Saturday racing best bets and tips
We have six UK horse racing meetings taking place on Saturday across the UK over the sticks and on the flat; we’ve looked over the day’s action to pick out our Saturday racing best bets and tips.
There’s plenty of classy horse racing action going to post across the UK on Saturday with six fixtures on the flat and over jumps in the afternoon and into the evening. The best of the action will be featured on the Saturday ITV Racing broadcast where there is coverage of the meetings at Haydock, Goodwood and York.
Also racing on Saturday afternoon is Newmarket on the flat, while Lingfield are racing in the evening on their flat turf course alongside a jumps fixture at Stratford.
We’ve looked over all the day’s horse racing action where 42 races will head to post across the day’s sextet of fixtures and we’ve picked out our Saturday racing best bets and tips for each card.
SATURDAY RACING BEST BETS – TIPS FOR THE DAY’S UK HORSE RACING FIXTURES
1:40 Goodwood – MansionBet Watch And Bet Handicap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 1m6f
HOCHFIELD has already seen plenty of action this term but he is as tough as old boots and the Cape Cross gelding can get back to winning ways here.
A winner at Nottingham in April he just failed to get up at Hamilton next time just five days later under a penalty and he ran with great credit after just another five-day gap when finishing third in the Chester Cup.
Mark Johnston is no stranger to success here and the Cape Cross gelding is a past course and distance winner who should find this slightly easier than that Chester assignment; assuming he isn’t feeling the effects of his recent busy spell then he ought to go well back here and he can make his presence felt again.
2:00 Newmarket – WSG Sports Signage Handicap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-100) 5f
ADDITIONAL might be worth chancing for the in-form Martyn Meade yard and the Night Of Thunder colt ran well on his reappearance here in April when fourth to Count Otto, shaping as if he’d be better for the run.
A Lingfield winner over seven furlongs last June he struggled in Listed company in successive starts before bouncing back at Ascot with a good third to Stone Circle and he’s forgiven his final run of the campaign where he got bogged down in some atrocious conditions at Newbury.
He went with plenty of zest on his return, racing keenly on the far side but having hit the front leaving the dip he couldn’t maintain his effort to the line and faded late into fourth in the last strides. He’ll be sharper for that run however and the handicapper has eased him 1lb so he can do better now if the softer ground doesn’t catch him out.
Saturday racing best bets. Martyn Meade can saddle a winner on the card at Newmarket.
2:40 York – William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m6f
MIGHTY BLUE struck last term at the Curragh to open her account for Joseph O’Brien at the fourth attempt, but he had won in France previously and the Authorized mare got back on the winning trail when last seen out, posting an impressive seven lengths’ victory in a Listed contest at Gowran Park.
Also placed over hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival behind Tellmesomethinggirl in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle she took her first piece of black type when readily disposing of Lismore and others in the Vintage Tipple Stakes where reopposing Flor De La Luna was amongst her victims.
She powered clear from the two furlong pole to register a wide margin victory and there could be more to come from her at around this trip although she’s proven adept over further. Conditions are fine for the Irish raider who ought to be buoyed by that recent success and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her deliver another bold show as she bids to follow up.
3:00 Haydock – Join Casumo Today Silver Bowl Handicap Cl2 (3yo) 1m
HEADINGLY might not have been entirely comfortable on the Goodwood undulations when last seen, but he still ran a cracker to finish just one length runner-up behind Marsabit and back on a more conventional track layout Mark Johnston’s charge can get back on the scoresheet.
The Dawn Approach colt stepped up on a promising debut last term to get off the mark at the second attempt, scoring easily by four lengths at Chelmsford; he then returned from almost six months off to strike at Redcar, beating Villeurbanne prior to his near-miss run latest where he hung left for much of the last two furlongs and made life tough for Joe Fanning to ride him out to the line.
Softer ground here is a slight worry but he looks to be one who likely has better to come and he’s only 3lbs higher here which leaves him potentially still well-treated given his potential to improve. The return to a more conventional track can show him in a better light and he can make his presence felt here despite his big price.
3:40 Newmarket – WSG Promotions Handicap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 1m6f
GLOBAL STORM won twice here either side of a seven-month absence, ending his 2019 campaign with a defeat of It’s Good To Laugh here in heavy ground in November that year and then returning the following June to beat Arthurian Fable and then running a very creditable third in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot.
Charlie Appleby’s charge disappointed subsequently in starts here and at Meydan following a break; but he was denied only by a nose on his latest return where he shaped as if he’d appreciate an even stiffer test and he goes up again in distance for this latest run which could bring out further improvement.
The Night Of Thunder gelding is thoroughly unexposed over staying trips and could have more to offer, while the ground is unlikely to present an issue. He looks worth chancing from only 1lb higher and he can go close here.
Saturday racing best bets. Newmarket’s Rowley Mile sees some Saturday action.
4:00 Goodwood – Follow @mansionBet EBF Fillies’ Handicap Cl3 (3yo+ 0-90) 1m4f
ASIAAF showed some fair form last term when trained by Marcus Tregoning, winning over ten furlongs at this course and landing successive silver medals subsequently including over course and distance.
The New Approach filly disappointed on her final outing at York and was subsequently sold to join David Menuisier; she ran well on her yard debut back from a break to finish third at Yarmouth and that will have sharpened her up having possibly needed the run.
A return to this venue and stepping back up in distance are both positives and she’s expected to do better now assuming she handles the soft ground and there wouldn’t be much surprise in seeing her get back to winning ways here.
4:10 Haydock – Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Temple Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (3yo+) 5f
Softer ground will hold no fears for LIBERTY BEACH who won first time up last term and John Quinn’s classy sprinter can repeat the dose here.
The Cable Bay filly won four of her first six starts as a juvenile which included the Group Three Molecomb Stakes and she kept top company as a three-year old following her win here on her reappearance in the Cecil Frail, locking horns with the likes of Battaash, A’Ali and Glass Slippers.
She rounded off last term with an excellent third in the Prix de L’Abbaye at Longchamp on heavy ground and a repeat of that performance would certainly put her in the mix.
With the conditions no issue and a proven record when fresh as well as winning course form to her name she looks to have plenty in her favour here and she can make a winning return to action.
Saturday racing best bets. Liberty Beach can win the Saturday feature race for John Quinn.
5:55 Lingfield – Witheford Barrier Trials At Lingfield Park Handicap Cl4 (4yo+ 0-80) 1m4f
REECELTIC has been in good form of late on the all-weather, making the frame in starts at Kempton and here before getting off the mark latest over this trip last month with a defeat of Foresee.
That came on the polytrack but he’s shown he can handle turf when running over hurdles and in bumpers for Pat Phelan and the Champs Elysees gelding likely wouldn’t need to improve much back on turf to take this prize.
He had almost one length to spare when registering his breakthrough win, running on well and appearing to score a shade cosily. Both the runner-up and third have run well in defeat since to largely uphold that form and he can continue his good spell of form returning to turf here where the lightly-raced six-year old can go close.
6:10 Stratford – Happy Birthday Flos Handicap Chase Cl3 (5yo+ 0-135) 2m3½f
GO STEADY doesn’t have many miles on the clock for a nine-year old and Dan Skelton’s charge arrives here on good terms with himself having ran out a recent winner at Warwick where he struck by two lengths from Whoshotwho earlier in the month.
The Indian Danehill gelding had also won at Huntingdon in February and posted a pair of bronze medal finishes inbetween those successes so he’s in good heart and a 7lbs rise for his last victory may not prove enough of an anchor in preventing a repeat.
He battled back well latest to win having been headed at the final obstacle with the front two pulling well clear of the rest and in a race where most of his rivals have something to prove he looks the most solid option to come out on top here.