Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Newbury and Newmarket on May 18

The Group 1 Lockinge Stakes (1535) is the big highlight from four races on offer at Newbury, while Newmarket has three contests to plug the gaps inbetween,

Let's kick off with a quick run through our ITV tips, with the reasons why we've picked them further down the page.

If you fancy a punt or two, check out the Planet Sport race centre which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Saturday's quick tips:

13:50 (Newbury) Desert Hero

14:05 (Newmarket) Gressington

14:25 (Newbury) Relief Rally

14:40 (Newmarket) Gorak

15:00 (Newbury) Chantilly

15:15 (Newmarket) Hopeful

15:35 (Newbury) Charyn

 

13:50 (Newbury) Desert Hero

There is a good chance of a royal winner in the Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes as Desert Hero can carry the King and Queen’s silks to victory under Tom Marquand.

A Royal Ascot and Goodwood hero last term, the chestnut was not disgraced when third in the St Leger and made a strong start to his four-year-old season in the Gordon Richards Stakes.

There he was second when beaten only a head by Okeechobee, with subsequent Huxley Stakes second Israr behind him in third.

That form all stacks up neatly and now he is returned to his favoured trip of a mile and a half he looks the likely victor.

 

14:05 (Newmarket) Gressington

Gressington might have needed the run when missing at prohibitive odds under a penalty at Southwell on reappearance.

The Ed Bethell-trained three-year-old could do better now entering handicaps with that outing under his belt and may come out on top in the Jenningsbet Handicap.

So Logical won a weak Newcastle seven furlong maiden, but must be respected making handicap debut representing the Gosdens and with Hollie Doyle on board.

Miss Information ran well finishing third in a competitive handicap over course and distance last September. Consider off the same mark upon return.

 

14:25 (Newbury) Relief Rally

Relief Rally can strike returned to six furlongs for the Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes.

William Haggas’ filly was almost flawless as a juvenile, winning four of her five starts and only going down by a nose when beaten in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.

Those runs, including Super Sprint and Lowther successes, were over five and six furlongs but the bay ventured to stay further when contesting the Fred Darling on her first start this term.

There she was fourth when coming home behind the subsequent 1000 Guineas winner, and now as she steps back down both in grade and in trip she looks the horse to beat on return to Newbury.

 

14:40 (Newmarket) Gorak

Gorak showed up well when fourth over course and distance on first outing for seven months.

The second and third horses that day have both won since and representing trainer Charlie Fellowes rates a strong player off a 2lb lower mark.

Impressive Chester handicap winner Divine Libra might remain competitive off this rating.

It is dangerous to discount the progressive Quinault who won a staggering seven times last season before finishing tenth in a competitive handicap sprint at Ascot during October.

 

15:00 (Newbury) Chantilly

Aidan O'Brien's Chantilly was off the mark with a successful handicap debut last month at Leopardstown and could still have more to offer in the Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap.

King's Gambit won a maiden at this track last year and is one to consider now up in trip after a break delivering his first run in a handicap.

Brioni managed to win tackling the two outings back before finishing third on turf next time and could find a place.

Fighter Command justified favouritism with a narrow success in latest outing at Windsor. This is a step up in class, but the Gosden's three-year-old shouldn't be ruled out.

 

15:15 (Newmarket) Hopeful

Hopeful looked to be travelling best before being reeled in over 1m2f on soft ground at Redcar last time.

Dropping back to 1m is a real plus and this Andrew Balding inmate can go one better this time around.

Bath winner Signcastle City might go close tackling the same trip if handling these forecast quicker conditions.

Aalto finished runner-up over course and distance earlier in the month and cannot be left out of the equation, while the in-form Great Basket must be included making hat-trick bid following wins tackling 1m at Southwell and Yarmouth.

 

15:35 (Newbury) Charyn

Roger Varian’s superb early season can continue as Charyn has the potential to come out on top in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes.

The grey started his four-year-old campaign in fine form, landing the Listed Doncaster Mile on soft ground and then going on to take the bet365 Mile on good to soft at Sandown.

Newbury is likely to end up with a similarly slow surface, especially if forecast rain falls, and Charyn will clearly have no issue acting on it as is well proven by his record.

He has some scalps to take in Inspiral and Big Rock, both of whom hold Group One titles whereas Charyn has only placed form at the level, but the former is evidently seen to best effect on quicker ground and the latter has changed stables during his preparation.

Both factors raise questions and could leave room for the race-sharp Charyn to step up to the mark under Silvestre de Sousa.