ITV Racing Tips: 9/4 NAP heads Saturday’s selections

Eight of Today's Horse Races from Sandown, Beverley and Chester are to be shown live on ITV and my ITV Racing tips consists of a selection for each and every one of them - including a 9/4 NAP in the finale.

13:30 Beverley - Quietness @ 5/4

Only five go to post for ITV's opener, the Silver Cup Handicap, and I fancy favourite backers to get off to a flyer courtesy of QUIETNESS.

Marcus Tregoning's four-year-old has improved immensely since moving yards back in April, winning four of five starts over the last three and a bit months, and he rates a solid proposition in a modest field.

Walter Hartright is the exception, as he's also developed into a bit of a winning machine, but for me the selection has more scope for improvement, especially over this 1m4f trip.

13:50 Sandown - Spanish Blaze @ 9/2

It could be a super Saturday for Mr. Tregoning, for I also fancy his three-year-old gelding SPANISH BLAZE in this seven-furlong handicap that kicks off the action at Sandown.

The son of Phoenix Of Spain enjoys himself at the Surrey venue, with his form there reading 112, and he's been in rude health since a gelding operation last November.

He's become the picture of consistency and ought to run his race again. With this rating an easier assignment than his previous two, he's the play for me.

14:05 Beverley - Democracy Dilemma @ 9/2

I suspect the veteran Commanche Falls will prove popular for the Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes, but he's barely raced, let alone won over the minimum trip and although he's been performing to a high standard, he's also winless in six starts so far this season.

DEMOCRACY DILEMMA's only success this term came at Chester and in May but bar a no-show at Haydock the following month, he's been very consistent throughout.

His latest effort off a mark of 104 in a competitive handicap at York's Ebor Festival, where he finished just a length off the winner in 4/22, was arguably a career-best and the four-year-old must have every chance of claiming Listed honours here.

14:25 Sandown - Tamfana @ 1/1

The first of two Group races at Sandown on Saturday is the Atalanta Stakes - a mile-long contest for fillies and mares aged three and above.

This can go to David Menuisier's three-year-old TAMFANA.

She was an incredibly eye-catching fourth, beaten only a length, in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket back in May before two decent runs in defeat in Group 1s over 1m2f+ at Chantilly and Longchamp in France.

Back down to a mile and in calmer waters, she is hard to oppose.

14:40 Chester - Yanifer @ 6/1

Chester is a unique track and so course form is important. YANIFER has a strong record - 18231 - on the Roodee since joining trainer Harriet Bethell and he can extend that here.

The six-year-old Dandy Man gelding has a four-pound rise to overcome but he's in the form of his life and ought to make another bold bid.

15:00 Sandown - Balmacara @ 5/2

This 1m2f handicap is wide-open, but if anything stands out it's BALMACARA.

Eve Johnson Houghton's lightly-raced three-year-old has done the majority of his racing over seven furlongs, showing a decent standard in the process, but he took things to new heights when sent over course and distance (1m2f) last month.

He was runner-up to the highly-rated Persica that day and a whopping 13 lengths ahead of his other eight rivals, recording a career-best RPR of 103.

With more to offer at this new trip and in general, he's the bet for me.

15:15 Chester - Real Dream @ 9/2

The penultimate race on ITV this Saturday is the Chester Stakes - a Listed event over an extended 1m6f.

A chance is taken on the fitness of Sir Michael Stoute's REAL DREAM, who bombed at York back in June and has had his wind done in the meantime, for his profile makes great appeal.

As the yard's runners so often do, the Lope De Vega gelding is improving with age and has been threatening to win a decent prize like this.

If he's ready, which I'm optimistic about given he won his reappearance in May 2023 following wind surgery, a gelding operation and 325 days on the sidelines, he can make his mark.

15:35 Sandown - Royal Playwright @ 9/4

As a half-brother to the 114-rated See The Fire, Andrew Balding's ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT is bred to be good - and he sure looked it on his debut at Salisbury last month.

The two-year-old Lope De Vega colt ran out a comfortable winner, putting three lengths between him and one of Ralph Beckett's who subsequently finished a narrow second in a competitive handicap off a mark of 80 at Glorious Goodwood.

Several of the other six juveniles in the Solario Stakes - a Group 3 over seven furlongs - are also promising in their own right, but I was very taken by the start made by the selection and I'm bullish about what he can do here as the excellent Oisin Murphy takes over in the saddle. He's the NAP.

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