ITV Racing Saturday Newmarket, Ascot and Redcar Preview

The first race of the afternoon on ITV comes from Newmarket with the Fillies' Handicap over 1m2f seeing some potentially smart runners head to post.

We have sided with the Sir Michael Stoute trained Crystal Estrella who has been improving with each run and now tackling handicaps can be even better.

Seen once as a juvenile when needing the experience, this term she has looked smart finishing fourth on seasonal debut at Sandown behind Epsom Oaks second Emily Upjohn and then next time out got off the mark at Goodwood on soft ground in taking style.

Making her handicap debut off 89 she should have more to offer than that mark.

The first event of the day at Ascot is the Listed Rous Stakes over 5f and we are taking a bit of a swing at one with the Ed Walker trained Came From The Dark.

The six year old was an expensive 480,000gns purchase as a yearling but has provided some superb days for his connections over the years and this can be another one.

Seen four times last year he started his campaign off at Musselburgh of 5f and was a good third of 13 behind Jabbarockie and Zarzyni who he was giving weight away to that day.

Sent to Newbury next time out he got off the mark for the season, seeing off talented sprinters Garrus, King's Lynn and Tis Marvellous to land the spoils.

Looking to make it back to back wins he went down by a neck to Godolphin's Lazuli at Newmarket, with Appleby's horse franking the form in better races throughout last year.

Came From The Dark rounded off last season by winning the Group Three Coral Charge at Sandown in July from Arecibo and Happy Romance.

This season has not gone to plan running twice and finishing 10th on both occasions, firstly in the Group Three Palace House Stakes at Newmarket which he won last year and then last time out in the Group Two Temple Stakes.

He has not been seen since with May with something obviously amiss but having had wind surgery and giving his best performances around this time of year, he looks interesting at a double figure price.

One of the toughest events to call on ITV this weekend is the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes over 6f and the horse that has took the eye is the Richard Hannon trained Land Of Summer.

Currently around the 20/1 mark this filly has been knocking on the door on her past two runs and dropping down the handicap at the same time this race represents a big chance to go close again.

Fourth of 16 at Glorious Goodwood in a Nursery Handicap off 83, she was last seen finishing third on soft ground at Goodwood again in a valuable Conditions event.

Down to a mark of 81 and drawn well she could hit the frame again at a nice each way price.

One of the feature events of the afternoon sees the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes over 1m4f and Hamish for William Haggas looks tough to beat.

A brilliant horse for the yard over the years winning some decent handicaps over staying trips, last year he raised his game winning the Group Three September Stakes beating Group One winner Hukum and then finished a good fourth at Royal Ascot in one of the best renewals of the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes for some years.

Seen twice this season the gelding landed the Group Three Ormonde Stakes at Chester in good style and then last time out chased home Kyprios in the Group One Irish St Leger.

Although dropping back to 1m4f he offers the strongest form on offer and knowing he can stay further makes him a big player if the ground turns soft.

One of our best bets of the day.

The big race of the day from Newmarket and on ITV is the Group One Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes over a mile and it looks set to be one of the best renewals for some time.

Set to be a star in the making for a yard that have had some superb types for owners Juddmonte, the daughter of Kingman has been seen twice to date and is still unbeaten.

Making her debut in July at flat racing HQ on the July Course, she took on some more proven types in a Novice Stakes over a mile and went on to win by three lengths going away.

Having had a little break she returned at Kempton on the all weather over a mile once more and she was just as a convincing winner as she was on debut.

That run set her perfectly for some of the big mile events before the end of the season but the owners and yard have chosen to head for this event after she was supplemented on Monday.

Very interesting entry.

Next up is the other big event of the afternoon at Ascot is the Group Three John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes over 6f and this looks an event that will suit Rohaan down to the ground.

Rohaan has been a superb horse for David Evans over the years starting by winning a handicap event off 55 to then winning back to back Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot, Landing the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock whilst also placing and hitting the frame in some of the best sprint events in Europe.

Having form on good, soft and heavy ground he is a very versatile character and off the back of what he has done this season alone he can't be overlooked being dropped back into Group Three company.

Needing his first three runs of the season which bought his handicap mark down to 109, he landed his second Wokingham Stakes off top weight and then went into the Hackwood Stakes where he was a close fourth behind Minzaal.

Fourth again in the Group One Prix Maurice De Gheest behind some superstars he was a massive eye-catcher that day but was strangely sent over 7f next time out at York's Ebor meeting and it didn't work.

Last seen at Haydock back to his preferred 6f in the Group One Sprint Cup he was a superb third again behind Minzaal and with the opposition in this field much weaker, this race presents itself as a big opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Redcar host just the one race on ITV this weekend at sees their feature event of the year, the Listed William Hill Two Year Old Trophy over 6f and we have sided with Barefoot Angel.

The Richard Fahey trained juvenile has been superb this season Making her debut in soft ground at Ripon over 6f when second to the smart Swingalong who has since franked the form at York.

Barefoot Angel has gone unbeaten since then, winning on her second start at Carlisle in a Novice Stakes and then last time out improved massively to take the Group Three Firth Of Clyde Fillies Stakes at Ayr.

Dropping back into Listed company makes her a big player and she looks very progressive.

No problem on soft ground.

A tricky handicap to call at Ascot on Saturday is the Challenge Cup over 7f and we are giving the nod to the very progressive Orbaan who has been superb this season.

Raced frequently this term the David O'Meara trained gelding started to knock on the door in good handicap events around June and July at the likes of Epsom, York and Ayr.

He landed his first race of the season off the back of these runs at Glorious Goodwood in the Golden Mile Handicap when bolting up off a mark of 87.

Up 8lbs to a mark of 95 at Ascot next time out over course and distance he made it 2/2 in good style.

Up a further 4lb at York's Ebor meeting he was a good fourth of 18 behind stablemate Blue For You giving weight away and then last time out off the same mark of 99 back at Goodwood he was second behind I'm A Gambler by a short head.

That horse has since won a valuable handicap at Irish Champions weekend and off only 1lb higher Orbaan is a player back at Ascot.