ITV Racing Tips: Where there’s a Will, there are winners

Fine ITV fare, as per, this Saturday. Beamed by the channel will be five from an eight-race card at Ayr, plus four from a similarly abundant programme at Newbury. The Firth of Clyde and the Mill Reef are probably the respective highlights, but it's tremendous racing all told; including of course that magnificent annual spectacle, the Ayr Gold Cup.

Here then are our ITV Racing tips; and if you're playing, good luck, have fun as always, and above all else, enjoy.

Today's Horse Races

Full ITV schedule;

13:15 Ayr - VirginBet Price Boosts Handicap 1m

13:30 Newbury - Dubai International Airport World Trophy - Group 3 5f

13:50 Ayr - Livescore Doonside Cup - Listed 1m 2f

14:05 Newbury - Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup - Handicap 1m 5f

14:25 Ayr - VirginBet Ayr Silver Cup - Handicap 6f

14:40 Newbury - Dubai Duty Free Handicap 1m 2f

15:00 Ayr - VirginBet Firth Of Clyde Stakes - Group 3 6f

15:15 Newbury - Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes - Group 2 6f

15:35 Ayr - VirginBet Ayr Gold Cup - Handicap 6f

Rationale

13:15 Ayr - Apiarist each-way @ 8/1

We’re paying four places e/w in this fiercely-competitive handicap.

Kevin Ryan’s three-year-old Night Of Thunder gelding hasn’t won yet this campaign but he’s steadily inching inexorably that way.

He’s been bang on the premises in similar heats at some of our biggest tracks – York, Ascot, Goodwood – and his trainer is highly likely to strike with him at some point.

Last time on the Knavesmire APIARIST came up agonisingly short, beaten less than a length, and I can see a mighty run in him on Saturday off the same mark, 87.

13:30 Newbury - Relief Rally @ 6/1

Last term’s Lowther winner, and a course-and-distance Listed second when last seen in May.

RELIEF RALLY is very lightly-raced this year, and the Kodiac filly must overcome an absence of 126 days. She’s in the care of William Haggas, who I’m sure has given her all the time she needs.

On that last run she finished well at the 6f trip and it remains to be seen whether this drop down to 5f and 34 yards is ideal or otherwise – but she won the 5f Super Sprint here at two on good-to-soft, and could get similar ground conditions on Saturday.

Another firecracker of a contest.

13:50 Ayr - Enfjaar @ 10/3

Old firm time – Shadwell, Varian, Crowley; and a talented four-year-old Lope De Vega gelding with four career wins from nine starts.

ENFJAAR journeys north enjoying a fine season. Last time at York perhaps the fast ground counted against him as he raced a little below par in a Group 3.

Previously he’d taken the John Smith’s Cup on the Knavesmire and narrowly been pipped in a 17-runner Goodwood Class 2 handicap. A Listed affair seems the logical choice, and on official marks he’s right up there. Superb race.

14:05 Newbury - Lieber Power @ 11/2

I tipped this one up the other day in a pulsating York handicap and he almost pulled it off. Recompense awaits?

LIEBER POWER is up 4lb for that narrow defeat, an unfortunate penalty for being wonderful but not quite taking the first prize. It’s a cruel game sometimes.

Oisin Murphy is once again on board, for trainer Andrew Balding, and this progressive four-year-old Cracksman gelding can get back to winning ways.

14:25 Ayr - Summerghand each-way @ 7/1

We’re paying SIX places each-way, so let’s take full advantage of that.

Our great warrior hero may be 10 years young, but what a star. SUMMERGHAND has a CV that includes an Ayr Gold Cup and a Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, and the small matter of 17 career wins.

At the Curragh last weekend he ran a stormer, coming with his customary late rattle to be beaten just 2.25l racing for a £78k first prize.

He’s up a pound to a mark of 89, but when you think he was rated 113 in his absolute pomp you realise just what a special sprint handicapper this is.

He can hoover them up close home, can’t he?

14:40 Newbury - Involvement @ 7/2

The Crisfords have had four winners in the last 14 days – hardly hold the front page material, but their INVOLVEMENT could very well be about to make it five.

The selection is another by prolific sire Lope De Vega out of a Dubawi mare, and nearly took one of these three weeks ago at Sandown.

It was a career-best for the three-year-old, and once again Will Buick is in the plate. All types of ground seems to suit, and Buick’s in great nick (when isn’t he?), running at 24% (winners) for his last 14 days in the saddle.

He’s up just a pound in the handicap for last time and can score for owner Sultan Ali.

15:00 Ayr - Town And Country each-way @ 7/1

Noted Irish National Hunt trainer Henry De Bromhead has been making hay on the flat of late (27% strike-rate in the last fortnight), and his two-year-old filly TOWN AND COUNTRY looks to take this prestigious Group 3 sprint.

The great Billy Lee has been on top for her two career spins to date but is claimed back home at Gowran Park. Jim Crowley is a magnificent super sub, and on just her third start she can improve upon a battling success last time 23 days ago in a Navan maiden, after running green on debut down the field at Naas.

15:15 Newbury - Shadow Of Light @ 5/2

There’s a little bit of path of least resistance about this selection. ‘If in doubt side with Buick (again), and his main man Charlie Appleby’ isn’t a bad old mantra.

His SHADOW OF LIGHT is a two-year-old by; yes, you guessed it. Lope De Vega. He’s entered in the Group 1 Middle Park and looks to take this Group 2 Mill Reef en route.

He’s progressive, is two-from-three, and was a running-on second in the Group 2 Gimcrack on the Knavesmire 29 days ago, which already is working out nicely. Wouldn’t swap him.

15:35 Ayr - Ramazan each-way @ 10/1

The big sprint handicap – the Ayr Gold Cup.

We’re going SIX places each-way again – so you know the rest. RAMAZAN was the second-placed element of a Richard Fahey one-two in the Great St Wilfred at Ripon five weeks ago, and is up 3lb for his trouble.

The four-year-old Kodiac gelding is in career-best order and gets further, narrowly failing to take a red-hot 7f Ascot prize in May. Always feel that’s an advantage in these huge sprints, as it’s more likely you’ll be running through the line with more purpose.

Three-pound claimer Oisin Orr knows him well, and from the 14 box can pretty much go wherever he feels is best regarding track position. Fiendishly tricky of course, but one of those great, historic autumn events to savour.

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