top of page

TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

Newmarket 14:15 The first of nine live TV races sees fourteen fillies scheduled to go to post for a Class 2 handicap over six furlongs. Davids Duchess is the early market favourite and her career record of just one win from ten doesn’t tell the full story as she placed in five more and has ran some excellent races in defeat. Having said this, trainer Richard Fahey has been out of sorts in recent weeks and has only saddled four winners from over 70 runners in the last twelve months at Newmarket so his runner is opposed today. William Haggas and Ryan Moore have teamed up to great effect in the last twelve months, posting a 25% winning strike rate, and team up with Dutch Destiny here. She has one win and two placed efforts from four runs over six furlongs but tends to produce her best with more cut in the ground than likely to encounter today so is another opposed here. Ginzan has made the frame in 60% of all races over six furlongs and arrives in good form having won last time out, over the minimum trip at Bath earlier this month. This sees her first attempt in Class 2 company but looks capable of out-running her odds and could sneak a place. Summer Chorus has been running very well in recent months, winning one and placing in three from her last four runs. She has winning form over course and distance, has a 70% career strike rate for top three finishes and her jockey Jimmy Quinn has a 33% winning strike rate for trainer Andrew Balding over the last year so looks to be a great each way option at early odds of around 7/1. Sweet Dragon Fly steps up in class off a 4lbs higher mark, increased for a length victory over the re-opposing Sixties Sue. However jockey George Wood claims 5lbs to negate the rise and as an improving filly who is unbeaten in two over todays’ trip she looks to be the main danger. Summer Chorus (E/W if 9/2+)

Ascot 14:30 The first of four televised races from Ascot sees us step in to Group action with Sir Michael Stoute, John Gosden and Saeed Bin Suroor sending out some top class runners. Sir Michael Stoute actually saddles the first two in the betting with Kings Fete and Arab Spring so we will take them both in turn. Kings Fete arrives here looking for a hat-trick of Group 3 victories, has won two and placed two over todays’ race distance and would likely go off as a hot favourite if it weren’t for the trainer’s other runner Arab Spring. Arab Spring is also proven at Group 3 level and has won four from five over todays’ trip including one here at Ascot. He should be pretty happy whatever the ground conditions having won on everything from good-to-firm to soft and on the AW. John Gosden saddles Western Hymn who hasn’t won since May 2015, is yet to taste victory over todays’ trip and is yet to win in four attempts at Ascot so on the face of it looks up against it today. However, he is worthy of a second look as he won at Group 2 and 3 level in 2015, has placed three times at Group 3 level earlier in the season and has been racing in Grade 1’s since so will appreciate the drop back in grade. At a slightly bigger price Saeed Bin Suroor’s Move Up is also worthy of consideration having won a Group 2 in Turkey last time out and has winning form at Ascot. This looks a tougher race than last time out despite the grade but he looks to be most likely to capitalise on any poor performances from the market principles. Providing the two Stoute runners don’t out-battle each other and set the race up for one of their opposition this looks to be a match between the two, with marginal preference for Kings Fete on the back of his impressive performances at this level the last twice. Kings Fete (WIN)

Newmarket 14:50 Returning to Newmarket for the third televised race of the day, we again see a field of fourteen fillies go to post this time to do battle over a mile. The clear early favourite is Luca Cumani’s Farandine who has winning form at Newmarket and ran well for third at Chelmsford earlier this month, his first run in almost a year. However the trainer hasn’t had a winner from fifteen runners on turf over the last two weeks and jockey Tom Marquand has only won two from forty-seven over the last twelve months at HQ so this puts enough doubt in my mind to look elsewhere. William Haggas has been in sensational form over recent weeks and his runner Carenot arrives here looking for her third win in succession. With two wins and two placed efforts from four career runs she is improving with each run and although this is a much tougher race she deserves a mention and could make her presence felt. Crowning Glory has won three from her last four but has gone up a further 5lbs and also loses the benefit of Georgia Cox’ 5lbs claim as Fran Berry takes over in the saddle today. She may well continue improving but the weight rise plus the step up in class means she may be looking at minor honours at best. At the early prices i’m opting for Haley Bop in the hope that we see a bit of rain. A 9/1 winner on penultimate run she followed up last time out with a solid second, has won on good, good-to-soft and soft ground and has made the frame in 50% of races over a mile so looks a solid option for a top three finish here. In a tough looking race its also worth mentioning Miss Van Gogh who is a previous course and distance winner and has won five from ten over a mile but has been a bit below par in recent runs and would prefer softer ground, while Lincoln Rocks won last time out and has won three of her last four over a mile so is in great form but has a 6lbs penalty to contend with so. Haley Bop (E/W)

Ascot 15:05 The seemingly obvious starting point in our second race from Ascot is the John Gosden trained Shalaa who arrives having won his last five, two at Group 1 level and two at Group 2 level, all over todays’ six furlong trip. Based on this you may be a little surprised to see odds of around 2/1 available so it’s worth noting that this is his first run since September 2015 and his main aim is likely to be the The Champions Sprint on British Champions Day in two weeks’ time. Despite the long break i’d be surprised if he wasn’t fully fit and raring to go so he is the one for me here. The most likely to give the favourite a run for his money is the extremely consistent Don’t Touch who has provided his trainer Richard Fahey with seven wins from nine over six furlongs. He struggled in a Group 1 last time out but has been given a couple of months off since, runs well fresh and should benefit from the drop back to Group 3 level. Mehronissa has won five from nine over six furlongs and is another worthy of consideration. Like Don’t Touch she was found out a little at the very top level last time out but has won at Listed level previously and would be dangerous to dismiss. Shalaa (WIN)

Redcar 15:15 Our only visit to Redcar sees twenty three runners scheduled to go to post so its worth taking a look at the stats to try and narrow things down a bit. Only two last time out winners have won this race in the last ten renewals and Tim Easterby has won this twice in recent years (four times overall). With this in mind its worth looking at bottom-weight Appointed who, although is a last time out winner, is one of three Tim Easterby’s runners and is perhaps the most likely of his three to make an impression here. A winner over a mile last time out, he also won over six furlongs on racecourse debut and looks to have as good a chance of any in what can only be described as a bit of a lottery of a race. The Wagon Wheel won her first two and was heavily supported at Goodwood last time out, only to find things going against her and could only manage a mid-division finish. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see her bounce back given that she’s won a large field handicap on good-to-firm ground previously and she has to be one for the shortlist. Tawny Point doesn’t have the greatest of draws but has won his last four over todays’ trip and would benefit immensely from some rain. He also goes against the recent race stats having won last time out but at early odds of around 18/1 he looks too big a price to pass up given his recent form. Appointed (E/W if 9/2+) Tawny Port (E/W)

Newmarket 15:25 If the rain does arrive at Newmarket it could play straight in to the hands of David Simcock’s High Hopes who has won her last two in impressive fashion, one on good ground and one on soft. In truth she couldn’t have been any more impressive last time out, winning by a length over todays’ trip without even coming off the bridle. A similar run would see her bring up her hat-trick and in current form she is the selection here. Pure Fantasy would have to be considered the main danger having won last time out and boasting a 50% winning strike rate over todays’ trip. She’s up 5lbs for a head victory but jockey David Egan has won two from two when riding for Roger Charlton this year and claims 7lbs to more than offset the 5lbs rise. At early odds of 8/1 she looks to have a great chance of a top three finish. Haggle is the early market leader and has a decent record at Newmarket having won and placed over a mile and also placed over seven furlongs. The step up in trip could bring about the necessary improvement but its also a step in to the unknown so with her only career victory coming on good-to-soft and the early best price of 9/2 she doesn’t appeal. I normally wouldn’t look to make two selections in a race of this nature but in this instance both High Hopes and Pure Fantasy appeal and as they are both available at early each way prices i’m happy to take a punt on both in the hope we may get the forecast up. High Hopes (E/W if 9/2+) Pure Fantasy (E/W if 9/2+)

Ascot 15:40 Both Dutch Law and Firmament look closely matched based on last month’s 1-2 at Ascot and it wouldn’t be huge surprise to see them both fighting it out at the business end again today, while Squats wasn’t far away in fourth and again looks likely to give a bold account of himself. However, at the risk of discounting any other runners i’m going straight for the jugular and opting for Librisa Breeze who is a previous course and distance winner who performed with great credit when fourth in a Group 3 at York last time out. He is maybe a couple of pounds higher than ideal for this race but has undoubted quality and at early odds of around 11/2 looks a decent each way bet to nothing. Librisa Breeze (E/W if 9/2+)

Newmarket 16:00 Our final visit to Newmarket sees Ryan Moore again team up with Aiden O’Brien’s top filly Alice Springs. A two length winner of the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes over course and distance in July and a truly commanding three length winner of a Group 1 at Leopardstown when last seen, she looks the one to beat and will likely go off at at a price of around evens, a price that doesn’t really entice despite the form. It is also worth mentioning that she is yet to record back-to-back victories. Ervedya is also a multiple Group 1 winner and although hasn’t won since September 2015 she has only failed to make the frame in one of thirteen career runs. She was only a couple of lengths behind Ribchester when third in the Jacques Le Marois in August and a similar run today would bring her right in the mix. Another to consider is the French filly Volta who has won three and placed second twice from five runs over a mile trip. She got to within three lengths of the unbeaten La Cressonniere in the Prix De Diane in June and was just over a length behind Qemah in the Rothschild in July. She has been given a little break since and could prove to be the value option against the favourite so for this reason is the selection here. Volta (WIN)

Ascot 16:15 We reach the last of a mammoth 9 race TV preview in the hope that, by now, we’ve had a winner or two! The final race sees Sole Power drop down to Listed level in an attempt to get back to winning ways after somewhat struggling since his last win in September 2015. If it stays dry then you’d have to consider him in with a chance but even with such a strong record over the trip and Jamie Spencer in the saddle you have to think he’s reliant on others underperforming if he’s to take his chance here. Priceless stepped back to the minimum trip last time out to win by almost a length, showing a decent turn of foot in the process, and looks to have a decent chance of a top three finish at the very least based on this performance. Double Up has a course and distance win to his name and has made the frame in seven of nine so its not too difficult to understand why the Roger Varian trained five year old is the early favourite. He won three times last summer but hasn’t won since and his latest runs, whilst decent, haven’t really suggested that another win looks imminent so odds of around 4/1 don’t look overly appealing. Priceless (E/W if 9/2+)

Comments


bottom of page