Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Newmarket and York

It's the final day of the Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket and the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400) is the big feature, but you can't forget the Cesarewitch (1440) either.

As well as the three other races from Newmarket (all Group 3s), there's four exciting contests at York, which includes the Sprint Trophy (1425).

We'll start off with a quick run through our 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, results and stats.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

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

 

Saturday's selections in full:

13:15 (York) Starlore

13:25 (Newmarket) Ancient Wisdom

14:00 (Newmarket) City Of Troy

14:25 (York) Albasheer

14:40 (Newmarket) Pied Piper

15:05 (York) Align The Stars

15:15 (Newmarket) Arabian Crown

15:35 (York) Believe In Stars

15:50 (Newmarket) Real Gain

 

13:15 (York) Starlore

Purosangue has the best form in the Listed-class Coral Rockingham Stakes but Starlore may have the scope to come out on top here after showing plenty of promise in two Sandown outings.

Sketch drops in class after finishing sixth tackling the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket  recently. Esquire looks next best.

 

13:25 (Newmarket) Ancient Wisdom

A high-class Newmarket card kicks off with the Group Three Emirates Autumn Stakes over a mile and Ancient Wisdom sets a strong standard here.

Following a couple of comfortable victories, Charlie Appleby’s charge was a beaten favourite when third in Listed company at Ascot, but the first two home that day have since franked the form.

Rosallion secured a Group One success in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp, while runner-up Al Musmak prevailed at Haydock next time out before finishing second in the Royal Lodge here.

 

14:00 (Newmarket) City Of Troy

City Of Troy is expected to justify his position at the head of next year’s 2000 Guineas betting by landing the Group One Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs.

Aidan O’Brien predictably has a fine record in this race, scoring with the likes of Rock Of Gibraltar, Churchill and St Mark’s Basilica.

This son of Justify created a huge impression when romping home by six and a half lengths in the Superlative Stakes on the July Course, with subsequent Goodwood Group Two victor Haatem back in second.

A break of 91 days is obviously worth noting, but there are more than enough talented juveniles at Ballydoyle for City Of Troy to have worked with in order to blow away any cobwebs.

 

14:25 (York) Albasheer

Albasheer appeals in the Coral Sprint Trophy Handicap after finishing strongly for an eyecatching fourth in the Ayr Gold Cup.

Archie Watson’s five-year-old was a course and distance winner in August when dead-heating with Summerghand and is clearly still going in the right direction.

 

14:40 (Newmarket) Pied Piper

 

 

Newmarket’s Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap invariably presents punters with a tricky puzzle to solve but Pied Piper stands out from this year’s contenders.

The five-year-old was a winner at this course and at Leicester on the Flat for John and Thady Gosden before making a successful switch to the National Hunt sphere with Gordon Elliott.

He was third in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and only denied a share of Grade One glory at Aintree in the stewards’ room during his first campaign over timber.

When reverting back to the level at Royal Ascot a couple of months later, Pied Piper was denied a clear passage at a crucial time in the Ascot Stakes, but still managed to finish a fair sixth of 19.

Another decent jumps campaign brought wins at Cheltenham and Down Royal, as well as a close second in the County Hurdle at the Festival.

Elliott’s charge had a blow-out on the Flat at Killarney in August and has since been prepared for this two-mile-two-furlong challenge.

When on song, Pied Piper has a lovely cruising speed that feels tailor-made for the Cesarewitch and the booking of Ryan Moore shows that connections are confident of his current well-being.

 

15:05 (York) Align The Stars

The Charlie Johnston-trained Align The Stars has shown solid form by finishing runner-up both starts to date including at Goodwood last time.

They’ll likely make plenty of use of him back down in trip and he might prove tough to beat back off the front end.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden newcomer Assailant makes for plenty of appeal on paper being by Dubawi and warrants respect.

Colorado Dancer and Winston's Tipple should also enter your calculations.

 

15:15 (Newmarket) Arabian Crown

Godolphin have another strong hand in the Group Three Ghaiyyath Zetland Stakes with Arabian Crown, who should enjoy this 10-furlong trip judged on the way he powered home for a Salisbury Listed win over a mile.

Knight deserves a change of luck in the Group Three Earthlight Darley Stakes after close seconds behind Angel Bleu in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and Chindit in Sandown’s Fortune Stakes.

 

15:35 (York) Believe In Stars

The Sir Michael Stoute trained Believe In Stars returned from a lengthy break with a narrow success in a novice event at Goodwood last time.

There looks to be plenty more to come among handicap company and he can make a winning start in this sphere.

La Yakel scored over this distance on soft ground at Doncaster last month and looks a likely chance off a 4lbs higher mark.

Previous course winner Scampi receives a the same rating as when an eye-catching tenth in the Ebor handicap here during August.

Certain Lad and Obelix make for plenty of each-way appeal.

 

15:50 (Newmarket) Real Gain

A tricky contest to weigh up where a chance is taken on the impressive handicap winner Real Gain.

It's interesting connections have opted to pitch this colt into group company following his commanding recent course and distance success.

Could be rewarded in this open-looking affair.

Knight ran a very solid opponent close in the Listed Fortune Stakes over one mile at Sandown last time, and won't mind any of the forecast rain.

Progressive Spirit Dancer came home best to win the G3 Strensall Stakes at York attempting this journey in August and cannot be left out of the equation.