2024 Newmarket & Ascot Saturday Preview

Flying Finn ensured we didn’t go home empty handed last weekend, winning at 20/1. This week we have a feast of action, including Group 1 action at HQ and in France. This preview will focus on tomorrow’s domestic action, check out Dave Stevos’ 2024 Newmarket & Ascot Saturday preview and tips below.

1.30 Newmarket – Premier Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2)

After a dry couple of days, we’ll be racing on good to soft ground at HQ this weekend. First up we have a 10f handicap for the fillies and a dozen have been declared. Min Huna is the fav as she goes in search of a hat-trick but both those wins came on good/good to firm and she was beaten her sole try on good to soft.

Ashariba is also on a hat-trick and she has one three of her last four, including one on heavy and she has also won on good to soft. She got a 6lb hike for her latest win at Kempton but she’s guaranteed to go on this ground and of the market principals, she makes most appeal

7/1 isn’t much use to us though and at double those odds, it might be worth giving Treasure one more chance. We backed this filly in the Oaks but she flopped. She did the same again when last seen at Ascot but the return to a kinder surface might help her.

It won’t be as soft as it was for her maiden win as a 2yo but even so, she might be more comfortable than she was on the rattling quick ground at Ascot. On her run in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield her mark of 92 looks workable and she comes into this race with her trainer in fine form. She may have just needed more time to mature and if she is fit for her return from 105 days off, she could outrun her odds of 16/1.

2024 Newmarket & Ascot Saturday Tip: Treasure e/w @ 16/1 (4 places)

1.50 Ascot – Rous Stakes (Listed)

It’ll be softer at Ascot on Saturday and that will suit the fav here, Relief Rally. She ran well on heavy in a G3 a fortnight ago and she looks the one to beat getting weight from the boys. On his form behind Moss Tucker at Naas Go Athletico is no forlorn hope and he could give the fav something to think about but he’s too short for us. A no bet race with just six runners.

2024 Newmarket & Ascot Saturday Tip: No Bet

2.00 Newmarket – £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes (Class 2)

These sales races have become a bit of a nemesis for me. A bit like the Champion Bumper. I totally ignore that race but I just cant stay away from these races and when I do get one right, the odds should be pretty rewarding. So who gets burdened by the dreaded Stevos’ Sales Race curse this time?

Apologies in advance to connections, but given that Karl Burke’s had a fourth in this in 2022, the third in 2021 and the runner up in 2020, I am going to take a punt on the lower rated of his two runners, Invincible Annice.

By Invincible Spirit, this filly enjoys a bit of an ease in the ground. She was a winner on heavy in a 5f Hamilton Novice early last month and she had too much to do at Chester (5f, soft) on her next start when finishing fast from the back for fourth off 72, beaten less than 2l for the win.

Her latest effort at Hamilton wasn’t quite as good when racing prominently but I am hoping that Sam James reverts to the more patient tactics that were deployed at Chester. This step up in trip might suit on the evidence of that Chester effort and her pedigree suggests that 6f should be within her compass too. Obviously, she is poorly treated by the conditions of the race but if she is held up for a late run, hopefully she can finish fast and strong and maybe nick some place money at 40/1.

2024 Newmarket & Ascot Saturday Tip: Invincible Annice e/w @ 40/1 (4 places)

2.25 Ascot – Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Group 3)

This looks likely to be dominated by those near the top of the market but with career form figures of 21227234 on soft and 14334 on heavy, the Irish raider Lafayette could run better than his odds of 22/1 suggest.

Trained by Noel Meade, this 7yo son of French Navy was probably badly in need of the run on his return from a 302 break. He won a 10f Group 3 at the Curragh last season on good, as well as a 12f Listed on yielding at Limerick, so it isn’t as if he isn’t proven at this level. He also wasn’t beaten far when third at Chester in a 10f G2 last May, finishing 1.75l behind Point Lonsdale.

Noel Meade has had a winner, a third and a fourth from eight previous runners at this track and while David Egan has never ridden for him, his Dad John has and he was 4/58 with twenty top 4 finishes when riding for Meade. If Lafayette is at his best, he can sneak into the places at odds of 22/1.

2024 Newmarket & Ascot Saturday Tip: Lafayette e/w @ 22/1

2.40 Newmarket – Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1)

Not a race I am going to get involved in. It would be nice to see Tamfana win for David Menuisier ahead of Sunway running on Sunday but See The Fire and Inspiral are tough opponents. If three places were on offer I’d be half-tempted by the rag Darnation but with just six runners and two places, this is one to just watch and enjoy. No bet.

2024 Newmarket & Ascot Saturday Tip: No Bet

3.00 Ascot – Bengough Stakes (Group 3)

The 2021 winner Vadream should go close on this ground but I’d imagine her main aim is a repeat bid in the Champion Sprint back here in a couple of weeks. Jarraaf has to prove he handles soft ground on his first start in pattern company. English Oak looks the most likely winner to my eye and Purosange is a threat but the one I like is the 20/1 shot Russet Gold.

By Al Kazeem, this gelding ran a cracker in a 6f Listed at Newmarket behind Quinault in August. He did a lot wrong but he was only 0.5l behind the winner who has since followed up in another Listed race. Back in third was Vadream, 0.75l behind Roger Varian’s charge.

Varian decided to try 7f at Newbury last time out but it proved too far. This trip on soft ground is more suitable and he placed in two of his three previous 6f starts at this venue. There are enough positives to warrant an e/w bet on Russet Gold at odds of 20/1.

2024 Newmarket & Ascot Saturday Tip: Russet Gold e/w @ 20/1 NB

3.20 Redcar – Two Year Old Trophy (Listed)

The bookies seem to have completely written off the chances of Zminiature in this Listed sprint. That may be a mistake. Yes, Dylan Cunha’s charge has failed to beat a rival home the last twice but those runs came on quick ground.

The son of Territories, who has been gelded, has run excellent races both his starts on soft ground. He won the Brocklesby on debut at 16-1 and he then ran a massive race in the Listed National Stakes on soft at Sandown, beaten just 1.75l for the win. Now, it has to be said that it wasn’t the strongest of stakes races but even so, it was a sound effort and he shaped like 6f on soft would suit.

As I said, maybe faster ground didn’t suit the last twice and while he admittedly has plenty to find on the figures, he could outrun his odds back on a kinder surface. At odds of 33/1, Zminiature is the each way selection.

2024 Redcar Saturday Tip: Zminiature e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)

3.35 Ascot – Challenge Cup Handicap (Heritage)

Popmaster makes most appeal at a price in this hot handicap. Ed Walker’s charge likes this venue and last year, he was beaten a nose in this race off a mark of 106. He has yet to win this season but he ran a cracker in the Victoria Cup at the Royal Meeting off 109, beaten just 2.25l for the win.

That was on good ground but he is arguably just as good on soft. He won a listed race last September on soft ground and he is 2/3 on soft in his career, including a 6f handicap win here. Since that excellent effort at the Royal meeting Popmaster has been running in Group 2s and 3s without much success. Every cloud has a silver lining though and his mark has now slipped to 104.

That means he is now 5lb lower than he was for that 2.25l defeat here in June and 2lb lower than when beaten in this last year. He could be well drawn in stall 17 and odds of 20/1 for five places look generous. With extra places on offer, Popmaster is worth backing each way.

2024 Newmarket & Ascot Saturday Tip: Popmaster e/w @ 20/1 (5 places) NAP

-DaveStevos