Horse Racing Tips for Saturday
Saturday’s racing comes from four excellent meetings at Chester, York, Sandown and Uttoxeter, giving us a fantastic mix of competitive handicaps, progressive younger horses and some interesting betting opportunities throughout the afternoon and evening.
Chester is always a unique challenge where draw position, tactical speed and course experience can often prove decisive. Several of today’s selections return to a track they enjoy and look capable of taking advantage of favourable handicap marks.
York provides a fairer test of a horse’s ability, with a number of well-treated handicappers and progressive types catching the eye. There are also a few bigger-priced each-way plays that look capable of outrunning their odds in competitive contests.
Down at Sandown, the ground conditions could play a significant role and there are several runners who look set to benefit from a little more ease underfoot. A number of today’s selections arrive in consistent form and look capable of adding to their recent efforts.
The evening jumping action comes from Uttoxeter, where Bryan Rogers has highlighted several runners that appear to be ahead of their current marks, alongside a couple of horses that look capable of following up recent victories.
As always, we’ve tried to find a mixture of solid win bets and value each-way selections across the four meetings. Hopefully we’ve found a few winners along the way.
Horse Racing Tips at Chester by Dan Stanton
13:35 Chester
MIRACULOUS seems to really enjoy himself at Chester. He won around here last summer off a mark of 81 and although things haven’t quite clicked since moving from Roger Varian to Tim Easterby, this could be the perfect opportunity for him to return to form.
He ran here back in early May and looked to have plenty left in the tank before repeatedly finding trouble on the rail and never getting the gaps when he needed them. That run came off a mark of 80 and he’s now dropped to a career-low mark of 76. Back at a track he clearly likes and with conditions in his favour, 11/2 looks a fair price for a horse that appears very well handicapped.
14:10 Chester
Andrew Balding’s COMIC HERO was desperately unlucky not to win last time out and the handicapper has reacted by putting him up 2lb despite only finishing second.
Both he and the winner caught the eye that day, but Newmarket can be a difficult place to dominate from the front. Chester is a completely different test. With a low draw and the sharp nature of the track likely to suit, Edward Greatrex should be able to bounce him out, grab the rail and dictate matters. If he gets an uncontested lead and first run on the field, he could prove very difficult to peg back.
14:47 Chester
INVICTA ROSE wasn’t disgraced on debut despite encountering extremely testing ground conditions. That experience should have taught her plenty and there’s every chance she’ll improve significantly for the outing.
The step up in trip looks a positive move and if she can overcome a slightly awkward draw, she looks capable of taking a sizeable step forward on her second career start for Ollie Sangster. With natural improvement expected, she could be the one to beat in this contest.
15:23 Chester
NAVAL COMMAND was a beaten favourite last time out but there were plenty of reasons to be encouraged by the run. Based on his novice form, you’d expect him to be much better than his current rating suggests. He finished behind a very useful horse around this time last year who is now rated over 100 and was subsequently purchased for £80,000 before joining Ralph Beckett.
After almost a year off the track he looked as though he badly needed the run on his return. He’s now dropped in the handicap, dropped back in trip and connections reach for blinkers and a tongue strap for the first time. At 15/2, he looks a cracking each-way play and could easily start living up to his purchase price.
16:00 Chester
ATOMIC FORCE was given a nightmare passage over course and distance last time out. He suffered repeated interference, was bumped around at crucial stages and forced wider than ideal, losing valuable ground in the process.
By the time he finally saw daylight the race had effectively gone, yet he still stayed on strongly to finish third. P. J. McDonald returns to the saddle and was the last jockey to get a winning tune out of him. With better luck in running, 5/1 looks a very fair price.
16:37 Chester
HEATHEN caught the eye over course and distance last time out on what was only his second start since joining Jennie Candlish from David O’Meara.
Having been off the track for 259 days, he shaped with plenty of promise and, aside from the winner, was arguably the most eye-catching horse in the race. He should strip much fitter for the outing, conditions hold no fears and at 7/1 he makes plenty of each-way appeal.
17:12 Chester
I’m not normally comfortable tipping Ian Williams runners as the stable can often spring a surprise when the money arrives, but this one looks difficult to ignore.
NEWTOWN DUKE’s course-and-distance run last time was full of promise. The step up in trip appeared to suit and after 167 days off the track he was only beaten around two lengths off a mark of 72. The same jockey takes over again and claims a valuable 5lb, effectively leaving him 5lb better off than last time. He looks capable of going very close.
Horse Racing Tips at York by Dan Stanton
13:50 York
CHILLINGHAM won this race twelve months ago off a mark of 92 and immediately caught my eye when looking through the field.
In apprentice races I always start by assessing the jockeys and Becky Smith stands out as one of the strongest riders in the line-up. The pair combined to win this race last year and now reunite with the visor reapplied after three runs without it. He’s 4lb lower than when winning last year and the 9/2 available at the time of writing looks generous.
14:25 York
ANDESITE looks overpriced at 28/1 and appeals as an excellent each-way option with five places on offer.
Roger Fell’s yard is operating well at present and this horse has been running consistently without quite getting his head in front. He won on debut here over six furlongs, beating a horse that is now rated 100, and has gradually slipped back down the weights to a mark of 81. The seven furlongs shouldn’t be an issue if they go a good gallop and with a bit of luck he could easily sneak into the frame.
15:00 York
MOUNT ATLAS is a horse I’ve always liked and he arrives here in excellent form.
His latest effort behind Jan Brueghel was arguably a career-best and he was also narrowly denied by Al Qareem on his seasonal reappearance. I think the form can be reversed this time around and at 5/2 he still looks reasonably priced given the level of form he’s bringing into the race.
15:35 York
THUNDER CALL looked hugely impressive when winning last time out and although some may question the strength of the race, he could only beat what was put in front of him.
He won with plenty in hand and looks to have improved significantly from his juvenile season. The form has already received a boost with the third horse winning next time out and it’s interesting to see William Haggas booking talented Australian rider Zac Lloyd. An opening mark of 85 could prove very lenient.
16:15 York
This isn’t an easy race to assess but on pedigree and purchase price alone it’s difficult to ignore Charlie Appleby’s INNER CITY BLUES.
The colt cost a staggering £900,000 as a two-year-old and connections clearly believe they have a very smart prospect on their hands. The market is expecting a big run and although 10/11 may not look overly generous now, it could seem huge value by the time the race is over.
16:50 York
PEARL EYE finally got back to winning ways last week after a well-judged ride from Paul Mulrennan.
The return of cheekpieces appeared to do the trick and he won with a little more in hand than the official margin suggests. He’s only been raised 2lb for that success and Lauren Young’s 5lb claim effectively leaves him 3lb better off. With five places on offer and odds around 15/2, he still makes plenty of each-way appeal.
17:25 York
WINGED MESSENGER shaped well on his return from a 248-day absence and looks capable of building on that effort.
Julie Camacho’s team have been catching the eye recently and this horse progressed nicely through the handicap ranks last season, rising from 66 to 84. Now a five-year-old, there could still be further improvement to come and his consistency makes him very appealing at 10/1, especially with six places available.
Horse Racing Tips at Sandown by Dan Stanton
13:32 Sandown
THE JOKER has been the model of consistency this season, recording figures of 3-3-2 and showing up well every time he has stepped onto the track. The handicapper has only nudged him up 1lb for his latest effort, which looks more than fair given the level of form he’s been producing.
The booking of Billy Loughnane catches the eye and Sandown is a track where he has enjoyed plenty of success. Any further ease in the ground should also play to THE JOKER’S strengths and at around 10/3 he looks the one to beat.
14:05 Sandown
CITY QUEEN was desperately unlucky not to get her head in front last time out, finishing third but beaten just 0.15 lengths in a race where she shaped as though another victory isn’t far away.
She appears to be learning with every run and the decision to re-book Toby Moore could prove significant. His valuable 7lb claim takes plenty of weight off her back and with four places on offer, the 11/2 looks a very fair each-way proposition.
14:42 Sandown
Charlie Appleby has an excellent record at Sandown, but I’m siding with Oisin Murphy aboard WORDS OF TRUTH.
The drop back in trip looks an interesting move and could bring out further improvement. Tactically, the race should suit Oisin Murphy perfectly and I can see him settling just behind the pace before asking his mount to challenge approaching the final furlong. If things fall right, he looks capable of getting the job done.
15:17 Sandown
With plenty of early pace likely in this contest, I can see the race being set up perfectly for something coming from off the speed.
That brings HOT CASH firmly into the equation. He has been running consistently well all season and the booking of Callum Rodriguez immediately caught my attention. Rodriguez partnered him to his only victory back in June last year and knows exactly how to ride him. At 8/1 with four places available, he looks a solid each-way play and should be finishing stronger than most.
15:55 Sandown
This looks one of the trickier races on the card, with several runners entering handicap company for the first time and bringing unexposed profiles into the contest.
I’m sticking with STICKTOYOURGUNS, who looked a useful prospect when winning on debut before finishing second on his next start. He was denied by a Richard Hannon runner that day, but the form has already been boosted with the third horse winning since. Callum Rodriguez takes the ride and at 5/2 the favourite still looks capable of improving beyond his current mark.
16:32 Sandown
Another difficult race to assess, particularly with several newcomers making their debuts and very little solid form to work with.
Richard Hannon has built a reputation for readying one first time out and UPPER EAST immediately catches the eye having cost £300,000. In a race where four or five runners could realistically win, the 10/1 on offer looks more than fair and makes plenty of appeal from a value perspective.
17:07 Sandown
One of the most interesting runners on the card could be MARNIER, who steps up in trip for the first time.
John and Thady Gosden operate at an impressive strike-rate with horses running over 10 furlongs and beyond, and there is every chance this extra distance unlocks further improvement. PERSONAL BEST rates the obvious danger, but in what looks a highly competitive race, the 11/1 about MARNIER appeals as excellent value if the new trip brings out the best in him.
Horse Racing Tips at Uttoxeter by Bryan Rogers
17:42 Uttoxeter
There are a few question marks surrounding this field, but KING ULANDA appeals as the one most likely to follow up his recent success at Bangor.
He travelled strongly throughout that contest and won with a little bit in hand, suggesting there may still be more to come from his current mark. Confidence should be high after that victory and in what looks a fairly ordinary race, he looks capable of going in again.
18:12 Uttoxeter
LADIES DAY made a big impression when winning last time out and the form has started to work out nicely since.
That victory suggested she could be a horse on the upgrade and if she takes another step forward here, she should prove very difficult to beat. This looks another good opportunity and she’s one of the stronger selections on the card.
18:42 Uttoxeter
Ben Pauling’s ONEHUNDREDEIGHTY catches the eye from a mark of just 78 and looks ready to take advantage of what could be a very workable rating.
Ben Jones takes the ride and the pair should have every chance if reproducing their recent form. The Brave Guy is an interesting outsider who could outrun his odds, but the vote goes firmly to Onehundredeighty.
19:12 Uttoxeter
Irish point winner MR MCWHINNY looks to have been found a very good opportunity to open his account under Rules.
A mark of 78 could underestimate his ability and if he transfers his point-to-point form to the track, he should prove extremely tough to beat. He has the profile of a horse capable of progressing through the ranks.
19:42 Uttoxeter
MIGHTY FLEU is likely to head the market and deserves plenty of respect based on recent form.
However, at the prices, the more appealing option could be Harry Cobden’s mount IMPERIAL BEDE. He has mixed it with much higher-rated horses in the past and if returning anywhere near that level of form, he looks a very interesting each-way proposition.
20:17 Uttoxeter
This doesn’t look the deepest race on the card and LORO WHITE is expected to prove difficult to stop.
He was a winning NAP for the team last time out and produced the performance of a horse still ahead of the handicapper. Sean Bowen takes the ride once again and although the price won’t be spectacular, he looks the most likely winner and should take plenty of beating.