ITV Racing Tips: Two To Back On Busy Saturday

Although many eyes will be drawn to York's upcoming Ebor Meeting, there is plenty to get stuck into as always on an ITV Racing Saturday and Billy Grimshaw has a couple of tips across Newbury and Ripon on Great St Wilfrid Day!

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13:25 Newbury - Geoffrey Freer Stakes

Kicking us off with a bang, the Geoffrey Freer Stakes looks a rip-roaring affair at Newbury and the race probably revolves around whether Dubai Honour is primed and ready for this reappearance. We know the Haggas globe trotter will have his eyes fixed on prizes Down Under and beyond later in this season, but he may only need to be at 80% to win here. I am not sure, however, that he will be at that level given he is set to take part in the Group 1 Irish Leger in under a month's time and as such, I want to take him on with one who looks fairly unexposed.

Six of the last ten winners of this race have been three years old and this is usually the time of the season when the "Classic Generation" start to make hay over their older rivals and as such I am going to side with Faye Bramley's REBEL ROCKER to cause a bit of a surprise. He receives 10lbs from his older rivals and a huge 13lbs from the penalised Mount Atlas, who I fancy will be beaten by Tabletalk given that penalty and the fact he only beat that rival a head last time out, but Rebel Rocker off a break could be dangerous given how excellent his Derby run in the wet looked.

He is value for better than that run, too, as at stages he really did look unhappy both on the soft ground and on the Epsom undulations, yet still he plugged on for sixth doing all his best work late. This step up in trip should hold no fears for him and while Dubai Honour obviously sets the standard, I wonder if Bramley's charge may well be sent on and try to get the rest of them chasing him with the weight perhaps proving decisive. He is by no means my strongest play of the day, but 12/1 is overpriced and 2 places each-way is tempting enough.

15:25 Ripon - Great St Wilfrid Stakes

Ripon's big race of the season has attracted a slightly smaller than usual field of 15 but it looks as competitive a renewal as ever and I am hoping those drawn high make hay. There is pace almost everywhere across the track here, with It Just Takes Time presumably the one who will blast off and lead the lower drawn group while I'd be surprised if anything went quick enough early to take the high drawn pace from I'm Next. Whether either will last home is a different discussion, however, and neither are my selection.

Favourite Fast Track Harry is drawn slap bang in the middle in stall eight and so will be able to choose which group to latch onto, presumably the higher drawn crowd given the usual bias here. He has an obvious chance for Clive Cox but with the race this deep I am willing to swerve him at 11/2 or shorter, for all his Ascot run last time out off the same mark was a step in the right direction. I am against Dark Cloud Rising as he looked a spent force at Goodwood when just clinging on for second and I think if they go hard here he could once again wilt when the going gets tough, but drawn next to him is KODIAC THRILLER and he makes much more appeal each-way at around the 17/2 mark.

The five year old looks to be in career best form, exemplified by his gutsy York handicap win last time out, and for all he is stepping up in class here he looks a tough nut to crack and will almost certainly stay right to the line. He and Dark Cloud Rising both like to get on with things but while I am doubtful the shorter priced runner will relish a battle should one ensue, I have no such doubts about this lad and he is a sporting bet in the big betting race of the day.