ITV Racing Tips: Four bets for Newbury, Newmarket and Ripon

A busy Saturday on ITV Racing awaits with a race shown at Newmarket sandwiched in between a batch of good looking contests from both Newbury and Ripon. The Great St Wilfrid is the feature race of the day from Ripon and as well as giving his idea of the winner in that contest, Billy Grimshaw has three more worth siding with...

Newbury 13:50 - Geoffrey Freer Stakes

A competitive looking Group Three kicks off the ITV Racing action and the dilemma when assessing this race is do we favour the older more experienced horses or side with the unexposed but also not quite top class three year olds.

With Kemari vying for favouritism with Derby disappointment Arrest, right there we punters are given a choice of the old warhorse vs the young pretender receiving weight, but I am actually quite sweet on another three year old away from Arrest and that is KLONDIKE for William Haggas.

Unraced at two he quickly made a name for himself with a taking win on debut at this very track, looking almost outpaced and clueless at one stage before cottoning on to his job in the nick of time and powering home to snatch victory by a head.

He then chased home Gregory who looks a Group One stayer in the making at Goodwood, which is no disgrace, before finding the race tactics against him last time out at the Newmarket July Festival.

He finished fourth that day but stood little chance as anything that wasn't prominent couldn't catch up to the eventual winner, but he was still only just over 2 lengths back.

I don't think he has run a bad race yet and with Haggas's reputation for improving these three year olds and an in-form rider in Tom Marquand in the saddle I think he can win again at Newbury to kick us off.

15:00 Newbury - Heart Bingo Summer Sizzler Handicap

Old stagers like Bless Him and Accidental Agent clash once again at Newbury over 7 furlongs in what looks another tricky heat if the betting is anything to go by,. That being said, I do think our pick in here will take all the beating and could very well go off favourite as the market corrects itself.

CLASSIC has looked a tricky proposition for Richard Hannon this season but the underlying talent has always been evident and it was great to see him finally put everything together to win readily last time out at Sandown.

Hannon has reported the horse to be in rude health in his blog and if reproducing or bettering that Sandown effort, off a lenient looking 2lbs rise, I think it'll take a very good performance indeed to stop him winning his second race in a row. At the prices (6/1 at the time of writing) he could be a safe each way bet for those who prefer that kind of punting but I’ll be backing win only.

15:15 Ripon - Great St Wilfrid Stakes

The feature race of the day comes from Ripon and hopefully the folks there get some good weather and a bumper crowd. Always a race with plenty of well handicapped horses this year's renewal looks to be no exception and favourite Summerghand looks ominously well weighted.  At nine he still looks ready to strike and last time out he came back to life when fourth behind eventual Stewards' Cup winner Aberama Gold.

He is too short at 5/1 though, for all his place claims are massive, and with a bias favouring those drawn high I am hoping 12 is high enough for WOBWOBWOB. Unlucky to bump into one at Glorious Goodwood when finishing second, clear of the third, he is clearly in fantastic form and I think the application of a visor is another positive.

He will carry just eight stone eight with Joe Fanning booked and I think this race looks like it will be very strongly run due to the presence of pace setters like Dream For Gold and Hyperfocus.

Wobwobwob can sit handily behind those leading the charge and hopefully strike toward the finish to go one better than that fine run last time out behind Rhoscolyn. If that horse were in here I think he'd be favourite so double figures about our pick, with Paddy Power paying six places, looks a knocking bet.

15:35 Newbury - Hungerford Stakes

This could well be the last time we see Chindit and connections and supporters alike will be praying for a fairytale finish for the favourite. However, as good as he is on his day he did blow out in this race last year and is liable to chuck in a stinker for no perceivable reason.

At just 5/2 he looks far too short and makes the market for a lot of these, including Jumby the second favourite who looks much more solid and could quite conceivably head the market come race time. HIs trainer Eve Johnson Houghton is bang in form and it could be argued Jumby at his best is the better horse.

Mostabshir looked a potential star after routing the field at York in May but has been disappointing since and as much as I liked the horse I can't forgive him at the prices, but I am willing to forgive MAMMAS GIRL and back her to small stakes here.

She won the Nell Gwyn earlier this season to enter 1000 Guineas calculations and although outclassed that day and at Ascot, those races were both Class Ones and perhaps she is just a bit below that level.

She also looks to me to be a bit of a goldilocks horse in that a mile stretches her, six is too sharp but seven will be just right and at double figure odds she's worth a punt with Rossa Ryan in the saddle. This field is full of untrustworthy sorts so you have to forgive something, best to do it at a bigger price.