
Addeybb will be hard to beat here but in an ideal world he wants softer ground so I think at the odds he might be worth taking on. Andrew Balding won this race in 2012, 2015 and last year and looks to have a big chance again with FOX CHAIRMAN. This Kingman colt has showed improved form the last twice, chasing home Aspetar at York and then going down just a length to Extra Elusive at Windsor more recently. This test will suit and I think he is the value play on recent form.
Lord Glitters isn’t getting any younger but he has also been holding his form well this year and shouldn’t be too far away if reproducing that here. I’ll be surprised if anything else is good enough but San Donato is interesting if seeing out the trip.
Newbury 2.15 Dubai Duty Free Handicap Class 2 1m2f
Wide open handicap but there is one that we really like in here and that is ILARAAB. He beat Throne Hall last time out who we think is a good horse. That landed his hat-trick and the 6lb rise may not be enough to stop him as he has only ran 4 times so improvement is surely on the cards?
Maydanny would be very well fancied for this race if running to his Goodwood form but he blew out at York so he might be hard to catch right. If he is at his best he is certainly the danger. Tenbury Wells is at the head of the market and lost little in defeat at Sandown a month ago so also has to be feared in a competitive race.
Ayr 2.30 QTS Ayr Silver Cup Handicap Class 2 6f
King’s Lynn is understandably popular here given his progressive profile and that second to Starman at Doncaster looks considerably better now with that horse going on to win a Listed race next start. That being said he has been overbet in the market as a result and I can’t bring myself to part with my hard earned at around 7/2. There are plenty of each way angles in here and that’s the path I’d rather take to be honest.
ATALANTA’S BOY is coming here with confidence riding high following a useful win at Goodwood last month. He has a 5lb penalty for that but he is going the right way himself and another big performance looks on the cards off a mark of 88. Connections were probably hoping to get into the Gold Cup but I’m sure they won’t mind if he goes and wins this. He has a useful turn of foot and if they go hard here it will play to his strengths in the closing stages. Golden Apollo and at a bigger price Wasntexpectingthat are dangers.
Newbury 2.50 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes (Group 3) Class 1 1m3f
Another small field for this Group 3 and it looks an intriguing race. ELARQAM is in danger of being my cliff horse after disappointing in his last two races however the form of his last 3 is rock solid with 6 winners coming from them. He is joint top-rated in this race and comes out best at the weights. He is stepping down to Group 3 company and will take a lot of beating from the front under Crowley.
Extra Elusive is the main danger after taking 2 Group 3’s on his last two runs and looks to be on an upward curve. The 3lb penalty he has to carry is the worry and tips the scales in favour of the selection. Desert Encounter usually needs a faster pace to aim at unless they ride him differently.
Ayr 3.05 Scotty Brand Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) Class 1 6f
The form to focus on here looks to be the Group 2 Lowther Stakes where UMM KULTHUM finished third behind Miss Amulet and Sacred. That was a big run given she was slowly into stride and she ran on well for pressure. She was a couple of lengths ahead of She’s So Nice and should confirm that form here. Hopefully she can get away on terms and if she does her in-running odds should trade pretty short from the off.
Mamba Wamba is probably the most interesting at a price. She was unlucky not to win a Listed race at York and got the job done in good style there last time so can keep improving. Illykato didn’t look entirely straightforward when fourth to Happy Romance in the Dick Poole but has more to offer so is also respected.
Newbury 3.25 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) Class 1 6f
This looks like a hot renewal with plenty that could improve further but on paper it is hard to look past RHYTHM MASTER who was last seen finishing 3rd in the Group 1 Prix Morny in France behind the classy Campanelle. That was a big step forward from his debut at Haydock but even that run rated highly on the clock and if running to the same level as his run in France he should win this.
There are dangers galore in this field but First Edition really caught the eye when beating Significantly and could easily outrun his big price to challenge. Fivethousandtoone is the favourite following his Newcastle win and he looked good that day so has to be feared as well.
Ayr 3.40 QTS Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) Class 2 6f
Angel Alexander won this last year for Tom Dascombe and Richard Kingscote. The former doesn’t have a runner this year so Kingscote rides Bungee Jump for Grace Harris. She actually looks a lively outsider at around 40/1 but it’s a big ask to come away with the prize. The one I like is STAXTON for Tim Easterby. The yard had an across the card five-timer on Thursday so couldn’t really be in better form. This horse is flying two having won his last two and even under a penalty he looks to have a major chance of landing the hat-trick and coming away with the cup. This is fiercely competitive so there are a ton of dangers but if he gets the splits he will go close.
Bielsa hasn’t really shone since returning but still has to be respected on last season’s form. Others make more appeal but he shouldn’t be completely ignored. Mr Lupton was back to winning ways at the Curragh 6 days ago and is a threat to all if okay with the quick turnaround. At a price Lahore could go well. He looked good at York 3 starts back and while he hasn’t backed that up he has bounced back before so might be worth including at 25/1.
ITV Racing Notebook Double
Both our Daily Notebooks run live on ITV Racing on Saturday so here’s our double which is not to be missed!