A bumper Saturday of ITV action is set for 3rd October, as coverage from Newmarket, Ascot, and Redcar makes up the ten-race programme.
We have gone through all televised races on ITV this Saturday, picking out ITV horse racing tips, and an accumulator for ITV racing.
ITV’s bumper day of coverage on Saturday kicks off with the October Auction Stakes. Night In Vegas has been a popular selection for my columns throughout the flat season, and he once again looks set to take a lot of beating for the Eve Johnson Houghton yard.
He made a mockery of his mark at Doncaster in a similar contest last month, winning by a comfortable half-length.
Has proven back class, having finished a close fifth in the Group Two Coventry and third in the Group Two Richmond. Already has winning form over Zigazig Ah on these terms and should confirm that form once again.
The opening race on ITV’s coverage from Ascot on Saturday is the Listed October Stakes. Three-year-olds have won the last three editions of the race, and seven of the previous ten, meaning that is a logical angle worth following.
So Regal represents the in-form John & Thady Gosden yard, and Billy Loughnane is a notable jockey booking. The three-year-old drops back down to seven furlongs after looking unsuited to slower ground in the Group Three Atalanta Stakes, albeit finishing within two lengths of the winner.
Was a winner over a mile at Ascot in May, easing clear of Crownright to win by two lengths. The form of her second behind Lilt from the Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies’ Stakes also looks strong, with the winner subsequently finishing within two lengths of Oaks winner and Arc contender, Thundering On.
Fillies and mares will be in action in the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes at 13:35 on Saturday. Blue Bolt sets the standard in this field, and her claims are only made stronger after last year’s winner Fallen Angel wasn’t declared.
The Andrew Balding filly has won three straight Group Ones in striking fashion, with her most recent success in the Matron Stakes seeing her put two lengths between herself and City Of Memphis.
The same two horses should contest the finish once again on Saturday, and there’s little reason to see the form being reversed. Also has course and distance form in the book after landing the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier this year.
Next up from Ascot is the Listed Rous Stakes, run over a snappy five furlongs. Last year’s winner Shagraan and Tuco Salamanca should be respected, but at the prices, a chance could be taken on Edward Bethell-trained Fluorescence, who gets 3lb from the market leaders and has little to find on RPRs.
The four-year-old was an impressive winner over an extended five furlongs at Ayr last month, beating Beautiful Diamond by three lengths.
She wasn’t beaten far over course and distance in a handicap at Ascot at the start of September, when denied a clear run before finishing fourth.
Newmarket’s next race on Saturday is a World Pool Handicap over a mile and four furlongs. A small field ensures that cases can be made for many, but Jane Chapple-Hyam’s runner could be of the most interest.
Primo Lara will have Saffie Osborne back aboard, with the combination teaming up for success in the Ascot Shop Handicap over a mile and four in July. Has been running to the same standard since then, winning on the all-weather at Kempton, before failing to see out a mile and five at Newbury last month when beaten by Pearl River.
The gelding is still on a workable mark and looks primed for a bold challenge now back down in distance.
A distance of a mile and four will be covered in the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Tenability could be very hard to oppose based on his recent efforts for the William Haggas yard.
The four-year-old gave weight to rivals in a winning effort at Windsor last time, finishing just under a length clear of Silawi. His prior effort when third in the Group Three Prix de Reux has been franked, with the runner-up subsequently finishing second in the Group One Grosser Preis von Baden. Looks like the improver in this field, and comes out on top based on RPRs.
Next up is the Group Three Bengough Stakes, covering a distance of six furlongs. Prince Of India looks like a very interesting contender in first-time headgear for the combination of Marco Botti and Pat Dobbs.
The selection is a previous course-and-distance winner after landing the Shergar Cup Sprint last August, and he finally delivered after showing promise this season, when he finished two lengths clear of Elarak to land the Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket last time out.
Five of the last 12 winners of the race have previously won over course and distance.
Two races from Redcar are also covered on Saturday, including the Listed William Hill Two Year Old Trophy. Myesme is an interesting contender for the Edward Bethell yard.
The two-year-old filly is by Havana Grey, who has produced group-level juveniles, including July Stakes winner Jasour and last weekend’s Middle Park victor Orthodox. Myesme was narrowly denied on debut at Ayr when looking green, beaten just a head by Next Of Kin.
She bounced back at Beverley on her next start, finishing two lengths clear of the field despite blowing the start. More unexposed than most in this field, and gets weight from the majority of her rivals.
The big betting race of the day on Saturday is the Challenge Cup. Three-year-old runners have won two of the last four editions, and Thunder Call could yet be a group-level performer in a handicap.
The William Haggas runner was a winner over course and distance in September, easing clear of the field to beat The Fingal Raven by two lengths. The step up to seven furlongs really looked to suit on that day after a couple of below-par showings over six furlongs.
Has been hiked up following the recent win, but still looks like there’s lots to come. At a bigger price, Hawksbill could be an interesting each-way contender.
ITV’s coverage on Saturday concludes with the Listed Guisborough Stakes at Redcar. Sondad could be the interesting angle after an encouraging effort when fourth of 24 in a recent big-field handicap.
He has plenty of experience in big-field handicaps already this season, including a narrow win over Far Above Dream in the Constantine Handicap at York. That form has since been boosted with the third coming out to win at the Curragh.
