The ITV cameras will be at Flat Racing HQ on Saturday, 10th October, as the Group One Dewhurst Stakes headlines the action from Newmarket. Three races from York also make up the eight-race card this weekend.
We have gone through all televised races on ITV this Saturday, picking out ITV horse racing tips, and an accumulator for ITV racing.
The ITV coverage on Saturday kicks off with the Group Three Darley Stakes, run over a mile and a furlong. Humidity could be an interesting runner worth chancing at HQ.
The Andrew Balding runner will be making his first start following a layoff, having been gelded since he was last seen finishing a length behind subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Bow Echo in the Group Two Royal Lodge 12 months ago.
Makes plenty of appeal based on the form in the book, having also beaten subsequent Group One winner Thesecretadversary in the Chesham Stakes. The long layoff is the big concern, but at the prices, he could be the appealing selection, getting weight off all rivals.
The first race from York this weekend is the Listed Rockingham Stakes, run by two-year-olds over six furlongs.
Plenty of horses in this field already look exposed, meaning that the preference is for the untapped potential provided by Divine Whisper.
The two-year-old filly from the George Boughey yard will have Tom Marquand aboard, and she lost little in defeat on her return after a long layoff, beaten only two lengths by Wild Blossom in the Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes at Goodwood.
Should be suited by this step up to six furlongs based on her pedigree, and well worth an each-way dart.
The Group Three Zetland Stakes is due off at 13:50 from Newmarket on Saturday, as a field of horses aged two compete over a mile and two.
Drumbeat looks a hugely progressive contender now up in distance. The Aidan O’Brien runner took a while to understand what was asked of him, finishing last of six on debut, before finishing within a length of Wall Street at Leopardstown over a mile.
Dead-heated with Equus Victor at Gowran to break his maiden, before doing all of his best work late in the day in the Group Two Beresford Stakes to finish third behind Noble Exhibit. Frustrating type, but clearly this step up in distance should suit.
Next up is the competitive Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap, run over an extended mile and two furlongs, with a 20-runner field set to take their place.
Old Harrovian is an interesting chance at a massive price for the in-form Andrew Balding team, and was only narrowly denied by Salamanca in the Easter Classic in April.
Returned with a strong run in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at Newbury last month, finishing only three lengths behind the winner despite blowing the start and being hampered two furlongs out. A clear run will give him an excellent chance off 1lb lower in this.
An interesting renewal of the Group Three Autumn Stakes is due off at Newmarket at 14:25. Strong cases can be made for market principles Rock Montreal and Sergei Diaghliev, but Ed Walker-trained Sole Ambition could be the interesting selection.
Kieran Shoemark once again takes the ride, just as he did on the selection when he stayed on well to land a maiden success over seven furlongs at Newmarket at the end of last month.
Promises to be more to come from him now up in distance, especially given the pleasing way that he finished the race at HQ last time. Sire No Nay Never has produced talented two-year-old winners over a mile, including Meditate and Amusingly.
The featured Group One at Newmarket this Saturday comes in the form of the Dewhurst Stakes, which has provided Classic clues in recent years, with the likes of City Of Troy, Chaldean, and Frankel all following up with major victories in the following season.
Charlie Appleby-trained Desert Castle looks like an exciting contender, having won impressively on both career starts to date.
He was a straightforward winner over seven furlongs at Newmarket on debut, before following up with a dominant three-length win over Sergei Diaghilev in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
Bred to excel over further, with sire Frankel winning this race in 2010 and producing 2022 victor Chaldean.
The final race covered from York this week is the competitive 22-runner Sprint Trophy Handicap. Fine Interview should be capable of running a big race in first-time headgear for the Hamad Al Jehani yard.
The five-year-old wasn’t beaten far in the Ayr Gold Cup last month, finishing second of the nine in his group on unsuitable heavy ground.
Has previously won on soft this season, landing a big-handicap at Doncaster in March. Typically goes well at York, finishing just two lengths behind the well-handicapped Sondad in the Constantine Handicap in August.
Dropped 1lb following his latest effort, and the application of blinkers could make a major difference.
The big betting race of the day is the Cesarewitch Handicap. A total of 16 of the last 17 winners have carried under 9-3, while horses aged between five and six have won five of the last eight.
Other notable trends include runners that weren’t last-time-out winners (2/12), those that run over jumps earlier in the year (8/12), and horses that have previous winning experience over the distance (10/12).
Notably, horses rated between 86 and 97 have won ten of the last 12. Highwind could be an interesting chance for the all-conquering Willie Mullins yard, with Wayne Lordon an interesting booking. Mullins has won the Cesarewitch in three of the last eight editions, with two of his chances going off at double-digit prices.
The six-year-old, who runs in the Galopin Des Champs silks, was last seen finishing a well-beaten third at Clonmel, but looked desperate for a step up in trip after running on well.
Highly regarded by connections based on his entry in the 2024 Triumph, finishing ninth of the 12. Has shown signs of encouragement this year, also finishing fifth in the Goodwood Handicap. Ticks plenty of the right boxes, and should be capable of outrunning his odds at an each-way price.
