ITV Racing Tips on Saturday, May 28th
ITV are broadcasting eight live races on Saturday afternoon from Haydock, Beverley & Chester, including the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes and Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes. Racing Tips have provided insight into all eight scheduled races, with a selection to follow in each. Check those out below, alongside today’s best bets – which are free to view on site now.
Dragon Symbol (1:45 Haydock)
Whilst he was disappointing on his seasonal return on the Knavesmire, another chance is given to DRAGON SYMBOL as he drops significantly in grade on just his second start for trainer Roger Varian.
The four-year-old grey colt burst onto the sprinting scene last season after racking up four impressive victories across the all-weather and turf for former trainer Archie Watson. Pitched into Group company on his following six outings, Dragon Symbol was unfortunate not to add to his tally, finishing runner-up on four of those six outings including in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and July Cup at Newmarket.
Returning from a 207-day break at York earlier this month, Dragon Symbol never looked like landing a serious blow in the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes, however, with that comeback run under his belt, he should fair much better on Saturday afternoon especially lining up against Listed opposition.
Dragon Symbol (right) can return to winning ways on Saturday afternoon.
Distinguished Lady (2:05 Beverley)
Absoloutelyflawless has so far raced exactly as her name suggests, winning both starts at Southwell and Chester for trainer David Loughnane. The unbeaten filly is entitled to respect once more, however, she isn’t particularly drawn well in stall 6 and her hold up racing style may not be best suited to Beverley’s stiff track.
The vote goes to DISTINGUISHED LADY, who appeals as the type to take a major step forward following her promising debut over six furlongs at Newmarket earlier this month. Ultimately finishing third on that occasion, Richard Hannon’s filly was badly hampered inside the closing stages and would have finished much closer if it wasn’t for meeting trouble with the eventual second.
With the Godolphin winner that day looking potentially well above average, and the second recording a decisive victory at Wolverhampton earlier this week, that opening effort from Distinguished Lady looks a fairly useful one and it appears as if owners Amo Racing have another exciting juvenile on their hands.
Amo Racing have some quality juveniles this season, including Persian Force who is 2-2 this season.
Forza Orta (2:20 Haydock)
David Barron’s Contact went one place better after finishing runner-up on his seasonal return at Thirsk, impressively defeating Alan King’s charge Tritonic on his following start at Newmarket at the back end of April. There should be more to come from the progressive four-year-old colt, however, it’s Kevin Ryan’s FORZA ORTA who gets the nod after bumping into William Haggas’ highly regarded son of Sea The Stars, Gaassee on his latest outing at York.
Admirably consistent, Forza Orta has yet to finish outside the top three in his nine starts to date for connections but has seemingly improved since returning for his four-year-old campaign. A neck second when finishing third behind Contact at Thirsk last month, Kevin Ryan’s charge recorded his second career victory with a strong staying performance to defeat the much higher rated Tribal Art over 1m5f.
Unlucky to bump into the rapidly improving Gaassee on his most recent outing, Forza Orta should once again run his race on Saturday afternoon and connections will be confident the four-year-old can land the spoils.
Forza Orta (right) only found the talented Gaassee too strong last time out.
Blue For You (2:40 Beverley)
David O’Meara often excels with his recruits from other leading yards and in particular Irish handler Dermot Weld. The likes of Intisaab, Custom Cut and Shelir have all made the journey across the Irish Sea in recent seasons and have all gone on to provide plenty of memorable moments on track for the North Yorkshire trainer.
The yard will be confident BLUE FOR YOU can follow suit, as the four-year-old son of New Approach makes his stable debut at Beverley on Saturday afternoon. Rated 93, he only raced a handful of times when trained in Ireland but produced some notable performances along the way, including when defeating subsequent Group 1 runner-up Wembley on his final start as a two-year-old.
Disappointing on his opening two starts as a three-year-old last season, he soon returned to winning ways when landing a mile handicap at Leopardstown in July off a mark of 91, defeating three subsequent winners in the process.
Whilst he may need his first run in 252 days this weekend, Blue For You is certainly an interesting runner in this nine-runner handicap and if a change of scenery has had the desired effect, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the four-year-old outrun his odds.
David O’Meara and Daniel Tudhope can get amongst the winners at Beverley as they team up with Blue For You.
Sea La Rosa (2:55 Haydock)
William Haggas continues to have his string in red-hot form and it’s highly likely that connections have had the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes on the agenda for quite some time for the four-year-old filly SEA LA ROSA, who progressed notably as a three-year-old last season and could still be open to further improvement going forward.
Winner of four of her seven starts last year, William Haggas’ talented filly saved her best performance on the track till last – thumping her eleven rivals in Listed company over 1m5f at Lingfield by four and a half lengths.
A winner on her seasonal reappearance last season, Sea La Rosa certainly won’t lack for fitness following her 212 break this time around and it wouldn’t be a shock if the four-year-old filly produces another smart performance as she returns to Group 3 company this weekend.
Sea La Rosa was an impressive winner when last seen at Lingfield.
Jm Jungle (3:15 Beverley)
Trainer John Quinn landed the bet365 Two Year Old Trophy last season with Tipperary Sunset, who had previously scored at Hamilton before landing the Class 2 prize at the East Yorkshire venue. JM JUNGLE will be looking to follow suit in this year’s renewal for connections after his recent victory at Hamilton.
Prior to getting off the mark, the Bungle Inthejungle colt had shown a glimmer of promise when finishing third of four at Pontefract back in April. Despite the lack of numbers on that occasion, it turned out to be quite an informative novice contest with the winner going on to finish second at Listed level at York’s Dante meeting, whilst the fourth went on to open his account at Beverley on his following outing.
Seemingly unfancied in the market when lining up at Hamilton last time out, Jm Jungle showed a tremendous attitude to get up in the shadows of the post and defeat subsequent winner Legend Of Xanadu by a short head.
From the ideal draw in stall 1 this weekend, Jm Jungle holds sound claims and connections will be confident the improving two-year-old colt can record another success for them in this very contest.
Trainer John Quinn can land the bet365 Two Year Old Trophy with Jm Jungle.
Laneqash (3:30 Haydock)
Kinross took landed the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes last season in comfortable style and will be expected to go close if ready to roll following his 224-day layoff. However, at the prices, it might pay to take a chance on the returning LANEQASH who remains lightly-raced for trainer Roger Varian and drops back in grade ahead of his seasonal reappearance.
Highly tried as a juvenile, Laneqash made an immediate impression on his first start as a three-year-old last August at Newbury. Returning from a 294-day break on that occasion, Roger Varian’s charge ran a superb race to finish second behind William Haggas’ highly progressive filly Sacred in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes.
Unable to get his head in front on his following two starts, Laneqash still performed with great credit – finishing third at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting before finishing fourth behind the likes of Benbatl at Newmarket in Group 2 company.
Gelded in the offseason, it will be interesting to see what the market makes of Roger Varian’s charge this weekend, however, the four-year-old is certainly an interesting contender and having gone well fresh in the past, a big run from Laneqash would come as no surprise.
Laneqash (blue) can make a winning seasonal return this weekend in the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes.
Boardman (3:45 Chester)
BOARDMAN was an impressive winner of this contest twelve months ago and whilst he is 5lb higher in the weights this time around, he still appears to be on a workable mark after winning two of his four starts this campaign.
After shaping with promise on his return at Redcar in April, Tim Easterby’s charge returned to winning ways with a comfortable success at Haydock, taking his record at the track to a perfect 2 from 2 in the process. Unfortunate to have been drawn out wide at Chester on his penultimate start, Boardman soon regained the winning thread at Thirsk last time out. Held up towards the rear of the field, Boardman travelled ominously well under David Allan and whilst he ultimately prevailed by three-quarters of a length on that occasion, he was certainly value for much more than the official winning margin.
Ideally drawn in stall 2 this weekend, Boardman appears to have an ideal opportunity to record another victory for connections and the six-year-old is difficult to oppose at the top of the betting.
Boardman (yellow) can record another victory for Tim Easterby.