Saturday ITV Racing Preview: Ascot, Haydock and Newmarket

I was on bread and water for the week after Goodwood and Galway. It was a torrid week punting wise and I was very glad when it finished. Indianapolis was our only place last Saturday with the rest of our selections running no sort of races. The focus switches to Ascot, Haydock and Newmarket tomorrow. Check out Dave Stevos’ Saturday ITV Racing preview and free tips below…

Saturday ITV Racing Preview: Ascot 1.50pm – 6F Handicap (Class 2)

The one I like at a decent price in this 10 runner 6f handicap is Graceful Magic. Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, this 3yo daughter of Guitafan drops in class and trip here. Two of her three outings this season came in Group 1 (8f) and Group 3 (7f) company. Her best run came in her only handicap start so far off 97 at Newbury. She was beat 3.5L in 4th over a mile that day and she shaped like she didn’t get the trip.

This filly’s best form by far has come at around 6f and she loves rattling quick ground. Her form figures at 6.5f or shorter on good or good to firm read 11221 and that includes a close 2nd to Rose Of Kildare in a Group 3 at Ayr. Tomorrow’s Dream boosted the form of her last handicap run by winning at Goodwood next time and with trip and ground to suit, Graceful Magic looks well worth backing each way at 20/1.

Saturday ITV Racing Preview: Graceful Magic e/w @ 20/1

Haydock ITV Tips: 2.05pm – Dick Hern Stakes (Listed)

A field of 9 fillies and mares go to post in this 8f Listed contest and Veracious is a warm order to make a winning return to action for Stoute and Moore. She won a Group 1 last season at Newmarket (8f gd/fm) and followed that up with two more good efforts at the highest level. However, she has needed her comeback run for the past two seasons and this race will surely be a stepping stone to bigger races later in the season. That has to be a big worry for anyone weighing in at odds on.

The one I’ll be backing each way in this is Posted for Hannon and Doyle. This daughter of Kingman has had just one start at Ascot, in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge at the Royal Meeting. She finished a creditable 5th behind Nazeef and Agincourt, staying on very well late in the day. Her last run at Pontefract back in Listed company wasn’t great. However, she was prominent and keen and she is much better when dropped out and produced with a late run. Hopefully Holly Doyle can get her settled early and if she does, Posted could produce a big run at odds of 25/1.

Haydock Saturday Tips: Posted e/w @ 25/1

ITV Live Tips Ascot: 2.25pm – 8f Handicap (Class 2)

Jalaad is the current market leader for this 8f handicap with Jim Crowley in the plate for Saeed Bin Suroor. This 5yo son of Kodiac won nicely enough in a handicap at York last time (8f gd) off 84. He got a 5lb hike for that win and on the balance of his overall form, that looks a hefty enough rise. He’ll need to improve again and while that is possible, I think better value can be found elsewhere.

The one I like stepping back up in trip from 7f is Kasbaan for Mick Appleby and Ali Rawlinson. This son of Dansili’s three starts this season have come over 7f. He ran a cracker here over that trip in the International Stakes last time, finishing strongly for 6th. He was on the wrong side and he finished 1st of those with single figure draws. His last two wins have come at a mile so there are no stamina doubts and at odds of 15/2 Kasbaan is the e/w selection.

Saturday ITV Racing Preview: Kasbaan e/w @ 15/2 NAP

Haydock Saturday Tips: 2.40pm – Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3)

Only 7 go to post in this Group 3, a pain for each way players. Even so, at odds of 14/1 I’ll be taking a small chance on Certain Lad each way. Last sighted running a monster race in the John Smith’s Cup at York off 103 (2nd beat 1L), this son of Clodovil has more than earned another crack at this sort of level. He earned a rating of 108 after York and he really hasn’t got that much to find at all on the figures with the market leaders.

He came up short on his last try in a G3 in Meydan but he bumped into an on-form Ghaiyyath that day. 10f is his best trip and he has won 2 from 4 runs at Haydock. Ben Curtis is back in the saddle and he has ridden this horse on 4 of his 6 career wins. Ground ranging from good to soft to good to firm suits, he handles the track and this is his optimum distance. Even with just 2 places available, Certain Lad is worth backing each way at odds of 14/1.

Saturday Haydock Tips: Certain Lad e/w @ 14/1

Saturday ITV Racing Preview: 3.00pm – 16F Handicap (Class 2)

The one to be interested in here at a big price is Island Brave for Heather Main and Martin Dwyer. This 6yo son of Zebedee ran better than his finishing position suggests here last time. He was 8th off a mark of 94, 10L behind the first two but only a length or so behind Platitude and Mancini, both of whom boosted the form on their next runs.

Island Brave was a step slow from the stalls in that 14f contest and he was one of the first off the bridle. Angus Villiers didn’t get much room turning in either. However, the horse kept on pretty nicely in the closing stages, even if the leaders had flown. He is now 2lb lower than when winning at Ayr last term (13f gd) and a pound higher than when scoring at Nottingham (14f gd). He ran very well in two big field 2 mile handicaps in 2018 and back at that trip Island Brave looks worth chancing each way at odds of 25/1.

Saturday ITV Racing Preview: Island Brave e/w @ 25/1 NB (4 Places)

Saturday Newmarket: 3.20pm – Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3)

The big race of the day at Newmarket is the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes. The one that looks a shade overpriced in this contest is Mere Green for Richard Fahey and Barry McHugh. This filly has finished 5th on both her starts so far but they came in very decent races. Her debut run here on the Rowley course (6f gd/fm) was a fine effort and that race has produced a couple of winners.

Fahey stepped the daughter of Dark Angel into Listed company on her next outing where she ran with a lot of credit. She was pushed along early but she kept at it well. While the front two pulled well clear, this filly was only a length off the 3rd home. This extra furlong looks sure to suit, on both running style and pedigree and it is her first time racing solely against her own sex. 40/1 looks a massive price and Mere Green could stay on late to grab some black type. She is the each way pick.

Saturday ITV Racing Preview: Mere Green e/w @ 40/1

Saturday ITV Racing Preview: 3.35pm – 12F Handicap (Class 2)

At a massive price Protected Guest deserves one more chance with conditions to suit. I put this horse up last time out and he ran an absolute stinker over C&D. However, I had anticipated rattling quick ground that day but it came up good. This horse is much more effective when there is firm in the ground description, just like there was last season when he was beat a neck into 2nd off a mark of 94 over C&D. On similarly quick ground he ran a huge race on his next start at York off 3lb higher. However, this season hasn’t gone to plan so far.

His best effort came on his return at Newmarket (10f gd) under a tender ride from Tom Queally. The ground was too soft for him at the Royal Meeting but he wasn’t disgraced, finishing in midfield. If he was coming into this race on the back of that effort he wouldn’t be 50/1 here. That last run looks too bad to be true and while he isn’t one for maximum faith, at the odds Protected Guest is worth a small interest each way.

Saturday ITV Racing Preview: Protected Guest e/w @ 50/1 (4 Places)