ITV Racing Saturday Newmarket, Chester & Haydock Preview - 30/09/23

The first race of the afternoon from Newmarket on Saturday is the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile and Capulet for Aidan O'Brien sets a superb standard at the top of the market and looks tough to beat if improving again.

Making his long awaited debut at Dundalk in August when seeing off a nice type for Jessica Harrington over a mile, he was then placed into the Group Two Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown over the same trip.

Capulet was the second string on the day but although finishing a close second was unlucky not to get the job done, just going down to his impressive stablemate Diego Velazquez.

The fourth in that event has since gone on to impressively land the Group Two Beresford Stakes franking the form of the race and on just his third start Capulet should take the beating here.

The only event of the afternoon at Chester on ITV is the Watergate Cup Handicap over 2m 2 1/2f and we are giving a chance to the Ian Williams trained Zealandia.

Since being upped back in trip his form has rapidly improved, finishing a good fourth at Chester over 12.5f and then over the same C&D in July improved to finish a 1/2 length second behind a nice type for Andrew Balding.

Last seen at Goodwood on soft ground going up to 14f, he got back to winning ways off a mark of 83 at Musselburgh when decisively seeing off the well handicapped Nathaneal Greene by over two lengths.

Upped further in trip it could bring more improvement and only racing off 4lb higher at a track he has shown he handles, he looks a nice price to go close.

The first Group One of the afternoon on the Rowley Mile is the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes for the Fillies and with a talented field going to post, we can't look past the William Haggas trained Relief Rally.

A winner on debut at Windsor over 5f when seeing off the talented Gaiden by two lengths, she then improved next time out to make it back to back wins at Salisbury when giving 2lb to Juniper Berries and winning comfortably.

Next seen at Royal Ascot in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes, she was the most unluckiest loser of the week being ahead at every stage bar the line, finishing a nose second to the American raider Crimson Advocate.

She got back to winning ways in emphatic fashion next time out at Newbury in the Weatherbys Super Sprint when bolting up by three lengths.

Her next step was to go up in grade at York in the Group Two Sky Bet Lowther Stakes and having found trouble in running when getting a clear passage she flew home to beat Cherry Blossom by a length.

She has done nothing but improve all season and now deserves her chance in a Group One event and showing she is ground versatile, she has plenty in her favour to make it five wins from six races.

Haydock offer just the one event on ITV this weekend and it sees the competitive The Dapper Dash For Cash Handicap over 5f and we are siding with the Tim Easterby trained Manila Scouse.

During July and August this gelding really put it all together, finishing a neck second at York in the Sky Bet Dash Handicap over 6f behind the progressive Aberama Gold who went on to land the Stewards Cup, with the talented Summerghand back in fourth who went on to land the Constantine Handicap over the same C&D.

Manila Scouse also franked the form of that race next time out when upped 3lb in the handicap and at Haydock over 5f went on to easily land an Apprentice Handicap on heavy ground during the Sunday Series.

Sent into the Racing League off the same mark of 81 just four days later at Chepstow it made it back to back wins in good fashion.

Upped to a mark of 86 he then went into a very competitive handicap at the Ebor meeting over 5.5f when running no race and off the same mark back on the all weather at Southwell during the Racing League, he could only manage sixth of 14.

Dropped 1lb to a mark of 85 when last seen at York in a good Class 2 Handicap over 6f he bounced back to form when finishing only a neck back in third behind Vintage Clarets and Wen Moon.

Upped to a mark of 87 back at a course and distance he has already won at this season and bouncing back to form last time out, he should go well with soft conditions to suit.

The second Group One of the afternoon is the Middle Park Stakes over 6f for the colts and although Vandeek is a worthy favourite, we are giving another chance to River Tiber.

Seen four times to date making his debut at Navan on soft ground over 5.5f, he went on to bolt up by 10 lengths really catching the eye as a sprinter to follow for the season.

On his next start at Naas, he dropped to 5f and giving away 3lb to the field easily landed a decent event to make it 2/2 for his career.

Stepped up in grade at Royal Ascot in the Group Two Coventry Stakes he put up a gritty performance to land a hat-trick of wins and see off Army Ethos and Bucanero Fuerte, with the third since landing the Group One Phoenix Stakes.

Having not been seen since June, he returned after a small break on very soft ground at Deauville in the Prix Morny finishing back in third behind Vandeek.

That was a superb effort after a break on ground not suited to him and that run should have put him spot on for this event back on a sounder surface and we feel he can reverse the form.

O'Brien has won three of the last six renewals, taking it last year with the impressive Blackbeard.

The final event on ITV this Saturday is the feature Cambridgeshire Heritage Handicap over 9f and with a huge field of 35 going to post we have played two.

Although wanting to take on a favourite in a 35 runner event, Greek Order could just be a Group horse in a handicap here and if running his race will go very close.

Showing smart form on his two juvenile outings last season without managing to get off the mark, he started this term in similar fashion running a good race at Salisbury over 7f when third behind next time out winner Quddwah and the progressive Balance Play.

Since then Greek Order has proven in handicaps what a smart talent he is, stepping up to a mile at Sandown off a mark of 80 and he went on to land a decent event fairly comfortably in the end.

Upped 5lb at Newbury when next seen he made it 2/2 in handicaps when bolting up by over four lengths to see off Maximilian Caesar, who has since franked the form in a better handicap at Doncaster's St Leger meeting.

The step up in trip to 1m2f saw more improvement in Greek Order and although given a 10lb rise for that win he could still be well in and having been saved since August for this event he looks to have a huge chance from stall 25.

With 35 runners we have also taken a swing at another horse at a bigger price and at 20/1 Terwada for Ed Walker could hit the frame.

Showing ability in his first two Novice events, he put it all together on his third start at Nottingham when upped to 8.5f, going on to bolt up by nine lengths on quick ground.

Making his handicap debut over a mile on the July Course, he made it back to back successes in a good event off a mark of 90, seeing off the talented The Gatekeeper with ease.

Upped 6lb and sent into the competitive 19 runner Clipper Handicap at the Ebor meeting, he ran a fair race back in seventh, being hampered when making his challenge but staying on well to only go down by four lengths.

Upped a furlong for this event and dropped 1lb in the handicap, he is worth another go if getting a clearer passage.