ITV Racing enthusiasts are set for a thrilling Saturday with 11 live races from three top tracks. The July Cup at Newmarket is a highlight, along with other key races at York and Ascot. Notable betting tips include Woolhampton at Ascot, Blue For You at York, and Liberty Lane in the John Smith's Cup. Charlie Appleby's entrants and notable horses like Quddwah and Deauville Legend also offer promising wagering opportunities.
ITV Racing fans have got a feast of action to enjoy on Saturday, with 11 races coming to us live from across three premier tracks. The July Cup headlines another excellent day of racing at Newmarket. Four races will also be shown live on John Smith's Cup day at York, with Ascot also chipping in with two quality contests.
Super Saturday starts with a thrilling five-furlong sprint handicap at Ascot. Course specialist WOOLHAMPTON (14/1) has landed a nice wide draw out in stall 16 and offers plenty of each-way value at his current odds.
Rod Millman's four-year-old has won two of his four starts at this venue, finishing a close second and a one-length third on his other two visits. Woolhampton returns to Berkshire on the back of an excellent win over Jumbeau at Windsor last month and remains open to further progress off this mark of 90.
2:00pm York - John Smith's Racing Handicap Tips
I think you've got to have some sort of bet on BLUE FOR YOU (7/1) here, who always seems to save his best for York.
David O'Meara's six-year-old brought no sort of form into last year's renewal of this handicap, and bolted up by three lengths off 99. Danny Tudhope's mount has been similarly poor on his first couple of starts this term, and returns to the Knavesmire rated just 95.
A tight little contest, where nothing really stands out. I'll leave this one alone.
William Buick riding Quddwah (yellow, blue cap) win The Bet With Ascot Donation Scheme Paradise Stakes at Ascot. (Getty)
2:20pm Ascot - Summer Mile Stakes Tips
The lightly-raced QUDDWAH (2/1) will put his unbeaten record on the line in our final ITV race from Ascot. Simon and Ed Crisford's star won both of his starts as a three-year-old last May, and returned to action with a hard-fought victory in the Paradise Stakes here at Ascot.
Callum Shepherd's mount came from well off the pace that day, swooping past Docklands and Maljoom in the closing stages to land that Listed prize. The form of the Paradise Stakes was boosted massively when Docklands and Maljoom placed behind the impressive Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes - for which Quddwah was a single-figure price for at the ante-post stage.
The ground remains soft on the round course at Ascot, which should be ideal for the favourite, who skipped the Royal meeting because of quick ground. 2/1 could turn out to be an excellent price.
2:35pm York - City Walls Stakes Tips
No bet for me. Sprints at York aren't my cup of tea.
2:50pm Newmarket - bet365 Mile Handicap Tips
Charlie Appleby's last six runners in this handicap have finished 1st, 3rd, 5th, 1st, 2nd and 1st - an outstanding sequence of results. Godolphin's main man will be represented this year by FIRST CONQUEST (15/2), who made a winning debut in the Wood Ditton during the Craven Meeting.
First Conquest has been beaten comfortably under a penalty in two novice races since then, with Appleby keen to get runs under this son of Teofilo's belt. William Buick's mount will make his handicap debut off a workable mark of 91 on Saturday and Appleby has opted for a first-time hood, which could make the world of difference.
3:10pm York - John Smith's Cup Tips
I usually back two in these large field Heritage Handicaps. On this occasion, I'm happy to go all-in on LIBERTY LANE (6/1), in the hope that Karl Burke's star can establish himself as the class horse in the contest.
Liberty Lane ran up to an RPR of 107 when landing a big handicap at Doncaster on St Leger day last term. After a weak effort on his return in the Lincoln, Burke's four-year-old bolted up in the Suffolk Stakes at Newmarket, recording a career-best RPR of 112.
Sam James' mount never looked comfortable when stuck on the rail at Epsom last time and was hardly asked for an effort. Returning to this flat, galloping track will suit and Liberty Lane still looks well-handicapped off this mark of 106.
Clifford Lee riding Liberty Lane win The British EBF Future Stayers Oath Novice Stakes at Nottingham. (Getty)
3:25pm Newmarket - Superlative Stakes Tips
Another race in which Charlie Appleby has been dominant in recent years. ANCIENT TRUTH (6/4) will bid to hand Appleby his fifth winner in the last nine renewals of the Superlative, and it's hard to knock what the favourite has done thus far.
William Buick's mount won easily on debut, before following up under a penalty here on the July course. Ancient Truth took a little while to get going on his first start over seven furlongs, but found his stride late on to move clear of a couple of decent rivals.
Having already proven himself on the track and with the drying ground likely to be in his favour too, Buick's mount looks the most likely winner.
3:45pm York - Silver Cup Stakes Tips
DEAUVILLE LEGEND (14/1) returns to York for the first time since his impressive victory in the 2022 Great Voltigeur Stakes, and could be worth chancing at an each-way price.
James Ferguson's stable star has improved with each of his three starts this term, finishing fourth in the Ormonde Stakes on his return to action, before two defeats at the hands of King Of Conquest. This step back up in distance should suit Danny Muscutt's mount and Deauville Legend should have the class to get involved, if he's taken another step forward for that outing in the Fred Archer two weeks ago.
4:00pm Newmarket - Bunbury Cup Tips
One of the best seven-furlong handicaps of the season has again attracted a capacity field. There are two who I like at each-way prices, starting with PERCY'S LAD (14/1) for the red-hot Kubler operation.
Tom Eaves' mount produced a career-best performance when storming to victory at Chester on his penultimate start. Percy's Lad was last seen finishing 11th in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, but actually won his group on the inside rail having been drawn horribly in stall one. Dan & Claire Kubler's star has landed a kind central draw this time, and Percy's Lad is more than capable of mounting a challenge.
As is DARKNESS (20/1), who proved his love for the July course with a wildly impressive victory here 16 days ago. David O'Meara's six-year-old is back up to a mark of 91, the same rating he won off when claiming his first victory at the July course last year. Another huge effort from Darkness is certainly not out of the equation.
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