With Andrew Mount remaining on holiday, GG’s top daily tips for Saturday come from Joe Napier, who has picked out three best bets across a competitive day from Ripon, Newbury and Bath.
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Posted: 4.50pm, Friday, August 15th
2.45 Ripon – WOODSTOCK (1pt each-way – 16/1 Hills)
Ruth Carr’s five-year-old WOODSTOCK has been more prolific on the all-weather, but is arguably more consistent on turf, thriving last season to a career high mark of 87 thanks to two wins at Newbury over 7f. However, since the turn of the year, the son of Sixties Icon has seemingly struggled to see out the trip, though travelled notably well through both of his contests at Newbury and Ascot in July before failing to get involved in the finish. This will be a first ever start at 6f for the selection, but he looks to possess the cruising speed necessary to feature and is now 4lb below his last winning mark from August 2024. His draw in stall 15 should also see him benefit down the stands side of a big field.
3.35 Newbury – DUTY FIRST (0.5-pts each-way – 28/1 bet365)
There was no fluke about DUTY FIRST’s supremely impressive victory in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes on her seasonal return for Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle. That day she beat the likes of subsequent Group 1 heroine Time For Sandals in dominant fashion, but has perhaps struggled to fully see out 1m in three top level contests herself since. A stumble did not help her late in the 1000 Guineas, while she likely paid for being up with too strong a gallop in the Coronation Stakes, but in the least stamina-sapping 1m contest of the trio, she lasted home for fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas, which has proven to be strong form. The drop back to 7f, over which she so excelled at the beginning of the campaign, could make her a lively each-way player, with plenty of the strength of this Group 2 absorbed by the now Group 1 City Of York Stakes next week.
8.16 Bath – SOLAR EDGE (1pt win – 11/4 bet365)
Christopher Mason’s Monmouthshire yard are not household operators, but they do well with their three-year-olds in handicaps. Over the last five years, they are 20/47 for a top-two finish, with the eight winners in that spell recording a 4.2-point profit to level stakes. SOLAR EDGE has contributed to that record on his last three starts, with figures of 212 seeing bang back in form after a slow winter. He was only overhauled in the closing stages at Windsor last time having pulled 2½ lengths clear of the third, so a further 2lb rise is not too harsh and 5lb claimer Taryn Langley is called up having won on three of her last nine rides.
GG’s Best Bets
2.45 Ripon – WOODSTOCK (1pt each-way – 16/1 Hills)
3.35 Newbury – DUTY FIRST (0.5-pts each-way – 28/1 bet365)
8.16 Bath – SOLAR EDGE (1pt win – 11/4 bet365)
GG’s Horse Racing Tips – Saturday 16th August
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