Horse Racing Tips: Belgravian can enhance Ces credentials

A typically competitive Saturday is coming up with seven race meetings scheduled to take place across Britain and Ireland, the highlights being the afternoon fixtures from Ayr and Newbury. Newmarket kick things off at 13:00, closely followed by Ayr (13:15), Navan (13:25), Newbury (13:30), Gowran Park (13:42) and Chester (13:55).

The action continues late into the evening courtesy of a bumper nine-race card from Wolverhampton, where the first race is due to get underway at 16:19. Amongst our Saturday fancies is a highly progressive stayer of Andrew Balding’s, who will look to cement his place in next month’s Cesarewitch. 

Horse Racing Odds

Fast Racing Results

13:50 Ayr - Almeric @ 5/4

Andrew Balding’s ALMERIC has been seen only once this season, but he impressed when landing the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April and will have strong claims of following up in the same grade under Oisin Murphy.

He showed major improvement when winning by a length at HQ in the spring, beating his York maiden win by 24lb, according to Racing Post Ratings.

Ease underfoot appears key for him and the wet forecast should ensure he has just about his ideal conditions.

He sets the standard on ratings (113), upwards of 2lb ahead of his rivals, and there’s the potential for further improvement now that he tackles 1m2f for the first time, the three-year-old related to several middle-distance and a couple of staying winner.

14:25 Ayr - Binhareer @ 5/1

It’s been a bit of a frustrating week for trainer William Haggas, who has had a multitude of favourites turned over, despite running well.

However, it’s unlikely to be long before things click again for the trainer and I’m expecting a big run from his BINHAREER in the Ayr Silver Cup, the consolation race for the big one.

The selection is lightly raced, particularly at this trip, and made an immediate impact as a sprinter when running away with a handicap over this course and distance in July on good to soft ground.

Now 11lb higher, he’s found at least one too good on his subsequent couple of starts, but he’s performed well on each occasion and should be buoyed by a return to this track, especially with plenty of rain forecast.

15:55 Newmarket - Belgravian @ 11/10

The rapid progressive BELGRAVIAN can cap a good day for trainer Andrew Balding, the current second-favourite for next month’s Cesarewitch likely to harden in that ante-post market if landing this trial.

The selection has come on leaps and bounds since having cheekpieces applied, opening his account off a mark of 67 over 1m4f at Doncaster in July and winning another three times since, all over 2m, the latest off 86 at Goodwood last month.

Indeed, he was as impressive as he ever has been on his last start and looks well up to defying another 10lb hike, with further improvement anticipated over this extra quarter-mile.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.