ITV Racing Saturday Preview

IT’S THE SHERGAR CUP AT ASCOT ON SATURDAY! ITV Racing also have action from both Haydock and Newmarket with no less than 9 races to get stuck into on the channel.

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

12.50 Ascot Dubai Duty Free Charger Cup Dash (Class 2) 5f
1.25 Ascot Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (Class 2) 2m
2.00 Ascot Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge (Class 3) 1m4f
2.25 Haydock MansionBet Bet £10 Get £20 Handicap (Class 3) 1m
2.35 Ascot Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Class 2) 1m
2.50 Newmarket (July) Seet Solera Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (Class 1) 7f
3.10 Ascot Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Class 3) 1m4f
3.45 Ascot Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Class 2) 6f
4.10 Haydock MansionBet Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) 1m21/2f

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.

 

Ascot 12.50 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (Class 2) 5f

Not the best quality opener to the card and it looks between the two at the head of the weights. TIS MARVELLOUS won this race two years ago and seems to be in the type of form to go well here again. This son of Harbour Watch has finished just over a length behind the winner in his last two runs which have been over course and distance and I think he will take some beating in a weaker race than those. He likes these big field scenarios where he gets a strong pace to aim at so it’s no surprise to see him prominent in the market with Kevin Stott taking the ride.

Stone Of Destiny has to be the danger dropping back into handicaps from Group level and he is only 1lb higher than his excellent third in the Epsom Dash behind Mokaatil (won again yesterday). If they don’t get too much rain King Of Stars would be the one to follow them home but won’t want it too soft as he showed when disappointing at Goodwood last time.

Ascot 1.25 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (Class 2) 2m

There doesn’t appear to be that much pace on in this Stayers Race and it could be a good opportunity for a horse that likes to be on the speed and CALL MY BLUFF looks primed for another win. He has improved over a stone at these more testing trips and is on a hat-trick over 2 miles. He handles any ground and only has a 3lb rise for his latest win at Chester. He stays further so this stiff track won’t be a problem and I think he is a good price in an open race.

Uber Cool is fav at the time of writing after a good comeback win in May. He is clearly hard to get right as he wasn’t seen since 2018 before that. His previous form at staying trips looks solid so he is the main danger if he can back up his last win. Island Brave is also worth a second look as he is proven over this C&D which is a big plus.


Ascot 2.00 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (Class 2) 2m

This race looks wide open with it hard to rule any out but GROUP ONE POWER gets the marginal vote. He has held his form really well this season and is more than capable of landing this race off this mark. His trainer Andrew Balding has won this race recently with Genetics in 2018 so knows what it takes to win it and the horse doesn’t mind the forecast cut in the ground. If he continues in the same form he is in he will go very close at a decent each way price.

I thought Sam Cooke had a good chance of winning the race he was entered in at Newmarket on Friday night but they have opted for this and he is the main threat to the selection. Group One Power did edge it though as Sam Cooke sometimes struggles for consistency and is short enough all things considered. Of the rest Restorer could go well at a good each way price as he has been holding his form well. He is down 1lb for this and has Atzeni onboard.


Haydock 2.25 MansionBet Bet £10 Get £20 Handicap (London Mile Series Qualifier) (Class 3) 1m

I thought DUBAI MIRAGE would be favourite here. He ran out an impressive winner of this last year stretching clear impressively by nearly 5 lengths. I know he hasn’t won since but things didn’t really work out in Dubai and he has been highly tried in two starts back on these shores since. He looked to need the run when down the field at Royal Ascot and then shaped much better when a closing fourth to La Trinidad at York. He should be spot on now and I think everything points towards a big run. I’d go as far to say as he is one of my most confident bets on ITV Racing on Saturday and I’m expecting him to be popular in the betting.

Fantastic Fox blew out at Royal Ascot but was back to form when beaten less than a length by Guru last time. He was given a lot to do and wasn’t really suited by where he was positioned so that can be marked up. I still think he needs more to beat the selection though I do fancy the pair to fight it out. Royal Mews is unexposed but hasn’t been the easiest to train and has cheekpieces on for his handicap bow.


Ascot 2.35 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Class 2) 1m

Last year’s winner Power Of Darkness is a reserve at the time of writing but even if he did get a run I don’t think he will back up last year’s win. I quite fancy DASHING ROGER to make it 2 wins from his last 3. He showed a good attitude to win at Sandown before losing by a small margin at Salisbury behind the right horses (subsequent winner Migration in fourth). He goes on any ground and if running to the level of his last two runs he will give Cieren Fallon a good spin round Ascot.

Dance Fever will be popular for this and looks as though he will be clear favourite but I would be worried about the rain for him as all his recent racing and good form has been on fast ground and it looks as though it will be good ground at best. With doubts over the favourite I think Vintager could be the danger to the selection with two very good recent runs and there isn’t a lot to split him from the selection.


Newmarket (July) 2.50 100% Racingtv Profits Back To Racing Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (Class 1) 7f

Wild Beauty landed back-to-back wins before chasing home the exciting Inspiral at Sandown last time. She is the deserved favourite and does look the one to beat but if the rain comes I think that plays into the hands of VALUE THEORY for Mark Johnston. This Gleneagles filly put in a powerful performance to make all over C&D 3 weeks ago and under similar tactics here she could take a lot of pegging back. I think Wild Beauty probably has the most potential but conditions and the run of the race could go the way of the selection and that’s why she gets the vote.

Of the rest Sunstrike ran well when third (behind Wild Beauty) but she keeps finding one or two too good and that looks the case again here in all probability. Shouldavbeenmore can do better and is best of the rest if improving again but she certainly needs to at this level.


Ascot 3.10 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Class 3) 1m4f

If Ascot gets the forecast rain I think SKYCUTTER has a decent chance of going off favourite as he loves softer conditions. On good ground he has a fair chance but if it gets softer that chance just increases. He lost out on his last two runs by a neck and a mark of 91 looks fair in this field. He ran well in France in testing conditions and I think Phil Kirby’s 3 year old will take some beating if on the softer side of good. 7/1 looks a price worth taking at the time of writing.

Barn Owl will have plenty more to come over this trip but he has to prove himself on a slower surface with his best runs on good to firm. If he handles the conditions he will be the main danger. Contact and Possible Man complete the shortlist with the latter a big horse who did well to prevail at Nottingham. Conditions could also be an issue for him though so see what happens weather-wise.


Ascot 3.45 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Class 2) 6f

I’ve been waiting to see DREAM COMPOSER again as he has looked thoroughly progressive this term winning at Carlisle and Kempton before going down just a length into fourth at the Royal meeting here when last seen. This step back up to 6f looks ideal and I’m certain he has more to offer yet off a mark of 89. He will be held up and is going to need a bit of luck from off the pace but if things pan out favourably he will be finishing strongly under Mickaelle Michel.

Popmaster put it altogether to win at Doncaster (in a race Dream Composer was entered in but didn’t run) and certainly has the ability to take this out. A 5lb higher mark certainly makes life tougher though so he is passed over on this occasion but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him run a big race again. Royal Scimitar is also feared as he remains unexposed after just 7 starts and was only denied half a length last time.


Haydock 4.10 MansionBet Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) 1m21/2f

It’s hard to look past REAL WORLD here given how impressive he was in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on return and then he backed that up in no uncertain terms beating a good field impressively at Newbury last month. He looks a colt firmly on the upgrade and if he handles conditions he should make it a perfect 3-3 for the season. This is competitive but he is a potential Group 1 performer in the making so this is the next logical step.

Euchen Glen wears his heart on his sleeve and he has been in cracking form so is likely to give his running again but is obviously vulnerable to an improver like the selection. Foxes Tales also arrives at the top of his game after going down just a head last time. He has only actually had 5 runs so could easily improve again. Stormy Antarctic looks best of the rest.

ITV Racing Win Double

Something for everyone on Saturday with the Shergar Cup from Ascot and also action from Newmarket and Haydock. We have decided to include an ITV Racing Win Double (both at Haydock). These are our two strongest bets on the channel. Pays 8/1!

ITV Racing Win Double

Haydock 2.25 Dubai Mirage

Haydock 4.10 Real World

Pays 8/1!

ITV Racing Shergar Cup Each Way Trixie

We’ve backed plenty of horses at decent prices on ITV Racing on Saturday so I’ve decided to include an Each Way Trixie as well (all at Ascot). If we can get 2/3 winners at least we will make some good profit on these. Pays 224/1!

ITV Racing Shergar Cup Each Way Trixie

Ascot 2.35 Dashing Roger

Ascot 3.10 Skycutter

Ascot 3.45 Dream Composer EYE CATCHER

Pays 224/1!

ITV Racing Each Way Double

I didn’t want to leave these two out either so I’ve combined them into an Each Way Double at good odds. Pays 32/1!

ITV Racing Each Way Double

Ascot 1.25 Call My Bluff

Newmarket 2.50 Value Theory

Pays 32/1!