The horse racing broadcaster reveals his greatest bets for Saturday’s motion within the UK, together with Newmarket’s function race, the Solar Chariot Stakes.
It has been a terrific season for Middleham coach Karl Burke. For the fifth consecutive yr, the yard has saddled over 100 home winners, supplemented by three abroad Group 1 victories — twice courtesy of Fallen Angel and as soon as by way of Venetian Solar’s Prix Morny triumph at Deauville.
Burke could be very a lot the coach to observe on Saturday, with probabilities in lots of the 9 races lined on ITV, beginning with BRIGHT THUNDER / (13:15 Ascot). It is going to be a frustration to Karl that, regardless of a string of positioned efforts, Shiny Thunder has but to contribute to the season’s tally — the newest when simply touched off at Doncaster within the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes, having made her effort somewhat early in a strongly run Atalanta Stakes at Sandown the time earlier than. Woman of Spain delayed her problem longer, and I anticipate the shape to be reversed this time round, with not a lot early velocity evident right here. I might have most well-liked her to be drawn extra centrally to counteract any potential draw bias — which has typically favoured excessive numbers at this assembly — however that wasn’t the case final yr, so hopefully will probably be the identical once more. (Be aware of any clues from Friday’s racing, as that is written earlier than that day’s motion.)
The secure’s BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND / (13:50 Ascot) will probably be hoping to go one higher within the 5f Rous Stakes after ending second to Rumstar. She obtained jarred up earlier within the season within the Palace Home behind the identical rival and didn’t reappear till scoring at Ayr a fortnight in the past. Offered there’s adequate rain within the previous 24 hours to permit her to take her probability, she might line up a great deal more energizing than some in a division that appears more and more drained.
Burke additionally saddles the powerful Al Qareem within the Cumberland Lodge at 14:25, however this race will revolve round whether or not Hamish and/or Tenability (this column’s star of 2025!) line up, so it’s handed over selection-wise. A good quantity of rain could also be wanted earlier than connections threat Hamish, and if he does run, Tenability might not — although he proved his floor versatility final time and continues to go from power to power.
Concern not, although, as a result of the secure is probably not completed but, with NATIVE WARRIOR / (15:35 Ascot) in search of back-to-back wins over course and distance. Regardless that the handicapper has raised him 8lb for that success, there aren’t many unexposed horses within the subject. As has been proven in current months, high quality has enabled a lot to win these races from in direction of the highest of the handicap. Rahmi was a great instance final day trip and charges a hazard, although he isn’t at all times the perfect away from the gates and would wish a robust gallop to carry the closers into play.
Burke additionally has main probabilities in two of the races being proven from Newmarket, and it’s solely the thin value in such a giant subject that forestalls me from placing up Half Sovereign within the £150k October Public sale Stakes. Purchased for simply 12,000 Guineas, she accomplished a four-timer below high weight in a Doncaster nursery, after which this race was recognized because the goal. Together with her run fashion of racing prominently, she ought to keep away from bother, however the giant subject will increase the chaos issue — and at under 2/1, the value is simply too quick.
Fallen Angel is in search of a 3rd Group 1 of the season within the day’s function race, the Solar Chariot Stakes over 1m, however she might discover the regionally educated CINDERELLA’S DREAM / (14:40 Newmarket) too arduous to deal with. Fallen Angel’s victories have come by means of sheer willpower, however she is susceptible to something with a flip of foot. Cinderella’s Dream received the Falmouth on the July Course earlier than disappointing in France final time, however she will bounce again on house turf, the place the Buick–Appleby mixture so usually reigns supreme.
Newmarket isn’t the one monitor staging a beneficial two-year-old race, with the ITV cameras paying their annual go to to Redcar for the Two-Yr-Previous Trophy. ARGENTINE TANGO / (15:20 Redcar) could be campaigned solely as a two-year-old earlier than heading to the paddocks and has been on the go all season. She has completed her owner-breeders proud and will get in off a really low weight right here, regardless of being campaigned solely in Group firm since her Newmarket Listed win in June. At that degree, others have progressed previous her, and she or he additionally met bother two begins in the past — which can give the impression her type is tailing off. However again at this degree, off such a low weight, it could be incorrect to low cost her — particularly for a secure like Tim Easterby’s, which has additionally had an excellent season.
Go to Betway’s horse racing betting web page.