ITV Saturday Tips and Preview by Dave Stevos
ITV Saturday Tips: Goodwood, Newmarket and Windsor
It was mainly a day to forget for us on Friday at the Curragh. Dolce Notte was on pace making duties and folded tamely 2f out. Epona Plays ran a blinder, just missing out on 2nd at 16/1. She could be worth trying over further. Cyrus Dallin was too close to a strong pace and didn’t stay on like he usually does. Sloane Peterson got stuck in the mud and never landed a blow. We are back in action at Goodwood, Newmarket and Windsor tomorrow. Check out Dave Stevos’ free ITV Saturday tips below …
ITV Saturday Tips: 1.50pm Prestige Stakes (Group 3)
This 6 runner Group 3 is for juvenile fillies and the ground is going to be bottomless. It could turn into a proper war of attrition and the only one in the field with form on soft ground is Seattle Rock. This daughter of Fastnet Rock is far from straightforward but she has undoubted ability. Goodwood is a quirky track though and it may well suit Sylvester Kirk’s charge. She ran really well over today’s trip on soft when 3rd in a Listed heat at Ascot. A sudden lunge to the right a furlong out cost her all chance of victory but she still held on for 3rd.
More forceful tactics over 6f didn’t work next time at Newmarket but last time was much better. She was only 1.5L behind Star Of Emaraaty at Newmarket when she again showed quirkiness by flashing her tail. If this filly can keep her mind on the job she is more than capable of playing a part here. Of those with marks she is joint top rated and none of her rivals have run on proper soft ground. David Probert does well when riding for this owner and at odds of 10/1 Seattle Rock is the e/w selection.
ITV Saturday Tips: Seattle Rock e/w @ 10/1
Newmarket 2.05pm – Hopeful Stakes (Listed)
It will be soft ground at HQ too for this 6f Listed contest. The one I like at a nice e/w price in this is Highland Dress. This horse is only rated 97 and theoretically he has no chance against some of these. However, the son of Shamardal ran a lovely race on the softest ground he has encountered when a good 2nd over C&D on his penultimate outing off 97. His pedigree suggests that even softer ground could spark a bit more improvement.
He is a half brother to Make A Challenge, a sprinter that relishes testing ground. His grand-dam Saoirse Abu won a Group 1 on heavy so chances are this horse could really take to the rain softened surface at Newmarket. There is going to be a strong pace in this race with the likes of Bungee Jump and Jash and hopefully Adam McNamara can sit just off it and if all goes to plan, hit the front a furlong out. At odds of 28/1 it is worth chancing that the soft ground will suit and Highland Dress is the e/w pick.
ITV Saturday Tips: Highland Dress e/w @ 28/1 NB
ITV Saturday Tips: Goodwood 2.25pm – Ladbrokes Handicap (Class 2)
The one to be interested in here at a decent price is Oh This Is Us for Dobbs and Hannon. This admirable 7yo has yet to hit top form this season but he showed definite signs of encouragement last time out at Doncaster (7f gd/fm). The son of Acclamation may not have yet won on soft but he has run a couple of crackers on it.
He was only beat 4L off 107 in the Balmoral on soft back in 2017 and in 2019 he ran a blinder (RPR 107) behind Happy Power in a Listed heat at York. His form on good to soft is decent too so hopefully he handles the heavy surface here. If he does he is undeniably well handicapped off 103. He got no clear run when beat 2L in this off 105 last season and off 2lb lower he could go close with a clear run this time. At odds of 9/1 Oh This Is Us is the each way selection.
ITV Saturday Tips: Oh This Is Us e/w @ 9/1
Windsor Saturday Tips: 2.40pm – August Stakes (Listed)
The ITV cameras make a rare appearance at Windsor for a couple of races on Saturday. First up is the Listed August Stakes, an 11.5f contest that has attracted 6 runners. The ground is soft at Windsor and if he repeats the form of his last run in similar conditions, Communique could go well here. He chased home Dame Maillot at Newmarket (12f sft) and this front runner might get things his own way in front here.
He ran another lovely race on his next outing at York (14f gd) going down by 0.5L to Eagles By Day. His last two runs were well below par but Mark Johnston’s horses often bounce back to form out of the blue. The likes of Desert Encounter, Alounak and Le Don De Vie will all be hoping to pounce late, but if Franny Norton can get the fractions right Communique could be hard to peg back. At odds of 12/1 the son of Casamento is the each way NAP of the day.
ITV Saturday Tips: Communique e/w @ 12/1 NAP
3.00pm Goodwood – March Stakes (Group 3)
A rubbish turn out for this 14f Group 3 with just 4 horses going to post. The two market leaders, Subjectivist and Cabaletta, have both won on heavy and they look sure to be bang there at the finish. Celtic Art is another interesting runner and at 5/1 he could represent a bit of value. However, as this race is win only I won’t be getting involved. No bet.
ITV Saturday Tips: No Bet
Windsor Saturday Tips: 3.15pm – Winter Hill Stakes (Group 3)
Another poor turn out for this 10f Group 3 with just 6 lining up in the stalls. Fox Chairman is a warm order for Balding and De Sousa after his good run behind Aspetar at York (10f gd). His last win came on soft at Newbury so conditions hold no fears and with a rating of 114 he looks a worthy favourite. One that could outrun his odds of 14/1 is Tinandali for Spencer and O’Meara.
This former Dermot Weld inmate has had no luck whatsoever on his last couple of outings. At both York and Goodwood he was denied a clear run and he ran very good races given how they unfolded. Still only a 4yo, this horse could yet improve beyond his mark of 102 and the booking of Jamie Spencer catches the eye. His style could suit this horse and he is unlikely to encounter traffic problems with only 6 runners going to post. If he handles conditions Tinandali could run a big race at odds of 14/1.
ITV Saturday Tips: Tinandali e/w @ 14/1
ITV Saturday Tips: 3.35pm Goodwood – Celebration Mile (Group 2)
The final live race of the day on ITV is this Group 2 contest over 8f. Only 7 go to post and Benbatl is the market leader. He is a serious horse who rarely runs a bad race. Oisin Murphy gets on particularly well with him but there are massive doubts about the suitability of heavy ground. He bombed out on both previous starts on it and his best form is on good or better.
The one I’ll be backing in this is Duke Of Hazzard. Trained by the Coles, this son of Lope De Vega ran a nice race in a Longchamp G1 on his sole heavy ground start. He was beat a short head his only start on good to soft so he handles an ease, even if all his wins were on good or better. His Goodwood form is top notch (1112) and at odds of 7/1 he is the e/w selection.
