ITV Racing Tips: Best Bets For Newcastle and York on Scorching Saturday

Britain is still set to be under tropical conditions on Saturday as this record breaking heatwave rumbles on, and ITV Racing have a sizzling slice of action to enjoy on the box if hiding from the sun. Newcastle's card is headlined by the Northumberland Plate and York is also set to show three races. Billy Grimshaw has a best bet from each track...

14:10 Newcastle - Chipchase Stakes

This looks a typically competitive renewal of the Chipchase but as such we are getting a nice price about last year's winner DILIGENT HARRY going back to back. Clive Cox's charge held on from the fast finishing Annaf this time last year, eventually winning by a neck, but the front two were well clear off Ferrous - who is also back for another crack -and I think it was a smart piece of form. It is interesting that Diligent Harry made all in this in 2025 but has not been as forcibly ridden in his latest few starts, despite running well. With an advantageous high draw and hopefully a return to the positive tactics of front running, I can see him again getting a lot of these in trouble from a long way out.

This year's renewal is potentially a stronger renewal, granted, but Diligent Harry has been running well ever since and looks if anything in even better form. His chief market rival is William Haggas's Wiltshire at the time of writing, although there are a cluster between 5/1 and 8/1. Haggas is the man to beat in this contest with three of the last five Chipchases heading home with him, but I am not keen on this particularly runner given how poorly he ran last time out when sulking in a handicap. I'd be more fearful of Godolphin's Symbol Of Honour who will love this ground and can be forgiven a sloppy run in Dubai last time out.

He landed Group 2 honours last season and providing Appleby has him at his best for this, he can be the one still in there fighting when Diligent Harry attempts to take the field all into deep waters.

14:58 York - Criterion Stakes

Saber Strike was backed like defeat was out of the question at Royal Ascot in the Jersey but ran like victory was out of the question, so this is certainly a retrieval mission of epic proportions at a quick turnaround for team Haggas. I could not have him for love nor money at 6/4 given the proximity of his bombing out in the aforementioned Jersey and as such, my confident best bet of the day is his market rival NEVER SO BRAVE who can bounce back in emphatic style here.

Andrew Balding's five year old does have to give lumps of weight away to his main market rival due to the Haggas runner being a three year old, however he has a piece of form that far eclipses anything anyone else in here has achieved - winning last season's City Of York Stakes over course and distance. He has flopped twice this season but both can have a line struck through them due to the soft ground being unsuitable and now back at the scene of his greatest win, I think he takes all the beating in here.

There is a huge gap in the odds from the top two down to the rest and that is justified in my view, with Qirat's Sussex Stakes win not a piece of form to hang your hat on given the way that race unfolded and his subsequent subpar efforts and the others being handicappers in the most part. The risk in my confident judgement here is that Saber Strike justifies the weight of money he received at Ascot one start later, but even if money comes for him again I think I'd just be more likely to press up again on Never So Brave. He should be around 4/6 in here and as such rates outstanding value.