Six excellent races live on Saturday in front of the ITV cameras. We’ve got four from the iconic Goodwood Festival, and a couple from flat racing HQ at Newmarket. Here’s exactly what we can look forward to, including the Stewards’ Cup sprint at 3.35;

Goodwood

1:50 The Coral Stewards’ Sprint Handicap Stakes – 6F

2:25 Coral Summer Handicap Stakes – 1M 6F

3:00 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes – Group 2 – 1M 6F

3:35 Coral Stewards’ Cup – 6F

Newmarket

2:05 Fillies’ EBF Nursery Handicap – 6F

2:40 British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes, Listed – 1M 4F

Wouldn’t be an ITV Saturday if we didn’t furnish some tips, so here goes;

Goodwood 1:50 – Count Otto each-way @ 8/1

Amanda Perrett’s experienced and talented 8-yr-old probably needed to win last time at Windsor to become highly-rated enough to even get into this consolation contest, courtesy of his penalty.

In any event it was a good performance, and though stepping up in class on Saturday there’s still plenty to like. Hot jock of the moment Jim Crowley takes the ride, and given the prevailing underfoot conditions this week he’s well-drawn in box 13 of 14.

He’s a real 6f specialist and though racing off 80 here, has won off 91 in the past. In March at Lingfield he beat Aberama Gold getting just one pound, and that horse scored in the Dash at York last weekend. We’re paying 4 places e/w, so that’s the way I’ll be playing it.

Newmarket 2:05 – Woodhay Wonder each-way @ 7/1

The outstanding Will Buick diverts from Goodwood to HQ for an attractive book of rides – this definitely being one of them. Many say ‘back the topweight in a nursery,’ and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing here with Tom Ward’s juvenile filly Woodhay Wonder.

She’s earned that rating – respectable Kempton debut, cosy win at Newbury, and a fine effort in a Group 2 here 3 weeks ago. Far calmer waters here, and though she’s shouldering 9st 9lb, as I say, she’s earned it.

Stuck to her task well last time when arguably perhaps just a little overfaced on only her third start, and I’m expecting Buick to help bag this valuable £20k prize before her sights are perhaps raised once more. She’s still in the Lowther, and a couple of big early-closing sales races.

Goodwood 2:25 – Sweet William @ 2/1

Sweet William for me made quite a statement at Newbury a couple of weeks ago. Armchair, push-button stuff in a valuable Class 2 over 2+f further than this, dotting up by 3l. ‘Comfortably,’ according to the Racing Post, and that was just about spot on.

Rab Havlin maintains the partnership for Normandie Stud and the Gosdens, and though up 7lb for that impressive success I can’t help thinking that might not stop him.

The likely easier ground is of far greater concern but he’s by the great champion Sea The Stars, who dealt with any ground, distance and opposition in quite brilliant fashion. It the apple’s not fallen far from the tree the easy surface shouldn’t be of too much concern.

There’s every indication in my view that this is a 4-yr-old stayer on the up, and after that last career-best it’s exciting to see what’s yet to come perhaps.

Newmarket 2:40 – Sunset Point @ 9/2

It’s Will Buick time again, on this occasion for his main patrons Godolphin, and trainer Charlie Appleby.

A Donnacha O’Brien-trained hotpot (Amusement) is keeping ‘Sunset’ at what I consider to be an excellent price at the moment, and long may that continue. Buick’s mount has perhaps 7lb to find on official figures, but he’s playing at ‘home’ whereas the daughter of Galileo Amusement is on away territory.

She’s been running well over 1m 6f recently and drops back to 1m 4f today and though undoubtedly smart, Sunset Point herself is fresh from a career-best at Ascot a couple of weeks ago under the excellent Harry Davies. Easy ground holds no terrors, and with a little more improvement this daughter of Dubawi can do the business for us at HQ.

It’s a lovely Listed contest for fillies and mares with a predominantly 3-yr-old field. Two older horses try their luck – Wickywickywheels and Madame Ambassador – though both look to have it all to do.

Goodwood 3:00 – Free Wind @ 11/10

A Group 2 contest with one outstanding entrant – Free Wind, for Mr Strawbridge, the Gosdens, and Frankie Dettori. The mare has 9lb and more in hand on official figures, and it will be a big shock to me at least if she doesn’t prevail.

Took York’s Middleton at the Dante meeting before running a 3l-fifth behind Pyledriver at Ascot in the Hardwicke. That’s solid Group form, and though River Of Stars notably is expected to be a tough nut to crack I expect to see Frankie waving to his adoring public for one of the very last times at this glorious venue.

Goodwood 3:35 – Apollo One each-way @ 14/1

The big one of the day, arguably. A huge cavalry charge dash over the 6f – a slower version in all likelihood this time given the easy ground we’ve had all week; and IF the ground remains that way surely a high draw is a godsend, too.

The stalls are scheduled to be positioned in the centre of the track, but as I said if it’s testing expect something of a rush towards the higher ground under the stands’ rail.

Weighing all this, plus looking for an in-form type with the scope and experience to prosper, I’ve gone for Apollo One, a 5-yr-old gelding trained by Messrs Charalambous and Clutterbuck, and ridden by the excellent Richard Kingscote.

Ran a marvellous race to be second in the Wokingham, and has performed with credit on easier ground, though would I suspect prefer better – as would many. Is running off a mark of 100, but as a juvenile won off 104 – and on soft ground, too.

He’s tough, been to plenty of rodeos, and has a wardrobe full of appropriate t-shirts. For me he ticks a lot of boxes in an attempt to solve this cracker of a puzzle, and given that we’re paying SIX places each-way I’m definitely thinking that’s the way to go with this fabulous, legendary old contest.

I hope you have an enjoyable afternoon, good luck, and most important of all, as always – take care.