Live Saturday Racing Tips From Newcastle, Newmarket and Curragh

Royal Ascot went pretty well overall, though the final few selections on the last day were disappointing. At least Caroline Dale grabbed us a place at 100/1 to keep us ticking over. Overall, if you had £10 e/w on each of our 34 tips over the five days you’d have pocketed a profit of £606 (89% ROI). Hopefully we can keep the good form going on Saturday with top class action at Newcastle, Newmarket and the Curragh. You can check out Dave Stevos’ live Saturday racing tips below…

Live Saturday Racing Tips: Newcastle 1.50pm – Chipcase Stakes (Group 3)

First up on Saturday live on ITV is the Group 3 Chipcase Stakes. Run over a trip of 6f this race has attracted 11 sprinters and it looks an open enough heat. Brando is by far the highest rated in this but he disappointed on his reappearance. To be fair to him, good to firm ground wasn’t ideal and you could forgive him that run. However, he has never run on the all-weather before and that is enough for me to pass him over.

His main market rival Mubakker has no such worries having won over C&D last time out. The son of Speightstown is bred for artificial surfaces and he is 3/3 on them. He was very impressive here when winning a decent handicap by almost 3L and he is clearly going the right way. However, the bookies haven’t missed him and he looks pretty skinny given that this is his first start in Group company.

The one I like at a massive price each-way here is Shimmering Dawn for James Tate and David Allan. A 4yo daughter of Morpheus, this filly returned to action with a great run behind Burmese Waltz at Kempton. She was giving that rival 2lb and he went on to be beaten narrowly at Royal Ascot by Chiefofchiefs (getting 2lb). On that line of form there won’t be much between our selection and Chiefofchiefs and Shimmering Dawn gets 3lb from that rival too. At odds of 33/1 a small e/w interest is advised.  

LIVE SATURDAY TIPS: SHIMMERING DAWN E/W @ 33/1 (4 PLACES)

Live Saturday Racing Tips: Newcastle 2.25pm – Gosforth Park Cup Handicap (Class 2)

5f is the trip for this Class 2 handicap and a dozen of them will line up in the stalls. At least four of these enjoy being up on the pace so it could turn into a proper burn up. One that could be suited by a very strongly run race is Venturous for David Barron and Hollie Doyle. This 7yo son of Raven’s Pass is a former C&D winner and he will not lack for fitness.

He has already had two runs since the return of racing and he ran a cracker at Haydock 3 days ago. He was held up as usual and finished very nicely for 3rd spot at Haydock (5f gd). Venturous is in off the same mark of 89 today and he is only 2lb higher than for his win here. Hollie Doyle is having a great season and she has 2 wins and 3 top 4 finishes from just 10 rides for Barron. At odds of 7/1 Venturous can hopefully swoop late and he is the e/w pick.

LIVE SATURDAY RACING TIPS: VENTUROUS E/W @ 7/1 (4 PLACES)

Live Saturday Preview: 2.40pm Newmarket – Criterion Stakes (Group 3)

Next up is another Group 3 and this is run over 7f at HQ. Limato is a standing dish at Newmarket and he is equally effective on both the Rowley and July courses. He won this race on the July course last season but he had a run under his belt. Limato tends to need an outing and he last won first time up back in 2016. His trainer reports that he is fit and well but the lack of race sharpness has to be a worry for his legion of fans.

My selection for this race is ground dependent so don’t back him until the conditions are certain. Rain is forecast but if it misses Newmarket then Yafta has the credentials to run big here. This horse shaped very well at Haydock on his comeback considering it was easy ground. He is much more effective when it is rattling quick and while he has yet to score over 7f he has run some big races in defeat over the distance. Yafta should come on plenty for his reappearance and if the rain stays away he is capable of running a massive race at odds of 9/1 for Hannon and Moore.

LIVE SATURDAY TIPS: YAFTA E/W @ 9/1

Newcastle Tips: 3.40pm – Northumberland Plate Handicap (Class 2)

The race affectionately known as the Pitmen’s Derby is the feature at Newcastle on Saturday. This staying handicap has been a favourite of mine ever since Sergeant Cecil won it back in 2005. There is nothing like him in this year’s renewal though and a case could almost be made for all 19 runners. However, at odds of 16/1 I think Cosmelli looks a cracking each way bet here.

The winner of the Vase back in 2018 off 94 over C&D, this horse was a rock solid 5th in the Plate last season off 96 (he was also beat just 3L off 99 in 2017). This race has likely been his aim ever since and he returns for a repeat bid off just 88. George Rooke claims another 5lb off his back so Cosmelli is effectively nearly a stone better off than he was last year. His trainer Gay Kelleway says he is in top form and at odds of 16/1 Cosmelli is the each way NAP of the day.

LIVE SATURDAY TIPS: COSMELLI E/W @ 16/1 NAP (6 PLACES)

Curragh Tips: 1.35pm – Celebration Stakes (Listed)

This Listed contest looks ultra-competitive and Bowerman is the market leader after his commanding Lincoln win. Now rated 106, he is well worth his place in this company. Ronan Whelan keeps the ride and if the rain stays away he should be thereabouts. He doesn’t appeal as a bet at the prices and in the hope that at least some of the forecast rain arrives, Nebo is an interesting contender at bigger odds.

Tom Hogan was hit by the devastating loss of his superstar Gordon Lord Byron recently. What a horse he was and it would be great to see Nebo give him a boost here. If the rain arrives he will love it as both his career wins came on soft. He ran a blinder in this last year, beat just 1.5L on good. Both of Hogan’s runners since the return of racing performed respectably and if Nebo is fit and ready to rock and roll he could run a massive race at odds of 50/1.   

LIVE SATURDAY TIPS: NEBO E/W @ 50/1 4 PLACES

Live Saturday Racing Tips: Curragh 6.15pm – Premier Handicap (4yo+)

This is an ultra-competitive 7f handicap and 18 go to post. The one I like in this at a half decent price is Tommy Taylor from the in form Jimmy Levins yard. Donagh O’Connor is riding out of his skin and his 3lb claim could be invaluable here. A maiden winner over 7f and a Listed winner over 6f, he is in off a mark of 88  and even though he failed to win off 87 on his comeback, he will strip fitter now.

If the ground turned properly soft it wouldn’t suit him but once there is good in the description he should be fine. This son of Mizzen Mast has placed form off much higher marks in the past and he was 2nd off 95 at Ascot a couple of years ago. Jimmy Levins’ horses are absolutely flying and at odds of 12/1 Tommy Taylor looks well worth backing each way.

LIVE SATURDAY RACING TIPS: TOMMY TAYLOR E/W @ 12/1 nb (5 PLACES)

Live Saturday Racing Tips: Curragh 7.15pm – Irish Derby (4yo+)

The so called jewel in the crown of Irish flat racing, the Irish Derby sees 15 go to post. The O’Brien mob supply ten of the field and unsurprisingly their entries dominate the betting. Santiago and Arthur’s Kingdom head the market for Aidan, while Crossfirehurricane is next best for Joseph. The only other non O’Brien trained runner at single figure odds is Fiscal Rules. Jim Bolger trains the son of Make Believe and I think he has a huge chance.

He was only a head behind Wichita on yielding on his debut in a maiden at Gowran last year. His trainer pitched him in at the deep end in the Irish 2000 Guineas and he ran a blinder. Nothing really went right for him but he stayed on very takingly for 5th, 4L behind the winner. The step up to 12f should suit on that evidence and if it rains it won’t bother him. Kevin Manning will have to overcome the O’Brien battalion but in Fiscal Rules he could have the horse to do it.

If the heavens open then Sunchart looks massively overpriced. He was only 1.25L behind Santiago on debut (8f sft) and the O’Brien horse was having his third start. Sunchart made no mistake on even softer ground next time, hacking up at Tipperary over 9f. Dawn Patrol was 10L behind him and he is 14/1, while Sunchart is as big as 50/1. If it rains, he could run a huge race for Andy Slattery and Ben Coen.

LIVE SATURDAY RACING TIPS: FISCAL RULES E/W @ 8/1; SUNCHART E/W @ 50/1 (BOTH 4 PLACES)