ITV Racing Tips: Eight live sizzlers on Saturday afternoon

Superb ITV autumn Saturday fare from the latter stages of the flat season - FIVE beamed live from Newmarket, including the Dewhurst and the Cesarewitch; plus THREE from York embracing two for 6f flying machines in the Sprint Trophy, and the Rockingham.

Whisper it gently but there's a marvellous Chepstow card today, too; always a traditional nod to the fact that the quality jumping action, with the big battalions joining the party, is very nearly upon us. Couple of weeks only to the first Chelters meeting of the season for example - lovely. Something for everyone today then; the sport of kings treating us to our habitual weekend feast. Love it.

Horse Racing Odds

Fast Racing Results

Full ITV schedule;

13:15 Newmarket – Too Darn Hot Darley Stakes (Group 3) 1m 1f
13:30 York – Rockingham Stakes (Listed) 6f
13:50 Newmarket – Night Of Thunder Zetland Stakes 1m 2f
14:05 York – Handicap 1m 2½f
14:25 Newmarket – Autumn Stakes (Group 3) 1m
15:00 Newmarket – Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) 7f
15:15 York – Sprint Trophy Handicap 6f
15:40 Newmarket – Cesarewitch Handicap 2m 2f

Rationale;

13:15 Newmarket – Damysus @ 6/4

We start with a G3 over 1m 1f, and a small but select field.

Wathnan Racing field two, and it's the infinitely better-fancied of the pair in market terms Damysus that I'm most interested in. James Doyle rides, as per, and this three-year-old son of Frankel is progressing very nicely after five career starts to date.

On four of those runs he's either prevailed (twice) or run the winner mightily close. Such is the esteem in which he's held his second-ever racecourse appearance was in a Sandown G3 and his only real blip was a tailed-off last in Lambourn's Epsom Derby, exposing possible stamina limitations at a mile-and-a-half - or perhaps he just didn't take to Epsom. Wouldn't be the first.

No such issues here (9f) and in fact he's shown he stays 10f+ perfectly well. He took a Listed race at that distance when last seen at Deauville in August, and having finished a 1.25l second in the G2 Dante at York in May he won't fear this company one jot.

Tremendous chance.

13:30 York – Division @ 5/2

First up on the fabled Knavesmire is a typical, decent-sized York 6f sprint, runners-wise, for two-year-olds - at Listed level.

On official marks our selection Division isn't top of the tree but he's close enough. Only three runs to go on, and the last two have been wins - in a Haydock novice, and a similar heat at Yarmouth.

He's been steadily progressive each time, and takes this step up now for powerful connections Wathnan Racing and trainer William Haggas. Stable jock Tom Marquand is on board.

He's drawn eight, so this son of the mighty Kingman can look to make all up the centre perhaps, or go wherever the peloton dictates if he's tucking in behind.

Cracking race, not one for heroic stakes, and looking forward to it immensely; wishing I was there on this magnificent stage to see the action for myself.

13:50 Newmarket – Look To The Stars @ 3/1

Big HQ meetings seem to bring out the best in the boys in blue, and in this era of trainer Charlie Appleby being very firmly Godolphin's main man it's not hard to envisage a potentially big day unfolding.

Will Buick, who else, is on board the stable's gelded two-year-old Look To The Stars; a son of the respectable but certainly not outstanding Galiway, but out of a Sea The Stars mare - hence the name.

The trip is 10f, right at the upper limit for juveniles in this G3, and the selection has progressed nicely over his four runs to date, culminating in a cosy success last time at Newbury 22 days ago in a warm Conditions Stakes contest.

It's an open race betting-wise as I write, and some big yards oppose. Happy though to row in with the Moulton Paddocks representative, in what's sure to be a very informative affair especially with next season in mind.

14:05 York – Per Contra each-way (1/5 odds 4 places) @ 7/1

Fifteen face the starter and I'm using the e/w option, that's for sure. A teak-tough old handicap, over the Dante/Juddmonte trip of 1m 2.5f.

Per Contra is trained by Tim Easterby not too far away in Great Habton - about 20 miles. It's been a good season for the yard and while they're a threat anywhere they're especially potent here at York.

This four-year-old Footstepsinthesand gelding is four-from-19 all told, and arrives having won readily at Newcastle 13 days ago. He's up 6lb for that to 89 today, but has won in the past off 88 (April 2024).

Stays in excess of this trip which is no bad thing and with plenty going for him has a bright chance for me of getting among the places - or even better. Duran Fentiman rides - for the first time.

14:25 Newmarket – Straight Up @ 11/4

Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O'Brien saddles two - one of which I'm hoping can take this G3, over a mile, for two-year-olds.

Aidan's Wootton Bassett colt Straight Up has had just the one racecourse appearance thus far, a comfortable heavy-ground 3l Listowel maiden success 18 days ago.

It was a further 5l back to the third, and though it's difficult to be bullish about what he's beaten there it was, nevertheless, emphatic. Big step up now then of course, but his trainer's ability needs no introductory rhubarb from me and with Belgian superstar jock Christophe Soumillon engaged to do the steering he's sure to have his admirers.

Including yours truly.

15:00 Newmarket – Gstaad @ 3/1

The list of former Dewhurst winners features some of the very best to have looked through a bridle. Where to start ... how about El Gran Senor; Rock Of Gibraltar; Frankel; City Of Troy; there's dozens of others I could mention, from the very top-drawer (I can feel fans of Wollow, The Minstrel, Grundy, Zafonic, Mill Reef - yes, Mill flippin' Reef! - reaching for their keyboards as we speak).

The Class of 2025 line up over 7f of the Rowley Mile with hopes of Guineas and/or Derby glory next term. Taking this Group 1 could be a huge step on that path, and a gentleman who by my reckoning has saddled eight previous Dewhurst winners is the peerless Aidan O'Brien.

He runs two - Italy, with Wayne Lordan engaged; and my selection Gstaad, with Christophe Soumillon up top. The Starspangledbanner colt has scored twice, including taking the Coventry by 3l at Royal Ascot on just his second start; and then latterly being beaten inches in two G1s (France's Prix Morny, and Ireland's National Stakes).

So - only the fifth time on a racetrack in earnest this afternoon, and the chance to avenge one of those agonisingly close reverses, as his Curragh conqueror Zavateri reopposes.

On official marks those two are favoured to fight out the finish but there are plenty of potential dangers. It looks a good renewal and only what unfolds on the racetrack will tell us if it's a great one.

15:15 York – Uncle Don each-way (1/5 odds, 5 places) @ 14/1

Another designed for e/w action; a high-quality 6f sprint with potentially a maximum field of 22 hurtling up the Knavesmire straight.

Uncle Don runs in the familiar colours of Middleham Park Racing, is trained by more Yorkshire sporting royalty in Richard Fahey, and will be ridden by the yard's number one Oisin Orr.

One win from eight so far, and after a couple of disappointing efforts around runs five and six this one was gelded in June. Two subsequent starts have been better, especially last time 14 days ago at Haydock (beaten 3l, after enduring trouble in running).

Given the likelihood of an improved show IF he gets a clearer passage this time, and throwing in Mr Fahey's habit, like Mr Easterby, of gunning down many a prize here, I'm giving this three-year-old Oasis Dream offspring a big chance of going close.

15:40 Newmarket – Beylerbeyi each-way (1/5 odds, 5 places) @ 8/1

Time for one of the season's standout staying handicaps - the Cesarewitch, over the flat racing marathon distance of 2m 2f.

Five places each-way is most definitely the way to go, even though in numerical terms the 21 scheduled to face the starter are a fair bit short of the race maximum (32).

Our selection is a seasoned, five-year-old Invincible Spirit gelding, trained by Ian Williams in Worcestershire. Beylerbeyi arrives in fine fettle, having won three of his last six starts and been placed, close-up, in the others.

This mark of 91 looks fair for what he's achieved and a major plus is the presence in the saddle of Billy Loughnane, who's ridden him a couple of times previously.

Fine each-way shout from a yard that majors in super-competitive tilts at the likes of the Chester Cup - extremely similar territory in every respect. Beylerbeyi was last seen three weeks ago, running a blinder at Newbury (beaten 1l) in a field of 14.

He's actually 3lb lower here, and for a handicapper has an excellent all-time eight-from-38 career record.

ITV Racing tips from Betfred Insights.