Quality flat racing lights up the ITV cameras on Saturday 11th October and the action comes from Newmarket and York, with the Dewhurst Stakes and Cesarewitch Handicap two of the feature races of the day. Our in-house GG tipster Steve Chambers takes a look at Saturday’s racing and picks out his best ITV Racing tips.
#AD 18+. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
1.50 Newmarket – LOOK TO THE STARS (1pt win – 3/1)
Aidan O’Brien will be doubly represented in the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at 1.50pm with Endorsement and Pierre Bonnard both looking smart juveniles for the Ballydoyle handler. However, that Irish-trained pair can come unstuck to a very exciting two-year-old in the shape of LOOK TO THE STARS, who lines up for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. A winner over seven furlongs at Kempton on his third start, the gelding then bounded to victory in a conditions event at Newbury and shaped like he enjoyed the step up to a mile. He will be sent over an even further 1m 2f for this contest, and while he will need to improve again he could relish the ten furlong test and can duly outbattle the O’Brien pair and claim a hat-trick of wins.
3.00 Newmarket – DISTANT STORM (1pt win – 9/4)
Yet again there’s another exciting battle between Coolmore and Godolphin in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at 3.00pm at Newmarket. The former will unleash the smart duo of Gstaad and Italy, who have both shown to be top notch juveniles this campaign, but they can falter again the Godolphin first string in the shape of DISTANT STORM, who can cement his place as a leading 2000 Guineas contender with victory here. He bounced back from a poor showing in the Acomb Stakes with an authoritative four-and-three-quarter length win at Newmarket in the Somerville Tattersalls Stakes last time out. Showing a blistering turn of foot that day, he will likely need to show that again here against the rapid Gstaad, but that rival could well just falter in the heat of the battle late on and William Buick can kick clear and duly hold off Italy late on.
#AD 18+. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
3.15 York – GLENEAGLE BAY (1pt win – 10/1)
A huge field will assemble for the Coral Sprint Trophy Handicap at 3.15pm at York and it will be one of the betting highlights of the entire card on the Knavesmire. One contender that can run a big race is Stephen Thorne’s GLENEAGLE BAY, who is available at double-figured odds, at the time of writing. Second in two of his last three starts, the Irish raider was last seen finishing runner-up at Gowran Park, when sent off an odds-on favourite, but that came on heavy ground, so that may have just cost him victory. He will return to a quicker surface here off a mark of 97, and he showed when third in the Victoria Cup at Ascot on good to firm ground that he can run well in these hot handicaps. Just held that day, he’s likely to be ridden for gaps in the closing stages, and if they do open then he could well scorch through to get his head in front in the shadow of the post.
3.40 Newmarket – HIPOP DE LOIRE (1pt win – 9/1)
Willie Mullins has already claimed victory in the Cesarewitch Handicap on three occasions and the master of Closutton can duly bag another big staying prize on the flat on Saturday at 3.40pm. Top class stayer HIPOP DE LOIRE will have the burden of giving at least 7lbs to all his rivals, but having finished a fine third in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup last time out he has shown he’s a real elite stayer. A winner of a hurdle contest at Galway over 2m 6f, he will have no stamina issues with this 2m 2f trip and the Ebor sixth could well come into his own in the closing stages, as others falter. Clifford Lee is likely to keep him off the pace through the main part of the race, but he can stamp his authority on the contest in the final couple of furlongs and simply outclass his rivals.
ITV Racing Tips – Saturday 11th October
Hipop De Loire#AD 18+. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.