It’s a supremely busy Saturday of racing action across Britain and Ireland with nine meetings scheduled and 62 races in total.
Newbury and the Curragh are the highest profile meetings, with support from Bath, Doncaster, Ripon, Newmarket and Tramore on the Flat alongside jumps cards at Perth and Market Rasen.
Our Saturday fancies include one to kick-start the afternoon at Newbury for a certain Frankie Dettori.
Selections for Saturday
Newbury 1.50 – Arrest @ 11/8
Frankie Dettori rides at Newbury this afternoon and the Italian ace can get off to a flyer on ARREST (6/4) for John & Thady Gosden.
The Frankel colt won twice last season and finished second in a heavy-ground French Group 1 on his final start as a juvenile. This season began in hugely promising fashion as he blew away his rivals when landing the Chester Vase upped to 1m2½f in May on soft ground.
Things haven’t gone to plan since in the Derby at Epsom (started favourite) or the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot, though firm ground in both instances can be offered as mitigation.
He’s up in trip / down in class for this Geoffrey Freer Stakes assignment at Newbury and with ease underfoot already and plenty rain around, Arrest is fancied to get back on track by landing the Group 3 opener.
Ripon 2.40 – Mark’s Choice @ 15/2
The Silver Trophy Handicap is one the Ripon features this afternoon as they get their terrestrial outing on ITV and this competitive six-furlong dash can see MARK’S CHOICE (17/2) going well for trainer Adrian Keatley.
The gelded son of Bungle Inthejungle is a Ripon regular, with seven wins and six more placed efforts from 21 visits to Yorkshire’s garden course.
His best effort – from four – this season notably came when he was a close-up fourth over this C&D (soft) in May off a 3lb higher mark in a pair of first-time blinkers.
The headgear is left off today but Dougie Costello’s partner is now rated 8lb lower than when finishing third in the Great St Wilfrid itself on this card last summer.
This is a Betfred Extra Place Race (FIVE places) and Mark’s Choice should run a big race at his favoured venue as he attempts to justify inclusion on the Most Napped table via the Betfred Betfinder for Saturday’s action.
Newmarket 4.20 – Outgun @ 11/8
Alan King and James Doyle team up with OUTGUN (6/4) at Newmarket in the mile-and-two-furlong 3YO handicap that is race five on the card this afternoon and the gelding is fancied to notch his first win.
He’s shown promise at the mile distance in five starts so far and was an eye-catcher at Newbury (1m, good) last month when attempting to come with a late challenge only to find lots of traffic woes and eventually finish to good effect once in clear daylight.
That suggested a win off this mark of 69 is within his compass and the way he finished bodes well for this extra distance.
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