ITV Racing cameras are live from Newbury and Newmarket tomorrow, with the feature race being the Group One Lockinge Stakes. We've previewed all the live races and picked out a selection for each.
ITV Racing Preview Newmarket & Newbury 18/05/24
ITV Racing Preview Newmarket & Newbury Betting Tips and Selections
Our Main fancies for the live Saturday ITV Racing:
NAP: Desert Hero (1.50 Newbury) 13/8
Next Best: Charyn (3.35 Newbury) 5/1
Dark Horse: Darkness (2.40 Newmarket) 16/1
Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change, please gamble responsibly.
Aston Park Stakes Newbury 1.50 - Desert Hero
It’s hard to oppose Desert Hero at the top of the market here after his narrow defeat in the Gordon Richard Stakes on seasonal reappearance.
Only going down by a head over what is probably an inadequate 10 furlongs, Desert Hero now steps up to his preferred mile and a half and should be hard to beat back in Group Three Company.
JenningsBet Handicap 2.05 Newmarket - Dashing Darcy
Finally had things click together when winning a maiden and a novice on the all weather over a mile at the end of last year.
Just failed to win on reappearance in a handicap of a mark of 85 at Newbury in a class 2 event and ran with credit again to be 3rd at Chester only 9 days ago, finding it hard to close as well at Chester from off the pace.
Highclere Gin Carnarvon Stakes 2.25 Newbury - Relief Rally
William Haggas’ filly looked a smart sprinter last season winning a good conditions race before going on to score at Group Two level.
She didn’t quite stay 7 furlongs on seasonal reappearance and saw her effort weaken in the last half furlong. Stepping back to 6 furlongs should suit her more now as she looked an out and out sprinter last campaign.
Trust A Trader Handicap 2.40 Newmarket - Darkness
A good handicapper over the year, Darkness has run well at Newmarket several times and finds himself starting to look well treated and dangerously well handicapped again.
Clearly needing his seasonal reappearance, he shaped with much more promise last time out to be 6th over a mile at this venue, likely not quite seeing out the trip.
Trade Nation London Gold Cup 3.00 Newbury - Black Run
Only seen a handful of times for Paul and Oliver Cole, Black Run made his debut over in France where he was an encouraging 3rd place. Building on his experience he won nicely at Goodwood to break his maiden.
Unable to lie up in Group Three company on seasonal reappearance, he dropped to handicap ranks when last seen and made a mockery of a handicap mark of 92. The handicapper has only given him 7lbs for his impressive victory at Newmarket and there could yet be more to come.
JenningsBet Handicap 3.15 Newmarket - Aalto
A decent operator in France last season winning a handicap over 9 furlongs, Aalto has since changed hands and been brought over to the UK for training.
Put in a deep class 2 handicap last season over 10 furlongs, he failed to land any kind of blow on stable debut and struggled again when pitched into a class 2 handicap over a mile again.
Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes 3.35 Newbury - Charyn
This looks a strong competitive renewal of the Lockinge Stakes with Big Rock and Inspiral heading the betting but both look vulnerable so may be worth taking on with Charyn.
Roger Varian’s 4 year old has been in fine form at the start of this season winning a listed event at Doncaster on seasonal comeback before an easy Group Two victory at Sandown last month.