ITV Racing Tips: Triple Crown step one for Aidan’s ace?

It's the first Classic of the season on Saturday, May 4, and the ITV cameras are there to bring it to us. Four contests then from flat-race HQ, Newmarket, with one each from both Goodwood, and Thirsk. The 2000 Guineas might take centre stage, but there's plenty of strong supporting action to savour.

Spring is guiding us towards summer. The flat is ramping up. So many mouth-watering delights to look forward to. That old Star Wars joke about today's date? The 'fourth' is already well and truly with us, in every respect.

Full ITV programme of events;

13:45 Newmarket William Hill Extra Place Races Handicap (Class 2) (6f)

14:05 Goodwood William Hill Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) (1m)

14:20 Newmarket William Hill Suffolk Stakes (Class 2) (Heritage Handicap) (1m 1f)

14:40 Thirsk Vickers.Bet Thirsk Hunt Cup Handicap (Class 2) (1m)

14:55 Newmarket William Hill Palace House Stakes (Group 3) (5f)

15:35 Newmarket QIPCO 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (1m)

Rationale;

13:45 Newmarket - Rabaah each-way @ 7/1

Seasoned sprinters chase a lovely prize of over £50k in this ultra-competitive Class 2 handicap.

My selection Rabaah is a four-year-old gelded son of Dubawi. He races in the legendary Shadwell colours, is trained by Charlie Hills, and will be ridden by the excellent Jim Crowley.

We're paying five places each-way and in such a contest that's a massive plus. Rabaah ran once at two, four times at three, and was last seen in June last year in a similar contest on York's big Macmillan charity day.

He was beaten just 2l in a field of 21, running on well. Prior to that at Newbury he ran another excellent race in a Listed heat, after picking up two little novice stakes races on the sand. He was progressing beautifully but must have had some issues, as we've not seen him on the track for 322 days.

He raced off 97 at York, and it's 96 today. If he's straight he's got to go very close in my book, and knowing his outstanding connections that's a chance I'm more than willing to take.

14:05 Goodwood - Novus @ 3/1

What we need here is a horse that can handle cut, and possibly worse. Talent is handy, certainly. The advertised going is 'heavy,' so course-and-distance scorer Novus is just that entry for me.

Gary and Josh Moore train, and the evergreen Tom Queally is in the plate. This is a Listed heat, and he took a Group 3 in the autumn at Newmarket. He's had a cobweb-blower 17 days ago in the Earl of Sefton, and should therefore be cherry-ripe for this assignment.

Knowing this quirky track and hopefully handling at the very least soft ground is a huge bonus, and this daughter of the great Dandy Man can do the business for me.

14:20 Newmarket - Theoryofeverything each-way @ 6/1

Here we have a four-year-old Frankel gelding out of a Dark Angel mare - beautifully bred then, and a high-quality handicapper in the making.

Formerly with the Gosdens, Theoryofeverything has had one spin so far for new connections at David O'Meara's, beaten around half-a-length in a big field in a similar race on this course. Any repeat would put him bang there, but a little more improvement is entirely feasible.

Will Buick has been booked to ride, which is another large tick in the credit column. Massive chance for me, and with five places each-way that's the way I'm playing it.

Trust Mr O'Meara to navigate his way though the season with the horse to maximum effect, and if I could get a price about him taking a York handicap with this one before the end of November I'd take that, too.

14:40 Thirsk - Thunder Roar each-way @ 11/2

Thunder Roar has already appeared three times this campaign, and is in cracking form. The five-year-old Night Of Thunder gelding ran a fine second in the Spring Mile at Donny, and a close-up third in another similar affair at Leicester a week ago.

Connections come to the well once again in this historic contest, The Thirsk Hunt Cup, which dates back to the mid-19th century. We're paying five places each-way, and with 16 due to face the starter I'm taking full advantage of that.

A bit of cut in the ground would be welcome, and as the horse tends to finish his races strongly at this mile trip, expect a timely challenge from jockey Cam Hardie that can hopefully put him right in the thick of the action late in the piece.

14:55 Newmarket - Twilight Calls @ 9/2

Seasoned sprinters contest a Group 3 over the flying five.

Twilight Calls is handled by master trainer Henry Candy, and he's booked one the planet's leading pilots to do the steering - Ryan Moore. The six-year-old offspring of Twilight Son, out of an Invincible Spirit mare, contested the Group 1 King's Stand at the Royal meeting, beaten less than 4l.

He's well up to taking this if Mr Candy has a nice edge on him - and the booking of Moore leads me to thinking, hopefully, that that's the case. He's a course-and-distance scorer, another plus for me.

It's 253 days since he last saw a racetrack in earnest, but Candy has few peers when it comes to readying one for such a test. Lovely race that is a standout on its own - but then we've got ..

15:35 Newmarket - City Of Troy @ 4/6

The 2000 Guineas, and the first Classic of the new season. A big talking horse hotpot, too. Fascinating.

The animal in question is another benefitting from the presence up top of R Moore, namely the champion two-year-old from 2023, City Of Troy. He brilliantly took down the Dewhurst here at the season's end by over 3l, he was progressive, and is unbeaten in three career starts.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has spoken very highly of him, and if he's trained on it's his to lose for me, which is reflected in the likely starting price. He's by US Triple Crown winner Justify, and with glorious symmetry City Of Troy is being spoken about in terms of potentially winning this, the Betfred Derby, and the Betfred St Leger.

Domestic racing's Triple Crown has not been done since the great Nijinsky pulled it off back in 1970 (L Piggott/Vincent O'Brien). Around 15:40 on Saturday we'll know whether it's still 'on' or not for 2024. Fingers crossed ...

If you're playing, the very best of luck, and as always, have fun.

ITV Racing tips from Betfred Insights.