ITV Racing Preview Saturday
2000 GUINEAS FROM NEWMARKET ON ITV RACING ON SATURDAY! Action from Newmarket, Goodwood and Thirsk plus we’ve covered two Grade 1’s at Punchestown.
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 Preview Saturday Schedule
1.50 Newmarket “My Oddsboost” On Betfair Suffolk Stakes (Class 2) 1m1f
2.05 Goodwood MansionBet BOG Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) 1m
2.25 Newmarket Betfair Palace House Stakes (Group 3) 5f
2.40 Thirsk Cliff Stud Thirsk Hunt Cup Handicap (Class 2) 1m
3.00 Newmarket Betfair Exchange Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2) 1m4f
3.40 Newmarket Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) 1m
ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet on the next live ITV race (up to £50) at bet365. Offer applies to first single bet placed.
Applies to Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.
Newmarket 1.50 “My Oddsboost” On Betfair Suffolk Stakes (Class 2) 1m1f
This race is usually one by a horse carrying under 9 stone and MASCAT looks good value with the fancied runners all nearer the top end of the weights. The selection was last seen seeing out his race really well to get second behind Zabeel Champion which looks solid form. He is ultra-consistent in handicaps and clearly handles Newmarket well. Laura Pearson takes 5lb of his back again and I expect another big run at a decent each way price.
In the lower half of the weights Overwrite is the main danger back up to this trip. He is a solid performer and is usually thereabouts. Of the ones at the head of the weights Bright Melody put a few good runs together in Dubai and may have improved a fair bit as a 4 year old so is also feared in opposition.
Goodwood 2.05 MansionBet BOG Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) 1m
I’m finding it hard to look past Mastercraftsman filly LILAC ROAD here for William Haggas. Her 2yo form was very solid beaten just 2 lengths in the May Hill behind Indigo Girl. She failed to fire on final start in the Fillies’ Mile but that was a big ask and she never really looked at home on the track. The way she won on return at Kempton was very impressive and it will be interesting to see if they are that positive on her again. This requires another step up but you’d be foolish to rule out further improvement and I can see her justifying favouritism.
Amniarix is a filly I like too and she shaped well when third in a Listed race at Kempton last month. She switches back to turf now but needs to find further improvement to trouble the favourite. Agincourt is capable of a big run but needs to bounce back. She has had a wind op though which could help.
Newmarket 2.25 Betfair Palace House Stakes (Group 3) 5f
This looks like a very competitive renewal of the Palace House Stakes with most of these separated by a few pounds on ratings. CAME FROM THE DARK caught the eye last time at Newbury after missing the break before making smooth headway to beat the re-opposing Garrus. The latter is better off at the weights but the selection might still have a bit more to offer as wind surgery has seemingly brought him another step forward.
Garrus will be a danger again along with Lazuli who has some of the best form coming into this but has to give weight to the field after being penalised for a Group 3 win at Newbury but he will still be in the mix in a good renewal.
Thirsk 2.40 Cliff Stud Thirsk Hunt Cup Handicap (Class 2) 1m
Nugget did it well at Newbury a fortnight ago but I thought he’d be bigger than 7/2 and at that price he has to be taken on. I’ve taken two against the field as I think they’re both overpriced for differing reasons. The first is TOM COLLINS for William Haggas. This 4yo by Dubawi was a bit hit and miss for Elsworth but he signed off with a good win at Pontefract. Some of his previous form stacks up so it’s no surprise to see him change hands for 100,000 guineas. If Haggas can find further improvement he could go close in this on his return having been gelded.
The other one I liked in here was HARTSWOOD for Richard Fahey. This horse won here as a 2yo and added to that success as a 3yo at York last summer. He disappointed at Leicester but was right back in form when fourth in a strong race at Doncaster. Back up to a mile now I think a mark of 95 underestimates him a bit and at around 9/1 he can definitely scare a few of these in the closing stages.
Newmarket 3.00 Betfair Exchange Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2) 1m4f
The usual small field for the Jockey Club Stakes but it sees the return of PYLEDRIVER who was a revelation last season and was often underrated. He won two Group 2’s over this trip at Royal Ascot and at York with two very taking performances. You can put a line through the Derby run along with the Champion Stakes with the latter being a bit on the short side. This mile and a half trip looks his optimum trip at this level and he will take a lot of beating.
Sir Ron Priestly showed he was worth persisting with after nearly 2 years off the track when taking a good race at Nottingham last time. He is the main danger but you have to worry about him bouncing after the long layoff. Thunderous needs to step forward for his comeback run to take this and Al Zaraqaan could be anything but has to prove himself at this level and is short enough in the betting.
Punchestown 3.20 Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m4f
Concertista cost us dearly at Cheltenham last month and I can’t bring myself to back her at a short price again. 11/10 is just zero value and while she looks to tick plenty of boxes I have a worry she’ll find a way to get beat again. Stablemate BURNING VICTORY hasn’t been seen since winning the Triumph in which Goshen unseated at the last. She was progressing nicely and while that was rather handed to her she still had to show a good attitude to come out on top and beat some good horses in the process. She has potential to improve again and if she is on song here I think she’s definite value at around the 7/1 mark at the time of writing. She is bred to get better with age and could be really coming into her own now.
The fav is obviously the main threat but Stormy Ireland also has to be respected having bounced back to win at Fairyhouse last time beating a good yardstick in French Dynamite. This probably requires a career best.
Newmarket 3.40 Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Colts & Fillies) Class 1 1m
The the first Classic of the season is upon us and 9-time winner of the race Aidan O’Brien has a strong hand again. With Dewhurst winner St Mark’s Basilica missing the race the second that day WEMBLEY looks a more than capable replacement. He came from way back that day to finish second and looks to be improving all the time after taking a while to get his head in front. He looks like he stays all day and being by Galileo this trip should bring out improvement before being stepped up again. Ryan Moore has his pick of some good horses as usual and I think he has the right one to take the Guineas.
Battleground was another Ryan could have rode and and his form looks solid with a second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf which followed two good wins. Thunder Moon looked top class when beating the selection at the Curragh before being beaten fairly comfortably at Newmarket and I think Wembley will be even better now. The main danger could be Mutasaabeq who won nicely at the track twice and even though he has to do it at this level for the first time he could have the class to make an impact having been supplemented.
Punchestown 4.00 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
I do think Zanahiyr will make a race of this and get much closer but I still can’t oppose QUILIXIOS for Henry de Bromhead. This 4yo is unbeaten and continues to take everything in his stride. He can improve again and if he does he should have these covered. He holds not just Zanahiyr but Saint Sam too and you could argue he should be shorter than 2/1. I expect him to race prominently and he will more than likely take a lot of pegging back in the closing stages.
Haut En Couleurs has been backed against and he is the intriguing one in the line-up. He won on debut in France before finishing third to the selection on his debut under Rules and if he takes another step forward he should also lay down some sort of a challenge. Jeff Kidder completed the Cheltenham/ Fairyhouse double but this requires another step up.
Saturday’s Win Treble
With 8 races covered on Saturday (6 live on ITV Racing) we have included a Win Treble which includes three of our strongest bets of the afternoon. All 3 need to win for this to land.
Saturday’s Win Treble
Goodwood 2.05 Lilac Road
Newmarket 3.00 Pyledriver
Punchestown 4.00 Quilixios
Pays 28/1!
ITV Racing Each Way Double
We’ve also included an Each Way Double on Saturday which includes two horses at decent prices. If both place we should still lock in some good profit.