ITV Racing Saturday Tips and Previews
ACTION FROM ASCOT, YORK AND NEWMARKET ON ITV ON SATURDAY! I have previews for every race including main dangers to our bets.
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
1.45 Ascot A1R Services Heritage Handicap (Class 2) 5f
2.00 York John Smith’s Racing Handicap (Class 2) 1m
2.12 Newmarket (July) Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) 7f
2.20 Ascot Anne Cowley Memorial Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2) 1m
2.35 York John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (Listed Race) 5f
2.50 Newmarket (July) bet365 Mile Handicap (Class 2) 1m
3.10 York John Smith’s Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 1m21/2f
3.25 Newmarket (July) bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2) 7f
3.45 York John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3) 1m6f
4.00 Newmarket (July) bet365 Bunbury Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 7f
4.35 Newmarket (July) My Pension Expert July Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) 6f
Ascot 1.45
A wide open handicap to kick things off and KING’S LYNN should run well for Andrew Balding who had a remarkable 6-timer yesterday. This horse is on a losing run but he got within 2 lengths of victory at Newcastle last month and has been hinting his turn might be near all season. Hopefully Oisin Murphy will have him well positioned and he can take advantage.
Badri won over C&D last year and while he is yet to fire this season back at this venue he could run a big race and is my idea of the danger. Albasheer is another one who could get involved as he looks to be off a lenient mark now.
William Haggas is another trainer going great guns right now and ELNAJMM eyeing up a hat-trick could prove hard to beat here. He ended last season on the up winning at Lingfield and that is form that has worked out well since. He then returned with a win at Newcastle on handicap debut and back on turf could have a lot more to offer.
Telemark impressed winning at Thirsk last time and now taking on his elders could emerge as the danger. Blue For You has been dropped 4lb and is another one in with a definite shout.
Newmarket (July) 2.12
Another race where it is hard to rule out many with confidence so I’m taking a chance on KEY TO COTAI at a price. She has been in great form winning gamely at Newmarket on the Rowley Mile back in May and then bumped into Jabaara at Carlisle. The latter ran a cracker at this venue yesterday chasing home Porta Fortuna so the form has been franked since. She should run a decent race.
Lou Lou’s Gift impressed winning well over C&D a fortnight ago and despite a 7lb rise looks to be the biggest danger. Miss Bodacious is on a hat-trick but she will need to improve again for the step up to 7f.
Ascot 2.20
I backed Docklands at Ascot so I wasn’t too happy to see QUDDWAH swoop late and nail him on the line. That was a classy performance from the winner as he looked like he’d improve for the run but still managed to stay on strongly and get up. The runner-up has since run huge to finish second in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and then went down just half a length in France so the form really stacks up. He can improve again and make it 4-4.
Sonny Liston is in great form and is the danger. Embesto hasn’t shown what he did as a 3yo but it is still relatively early days with him as he has only had two starts this season so shouldn’t be entirely ruled out either.
York 2.35
I was really impressed with that win over C&D from STARLUST and despite not showing his best in the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot last month I think he will bounce back here. He is clearly quite a smart colt and this track suits his style. When he won here back in May he ran on strongly and won going away so it was a really taking effort.
Still a few dangers in a sprint like this possibly headed by Rogue Lightning. He also has a point to prove after finishing down the field behind Asfoora but the promise he showed last year it is too soon to write him off.
The improving QIRAT should be hard to beat here. He returned better than ever to beat Al Shabab Storm at Goodwood and then certainly wasn’t disgraced finishing sixth behind Mickley in the Britannia Stakes. He has more to come especially over a mile and with plenty of pace on he could be the one picking his way through in the closing stages.
Volterra impressed winning well on the Rowley Course here in May and came home first in his group when midfield in the Britannia albeit behind the selection so does look the danger. Liveandletlive is also respected at a bigger price.
The tough and likeable HAUNTED DREAM deserves to win a big pot like this and I think today could be the day now in the colours of Wathnan Racing. He was a really good second to Israr in the Wolferton last month and was third in this race last year so despite a high draw I think all is in place for another big run and with a bit of luck he can go a couple of places better.
Obviously plenty of dangers and Enfjaar deserves a mention with Varian flying. He impressed winning at Chelmsford and is still unexposed so might run well despite carrying a penalty. Liberty Lane is another one I can see getting competitive so I wouldn’t put you off a saver.
I’m looking forward to seeing unbeaten Dubawi colt ANCIENT TRUTH out again here. He tanked through the race to win on debut over 6f and then followed up impressively stretching out to this trip when last seen. He showed a nice turn of foot on that occasion and while this is tougher again he is on an upward curve and looks one to keep firmly on side.
Pentle Bay bumped into Bedtime Story in the Chesham and could surprise a few and emerge as the danger if improving again on that. The Parthenon represents Aidan O’Brien and won at Gowran last month so is another one to be fearful of too.
This is the easiest assignment AL QAREEM would have faced for a while and I can see him serving it up to this field. He was beaten just a neck when last in a Group 3 and beat the likes of Bluestocking and Israr last year. He is the class angle in here and if putting that run behind him in France last month then he will go close. I know the yard are quite bullish about his chances too.
Salt Bay was denied a short head by Klondike last time but might be able to reverse that form here and emerge as the danger. Klondike opposes again and is obviously also respected.
The Bunbury Cup is always a fun punting puzzle and I fancy DIVINE LIBRA to run a big race. He looked good winning at Chester earlier in the season and hasn’t done much wrong in two starts since going down a head on the Rowley course and then running well to finish sixth in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot last month. Off the same mark with Buick back in the saddle he should get involved.
Carrytheone has form that ties in with the selection so should run well. Awaal goes well fresh and is another one that catches the eye as this would have been the target. Mostabshir was fourth in the Buckingham Palace and is off the same mark so could also get involved.
I was with INISHERIN in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and he certainly didn’t disappoint running on strongly to back up that Sandy Lane Stakes win at Haydock. The switch back to sprinting has been the making of him and he impressed me with how strongly he travelled last time. We know he stays a mile so he is always going to be strong at the finish so the fact he is able to race on the speed now is another huge positive. He is still open to further improvement and is hard to get away from.
Vandeek was 4-4 as a 2yo but has work to do to beat the selection as he was 4 lengths behind him on reappearance at Haydock. He doesn’t have a huge amount of scope so I think the others have caught up with him now. River Tiber drops back in trip and might be the one to give him most to think about.
ITV RACING DAILY DOUBLE
Both my NAP and NB run on ITV Racing on Saturday and I have combined them as always to make my Daily Double. Pays 6/1!
ITV RACING LUCKY 15
I know a lot of you love placing a Lucky 15 so this is what I’d recommend from my ITV Racing selections today. Pays 230/1!
ITV Racing Lucky 15
Newmarket 2.50 Qirat
Newmarket 4.35 Inisherin NOTEBOOK
Pays 230/1!
2.12 Newmarket Key To Cotai 8/1
2.35 York Starlust 10/3
2.50 Newmarket Qirat 6/1
3.10 York Haunted Dream 11/2
3.25 Newmarket Ancient Truth 7/4
4.00 Newmarket Divine Libra 11/2
4.35 Newmarket Inisherin 15/8
Winning distance – 0.75 Length