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TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

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13:50 Newbury Across The Stars won a Group 2 on good-to-soft ground over a twelve furlong trip at Ascot last summer and looks to have the strongest chance on form, having beaten Muntahaa who has since beaten both Midterm and Chemical Charge. Chemical Charge finished ahead of Midterm last time out and has never finished outside the first two so could be a big danger to Across The Stars, although based on previous victories would prefer better ground conditions to be seen to best effect. Conversely, Hawkbill will relish the likely soft conditions and last years’ winner of both the Tercentenary Stakes and Coral Eclipse should be race-fit following a run in France earlier this month isn’t dismissed lightly. Across The Stars (WIN)

14:05 Newmarket John Gosden has been in excellent form in recent weeks and has won three of the last ten renewals of this race so his runner Valcartier commands the utmost respect. He couldn’t have been any more impressive when making all to win a maiden by almost four lengths last month and based on that performance shouldn’t have any problems taking on this longer trip today. A slight concern is that his victory came on good-to-firm ground and he is unlikely to get such a sound surface today, although at the forecasted prices and with doubts about his rivals i’m happy to take a chance on him. Call To Mind finished strongly to get his nose in front over a mile at Newbury last month but the easier ground is also an unknown for him so the bigger danger looks to be Desert Skyline who is two wins from two on turf and won on good-to-soft over a slightly shorter trip here when last seen, powering away in the final furlong to win by over three lengths. Valcartier (WIN)

14:20 Newbury Koropick is the forecast favourite and was a convincing winner at the first time of asking last year. He was pitched straight in to Group company following this and found himself a little out of his depth so should find today’s race a more realistic target however it remains to be seen if he will handle conditions. Perfect Angel has placed twice over course and distance, one of them at Group level, although has been beaten twice at this level since and his only career victory has come on good ground. He has the ability to get involved if arriving on a good day but preference is for Private Matter who has recorded both career victories on soft ground, beating recent Essai Pouliches winner Precieuse on his last run of 2016. Although only fourth of seven on seasonal re-appearance he usually needs his first run to blow away any cobwebs so looks to have a decent chance with Ryan Moore in the saddle and conditions likely to suit. Private Matter (WIN)

14:40 Newmarket Only two of the last ten winners of this race arrived on the back of a victory last time out and it has also thrown up a couple of big priced winners (5/1, 16/1and 33/1 winners since 2010) so looks a tricky race to decipher despite the relatively small field. That said, Larchmont Lad won a Group 3 over course and distance last year and with the next four from this race all winning at Listed level or higher since he looks the class act here and the most likely winner if running to form. Others to consider include Beat The Bank who won over course and distance last month to make it two wins from two career runs, while Desert Frost won on debut and is another effectively looking to keep a 100% win record intact, although both step in to the unknown with regards to ground conditions having both won on good-to-firm. A final mention goes to Seven Heavens who showed plenty of promise at the beginning of last season but has failed to make the frame in two attempts over course and distance since and has disappointed in both runs so far this season so also passed over. Larchmont Lad (WIN) – NAP


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14:55 Newbury Time To Study won on good-to-soft over a mile on racecourse debut and had two subsequent runs on all-weather surfaces, winning at the first time of asking when stepped up to todays’ trip. He will need to improve again to win here but is definitely one for the shortlist. Mucho Applause has winning form on soft ground and could be a danger if seeing out this longer trip, while Century Dream has made the frame in three from four and his only victory came on good-to-soft ground so both warrant respect. Count Calabash won three from five last year and ran better than his fifth place suggests on seasonal re-appearance at Newmarket last month. He likes to race prominently and finishes his races strongly so should be right there at the business end and looks a solid each way option in a competitive race. Count Calabash (E/W)

15:15 Newmarket Esprit De Corps was second to promising John Gosden colt Chessman at Kempton in November and returned to action this season with a convincing three length demolition of his rivals at Bath, his first run on turf. The softer ground conditions are an unknown factor here but he is respected nevertheless. Ekhtiyaar has made the frame in all three career runs to date and ran well when second at Doncaster on seasonal re-appearance last month. He should come on for that run and with the Varian stable amongst the winners in recent weeks he cannot be discounted. Quench Dolly takes a big step up in class but arrives here having won her last two races by eight furlongs and six furlongs respectively so is in top form and deserves to take her chance. A winner of two from three over a six furlong trip, four from nine on turf and with winning form on good-to-soft ground she could spring a surprise. Quench Dolly (WIN)

15:30 Newbury The obvious starting point is last years’ Jacques Le Marois winner Ribchester who has already beaten rivals Galileo Gold and Lightning Spear on a couple of occasions and won’t mind the likely conditions having won on soft, good-to-soft and good ground over various distances. He has made the frame in all four attempts over a mile and with course form to boot he is the one they all have to beat. That said, Galileo Gold finished ahead of Ribchester in the Qatar Sussex Stakesso is perfectly capable of making his presence felt, while Lightning Spear has notched up four of his five career victories on return from a break so also warrants respect. Aidan O’Brien doesn’t send too many runners to Newbury but has a winning strike rate of almost 20% and in Somehow he has talented filly who looks to have a good chance of enhancing this record. She is versatile regarding conditions having won on everything from heavy to good-to-firm and has made the frame in eight of her ten career runs, winning five. Furthermore, jockey Ryan Moore has an excellent record when riding for O’Brien and is two wins from two when riding the four year old. Somehow (WIN)

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