ITV Racing Tips on May 16th - Saturday's selections at Newmarket and Newmarket
Saturday’s ITV Racing coverage showcases Group and Handicap action live from Newbury and Newmarket. The highlight is the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, with additional coverage of top-level handicaps. Key betting tips include Sacred Ground at 2:00pm Newbury, Son at 2:50pm Newmarket, Sahara King at 3:45pm Newbury, and Aqpan E/W at 3:10pm Newbury. Sacred Ground looks well-placed to secure a listed win, while outsider Aqpan is tipped to outrun long odds. In open handicaps, Son and Sahara King offer strong value each-way. Follow these tips for maximum value on Saturday’s high-profile cards.
- Free tips for the ITV races on Saturday 16th May
- Newbury and Newmarket feature on Saturday's ITV coverage
- Sacred Ground, Son and Sahara King feature in our selections
- ITV Racing Schedule
- 1:25pm Newbury - Aston Park Stakes Tips
- 1:42pm Newmarket - BetMGM Handicap Tips
- 2:00pm Newbury - Childwickbury Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes Tips
- 2:35pm Newbury - Lockinge Stakes Tips
- 2:50pm Newmarket - betmgm.co.uk Handicap Tips
- 3:10pm Newbury - Carnarvon Stakes Tips
- 3:27pm Newmarket - BetMGM App Handicap Tips
- 3:45pm Newbury - London Gold Cup Handicap Tips
Saturday's Tips
ITV Racing fans have got Group One action to enjoy on Saturday, as a quality field lines up for the 2026 Lockinge Stakes. The Lockinge is one of five races to be shown live from Newbury on Saturday, along with three competitive handicaps from Newmarket.
Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races at Newbury and Newmarket.
ITV Racing Schedule
| Time | Track | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1:25pm | Newbury | Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes (Group 3) 1m4f |
| 1:42pm | Newmarket | Daily Profit Boosts At BetMGM Handicap (Class 4) 1m |
| 2:00pm | Newbury | Childwickbury Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes (Listed Race) 1m2f |
| 2:35pm | Newbury | BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) 1m |
| 2:50pm | Newmarket | Read Meg Nicholls' Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap (Class 3) 7f |
| 3:10pm | Newbury | Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes (Listed Race) 6f |
| 3:27pm | Newmarket | Download The BetMGM App Handicap (Class 4) 6f |
| 3:45pm | Newbury | Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1m2f |
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 16th May
1:25pm Newbury - Aston Park Stakes Tips
There isn't much to be gained by taking Kalpana on, and the favourite isn't available at a backable price. I'll leave the opener alone.
1:42pm Newmarket - BetMGM Handicap Tips
Our first ITV race at Newmarket seems pretty open to me, and I fancy GORGEOUS MR GEORGE (18/1) could go well at a price.
Dylan Cunha's runner made his racecourse debut on the all-weather last September, and went on to run 11 times between then and October. Gorgeous Mr George took a real liking to Yarmouth, winning three times at that venue over the summer. Cunha's four-year-old ran a lovely race over this course and distance in September too, staying on from off the pace to finish second behind Sunny Corner off a mark of 75.
Gorgeous Mr George only finished eighth of 11 on his reappearance at Yarmouth last month, but was drawn badly and was still only beaten four lengths. Ashley Lewis takes five pounds off his back today, and there's every chance Gorgeous Mr George will have improved for that comeback run.
2:00pm Newbury - Childwickbury Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes Tips
SACRED GROUND (3/1) has finished second in two Listed contests, and this looks like a good opportunity for John and Thady Gosden's filly to claim victory at this level.
Following a straightforward maiden success at Yarmouth, Sacred Ground rounded off her juvenile campaign with a runner-up finish to Pintara in the Montrose Fillies' Stakes. William Buick then held his mount up well behind the front-running Jennifer Jane in the Pretty Polly, and although Sacred Ground did respond to her rider's urgings, the pace-setter was away and gone coming out of the dip.
John Gosden said earlier in the season that his fillies had taken a little longer than usual to come to hand. A look at recent results for the stable will tell you that they're in much better form now, and this well-bred daughter of Oaks winner Annapurna is capable of another big step forward.
2:35pm Newbury - Lockinge Stakes Tips
Read our free guide to the 2026 Lockinge Stakes to find out who we've backed in Saturday's Group One.
Visit our Lockinge Stakes Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.
2:50pm Newmarket - betmgm.co.uk Handicap Tips
Once rated as high as 106 for Richard Hannon, SON (7/1) has finished second on both starts for Tim Easterby this spring.
Sean Kirrane's mount rallied gamely after being outpaced to get within a short-head of catching Kosometsuke on his stable debut at Thirsk. Son picked up well from the rear again on his second outing at Haydock, but was outpaced in the closing stages by impressive winner Ata Rangi.
Despite clocking RPRs in the 90s on both starts for Easterby, Son remains on a lowly rating of 83. Kirrane's mount was only beaten three lengths behind Ghostwriter on his only previous start on the Rowley Mile in the 2023 Royal Lodge Stakes. On recent form, he's got to have a huge chance.
3:10pm Newbury - Carnarvon Stakes Tips
I'm happy to chance AQPAN (40/1) at a huge price in this six-furlong sprint. Roger Varian's colt ran well in two seven-furlong novice races at Kempton in December, before running out a ready winner on his reappearance at Southwell.
Cristian Demuro then rode Aqpan in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury. The 28/1 outsider was slowly away from stall two, and always seemed a little stuck on the outside of the pack. Demuro's mount tried to make some progress down the centre of the track, but his effort flattened out and Aqpan eventually crossed the line five lengths behind Alparslan in sixth.
This son of Blue Point is yet to race over six furlongs, but the way he travels suggests that this could be Aqpan's best trip. I'd have preferred a slightly lower draw than stall seven, but Ray Dawson's mount could still outrun his odds.
3:27pm Newmarket - BetMGM App Handicap Tips
No bet for me in this one.
3:45pm Newbury - London Gold Cup Handicap Tips
The form of the London Gold Cup is always worth following, and several classy three-year-olds will line up in Saturday's renewal. SAHARA KING (7/1) has finished his races well on all three of his starts, and Richard Hannon's contender should be able to cope with a wide draw in stall seven.
Sahara King returned odds of 16/1 when scoring on his racecourse debut at Wolverhampton in November. Hannon's colt was held up out the back on his turf debut over this course and distance in April, but flew home from the rear to finish just a length behind Maltese Cross - who has since followed up in the Lingfield Derby Trial.
Again, Sean Levey's mount was slow to find full stride on his most recent outing at Newmarket, and couldn't get within three lengths of front-running winner Evanesco. Returning to a flatter track should suit Sahara King well, as will a little extra juice in the Newbury ground.
Verdict
Saturday's Top ITV Tips:
Sacred Ground
2:00pm Newbury
@3/1 - 5 Units
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Son
2:50pm Newmarket
@7/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £40
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Sahara King
3:45pm Newbury
@7/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
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Aqpan E/W
3:10pm Newbury
@40/1 - 5 Units
£30 Free Bet
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