The Weekend Wager: Tips From Ascot, Haydock and Newmarket on Saturday

For the fourth week in a row The Weekend Wager produced one winning selection (Adaay to Remember 6/4 at Newmarket) last week, so this weekend we look to improve on those displays and bag more winners. We head to three meetings for our best bets and we have tips from the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot, as well as the action at Haydock and Newmarket.

14:35 Ascot - Shergar Cup Mile

Clive Cox's Dance Fever failed to land any sort of blow in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June, but that was his seasonal reappearance, and unsurprisingly he kicked on from that effort and has been in excellent form of late. If he can continue on an upward curve then he looks to be the one to beat in the Shergar Cup Mile, which takes place at 14:35 at Ascot. 

He will have the burden of top weight in this event, but after his Royal Ascot exertions he showed his class when claiming victory in a Leicester handicap. Last time out he took his chance in the hugely competitive renewal of the International Stakes at Ascot, and he ran a huge race to finish third of 19 runners that day. Stepping back up to a mile on Saturday, the four-year-old should have no problems with the extra furlong, as he has performed well over eight furlongs, so it's set fair for a decent run for the market leader and he can claim victory.

The main dangers are likely the William Stone-trained Dashing Roger and Richard Hannon's Ouzo, who both have some smart form on their CVs, but if Dance Fever can emulate his recent Ascot victory then the Cox charge can outclass his rivals on Saturday afternoon.

14:50 Newmarket  - 100% RacingTV Profits Back To Racing Sweet Solera Stakes

There's Group action at Newmarket on Saturday afternoon with the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes attracting some smart juvenile fillies, and the contender that most certainly sets the standard is the Charlie Appleby-trained Wild Beauty, who is the likely market leader.

Sixth on debut at Ascot, the daughter of Frankel improved immeasurably on her next two starts as she bounded to victory at Haydock and Newbury. Unable to live with the classy Inspiral in Listed company at Goodwood as she went in search of a hat-trick, Wild Beauty will look to return to winning ways at Flat HQ. It was firm that day at Goodwood, and her two previous wins had come with soft in the going description, so she may get slower conditions on Saturday, which should play to her strengths.

She will face some potentially progressive youngsters in the shape of Value Theory and Sunstrike, and the former won last time out at Newmarket, so has shown she acts at the track, so that raider may be the biggest thorn in the side of the favourite, but Appleby's proven class act can show she is the best in the field and can grab success.

15:00 Haydock - MansionBet Beaten By A Head Handicap

With inclement weather hitting the country the ground conditions could well soften considerably ahead of Saturday's racing, and if the wet stuff hits Haydock then one worth taking a chance on is the David O'Meara-trained Cold Stare, who can claim victory in the MansionBet Beaten By A Head Handicap at 15:00.

Out of form in recent times, the six-year-old was last seen finishing last of 12 at Ascot, which is far from encouraging form, but the handicapper has dropped him a further 1lb for that poor run, so a mark of 85 looks attractive, if he can recapture his best. Cut in the ground most certainly improves his chances, as his last victory came in soft conditions at Goodwood last August, and that was off a mark of 89.

So, 4lbs lower than his last winning mark, Cold Stare has all the makings of a huge run ahead of him, and while he will have to carry top weight, O'Meara's charge does have a course and distance success to his name, so there's plenty of positives about the Middleham Park Racing-owned runner, who can return to winning ways in style.

16:10 Haydock - MansionBet Rose Of Lancaster Stakes

One of the most impressive winners at Royal Ascot was Real World, who scooted to a dominant four-and-a-half length victory in the Royal Hunt Cup, and the Saeed bin Suroor-trained four-year-old built on that effort by outclassing his rivals in the Listed Steventon Stakes at Newbury..

That success came over 1m 2f and it's that trip that the Godolphin raider lines up over at Haydock on Saturday, as he ventures into Group 3 company for the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at 16:10. Looking every bit a top notch Pattern performer, Real World will face some proven yardsticks in this event, and none more so than the gutsy Euchen Glen, who was last seen finishing second in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood.

However, Jim Goldie's stable star will have to give weight away to Real World, which could prove to be a defining factor on why Real World can prevail. Having yet reached the ceiling of his capabilities, the Dark Angel colt could prove to be even better than Group 3 level, and a win on this can see him venture up the ladder one more rung.