ITV Racing Tips: Murph can be the King of Cambridgeshire

Well; red-letter day stuff from the ITV cameras on Saturday, September 28. Scintillating action from Newmarket (just the five live races); a couple from Haydock; and a Group 2 from the Curragh.

Hardly know where to start, but let's examine each little gem in turn and see if we can't signpost a few to run well for us this afternoon. Here then are the ITV tips, with action kicking in from 13:15.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

Full ITV schedule;

13:15 Newmarket - British Stallion Studs EBF “Jersey Lily” Fillies’ Nursery Handicap (2yo) 7f

13:30 - Haydock - Sky Bet For the Fans handicap 1m

13:50 Newmarket - Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (2yo) 1m

14:25 Newmarket - Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) (2yo) 6f

14:35 The Curragh - Beresford Stakes (Group 2) 1m

15:00 Newmarket - Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) 6f

15:15 Haydock - Ashton Handicap 1m

15:40 Newmarket - bet365 Cambridgeshire 1m 1f

Rationale

13:15 Newmarket – Naina each-way @ 11/2

Two-year-olds contest what looks like a very warm nursery.

Local trainer John Ryan saddles Naina, an Expert Eye filly, and 3lb claimer Christian Howarth is entrusted with the riding duties.

He’s won on her before, and the filly is progressing nicely. Of great interest is her ability to act (and win) on soft ground, as that’s very likely to be the case at HQ on Saturday.

I’m playing each-way personally as we’re paying four places.

13:30 Haydock - Rhoscolyn @ 5/1

On the face of it this admirable six-year-old warrior has it all to do under a 5lb penalty, but crucially acts really well on heavy ground.

Rhoscolyn is a credit to trainer David O'Meara and owners the Horse Watchers syndicate. The gelding pops up now and then to claim nice prizes and did exactly that at Goodwood last time just three days ago.

Connections are tempted by this similar test, no doubt buoyed by the knowledge of the likely ground conditions which will blunt plenty in this field - but not the selection.

David Nolan rides, not for the first time, and though it's definitely a modest stakes affair for me the horse surely has a bright chance under these conditions.

13:50 Newmarket – Angelo Buonarroti @ 9/2

Two-year-olds once again, colts this time, in the prestigious Royal Lodge.

Angelo Buonarroti joined Ralph Beckett in July from Raphael E Freire, and has had just the one spin since – a cosy win in York’s huge Convivial maiden at the Ebor meeting (£52k to the winner).

He’d previously debuted at Royal Ascot in the Coventry (only beaten 3l), and those are the only starts to date for this son of Justify.

Highly-tried then – and he really could be anything. His US Triple Crown-winning sire handled sloppy going, which though far from definitive is encouraging at least for this likely testing surface, and on only start number three is entitled to show any amount of improvement. Amo Racing’s retained pilot David Egan rides.

An absolutely fascinating heat.

14:25 Newmarket – Babouche @ 7/4

An unbeaten two-year-old Kodiac sprint filly in yet another outstanding contest.

Babouche is trained by Ger Lyons in County Meath, and the brilliant Colin Keane is on board. Three runs, three wins – all under Keane - and a Group 1 scorer already (last time out 49 days ago, in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh).

She debuted on good-to-yielding, which is not ‘soft’ per se but hopefully hints at her ability to handle give in the ground.

It’s the only slight imponderable, in what of course looks likely to be a red-hot affair. French raider Daylight adds colour but I’m not swapping the progressive Juddmonte flyer for anything.

14:35 The Curragh – Lambourn @ 4/1

A lovely bonus – a Curragh Group 2 mile contest, for juveniles.

Lambourn is one of two Aidan O’Brien colts entered, and this son of Australia is unbeaten in two starts to date.

Stablemate Trinity College has the fancier entries going forward, but Lambourn is in the Futurity, as Aidan shuffles his impressive juvenile pack to best effect.

He was a bit green early doors last time, unsurprisingly, before getting the hang of things at the business end under Christophe Soumillon.

He’s only been doing just enough so far and I’m hoping there’s more under the bonnet to unleash when push comes to shove. Another terrific race on what’s a magnificent day for the sport.

15:00 Newmarket – Whistlejacket @ 4/5

Two-year-old colts line up for the Middle Park, over 6f.

Whistlejacket found Babouche in his way at the Curragh (Phoenix Stakes, G1), but has since taken the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville. If Babouche takes the 2.25 this one will be even warmer, but on official marks it’s already his to lose really (famous last words).

Ryan Moore teams up with Aidan O’Brien – has there been a deadlier combination in recent years? The No Nay Never colt is well entered up and will surely take the beating.

15:15 Haydock – Jer Batt @ 11/2

An admirable, ultra-consistent four-year-old sprint gelding in the care of the Barrons in Maunby, North Yorkshire.

Another course-and-distance winner too – and a horse in career-best order who goes on the soft.

Terrific effort here last time three weeks ago, finishing second in a similar event to Shagraan, who’s subsequently run a blinder in the Portland.

Paul Mulrennan rides Jer Batt for the first time, but has few peers in the north and looks an excellent booking. The name Barron is synonymous with sprint handicappers over the years and very few do it better.

15:40 Newmarket - Roi De France each-way @ 7/1

Six places e/w for the Cambridgeshire – you know the rest!

Roi De France has got a great deal going for him. He’s an improving Sea The Stars colt out of a Dansili mare, trained by the Gosdens, and owned by ‘Mr Stradivarius’ – Bjorn Nielsen.

Did I mention that Oisin Murphy, who’s won on him before, is on top? We have to take on trust the ability to handle cut, as in his four starts to date the terrain has been on the faster side, but it didn’t trouble his magnificent sire one jot.

This looks like a plan to me, and the latest prep spin at York 10 days ago (kept on, a tad one-paced on the good-to-firm) should have set him up perfectly for this (same mark too – 95).

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