Cards at Newmarket, Newbury and Ripon get the spotlight shone on them on ITV this Saturday. Our in-house tipster Joe Napier has picked out four best bets, including a tip at each venue.
2.05 Newmarket – Jenningsbet Grey Horse Handicap
It is possible that the balance of FINE INTERVIEW’s form in the Middle East is helping to juice up his price for the Grey Horse handicap, Newmarket’s annual spectacle confined to the lighter shade. He underwhelmed with his performances in Qatar, but has figures of 231 on these shores, all of which points to him being better than a mark of 76.
He showed significant promise when runner-up on his debut last season, when trained by Alice Haynes. Since his winter holiday, he has returned to Newmarket to be trained by Hamad Al Jehani, who has taken on a number of Wathnan-owned horses like the selection. A close third at Yarmouth when not seeing out 7f was followed by a penalty kick win on soft at Ffos Las, but ground does not appear to be a worry, and he should prove a horse ahead of his rating on his handicap debut.
2.25 Newbury – Play The BetVictor Predictor Now Handicap
Newbury’s sprint course is one of a few that can forgive slow starters. It is still not ideal, but it does give more of a chance to WOOLHAMPTON, whose form this summer has been excellent even if the form figures do not dictate as such.
In five runs since the start of June, her widest margin of defeat is 1¾ lengths, in which time she has also won at Windsor. 5lb claimer Oliver Searle did not look to get everything right at Haydock aboard her last time out, but his mount still finished third, while Searle was on board for her Windsor success. Her last two visits to this venue have not resulted in good finishes, but she had excuses both times, and a maintenance of her recent form will once again see her in the mix.
3.00 Newbury – TPT Fire Handicap
It is a surprise to see defending champion SPANGLED MAC trading at a decent each-way price and he is taken to go back-to-back in the race. He peaked in this contest with a career best after some seemingly indifferent efforts and may do so again.
The market is likely to be dominated by William Haggas’ Waleefy, but Karl Burke is the only trainer to send a three-year-old winner out in this since 2016, and siding with a more experienced runner seems a wise ploy. The selection looked to need his comeback at Hamilton last month and returned lame at Ascot despite finishing competitively in mid-division over 5f. If fully recovered, that run suggested a big effort is coming soon, especially back at this 7f distance.
3.20 Ripon – William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap
Having been third in this last year when clearly leading home his group on the near side, WOBWOBWOB might make amends this year. He followed up that placed effort by winning the Ayr Silver Cup in a 25-runner field, and is only 2lb higher than for both of those results.
His form had dipped between the turn of seasons, but he got back to winning ways at Thirsk in May, back down to a mark of 87. Duck eggs at York, when running at the rear gave him no chance, and Newcastle, on an all-weather surface which clearly isn’t his bag, are easy to forgive, and his sixth of 18 at Glorious Goodwood over 7f was much more like it. Back down a furlong in a race he ran terrifically in last season, he looks a great each-way play.
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