We preview all the action screened live on ITV Racing this weekend with tips for all the big races from Newmarket, York and Chepstow.
Friday at Newmarket
1:50
We start off with an interesting looking sprint in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes. Hierarchy heads the field with Oisin Murphy booked to ride. He was second last time out in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury and Hugo Palmer looks to have found a nice opportunity for him here. Guilded could be the one to give him the most to think about. She ran a cracker here at Newmarket in the Cheveley Park Stakes 2 weeks ago and if she can build on that here today, she won’t be far away.
Selection – Guilded e/w – 15/2
2:25
Good American was very impressive on debut for Ralph Beckett and the money has come for her this week. Frankie Dettori now takes the ride which has to be a huge plus and she is bound to be a very popular selection. I actually like the look of Pearl Glory who is trained by Kevin Philippart De Foy and will be ridden by William Buick. She ran a great race last time out in a Group 3 at Salisbury, she travelled very strongly in to the race before being short of room in the final furlong but stayed on nicely to only finish a length behind the winner.
Selection – Pearl Glory – 10/3
3:00
Al Suhail has had a bit of a in and out season so far, he finished a close up third in the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot in July before being well-beaten in the Hungerford Stakes next time out. Charlie Appleby has been in fine recent form in the past weeks so I expect to see a better showing today and he could go close. I like the look of Chindit who Richard Hannon really likes. He has not had the best of seasons, bar his first run of the year when he won the Greenham Stakes at Newbury. It’s a very tough race to find the winner of and Godolphin also have D’bai at the top market.
Selection – Chindit – 4/1
3:35
The Group 1 Fillies’ Mile is all about Inspiral for John Gosden. She is still unbeaten from 3 starts winning a Listed race on her second run and then going on to win the Group 2 May Hill Stakes as she wanted coming clear to by an easy 3 lengths. Aidan O’Brien sends over Concert Hall who will be ridden by Ryan Moore. She won a Group 3 last time out but she will need to find a lot more to beat Inspiral here today.
Selection – Inspiral – 10/11
4:10
The last race of the day on ITV is the Old Rowley Cup Handicap which is wide open. Siskany for Charlie Appleby currently heads the market and he has run well on all 4 of his starts so far this season. Charlie Fellows horse Injazati has been in fine form winning his last 3 and will definitely be there or abouts. Boltaway is an interesting looking horse and looks to be on a decent mark for Roger Charlton. This is a bigger field to what he has been running in recently but he stays the trip very well.
Selection – Boltaway – 7/1
Friday at York
3:15
We head to the Knavesmire for a handicap at 3:15 and Challet currently heads the market in a very wide-open market. He won a good handicap here a couple of weeks ago where he was never challenged and I’m sure he will hard again from the front today. Raising Sand has been a great horse for the Osborne team and he will definitely have place claims here today. I’m not sure he is up to winning these competitive handicaps at the age of 9 anymore. La Trinidad is a horse I really like, I tipped him up a few weeks ago when he ran in a handicap at Ebor Festival. It didn’t go right for him that day as he took a keen hold and then got blocked when making his effort. The owners love a day out at York and expect him to run a lot better today.
Selection – La Trinidad – 10/1
3:50
The second and last race of the day from York on ITV Racing is a staying handicap. Mahrajaan is the top weight and favourite for the race. He has won 3 of his 4 starts to date and he steps up in trip here today. He won his last race at Hamilton looking like the step up in trip would be no problem. Iain Jardine is always a trainer to look at in handicaps and he has sent Ravenscraig Castle down for this race. He ran at York’s Ebor meeting finishing third in a competitive handicap that day and a repeat of that form should see him go very close here.
Selection – Ravenscraig Castle – 7/1
Friday at Chepstow
2:10
The return of national hunt season on ITV Racing as we head to Chepstow for their Jump season opener. We start of with a Veterans’ Handicap and there are a few old favourites in this race and just at the head of the market Is the Rebecca Curtis trained Geordie Des Champs. He has won twice this summer and is bound to be fit and ready for this test. The ground might be on the quick side for a few of these but I like the look of Vieux Lion Rouge. He is now a 12-year-old but I think he is the class horse in the race and will be fit and ready to give a bold showing.
Selection – Vieux Lion Rouge – 15/2
2:45
The Persian War Novices’ Hurdle is the feature on Day 1 and we have the Paul Nicholls trained Paso Doble at the head of the market. He has only had the 2 runs so far for Paul, where he came third to the excellent Tritonic at Kempton in the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle and then going on to win a Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton at the end of last season. Paul Nicholls has already said he is one of nicest Novices’ he has in his yard, so expect a big a run here today. Nicky Henderson will be looking to get off to a fast start this year and claim back the National Hunt Trainers Championship off of Paul Nicholls and he sends First Street to this race. He won very easily last time out, but this is a step up in class now and he will need to build on that today to beat the Nicholls horse.
Selection – Paso Doble – 11/4
Saturday at Newmarket
1:45
Hafit will go off as favourite for the Zetland Stakes, but I’m not sure he should do. Hafit won a maiden first up then was well beaten on his second start in a Listed race at Haydock. Goldspur is also trained by Godolphin and he has only had the 1 start and he was very impressive in a weak novice event at Sandown. Bluegrass who is trained by the master Aidan O’Brien could be the value bet in the race. He won well last tie out over a mile and looking at that run the step up in trip is exactly what he wants.
Selection – Bluegrass – 6/1
2:20
The Autumn Stakes is all about Coroebus, he was just headed last time out after looking like the winner a furlong out. He is bound to come on for that run as that was only his second start. Dubai Poet could be the danger as he won very nicely at Newbury last time coming away to win by over 5 lengths.
Selection – Coroebus – 4/5
2:55
Native Trail looked very impressive last time out at Curragh in a Group 1 and he sets a very high standard here today. Bayside Boy has also look very good this season and he is unlucky to not still be unbeaten too. Ger Lyons sends over Straight Answer and he has done absolutely nothing wrong, bolting up in his last start at Fairyhouse. It’s very hard to get away from Native Trial as he has produced the best form so far in this race, but I’m going to take a chance on Straight Answer who I think can improve again.
Selection – Straight Answer – 11/2
3:35
The action ends with the Cesarewitch Handicap which as per usual is mightily competitive. Willie Mullins once again has the favourite and Ryan Moore will ride for him M C Muldoon was last seen winning a novice hurdle at Galway. Before that he ran in the Ascot Stakes just losing out by a short head to the outsider Reshoun. He will go very close again here today but I think there is some value in a couple of bigger price horses. Elysian Flame was only a length behind M C Muldoon in the Ascot Stakes and if he can run to that level, I can see him going very close. Live Your Dream for Saeed Bin Suroor was second in the Cesarewitch Trial here a few weeks ago and that was a very solid run. He was always being held by the winner Turnpike Trip but he was still staying on very strongly at the end.
Selection – Live Your Dream e/w – 12/1 and Elysian Flame e/w – 16/1
Saturday at York
2:02
The Rockingham Stakes is the first live race from York and it’s a very competitive field. Canonized and Ever Given currently head the market. The William Haggas filly Canonized was just done on the line last time out in Firth of Clyde Stakes at the Ayr festival a few weeks ago. The colt Ever Given has been very consistent this season winning 4 out of his 7 starts. He comes here with a solid chance and at the prices I make him the favourite to win this race.
Selection – Ever Given – 5/1
2:37
Faisal was brilliant on his first 3 starts for Hollie Doyle before getting well beat on his outing at Doncaster. His last was a step up in class but I feel we did not see his true running and I fancy him to beat the favourite Bay Bridge. We have not seen Bay Bridge since May but started of the season very well before this set back. I’m sure he will come on for the run here today.
Selection – Faisal -7/2
3:15
We have a wide-open sprint handicap to end the action from York on ITV Racing. You can make a case for nearly half the field they are that closely matched. The two I like in the field are Mr Wagyu who was third in the Ayr Gold Cup and that was a fantastic run. He looked the winner half a furlong out but just got caught close to the winning line. The other horse in the field I like at a big price is Magical Spirit who is trained by local trainer Kevin Ryan. He is only a five-year-old and he is off a very winnable mark. The fourth placed finish in the Ayr Silver Cup is very good form and a repeat of that could send him very close here today.
Selection – Mr Wagyu e/w – 12/1 and Magical Spirit e/w at 18/1
