Saturday Racing Tips: Three Extra Place Races Picks for the afternoon

Tip 1

Lots of quality action at Newbury on their Super Sprint card but they aren’t alone in that regard and the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap is a feature event worth taking in at Yorkshire’s Garden course.

Chillingham perhaps didn’t get home in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot last month over 1m6f and may rebound but Ed Bethell’s charge has 10st to carry and the 8lb he gives to MR CURIOSITY (15/2) makes Tim Easterby’s Frankel gelding one to be noted.

This Class 2 feature has only attracted a field of seven but punters can take some respite in the knowledge that it’s a Betfred Extra Place Race (three places).

This ex-Charlie Fellowes inmate scored twice in 2021 for that yard and has run only four times since the end of that year.

He moved to Easterby last winter and was thrown in at the deep end in the November Handicap at Doncaster on stable bow.

After a break, he shaped as if needing the run at Newcastle on the first of this month but was doing some good late work last week at Chester (1m3½f, soft) when finishing third. The extra yardage now promises to suit and on that evidence his turn may be coming again soon.  

Tip 2

A mix of exciting Group-race action and competitive handicaps on Irish Oaks day at the Curragh. Epsom bridesmaid Savethelastdance will be a popular pick to go one better in the big race but, ahead of that, there could be some value in taking generous odds about BIG BABY BULL (33/1) in the Scurry Handicap for trainer Denis Hogan.

The 7YO gelding arrives in good tune, with wins at Tipperary (7½f, good) and Limerick (6½f, yielding to soft) in May/June and a fine second on his most recent start at Fairyhouse (7f, good) 10 days ago.

Sean Bowen was back on board for that latest start and the 7lb claimer is on top once more now.

This is competitive stuff and the trip is just about as short as he would want, but in this 21-runner cavalry charge they may go quick and that will help bring his stamina into play.

This Betfred Extra Place Race sees FIVE paid each-way and at current odds in the midst of some fine form and from what is still a workable mark, Big Baby Bull may be overpriced to hit the frame.

Tip 3

Hollie Doyle is at Newmarket this afternoon and she could be on a winner for the David O’Meara team with BOPEDRO (10/1) in the Lettergold Handicap over a mile.

He won here on the other course in April over this trip off a mark of 97 and has mostly held his form in five starts since that – bar a blip at Leicester soon after.

Winner of the Irish Cambridgeshire winner in 2021, he was sixth of 29 in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot (7f, good to firm) last month, with that trip sure to be on the sharp side.

He tackled 7f again since at York but found his path blocked up the running rail at a crucial stage and so that’s a run worth forgiving.

Back at the mile and just 2lb above his previous win-mark, Bopedro is worth chancing and he’s on the Most Napped list via the Betfred Betfinder for today’s racing.