Saturday features the first Group One race for older horses with the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. Alongside, bettors can enjoy strong races from both Newbury and Newmarket. Highlights include Desert Hero in the Aston Park Stakes and Aalto in the Newmarket Handicap. Expert tips are given for various races, suggesting potential market leaders and underdogs worth considering.
Newbury and Newmarket feature on the ITV schedule on Lockinge day
Action Point, Final Watch and Go Daddy feature in our selections
Expired
Tom Marquand riding Desert Hero (red sleeves, black cap) win The King George V Stakes. (Getty)
Contents
ITV Racing Schedule
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 18th May
1:50pm Newbury - Aston Park Stakes Tips
2:05pm Newmarket - Jenningsbet Handicap Tips
2:25pm Newbury - Carnarvon Stakes Tips
2:40pm Newmarket - trustatrader.com Handicap Tips
3:00pm Newbury - London Gold Cup Tips
3:15pm Newmarket - Handicap Tips
3:35pm Newbury - Lockinge Stakes Tips
The first Group One for older horses takes place on Saturday, as a classy field lines up in the Lockinge Stakes. Before we reach Saturday's feature, viewers have got three strong races to enjoy from Newbury and three from the Rowley Mile at Newmarket.
Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1m2f
3:15pm
Newmarket
Jenningsbet Britain's Leading Independent Bookmakers Handicap (Class 3)
1m
3:35pm
Newbury
Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) 1m
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 18th May
1:50pm Newbury - Aston Park Stakes Tips
Following back-to-back wins at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, DESERT HERO (6/4) was my selection in the 2023 St Leger. William Haggas' star ran well over that extended distance, but Continuous proved too strong on the day and the Royal runner had to settle for third.
Ahead of his reappearance at Sandown, Haggas said his returning star would probably need the run and ten furlongs might be a touch sharp. Yet, Desert Hero ran another cracking race, losing out by just a head to the race-fit Okeechobee.
Tom Marquand's mount steps back up in distance today and should have come on for that return to action. Haggas has a strong record in this Group Three and his horses continue to run well. I can't see past the market leader.
2:05pm Newmarket - Jenningsbet Handicap Tips
Just seven runners will battle it out for this £12k pot and I'm finding it hard to split them. I'll leave this one alone.
2:25pm Newbury - Carnarvon Stakes Tips
Chances can be given to plenty on this large-field sprint. One who looks a little overpriced is ACTION POINT (25/1), who made all to win a Listed race over this course and distance last year, before running well in several decent pattern races.
Archie Watson's sprinter has run twice in France this season, losing out by just a neck on his reappearance before a lengthy defeat at Group Three level. Action Point improved with his racing as a juvenile and returning to Newbury could spark a resurgence in form.
2:40pm Newmarket - trustatrader.com Handicap Tips
Again, this handicap looks incredibly open and serious chances can be given to plenty. One of the least-fancied runners is FINAL WATCH (25/1), despite a decent overall record here at Newmarket.
William Stone's six-year-old made a winning handicap debut on the Rowley Mile in 2022 and has since struck twice on the July Course. Final Watch was well-beaten behind Noble Dynasty when drawn in stall one on his reappearance. Laura Pearson's mount has landed a much kinder gate on Saturday and he's certainly capable of winning off this reduced mark.
Hollie Doyle riding Action Point win The IRE-Incentive - It Pays To Buy Irish Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury. (Getty)
3:00pm Newbury - London Gold Cup Tips
Having won this race with Bertinelli 12 months ago, Aidan O'Brien sends Chantilly over to Newbury and Ryan Moore's mount should go well, even after a ten-pound hike in the weights. King's Gambit is of interest too, as is Ralph Beckett's Poniros, who makes his handicap debut off a lenient enough mark.
Right at the bottom of the market we find GO DADDY (40/1), for William Muir and Chris Grassick. Go Daddy was only beaten a head in a decent maiden at Sandown in September, before going on to make a winning handicap debut at Nottingham off a mark of 83. Following a fourth-place finish in a Listed race out in France, Lewis Edmunds' mount made his return to action at Newmarket during the Craven Meeting.
Kalpana ran out an impressive ten-length winner of that handicap, but Go Daddy caught the eye as he stayed on to place fourth, having completely fluffed his lines at the start of the contest. The track at Newbury should suit Go Daddy better than the Rowley Mile and he's already proven over this distance. He could be worth chancing at 40/1.
3:15pm Newmarket - Handicap Tips
Following a fantastic effort behind the talented Crack Shot here on 2000 Guineas day, AALTO (7/1) has to be in with a good shout. As Crack Shot moved onto the heels of the leaders down the centre of the track, Aalto was still posted wide at the rear from his draw in stall one. Williams' four-year-old made stealthy progress into the contest and looked ready to pass the leader, before Crack Shot pulled out more in the closing stages.
Having progressed nicely during his final weeks in France, Aalto was handed a tough opening mark of 92 when he was transferred to Britain in the autumn and struggled on his first couple of starts. Billy Loughnane's mount has been upped two pounds for that run two weeks ago, but Aalto is still now only rated 88 and he's drawn much better this time around in stall five.
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