Newsboy's horseracing tips for Saturday on ITV plus picks for eight cards
Expect a cool running from BOBSLEIGH in the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes (3.35) at Newbury today.
The five-furlong test rewards trainers with an eye for a bargain - the weights are determined by the runners’ purchase price - and Eve Johnson Houghton struck a good deal when she bought Bobsleigh for €17,000 in Ireland last September.
Charlie Bishop’s mount made the perfect start to his career at Brighton at the start of May before following up in the valuable Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Oaks day.
Bobsleigh’s sights were then raised to Group 2 level for Royal Ascot ’s Coventry Stakes 18 days later and my selection ran a thoroughly credible sixth to River Tiber, crossing the line three lengths behind the winner.
The step back to five furlongs should be no issue for a horse capable of making further strides and Bobsleigh can give favourite and Queen Mary Stakes runner-up Relief Rally plenty to think about.
COMMANCHE FALLS can strike at Group 3 level for the first time by beating 11 opponents for the Hackwood Stakes (3.00) at Newbury this afternoon.
Harry Cobden says winning Cheltenham ride on Il Ridoto did not deserve banAfter a successful time of it in handicaps - he has won the last two runnings of Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood - Michael Dods’ sprinter is now obliged to ply his trade in Pattern races.
Commanche Falls came within a head of a Group 3 win when beaten by Garrus in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket in April.
On the back of a third to Azure Blue in the Group 2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes two starts ago, Connor Beasley’s mount was back in business with a win in Listed grade at the Curragh 20 days ago.
Although he has now had 31 outings - he has come out on top in 10 of them - Commanche Falls, with a British Horseracing Authority rating of 112, is better than ever and may still have more to offer.
The Mettal UK Handicap (2.25) has an open look to it, but NOVEL LEGEND looks sure to give another good account.
Beaten a neck at Newmarket last October on his first try at two miles, James Fanshawe’s son of Nathaniel went one better at Kempton Park and over today’s course and distance on his first two attempts of 2023.
There was little wrong with his second to Zinc White in the Chester Plate next time and his seventh to Ahorsewithnoname in the Ascot Stakes on the Royal Heath last month also rates a creditable run.
Novel Legend is capable of better at staying distances and any rain will help his cause.
Al Aasy is likely to go off a warm order for the Listed bet365 Steventon Stakes (1.50), but preference is for HIGHLAND AVENUE, despite the fact he’s looking for a first success since April 2021.
At Market Rasen, GLOIRE D’ATHON gets the nod to collect for the sixth time from nine runs over fences in the Unibet Summer Plate Handicap Chase (3.15).
Jack Tudor, appointed stable jockey to David Pipe on the retirement of Tom Scudamore, can partner his biggest winner so far for Pond House by steering MYRISTICA to victory in the Unibets Zero% Mission Summer Handicap Hurdle (2.40).
Newsboy’s Daily Double plus tips on every race from Thursday’s four meetingsAfter a near-miss at Uttoxeter five weeks ago, WAVERING DOWN is the choice to go one better in the opening Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Hurdle (2.05).
Aidan O’Brien saddles is responsible for half of the eight-runner field for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (3.45) at the Curragh, where WARM HEART rates a serious threat to Ballydoyle hotpot Savethelastdance .
SELECTIONS
NEWBURY
1.15 INFINITY BLUE
1.50 HIGHLAND AVENUE
2.25 NOVEL LEGEND
3.00 COMMANCHE FALLS (NAP)
3.35 BOBSLEIGH (NB)
4.10 AL SAIF
4.45 KARAT KARAT
5.20 DON’T TELL CLAIRE
CURRAGH
1.30 HENRY LONGFELLOW
2.00 KAIRYU
2.35 GYPSY WOMAN
3.10 ART POWER
3.45 WARM HEART
4.20 ROSSCARBERY
4.55 PRINCE X J
5.30 COCO CRUSH
MARKET RASEN
2.05 WAVERING DOWN
2.40 MYRISTICA
3.15 GLOIRE D’ATHON
3.50 GETAWAY JEWEL
4.25 SOBEGRAND
5.00 NADIM
CARTMEL
2.15 KINBARA
2.50 YUKON
3.25 CITY DERBY
4.00 ENSEL DU PERCHE
4.35 CROAGH PATRICK
5.10 LIGHTS ARE GREEN
NEWMARKET
2.30 SQUEAKER
3.05 JUST A SPARK
3.40 HAVANA BLUE
4.15 TIME LOCK
4.50 I STILL HAVE FAITH
5.25 STAR OF ORION
RIPON
2.46 MUTASAWI
3.20 UNEQUAL LOVE
3.56 COSMOS RAJ
4.30 DARK JEDI
5.05 IMPERIAL SANDS
5.40 GLENDOWN
DONCASTER
6.15 MISS BELLADONNA
6.45 GLITTERELLA
7.15 NELLIE LEYLAX
7.45 SIR THOMAS GRESHAM
8.15 KODEBREAKER
8.45 GRAHAM
HAYDOCK PARK
6.30 BENADALID
7.00 WOOBAY
7.30 ICE MAX
8.00 ROYAL DRESS
8.30 COPY ARTIST
9.00 PEARL EYE
DOUBLE: COMMANCHE FALLS and BOBSLEIGH
SUNDAY
CURRAGH
2.00 MAYFAIR
2.30 TEMPLE OF HERA
3.00 TARAWA
3.30 MR KING
4.00 MOON DE VEGA
4.30 HARRY’S HILL
5.00 FEATHERTOP
5.30 MISS ABBY JOOLS
REDCAR
2.10 FUNKY TOWN PINKIE (NB)
2.45 KNEWONE
3.15 SLIPPIN JIMMY
3.45 SIDNEY’S SON
4.15 DORA MILAJE
4.45 RIBKANA
5.20 IMPRINT
STRATFORD
2.20 MISS FEDORA
2.52 SAXON QUEEN
3.22 CRACKING DESTINY (NAP)
3.52 TITANIUM MOON
4.22 NORLEY
4.52 JEUDIDEE
NEWTON ABBOT
2.35 MAX OF STARS
3.05 BRIANNA ROSE
3.35 SANDALWOOD
4.05 LANDEN CALLING
4.35 GETAWAY TOM
5.10 ABAYA DU MATHAN
DOUBLE: CRACKING DESTINY and FUNKY TOWN PINKIE