It is a busy ITV Racing schedule on Saturday, with nine races being broadcast live on the channel. GG tipster Joe Napier gives his four best bets across the cards.
2.05 Ascot – Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies’ Handicap
Both Rainbows Edge and Arisaig ran well in Listed company last time, but the former, though unexposed, has been given a tricky opening handicap mark. This 1m trip looks shorter than ideal based on her Salisbury effort too, while Arisaig has not convinced off this mark on her last three handicap starts.
With Harry Charlton’s yard in terrific early-season form, ROARIN’ SUCCESS looks a tempting enough alternative at bigger odds. The five-year-old is one of two course and distance winners in the field, with her second start on Ascot’s straight mile seeing her finish a close second at the start of last season behind a rival now rated 11lb higher.
She was placed three more times last campaign too, for which she was penalised in the handicap, but unlike with Rainbows Edge, this looks a smart move dropping her back to 1m after five runs at 1m2f. She has slipped down the ratings for two below par efforts the last twice, but those are forgivable with this looking more suitable, as well as being among a small field.
2.40 Ascot – Schweppes Victoria Cup
Although disappointing on his return, another chance is given to METAL MERCHANT, for whom Ascot’s 7f trip in a big field may prove ideal. Trainer Jack Channon has been in the winners of late, which could only aid his chance further.
The five-year-old has form of 03174 at Ascot, which looks nothing spectacular on first reading. However, even in the two worst runs, he was fifth of 15 on his side in the 2023 Britannia STakes, then second of ten in the 2024 Royal Hunt Cup. The fourth was in an 18-runner field last July and his only run over 7f at the venue, in which he was beaten just a length off 1lb higher.
Though more would have been expected on his comeback run at Newbury, he has needed a race to get fully fit in the past. His mark is one he can definitely be competitive off on last season’s evidence and he has a high draw, which has been beneficial in this race’s recent history.
3.00 Lingfield – William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (Listed)
Chester has been all about Aidan O’Brien’s first strings, making Ryan Moore’s choice of Puppet Master significant at Lingfield on Saturday. Yet, even with that and his mount’s experience ein mind, the less exposed STAY TRUE makes more appeal of the Ballydoyle pair.
The selection has only been seen noce, but that was when making a winning debut at Leopardstown with Moore aboard last month. He took a while to warm to his task, but he was powerful through the line, ultimately winning by just over two lengths over 1m2f.
Therefore, this step up to close to 1m4f should suit him far better despite there being plenty of speed on his dam’s side. As a son of Galileo though, his stamina looks to be a serious asset on the initial evidence. His debut victory came on good ground too, so with Puppet Master’s two best efforts having come on soft, there is a chance conditions will simply suit the second string better.
3.35 Lingfield – William Hill Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3)
The only three-year-old in the field could simply have too much for her elders here because CATHEDRAL was a filly full of promise during her juvenile campaign in 2024. The Amo Racing representative was sent off at 1/2 for her debut on Lingfield’s all-weather surface, duly winning by 4½ lengths.
If that was a measure of the regard she was held in, she was then pitched into Group 3 company at Newmarket, going off as the 3/1 favourite for the Oh So Sharp Stakes. She was downed by a 25/1 outsider of Aidan O’Brien’s who received the ideal ride for the race, but three lengths behind her in third was recent 1000 Guineas runner-up Flight.
There is clearly a lot thought of her in Ralph Beckett’s yard and she could yet develop into a Group 1 filly. She faces some genuine Group 3 opponents here, but looks capable of dispatching them if having improved from two to three.
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