Newmarket, Ascot and Redcar feature on today's ITV schedule
The Dragon King, Vadream and Francisco's Piece feature in our selections
Expired
Newmarket in October. (Getty)
Saturday's Tips
ITV Racing Schedule
1:30pm Newmarket - Premier Fillies' Handicap Tips
1:50pm Ascot - Rous Stakes Tips
2:05pm Newmarket - October Auction Stakes Tips
2:25pm Ascot - Cumberland Lodge Stakes Tips
2:40pm Newmarket - Sun Chariot Stakes Tips
3:00pm Ascot - Bengough Stakes Tips
3:20pm Redcar - Two Year Old Trophy Tips
3:35pm Ascot - Challenge Cup Tips
Newmarket stages one of the last Group Ones of the British flat season on Saturday, as a quality field lines up in the Sun Chariot Stakes. Along with three races live from the Rowley Mile, ITV Racing will be showing four excellent races from Ascot on Challenge Cup day, and the Two Year Old Trophy live from Redcar.
Here are my best betting tips at Newmarket, Ascot and Redcar on Saturday.
ITV Racing Schedule
Time
Track
Title
1:30pm
Newmarket
British EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap
(Class 2) 1m2f
1:50pm
Ascot
Rous Stakes (Listed Race) 5f
2:05pm
Newmarket
£150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes (Class 2) 6f
2:25pm
Ascot
Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Group 3) 1m4f
2:35pm
Newmarket
Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1) 1m
3:00pm
Ascot
John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (Group 3) 6f
3:20pm
Redcar
Two Year Old Trophy (Listed) 6f
3:35pm
Ascot
Challenge Cup (Heritage Handicap) 7f
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 5th October
1:30pm Newmarket - Premier Fillies' Handicap Tips
Three last-time-out winners head the market for Saturday's opener, with several potentially unexposed rivals in behind. Too tricky for me. No bet.
1:50pm Ascot - Rous Stakes Tips
The ground has been heavy throughout the week at Ascot. Friday and Saturday's forecast is dry with some sunshine, but that will only ensure that the surface is gluey and tacky on Saturday. It will be very hard work.
As the ground is so testing, I won't be backing anything at Ascot at short odds. I like Relief Rally and she's the most likely winner, but 11/8 is far too short and I don't fancy backing anything in opposition.
2:05pm Newmarket - October Auction Stakes Tips
As with most of these large-field auction races, horses towards the head of the market have a very good record. Eight of the last ten winners of this contest were sent off at single-figure SPs, so straying away from the business end of the market doesn't seem wise.
William Buick partners with THE DRAGON KING (7/1), who claimed back-to-back wins at Doncaster and Windsor earlier in the season. Clive Cox's youngster was fairly well beaten in sixth on his only previous start over six furlongs at Goodwood, but that was a particularly hot nursery handicap and he's bred to be just as effective over this longer trip.
Experience can prove vital in this sort of contest and the first two of The Dragon King's six appearances came on soft ground. Stall seven could prove to be a handy draw too.
2:25pm Ascot - Cumberland Lodge Stakes Tips
Three course-and-distance winners top the betting, but I'm happy to take a chance on GOD'S WINDOW (12/1), who looks like he'll relish testing conditions. John & Thady Gosden's colt won his maiden and finished third in the Futurity Trophy this time last year, and scored very soft ground when he made his reappearance at Nottingham in April.
After poor efforts in the Dee Stakes, the Dante and the Derby, God's Window has since placed twice behind the imperious Kalpana, running on well after slow starts at both Hamilton and Kempton. Returning to a galloping track like Ascot should suit and Saffie Osbourne, who got a good tune out of God's Window in the September Stakes, keeps her place in the saddle.
Kieran Shoemark riding Vadream wins the 2023 Cammidge Trophy Stakes at Doncaster. (Getty)
3:00pm Ascot - Bengough Stakes Tips
When the ground is testing, VADREAM (8/1) usually comes into her own. Charlie Fellowes has always said that his filly is one of the best sprinters in the country on soft ground. Although she's never made the breakthrough at Group One level, victories in the Palace House Stakes, the Cammidge Trophy and this race in 2021 back up the fact that she's more than useful when conditions suit.
Vadream has only had her ground twice this term, placing third in the Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket three starts back. Fellowes filly was then only beaten two lengths when fourth in the Sprint Cup at Haydock and, while her trip to Ireland didn't go to plan last month, Vadream seems to be in good enough form to mount a challenge.
3:20pm Redcar - Two Year Old Trophy Tips
It doesn't often pay to be drawn away from the inside rail at Redcar and the majority of the potential pace has been drawn on that side of the track. Billboard Star is positioned nicely to challenge in stall one and Eve Johnson Houghton's star comes out much the best at the weights.
At a slightly better price, I'm quite keen on FRANCISCO'S PIECE (8/1). Adrian Keatley's youngster won a Listed race on heavy ground at Chantilly before going into the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Things didn't go to plan there, or in the Molecomb at Glorious Goodwood, so Keatley decided to give his juvenile a summer break.
Connor Beasley's mount made his return to action at Haydock eight days ago, where he again showed a liking for juicy ground when finishing a very close second to King Of Light on his handicap debut. Conditions should suit Francisco's Piece on Saturday and Beasley looks well-placed to challenge in stall two.
3:35pm Ascot - Challenge Cup Tips
The one who interests me most in Saturday's curtain closer is BREWING (20/1). William Haggas' gelding has only run eight times since making his debut in October 2022, winning on five of those occasions.
Brewing made it three-from-three over seven furlongs at Kempton in January, before spending another chunk of time on the sidelines. Haggas' charge kept on fairly well after a slow start to finish fifth on his return to action at Doncaster last month and course-specialist Hayley Turner has been booked to ride Brewing on his first trip to Ascot.
