Saturday Racing Tips: Owen’s best bets Warrant a close look

It's set to be a busy Saturday on the racing front, consisting of seven meetings - six on the flat and one over jumps.

I've had a good look at the cards and come up with a trio of Saturday racing tips, including a 6/4 Nap.

14:40 Newbury - Theory Of Tides @ 7/1

Fittingly, THEORY OF TIDES has a very in-and-out profile.

John & Thady Gosden's four-year-old son of Galileo made a superb start to his career in May last year, winning a couple of novice events at Nottingham and Yarmouth.

Those victories over Dramatic Star (rated 92 after his narrow defeat in the Old Borough Cup at Haydock a fortnight ago) and Steel Tiger (85) aged pretty well, too.

After struggling in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot subsequently, he finished 10/13 and 10/10 in handicaps at Hamilton and Doncaster, off a mark of 95.

The 500k guineas buy was soon gelded and put away for 360 days, reappearing at York earlier this month off a revised 91. Despite an SP of 22/1, it was an unequivocal return to form, finishing just over a length off the pace in fourth (of 12).

His effort can be marked up a fair bit too, for he still had plenty of ground to make up with just two furlongs left to travel - and he drifted all the way out to the far-side rail under jockey Robert Havlin.

Hopefully, there's plenty of improvement to come on just the seventh start of his career to date and he ought to make a bold bid in this 0-105 affair over 1m2f off an unchanged mark.

15:15 Newbury - Words Of Truth @ 9/4

One of the main events of the afternoon is the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury. This year's renewal is run in honour of the late Geoff Lewis, who rode Mill Reef to success in the Derby, Arc, King George, Eclipse and the Coronation Cup.

The once-raced Into The Sky is vying for favouritism ahead of the Group 3 contest at time of publication, and I'm very keen to oppose him.

There's no doubting the Starman colt made a serious impression on debut at the Berkshire venue last month, beating 12 rivals by an emphatic seven-and-a-half lengths despite an SP of 80/1, but I can't get away from his trainer's record with juveniles.

Jim Boyle has saddled 81 across the last five seasons, heralding just two winners. I also believe Into The Sky was his first-ever debutant winner, in 156 attempts.

Perhaps this is the exception, but I prefer to go down the tried-and-tested route with WORDS OF TRUTH.

Charlie Appleby's son of Lope De Vega has 14lbs to find on Rock Of Thunder if official ratings are to be believed, but I don't think they should be in this case.

The selection disappointed on debut in May but 71 days and a gelding operation later beat a useful field at Ascot in good style. The third-placed Wechaad gave the form a significant boost at the Betfred St Leger Festival last week, bolting up in a handicap off an opening mark of 82.

Last time out, Words Of Truth was even more comfortable winner of a Newmarket novice, beating the reopposing Watcha Snoop - who went one better at Ascot on his subsequent start - by over two lengths under a seven-pound penalty.

We're yet to see the ceiling of his ability and in a weak-looking Mill Reef, he gets the vote.

16:30 Newmarket - Warrant Holder @ 6/4

Last but not least, I'm all over WARRANT HOLDER for this 1m2f novice event at HQ. He's the Nap.

The three-year-old son of Frankel, trained by the Gosdens for the King and Queen, makes his return from a 182-day break, presumably due to a setback of some kind, and it's fair to say his form has aged rather well in the meantime.

A narrow defeat on debut at Newcastle in February was followed up by a two-and-a-quarter-length success back at Gosforth Park. The horse in second? Rahiebb, who has since placed in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and been just touched off in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster last week.

Roger Varian's 115-rated colt was conceding seven pounds to the selection, but even so it's a smart, smart piece of form - especially in the context of Saturday's assignment.

His main rivals on the Rowley Mile are Simon & Ed Crisford's Census and Golden Horse, who also carry penalties for prior successes. Nothing either one has achieved to date compares to the bare form of Warrant Holder's triumph over Rahiebb, though, and I think they've got plenty to do to beat him, despite the fitness advantage they hold.

I'll be surprised if any of the others, including Charlie Appleby's Native Spirit and Mothercombe (although he has been subject to a surprising amount of early support), are up to the task.

Offers

Selected race(s). Applies to Each Way, Single & Multiple bets only. Antepost bets don’t apply. Min. runner rules apply. T&Cs Apply.

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