ITV Racing Saturday Newbury, Curragh and Market Rasen Preview

The first selection of the afternoon from Newbury on Saturday comes in the Listed Steventon Stakes, also known as the bet365 Stakes and Grocer Jack for William Haggas could go close.

The five year old has been a globe trotting horse for the yard since joining, having moved to Haggas this season having been a smart horse in Italy.

Having won on his final start at Hoppegarten in Germany for his old yard in a Group Three event, he made his first start this term in February in Saudi Arabia and finished a close up fifth in the Group Three Neom Turf Cup.

Sent up in trip for his last start over in France in the Group Two Grand Prix de Chantilly he was a fair fourth behind some smart french horses.

Back down to his preferred 10f on quicker ground he has his ideal conditions and also dropping back into Listed company having been performing well in Group races, he holds big claims for a thriving yard.

The first race of the afternoon from Market Rasen is the Class 2 Handicap Hurdle over 2m7f and Galileo Silver for Sam Thomas could take the beating.

An extremely smart performer last season for a yard that had a stand out time of things, In December he landed back to back races at Wincanton and Huntingdon on differing ground, going on to win by 11 lengths and 16 lengths respectively.

Not jumping so well next time out he but in a rare bad performance at Sedgefield, but got back to form in April at Ffos Las when a good second to a nice type for Nicky Henderson.

Up in trip for his penultimate start to date in May at Huntingdon over 3m1f, he was a narrow second to a well handicapped horse but next time out got back to winning over three miles a Ffos Las on good ground.

Only up 4lb for that win he should go close again and with Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle that is a big bonus.

Next up is the Highclere Castle Gin Cup Stakes over 2m 1/2f and Rock Eagle for the inform Ralph Beckett makes big appeal at around the 9/2 mark.

A superb yardstick over the years the seven year old was highly consistent last year in similar events over staying trips, always floating around the 100 mark with the handicapper.

Seen twice this season, he needed his comeback at Haydock over 1m4f with the trip being too short and overall it looking like a pipe opener.

He was last seen at Royal Ascot when running a cracking race in the Ascot Stakes over 2m4f, getting to the front and going well a few furlongs out but just fading late on into eighth.

He drops close to half a mile in trip for this event which should suit perfectly and still available at an each way price he looks a nice bet.

Another nice event from Market Rasen on ITV this weekend is the Class 2 Summer Handicap Hurdle over 2m 1/2f and Castel Gandolfo at an each way price takes the eye.

A horse that has shown plenty of ability over the last few seasons with Fergal O'Brien and the son of Dark Angel looks to have been set up for this event.

Finishing a superb second in April at the back end of last season at Haydock over two miles in a similar Class 2 Handicap when only just beaten 1/2 a length by Zabeel Champion, he was last seen finishing fourth at Kelso off a mark of 120 in another good event.

Off the same mark for this event he looks to have a race like this in him and having been consistent in similar events during his career, at 10/1 he can't be ruled out.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Group Three Hackwood Stakes over six furlongs and we are siding with Happy Romance.

An extremely smart filly for Richard Hannon over the years, Happy Romance has only started recently to truly show her full ability at the top level and we think it can continue in this event.

A winner of this race over six furlongs last year, she then went on to finish a valiant fourth in the Group One Sprint Stakes at Haydock, but rounded off the season with a tame effort at Ascot on Champions Day.

Back this year she went to Riyadh over seven furlongs and was a very close third in the G3 Turf Sprint and next time out back at 6f she showed a classy turn of foot to finish second of 16 in the Group One Al Quoz sprint at Meydan behind the talented A Case Of You.

Not seen again since June, she returned in the Group One Platinum Jubilee Stakes when running another decent race into eighth and then last time out in the July Cup was another strong seventh.

Dropping back in class to a race she won last year, she looks a solid contender at odds of 9/2 and shouldn't be overlooked.

The feature event of the afternoon at Market Rasen is the Grade Three Summer Plate Handicap Chase over the extended 2m5f and with a big field heading to post we have dutched the race.

The first selection of the afternoon from an each way angle is the Emma Lavelle trained Manofthemountain who holds some of the classiest back form in the race.

A superb winner last year in April at Cheltenham over a similar trip in the Grade Two Ballymore Silver Trophy off a mark of 137, last term he slightly lost his way but did put up a career best effort off a mark of 144 at the start of the campaign when second at Chepstow to Greatwood Gold Cup winner Paint The Dream.

Finding it tough in races like the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and not being able to land back to back renewals of the Silver Trophy, last time out he got back to form off a mark of 138.

In the Class 2 Handicap Clarke Chase he was a good second behind the talented Kerry Lee trained Demachine and now off the same mark getting his ideal conditions, he could be a player.

At an even bigger price in the race and one of very much interest is the Seamus Mullins trained Mahler's Promise who loves it round Market Rasen and may have more under the bonnet.

Very consistent horse over the last year or so putting up some good placed efforts in Class 2 and 3 events, last time out over course and distance he went on to win the Summer Plate Trial by two lengths.

Up 5lb for that run now on a mark of 127 he still might not be under the thumb of the handicapper and can go close loving everything about this track and conditions.

One of the trickiest events on the card is the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes over five furlongs and with a field of over 20 runners heading to post we have two selections.

The first is the Tom Clover trained Rogue Spirit with the two year old being seen three times to date and running strongly on every occasion.

Making his debut in May over 5f at Beverley he got off the mark in a decent 13 runner with the second going on to frank the form since.

Sent into the Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stake over the same course and distance he ran another cracker to finish a neck second behind the talented Chateau.

Getting back to winning ways last time out at Wolves by three lengths in taking style he looks to be ahead of his mark of 91 and should run another bold race.

At more of an each way price in the big fielded race is the Richard Hannon trained Swift Asset who has been backed from 25/1 into 7/1 ahead of this race with the handler winning three of the last four renewals and between him and his father they have won 10 renewals.

Swift Asset has been seen twice to date, finishing fifth on debut at Windsor over six furlongs, looking to need the experience but dropped to 5f at the same track last time out got off the mark in fine style.

He showed a clear turn of foot in the final furlong to pull away from the pack and looking the best of the Hannon team in this he can't be discounted with the teams record.

Progression expected again.

The feature race of the day is the Group One Juddmonte Irish Oaks over 1m4f and with Emily Upjohn taking all the beating but at 2/5 we are looking to play one at a bigger price each way.

We like the Ger Lyons trained three year old Caire Go Deo who was seen three times as a juvenile last term winning over seven furlongs on his second start and then went into the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes and was not too disgraced.

Back this term up in trip at Navan she finished third of nine behind Concert Hall and Magical Lagoon in the Salsabil Stakes over 10f.

Upped again to 13f and she looks to to have found her perfect trip when bolting up in a Listed event by eight lengths then down to 12f last time out won well again in the Listed King George V Cup.

She has to step up massively but at around 20/1 could run a huge race into third and we will be playing her each way.