ITV Racing Saturday Newbury, Newmarket and Ripon Preview

The first event of the afternoon at Newbury is the Class 4 Handicap over 1m2f and Rogue Rocket for Tom Clover looks the value in the field.

Seen five times this term the gelding has been a work in progress, finishing fourth on debut at Newmarket behind the talented pairing of Francesco Clemente and Secret State.

Sent to Thirsk next time out in another smart Novice event he was a fair fifth and finished in the same position next time out.

Given his first try in a handicap next time out at Salisbury off a mark of 77 he got off the mark in fine style and although bumped up to 84 for his latest run, the form doesn't read all that well but he was not that far behind the leaders back in fourth.

He gets on well with the claimer Connor Planas who was on board for his sole win and now up 2f he looks a bet.

The first selection from Ripon on ITV this weekend is the Ben Haslam trained Wen Moon who is a horse on the up and can go well over a course and distance he has won at before.

The two year old son of Mehmas made his debut in June when second to the smart Hoy at Carlisle and learning for that experience he dropped down to 5f at Ripon last time out and got off the mark.

The quicker the ground the better for this horse and holding that C&D form he looks the one to beat.

The Listed Denford Stakes has fell apart from its ante-post stage with only five runners holding their ground and it could leave Victory Dance with a big opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Making his debut over course and distance in the middle of June at Newmarket the 700,000gns son of Dubawi got off the mark seeing off a nice type for a John & Thady Gosden by a head.

Sent to the Group Two Superlative Stakes last time out looking to follow in the footsteps of Quorto, Master Of The Seas and Native Trail who won the race for the yard, he was unfortunately done on the line by the talented Isaac Shelby.

Still looking very babyish he will have learnt a lot for that experience and now dropping back in grade should take the beating.

Newmarket host two events on ITV this weekend and the first of them is the 1m6f Fillies' Handicap and we can't get away from Atlantis.

Seen four times in her career, the daughter of Sea The Stars looks to have really got the hang of things of late and the step up in trip only looks like its going to suit.

Sixth on debut at Newbury over 10f in April, she then went up to 12f at Newmarket and was a good second to Time Lock for Harry & Roger Charlton.

She had to settle for second again next time out behind the talented Sea On Time for William Haggas and then when last seen she got off the mark herself at Doncaster when bolting up in a Fillies' Handicap.

Up 9lb for that she should still be better than her mark and she is a fascinating contender.

Another small fielded event follows at Newbury with the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes seeing just five runners head to post.

We fancy the Freddie & Marty Meade trained Zechariah who is getting the age weight allowance off the field and if in the same form as his Royal Ascot run he is tough to beat.

Getting to grips with things at the back end of his juvenile career he landed a nice event at Sandown over 7f and backing that up at Newbury over a mile when seeing off Irish Derby winner Westover he looked a nice type.

Seen four times this term, he returned in the Group Three Craven Stakes and was totally outclassed finishing last of the six, obviously needing a step up in trip.

Up to 11.5f at Lingfield in the Listed Derby Trial he ran a much more credible race, although finishing last of the four he was not too far behind the likes of United Nations and Walk Of Stars.

He put up the best performance of his career next time out at Royal Ascot when having his first try at 1m6f in the Group Two Queens Vase when only being beat on the line by a nose to Eldar Eldarov.

Seen last time out in the Group Three Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket he seemed to not quite get home with the quick turn around from Ascot maybe hindering him.

Back into what looks a weaker event, getting weight off the field, he could bounce back.

The feature event at Ripon on Saturday is the Great St Wilfrid Handicap over six furlongs and we are giving an each way chance to the veteran Summerghand.

A superb yardstick for David O'Meara over the years landing races like the Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood, Group Three Abernant Stakes at Newmarket All Weather Sprint Championships and Listed Hopeful Stakes to name just a few.

Having also been threatening in handicap events throughout his career, off a mark of 110 at the start of this year and not getting any younger he has found things difficult.

However, now down to a mark of 98 which sees him 9lb lower than his last winning mark he could strike again.

His latest few runs in big fielded events at York, Royal Ascot in the Wokingham Stakes and last time out in the Stewards Cup have all been respectable and now on a lower mark has to be taken seriously.

The penultimate event we are covering from Newbury is the Class 2 Handicap over 7f and Documenting for trainer Kevin Frost takes the eye.

The nine year old is the most exposed runner in the field but still seems to retain big ability off his mark of 99 and looks to have a big chance here.

Largely consistent in big fielded handicaps throughout his career, this year has been no different, finishing a fair ninth at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace Stakes and then backed that up at York next time out when third in a good race.

Last time out back at Ascot Documenting put up a top effort to finish a close fifth of 21 behind Fresh, Bless Him and Dark Shift in the International Stakes.

Running off the same mark in this easier event he cant be overlooked.

The quirky Grey Horse Handicap is back for another year at Newmarket and it sees only grey horses go to post over six furlongs.

We think the top weighted Mister Bluebird for Heather Main could be in with a shout of landing this event with 5lb claimer Harry Davies the key as to why.

Frequently used this term he has been largely consistent placing in four of her seven events with his other three runs seeing him just outside the frame.

Having landed a 19 runner Handicap at Ascot in May off a mark of 74, he then went to York in a tougher event off a 6lb higher mark and was a valiant sixth of 21.

Dropped 1lb for that to 79 he got back to winning ways at Musselburgh over 7f and then off 84 was a close up fourth on the July Course.

Moving back down to 6f at Haydock on Sunday he was an admirable fifth in another big field and off the same mark with Harry Davies taking 5lb off, he now effectively sits on his last winning mark which makes him interesting.

The William Haggas trained Tiber Flow looks to be value ahead of the Group Two Hungerford Stakes with the trainer having won two of the last seven renewals of the race, the most recent with Sacred last season.

Tiber Flow has been a smart performer over 6/7f throughout his career and now stepping back up to 7f being unbeaten at the trip he looks interesting.

The Three year old son of Caravaggio made his debut in December 2021 at Newcastle on the all weather when getting off the mark at the first time of asking.

Stepped up to 7f at the same track he was another bright winner and then in March landed a hat-trick on handicap debut at Southwell.

Sent into the trickiest race of his career at Newcastle in the 3 Year Old All-Weather Championship Stakes and he lost his unbeaten record when going down by a head to El Caballo.

Tiber Flow got back to winning ways at Newbury over 6f in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes and last time out when upped to Group One company was not disgraced at Royal Ascot when eighth of 20 in the Commonwealth Cup.

Back into calmer waters and up in trip for this, he looks a solid bet.