ITV4 Sunday Racing Tips: Newbury and Ripon

We didn’t get a winner on the board on Saturday but it wasn’t a bad day. William Bligh was simply outclassed and he will surely go back handicapping. Allegiant ran no race and he’ll be the last Stuart Williams horse I tip until they show a return to form. King Carney ran a blinder to land place money in 3rd at 9/1. Dancinginthewoods (14/1) and Max Vega (9/1 NB) both ran really well too to finish 2nd. Buccaneers Vault was given too much to do, while Lincoln Bright was bitterly disappointing. We go back into the breach at Newbury and Ripon today. Check out Dave Stevos ITV4 Sunday racing tips below…

ITV4 Sunday Racing Tips: Newbury 1.50pm – Unibet Handicap (Class 4)

The one I like at a price in this very tricky looking 8f handicap is Rainbow Jet. This 3yo daughter of Dream Ahead has not performed well on 2 of her 3 starts this season, both on quick ground. She ran okay at Newcastle on the other start when beat 5L into 4th off 78. As a consequence her mark has now dropped to 74 and a couple of her soft ground runs last season would give her a right chance off that rating.

Her 2nd career start when 5th in a Novice at Haydock last season (7f sft) was a fine effort and stepped up to a mile on her next start she ran even better. She finished 2nd at the same track, a nose in front of a now 90 rated performer. She followed that with an even better run when 1.5L behind Dubai Love at Nottingham (8f hvy), who was 3rd behind Onassis at Ascot off 101. It looks like soft ground is the key to this filly and she gets it for the first time this season on Sunday. At odds of 25/1 with 5 places on offer, Rainbow Jet is the e/w pick.

ITV4 Sunday Racing Tips: Rainbow Jet e/w @ 25/1 NAP (5 Places)

Ripon ITV4 Tips: 2.05pm – William Hill Handicap (Class 3)

At a decent each way price I think Fennaan is capable of producing a big run here off 85. Trained by Phil Makin, this 5yo son of Footstepsinthesand has produced some of his best turf form at this track. He has had three runs here and while he struggled on soft, his two efforts on good ground resulted in a pair of 2nds. They came off marks of 88 and 83 so he should be able to be competitive off his current rating.   

Fennaan has won a total of four races and three of those came on the all weather at Kempton (2) and Newcastle. His sole turf win came over 7f at Newbury and he is best suited by quick ground. It is good to firm at Ripon so he’ll have conditions to suit and he should strip a lot fitter for his comeback run last month at Thirsk. At odds of 16/1 Fennaan is well worth backing each way in a wide open race.

Ripon Sunday Tips: Fennaan e/w @ 16/1 NB

ITV4 Live Tips Newbury: 2.25pm – Unibet Handicap (Class 3)

A big field of 18 go to post in this 7f handicap and it looks a very difficult puzzle. Danyah is up 10lb for his good win at Doncaster and it wouldn’t be a big shock if he proved good enough. His win came on good to soft too so he should have no issues on the easy ground. However, another one that should relish conditions at a far bigger price is Blackcastle Storm for Hughes and De Sousa.

This lightly raced 3yo is by Showcasing, a sire with a penchant for producing soft ground performers. He has only had two runs on grass, both coming on easy ground. The first one came in a decent novice race at Newmarket (7f sft) when he was 4th less than a length behind the now 100+ rated Al Aasy. The other one came off 77 when 2nd in a handicap at Doncaster (7f gd/sft). He needs to bounce back from a poor run at Kempton last time but he tried to make all that day. If more patient tactics are employed here he could go close at odds of 20/1.

ITV4 Sunday Racing Tips: Blackcastle Storm e/w @ 20/1 (5 Places)

Newbury Sunday Tips: 3.00pm – Unibet Handicap (Class 3)

Back on the flat Darksideoftarnside looks a very interesting contender in this 13f handicap. He was highly progressive at around that trip last season, scoring over 14f at Ffos Las (14f gd/sft) off 80 and runner up over 16f at Ascot (sft) off 82. He came up short in the Cesarewitch on his last flat start but there was no shame in that. His two runs so far this season have been poor, over 12f on the all-weather at Kempton and in a 20f good ground novice hurdle at Southwell.

At least he won’t be short of fitness after those two outings and he gets his ground here today. The 6yo son of Intense Focus enjoys getting his toe in and his three career wins have come on heavy, soft and good to soft. He is in off a mark of 82 here, just 2lb higher than his last win and 1lb lower than for his win at Ayr. All things considered, 33/1 looks way too big and Darksideoftarnside is the e/w pick.

Sunday Newbury Tips: Darksideoftarnside e/w @ 33/1  

ITV4 Sunday Racing Tips: 3.15 Ripon – Great St Wilfrid Handicap (Class 2)

Ripon’s flagship handicap has attracted a field of 20 and as ever, it looks ultra-competitive. A high draw is a big advantage in this race and only four horses with single figure draws have won since 2000. The last two winners, Gunmetal and Dakota Gold, are back to try and repeat the trick. Gunmetal looks far better handicapped than Dakota Gold and he should run a decent race from stall 9.

However, from a good draw in stall 16 Mr Lupton looks worth chancing at decent odds. This horse enjoys good ground and he ran better than his finishing position suggests on his first two runs this term. His last three wins have come in stakes company at 5f/6f and his last handicap win came when beating El Astronaute at York off 103. He is now 5lb lower and Tony Hamilton (who rode at York) is back on board. Given his racing style he will need luck in running but if he gets it he could run a massive race at odds of 22/1.

ITV4 Sunday Racing Tips: Mr Lupton e/w @ 22/1 (6 Places W Hill)

Newbury Tips: 3.35pm – St. Hugh’s Fillies Stakes (Listed)

We were on Caroline Dale e/w at silly odds at Royal Ascot when she finished 3rd. She ran a blinder last time out behind Santosha over 6f. The drop back to 5f will really play to her strengths and she is the one they all have to beat. The only worry for her supporters is the ground as she has yet to encounter an ease. That is the case for most of them in this field though.

Queen Of Rio impressed me when winning on her debut for Adrian Keatley and Martin Harley. She was green as grass when scoring at big odds so she should improve hugely for the experience. She had a horse called Miss Milby 3L behind that day and she pushed Blackberry (10/1 here) all the way at Hamilton when a neck behind in 2nd. Clearly this is a huge step up in class for Queen Of Rio but she could be suited by a strongly run race and if she handles the ground she should be doing her best work at the finish. At monstrous odds of 33/1, Queen Of Rio is the e/w pick.

Sunday Newbury Tips: Queen Of Rio e/w @ 33/1 (4 places Skybet)