Another big weekend of ITV Racing on the horizon and SportsCasting’s chief horse racing tipster Andy Newton is back with his Saturday horse racing tips for the LIVE ITV Racing from Ayr and Newbury.
ITV Horse Racing Tips: Newbury and Ayr The Feature Saturday CardsÂ
There are a total of nine races being shown LIVE on the ITV Racing schedule this Saturday (20th Sept), with the action coming from Newbury and Ayr.
At Ayr, it’s their biggest day on the flat with the Ayr Gold Cup the feature. It’s a race trainer Kevin Ryan has won five times since 2007 and will have a strong hand again.
Then at Newbury, there are four more ITV races from the Berkshire track, that are spearheaded by the Mill Reef Stakes, where all eyes will be on the exciting Into The Stars, who was a good winner at the track last month and was recently supplemented for this Group 2 contest.
We also have horse racing tips daily that give FOUR best bets in a Lucky 15, plus we highlight any horses that are running that won the same races last year.
Ayr Horse Racing Tips: Who’ll Strike ‘Gold’ In Scotland?
1.15 – Ladbrokes ‘Free Bet At Ayr’ Handicap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-100) 1m RTV
Many chances here with the horse racing betting sites agreeing, with the favourite expected to be around the 5/1 mark.
One of those fancied is the Roger Varian runner Khafiz, who ran well in France last time (7th) and the form of that race franked since with the winner Sahlan winning a Group One recently.
However, the call is to side with last year’s third MR KING, who was unlucky in-running at Haydock last time and returns this year rated 9lbs lower.
Thunder Rock is another to note having run an excellent 4th in the Schweppes last time out at Ascot (dropped a pound) and is a proven course winner here too.
🥇MR KING (e/w)
🥈THUNDER ROARÂ
🥉KHAFIZ
1.50 – Ladbrokes ‘Big Football Bet Builder Boosts’ Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m2f ITV
Almeric will be popular here after a nice win at Newmarket in the Listed Feilden Stakes – but that was back in April so might need to prove his fitness.
That said, the form of that win looks solid, he’s unexposed and should also improve for the trip. Add in Oisin Murphy riding, then there’s a lot to like and it’s hard to put you off. But he’s well found in the market and is likely to be a warm order.
So the better value could sit with LIBERTY LANE, who represents Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, who has won two of the last three runnings.
This 5 year-old has to give weight away but will like the expected cut in the ground and also represents the Burke/Lee combination that won this in 2022 with Royal Champion.
The 9 year-old Certain Lad is also feared as he’ll like the ground too if remaining on the soft side and should appreciate this ease in grade
🥇LIBERTY LANEÂ
🥈CERTAIN LADÂ
🥉ALMERICÂ
2.25 – Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup (Handicap) Cl2 6f ITV
Some clues on offer here for the Gold Cup an hour later – but the stats point to horses aged 5 or younger, while seven of the last nine winners were drawn 11 or lower.
However, the two at the head of the market are drawn high – Binhareer and NARIKO and the last-named looks interesting. This Hugo Palmer horse has found an extra gear under Oisin Murphy – winning four of her last five for him – and having won over 7f this season we know she stays further.
This will give Murphy options in the saddle and having won her last two races by only a short-head and 3/4 of a length – but could just be a hard horse for the handicapper to get to grips with.
She’s only up 4lbs more here and with a two-month break to freshen up could be ready to go again.
Of the rest, last year’s Ayr Gold Cup winner Silkie Wilkie is also respected being 6lbs better off here than in that race 12 months ago.
🥇NARIKOÂ
🥈SILKIE WILKIEÂ
🥉BINHAREERÂ
3.00 – Ladbrokes ‘Get Rewarded With Ladbucks’ Firth Of Clyde Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 6f ITV
Another tricky puzzle with Coming Attraction and the King’s horse Lightning Polka sure to be popular.
But the call is DANDANA, who caught the eye in winning her first two races at Kempton and Ripon – then was into deeper waters in the G2 Lowther Stakes last time (watch below).
She raced a bit free that day so will need to settle better but has the perfect man for the job Oisin Murphy to do just that.
Mood Queen in the first-time cheekpieces can go well too for the Richard Hughes yard that are 2-2 here at the track with their recent runners.
🥇DANDANA
🥈MOOD QUEENÂ
🥉LIGHTNING POLKA
3.35 – Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup (Heritage Handicap) Cl2 6f ITV
A 25-runner puzzle to unravel here and so the Ayr Gold Cup trends can often help. These tell us that only one winner has been aged 7+ since 1994, trainer Kevin Ryan has won the race five times and 15 of the last 16 winners came from stalls 8+.
Cases can be made for many – but the three I came down on were FLASH HARRY, HAMMER THE HAMMER and JORDAN ELECTRICS, despite his age.
Flash Harry is an unexposed 3 year-old with only five career runs, so there should be a lot more to come. He won in a good time for the first time at Ascot at the end of last month and had the Wokingham winner Get It back in 6th.
He’s up 5lbs for that, but the Clive Cox team, who won this in 2009, offset that by booking claimer Jack Nicholls. Draw 15 gives him options and being by Harry Angel should be fine if there’s any more rain.
Hammer The Hammer comes from the Kevin Ryan yard that have a top record in this race (5 wins). He did well in the early part of this season, winning three times and ran 2nd at Royal Ascot in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse.
Yes, he flopped as favourite for the Stewards’ Cup last time but has been freshened up since and wasn’t given a hard time that day once his chance was gone (raced on the far side). He’s got gate 8 too and this has seen four winners in the last 20 years.
Jordan Electrics Could Defy The Ayr Gold Cup Age Trend
Finally, Jordan Electrics is aged 9 and would be the oldest winner of this race for some time.
He was 5th last year though (watch below) and is a pound lower, plus connections have booked Lauren Young to take off a further 7lbs.
He heads here off a fair 8th in the Portland last week at Doncaster and a close 5th before that at York – beaten only a length to Northern Ticker and is 13lbs better off now.
This Jim Goldie runner looks well-treated and despite his age his holding his form well.
🥇FLASH HARRYÂ
🥈HAMMER THE HAMMERÂ
🥉JORDAN ELECTRICSÂ
Newbury Horse Racing Tips: Future Stars On Show In Mill Reef Stakes
1.30 – Dubai International Airport World Trophy (Group 3) Cl1 5f34y ITV
When interviewed in the week by ITV Racing’s Matt Chapman, trainer William Haggas said Montassib would run well – but you also got the feeling the main target will be Champions Day at Ascot next month. With last year’s Sprint Cup winner coming back from a year off.
So, the safer call is RAGE OF BAMBY, who loves it here at Newbury (2 wins) and we know is in form after a cracking 4th in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last time.
This is an ease in grade from that race and acts on all ground should there be any more rain. Plus was a nice winner of the Hackwood Stakes here earlier this season (watch below).
Yes, the drop to 5f is a small worry, but showed plenty of pace the last day in the Sprint Cup – leading for much of the way.
Rumstar is also expected to be bang there, being the second top-rated in the field and is another eased in grade after running a close 5th in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York last month.
🥇RAGE OF BAMBYÂ
🥈RUMSTARÂ
🥉MONTASSIBÂ
2.05 – Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap Cl2 (3yo+) 1m 5 1/2f ITV
Trainer William Haggas had three in this earlier in the week and he’s still got two – Castle Cove and Dramatic Star – so clearly means business.
Of that pair, the last-named is preferred with jockey Tom Marquand picking him over Castle Cove, who he’s ridden recently.
But MASTER BUILDER is the call – having run sixth the Old Borough Cup at Haydock last time (Dramatic Star 2nd) and is now 4lbs better off.
That was also only his second run since August too and just looks like he could be ready to go in again – racing off just 3lbs higher than his last win.
The small niggle is regular rider William Buick riding Lieber Power instead – but I think he’s still worth sticking with.
Of the rest, Azahara Palace is probably worth a saver too – coming from the Hughie Morrison yard that have won the last two runnings of this race.
🥇MASTER BUILDER (e/w)Â
🥈DRAMATIC STARÂ
🥉AZAHARA PALACEÂ
2.40 – Dubai Duty Free Handicap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 1m2f ITV
Defiance and Almosh’her will have their backers – but we’ve also got last year’s winner in the race MUSTAZEED, who would be very interesting if more rain comes.
This Harry Eustace runner is only a pound higher than last year and does seem to run well here at Newbury – winning three times at the Berkshire track.
He was very slowly away the last day at Doncaster, so that can be ignored but before that had been running well off higher marks.
Of the rest, the Gosden runner Theory Of Tides ran better last time (4th York), on what was his first run after being gelded.
While Serenity Blue didn’t seem to enjoy Goodwood last time, but prior to that had caught the eye winning at Nottingham and Redcar. He could bounce back after 51 days away.
🥇MUSTAZEED (e/w)
🥈THEORY OF TIDESÂ
🥉SERENITY BLUEÂ
3.15 – Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 6f8y ITV
All eyes will be on Into The Sky, who was supplemented for this race for around £6k and a share was recently purchased by Doreen Tabor.
This interest came after an eye-catching win at Newbury in August – going in by 7 1/2 lengths at 80/1 (watch below).
It was hard to not be impressed – but this is a big step up against some juveniles with form in the book already.
It’s hard to know what he beat – the 2nd and 3rd are yet to run. But the 4th, 5th, 6th and 11th have and didn’t win. With the 4th Leone Alato only managing 4th at Kempton on Thursday too.
Why Did Into The Sky Go Off 80/1 on Debut?
I also have to question if the horse was that good – why did he go off at 80/1 for his first race. So, even though he could be a superstar, I’d like to see another run personally as he’s taking on a few with more proven juvenile form this season.
Rock Of Thunder was a close second in the Gimcrack to Lifespan at York – pulling 5 lengths clear of the third Do Or Do Not. That is decent form and he’s also the clear top-rated in the field. It will be a shock if he’s not involved.
While WORDS OF TRUTH has won well at Ascot and Newmarket this season – beating another runner here Watcha Snoop the last day by 2 1/4 lengths.
He also gave that horse 6lbs that day and races now off levels – so is taken to confirm that form and five trainer Charlie Appleby his first in in the Mill Reef.
Appleby also had Wise Approach entered earlier in the week – but the fact they’ve come down on Words Of Truth suggests they feel this one is good enough. William Buick rides.
🥇WORDS OF TRUTHÂ
🥈ROCK OF THUNDERÂ
🥉INTO THE SKYÂ
