The ITV Racing cameras are in action on Thursday for the first day of the Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket and will also have coverage of the pick of the racing from Pontefract. Get our ITV Racing best bets for Thursday’s televised racing.
Thursday sees the first of three days’ racing at Newmarket for the famous Cambridgeshire Meeting and day one features Group Three action with the Tattersalls Stakes taking centre stage; while there is also Listed and handicap action going to post.
Four races will be shown live from the Rowley Mile course along with two races from Pontefract and Ed Chamberlain and the team will be on hand as usual to offer their expert racing tips, insights and post-race analysis throughout the afternoon while we also offer up our live TV ITV Racing best bets for the day’s televised racing.
ITV RACING BEST BETS – THURSDAY TV RACING TIPS FOR NEWMARKET & PONTEFRACT
1:50 Newmarket – Bentley Motors Nursery Handicap Cl2 (2yo) 1m
LAST SUNSET gets the vote to come out on top in an intriguing contest and Saeed bin Suroor’s charge can get the better of some promising rivals.
A winner on her debut at Kempton in July she has lost no caste in subsequent defeats at Kempton and Ascot, finding only similarly promising sorts too good each time. She was only beaten a neck latest behind Love Is You and that form has been boosted since.
She was only ran down late in the day by a potentially smart newcomer having led but headed before rallying in the last furlong but unable to quite get back at the winner.
Now making her handicap debut she looks on a very fair mark and gets 6lbs fillies’ allowance from hat-trick seeking Lost In Space which tips the scales in her favour where she can take advantage of her weight concession to strike a return to winning ways under Dettori.
2:05 Pontefract – Simon Scrope Dalby Screw-Driver Handicap Cl3 (3yo+ 0-95) 1m2f
HIGHWAY GREY is quickly turned out under a penalty having got back on the scoresheet seven days ago over this course and distance.
Tim Easterby’s Dick Turpin gelding has shown a real affinity for this venue this term, winning four of his five starts over course and distance and he appeared to win a shade readily last time out when gaining a neck verdict over Benadalid.
He did well there despite getting worked up at the start and being slowly away, and he met with trouble in running two furlongs out. But once in the clear he finished well and ran on for a narrow verdict although possibly would have won easier had he not had plenty go wrong.
A 5lbs penalty for that success may not be enough to prevent a repeat if turning out in similar form and he should go close again.
ITV Racing best bets. Trainer Tim Easterby can saddle a TV winner at Pontefract.
2:25 Newmarket – British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 6f
Consistent Gale Force Maya should be involved again, but there is a suspicion she may need a little help from the handicapper and BETSEY TROTTER gets the vote to follow up her latest return to winning ways earlier in the month.
David O’Meara’s charge bounced back from a number of lesser efforts when scoring in a big field contest at Thirsk latest, beating Conga by almost two lengths and the form looks fair with the runner-up contesting with some credit in Listed company at Ayr last weekend.
The Camacho mare has been raised 6lbs for that win, but she has scope still given she won of this mark on the all-weather and if turning out here in similar form then she can go in again here.
2:40 Pontefract – William Hill Lengthen #YourOdds Handicap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 1m4f
It could be worth chancing the fitness of NOT SO SLEEPY who ran a number of solid races last term which included finishing fourth in the Cesarewitch and the Beat Hollow gelding can make his presence felt here if fully wound up.
Hughie Morrison’s charge has also proven to be a useful hurdler, winning twice at Ascot including a ready success in the Betfair Exchange Trophy Hurdle before running poorly in the Betfair Hurdle and Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and if translating that level of form back onto the level then he has to be worthy of respect.
Capable of posting a big run if fitness isn’t an issue, he’ll be suited by any rain and he remains on a workable mark back on the flat so could have a big say.
3:00 Newmarket – Tattersalls Stakes (Registered As The Somerville Tattersall Stakes) (Colts & Geldings) (Group 3) Cl1 (2yo) 7f
La Barossa looked smart when making a winning debut and is worth a crack at this higher grade; but YAZAMAN is proven in Pattern company and that experience could just see William Haggas’ charge come out on top.
A winner of his debut at Yarmouth in June, he has been kept busy since and has run five more times which have yielded four runner-up efforts including in a pair of Group Two contests on the July Course here and at Goodwood prior to a lesser effort at York,
The Kodiac colt quickly bounced back though when fitted with a first-time visor, finding only one too good again and this stiffer test could suit given he tends to race lazily and he doesn’t look altogether straightforward. Nevertheless, his form to date is the best on offer and he ought to make his presence felt again.
Withhold can win back at Newmarket on Thursday and is one of our Thursday ITV Racing best bets.
3:35 Newmarket – Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo+) 2m
WITHHOLD took this prize twelve months ago from a higher mark than today’s rating and the Champs Elysees gelding can get back to winning ways.
Roger Charlton’s charge struggled subsequently in Group company but make a return to the winners’ enclosure over the July Course here last month, beating Dubious Affair readily to win the Further Flight Stakes.
He disappointed again back at Group Two level when outclassed in the Lonsdale Cup, but latterly found only Trueshan too strong at Salisbury and he can give a good account back at this track where he’s unbeaten.
Giving weight away all round will prove no easy task, but if turning out with his A-game then he could take a bit of beating.