ITV Saturday Racing Tips: Newbury and Newmarket

We had a very nice day on Friday with a winner and a place from three tips. Blue Cabochon ran a cracker in the Curragh stakes, landing place money at 25/1 in 3rd. Broad Street came up short, but Stormy Girl rewarded our loyalty handsomely. She made all for a cosy win at 22/1 and there could be more to come from her. Let’s hope our good run continues today, check out Dave Stevos’ ITV Saturday racing tips and preview below…

ITV Saturday Racing Tips: Newbury 1.50pm – Denford Stakes (Listed)

First up live on ITV on Saturday is the 7f Listed Denford Stakes. Unfortunately only seven 2yos will go to post, a pain for e/w players. Four of these have won their only starts and as is the case with most juvenile races this season, the form isn’t easy to weigh up. The ground is likely to be on the soft side and it could come down to who handles conditions the best.

Most of the horses in this race have shown their best form on better ground. However, William Bligh is the exception. Trained by Ralph Beckett, this son of Territories is the most experienced of the more fancied horses. His sole win came on his 3rd start on soft ground at Haydock, delivering on the promise of his 2nd start at Newmarket (7f sft). He was too keen at Goodwood last time when 3rd but it was still a fine effort off 87. If Harry Bentley can get this fella settled in front a bold bid could be on the cards. At odds of 13/2 and with 3 places on offer from Betfred, William Bligh is the e/w pick.

ITV Saturday Racing Tips: William Bligh e/w @ 13/2 (3 Places Betfred)

Newmarket ITV Tips: 2.05pm – Betway Handicap (Class 4)

Some of the lesser lights of the racing world get the chance to shine on ITV in this class 4 handicap. Hopefully the fact that the race is on terrestrial TV will mean they are trying, because the prize money is absolutely pitiful (less than £5k to the winner). Only 8 are due to go to post and the ground is on the quick side, though a small bit of rain should ensure it is beautiful, safe ground. The one I like in this is the outsider Allegiant.

This 5yo son of City Zip was last sighted a month ago on the all-weather at Kempton. He ran poorly that day over today’s trip but a couple of his 12f runs at Epsom last term would put him right in the mix. He was 2nd twice off marks of 75 and 81 and he is in off just 77 here. That is 1lb above his last winning mark, a victory that came on this course over 10f. He is generally consistent on turf, with 2 wins and 8 places from just 14 starts. Stuart Williams’ horses haven’t been running well so stakes should be kept to a minimum, but if Allegiant can bounce back to form he could go very close here at odds of 28/1.  

Newmarket Saturday Tips: Allegiant e/w @ 28/1

ITV Live Tips Newbury: 2.25pm – Unibet Handicap (Class 2)

With conditions likely to be on the easy side at Newbury the one to be interested in is King Carney. This 3yo son of Australia has flopped the last twice but the trip/ground was not in his favour. A dual winner last season, both his victories came on easy ground and today is the first time he has had his preferred softer ground this season.

He won a maiden at Nottingham (8.5f sft) and a Listed race at Pontefract last season (8f sft). That earned him a  rating of 102 but the assessor has dropped him a couple for his last two outings in Listed and G3 company. Charlie Fellowes has his horses in good shape and the booking of Atzeni catches the eye. He is 5/22 for Fellowes with a further 4 top 4 finishes. Hopefully he improves that strike rate today and at odds of 15/2, King Carney is the e/w pick.

ITV Saturday Racing Tips: King Carney e/w @ 15/2

Newmarket Saturday Tips: 2.40pm – Betway Handicap (Class 3)

A field of 8 horses will go to post in this 7f handicap. The one I’ll be taking a chance on here at decent odds is Dancinginthewoods for Dean Ivory. This 3yo son of Garswood showed plenty of promise last season. A 50/1 winner here on the Rowley course on debut, he ran a really nice race off 80 on his return to action at Haydock back in June.

He was 4th beat just over a length off 80 and after a poor run here last time he is 1lb lower now. Things didn’t go right for him that day and hopefully he just had an off day. The form of his comeback 4th looks decent and if he was coming here on the back of that there is no way he would be a double figure price. At odds of 14/1 Dancinginthewoods looks worth backing each way.

Sunday Curragh Tips: Dancinginthewoods e/w @ 14/1

ITV Saturday Racing Tips: Newbury 3.00pm – Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3)

Only 7 go to post in this Group 3 and the 13f trip will take some getting on this easy ground. Max Vega has a fine record on soft and he has yet to get his favoured conditions this season. His trainer will be delighted with the rain that has fallen. Back on his preferred ground he should be a lot more competitive than he was on the all-weather and on good ground in his two outings so far this term.

The son of Lope De Vega was last sighted in the Epsom Derby when well behind Serpentine (12f gd). He scored in a Group 3 at Newmarket last season (10f sft) and dropping back to this level is a big plus for him. Harry Bentley knows the horse well and this horse’s pedigree suggests that this step up in distance ought to suit. All things considered, Max Vega is well worth backing each way at odds of 9/1.    

ITV Saturday Racing Tips: Max Vega e/w @ 9/1 NB

Newmarket Tips: 3.15pm – Grey Horse Handicap (Class 4)

This class 4 contest for grey horses only looks a tough puzzle to solve. Plenty of them come into the race out of form but Buccaneers Vault has been in decent shape this term. He has run well in this race for the past three seasons off marks of 73, 80 and 68. His is back for another go off 78 this season and Meghan Nicholls takes off a handy 3lb which will be a big help.

This 8yo son of Aussie Rules won at Redcar back in June off 74 and he followed that up with a couple of good efforts at Haydock and Newbury. Buccaneers Vault is a hold up sort and hopefully they go a decent clip and give him something to aim at in the closing stages. He was won off 78 before so he is not handicapped out of this and at odds of 12/1 Paul Midgely’s charge is the e/w selection.

Sunday Newmarket Tips: Buccaneers Vault e/w @ 12/1 NAP (4 Places)

ITV Saturday Racing Tips: 3.35pm – Hungerford Stakes (Group 2)

The final live race of the day on ITV this Saturday is the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes. A field of 10 go to post in this 7f contest and you could make a case for quite a few. Connections of History Writer will be glad the rain has come but he is best over a mile. One that could go well at a massive price is Lincoln Bright for John Egan and the Chapple-Hyams.

This fella has had just three starts so far and each one has been better than the last. He was well beat on debut at Newmarket (8f gd) but was much better next time dropped to today’s trip. He finished 2nd that day and connections moved him straight into Listed company on his next start York 7f gd). Lincoln Bright was sent off at 40/1 but he belied those odds with a fine run in 3rd.  

He had Symbolize (14s here) and Stormy Girl (won Listed heat yesterday) behind him that day so it was a decent run. A rating of just 97 leaves him with a fair bit to find but he could easily progress again and his pedigree suggests that soft ground could suit. This is a hot renewal but at odds of 66/1 a small each way interest in Lincoln Bright is advised.

ITV Saturday Racing Tips: Lincoln Bright e/w @ 66/1