Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Newbury and Newmarket
- Planet Sport writer
- 19 May 2023
The ITV cameras leave York and move south to Newbury and Newmarket on Saturday, May 20 and the Planet Sport tipsters have more juicy selections for the seven races on offer.
The Group 1 Lockinge Stakes (1535) is the big highlight of the seven race card at Newbury. ITV will be showing that and three other crackers, plus three contests from Newmarket too.
We'll start with a quick look at a list of our tips for Saturday's racing, you can get more detail on our highlighted horses further down the page.
Don't forget to check out the racecards, results and live odds in Planet Sport's racing live centre.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)
Saturday's selections:
14:05 (Newmarket) Acotango
14:25 (Newbury) Haskoy
14:40 (Newmarket) Eminency
15:00 (Newbury) Exoplanet
15:15 (Newmarket) Powerdress
13:50 (Newbury) Noble Style
Charlie Appleby should also be on the mark with Noble Style in the BetVictor Carnarvon Stakes.
Unbeaten at two, he did not appear to see out the mile distance in the 2000 Guineas on what was his first start beyond six furlongs, eventually being beaten just over five lengths in sixth.
Dropping back to six furlongs and Listed company, Noble Style appears well ahead of his rivals and should strip fitter for his Newmarket spin.
14:05 (Newmarket) Acotango
It looks best to side with Acotango, who finished a good second at Haydock on his reappearance last month.
He bumped into a progressive rival that day, who has subsequently followed up off a 6lb higher mark.
The gelded son of Kodiac could be well handicapped nudged up 3lb in the ratings, and he's well fancied.
Recent Lingfield scorer Totnes is respected back on the turf, while handicap debutant Ceanna is another who merits consideration.
14:25 (Newbury) Haskoy
Ralph Beckett and Juddmonte charge Haskoy is worth a shout in the Al Rayyan Stakes.
She was second past the post in the St Leger but demoted to fourth after causing interference, although it was still an excellent effort on what was just her third career start.
The daughter of Golden Horn looked sure to improve again at four and moving back to 12 furlongs on her return should be no issue.
14:40 (Newmarket) Eminency
Eminency can take a starring role in the Aspall Suffolk Draught Cyder Handicap at Newmarket.
He endured a luckless run when beaten less than two lengths in fourth at Kempton last month and his current mark of 86 still looks competitive.
The form of Mutaany's October Brighton success has proved to be very strong and, though a beaten favourite on his reappearance, he's fancied to take a step forward.
15:00 (Newbury) Exoplanet
Exoplanet was brushed aside by Military Orders at this track on his seasonal bow, but compensation awaits in the BetVictor London Gold Cup.
Beaten four lengths by the leading Derby hope, Exoplanet holds a clutch of Group-race entries and winners of this race often gone on to much better things, with Bay Bridge, Headman, Defoe and Time Test all on the recent roll of honour.
Others to consider include Desert Hero who is two out of three to date, with the latest of those victories a comfortable three-length verdict under a penalty in a Redcar novice event back in October.
The son of Sea The Stars, who is still in the Derby, is likely to find improvement for this further step up in trip and he ought to go very close on his handicap bow.
Royal Rhyme, who struck over this distance by five lengths at Newmarket's Guineas meeting, could get in contention off 10lb higher, while Bertinelli has to be of interest for the Aidan O'Brien stable.
15:15 (Newmarket) Powerdress
A case can be made for most of these but marginal preference is for Powerdress, who struggled in the 1000 Guineas last time but her previous effort over course and distance suggests that a mark of 88 should be workable.
Striking Star is an obvious danger after hitting the crossbar here two weeks ago, although a 5lb higher mark will make his life tougher.
Changing Colours should not be discounted now upped in trip, while Mile End and Signcastle City are others to consider.
15.35 (Newbury) Modern Games
Modern Games can bounce back from a surprise defeat on his reappearance by winning the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
The four-year-old has four wins at the highest level to his credit, having the distinction of being a dual Breeders' Cup winner following victories in the Juvenile Turf in 2021 and the Mile in 2022.
He also landed the French 2000 Guineas as a three-year-old and the Woodbine Mile in what has been a fine global campaign masterminded by Appleby, although it did mean he was limited to just two British starts last year.
Nevertheless, he showed his form stacks up nicely on the domestic front, chasing home Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes, albeit the winner was in a different league, and taking second place in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in the autumn.
Modern Games was widely expected to take a Keeneland Grade One first time up last month, but he took a while to pick up and could not reel in the three-and-a-half-length victor Chez Pierre, having to settle for second in a run that should have primed him nicely for this.
The Dubawi colt is versatile in terms of ground and in what looks a relatively open heat, he can step up.
