Saturday Racing Tips: Owen’s four to follow on a busy afternoon

It was a good day for this column last Saturday, courtesy of three winners - at EVS, 2/1 and 11/2 - from four selections.

Fingers crossed for more of the same this week, as I put up another four Saturday racing tips.

16:00 Longchamp - Bedtime Story @ 4/1

BEDTIME STORY is without a win in five starts this season, but she's been keeping excellent company - and I wonder if she's been racing over inadequate trips.

Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old daughter of Frankel began her three-year-old campaign in the French 1000 Guineas here at Longchamp in May, finishing exactly four lengths off the pace in sixth after a slow start - a common problem for this quirky but talented filly.

She stepped up to an extended 1m2f for the Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly a month later and bumped into Group 2 winner Gezora, a genuine contender for the Arc on Sunday. The selection was only a length inferior - no disgrace in that.

A flag start put paid to her chances in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, as she lost at least five lengths on stablemate and eventual winner Whirl from the off - and then I thought she found 1m2f on good ground a bit sharp at Deauville in August. Being impeded in the final furlong didn't help either.

Connections tried 1m4f for the first time in the Prix Vermeille last time out and she put in a career-best performance, finishing third behind Aventure (runner-up in last year's Arc and among the favourites for Sunday) and the aforementioned Gezora again.

Another slow start forced her to race in rear throughout, with plenty still to do when push came to shove, but she found generously without threatening the winner.

Bedtime Story's half-sister, Content, won the Yorkshire Oaks over 1m4f and everything about the way she races suggests a test of stamina is what she's after.

An extra couple of furlongs could eke out more improvement, and help to negate the damage of any lengths lost out of the gates. You have to expect that with this filly, unfortunately.

This is another Group 1, but it looks her 'easiest' assignment of the season so far and I'm hopeful of a big run under Christophe Soumillon.

16:20 Wolverhampton - Vintage Heat @ 13/2

From Paris to the West Midlands, from a Group 1 to a nursery handicap. Not much difference, then...

VINTAGE HEAT is the selection for this 0-65 affair over an extended mile.

Richard Hannon's son of Too Darn Hot was handed an opening mark of 63 after three starts, before being pitched straight into handicap company here at Dunstall Park last month.

He finished third of eight, just over three lengths off the pace, but that effort can be marked up as he got off to a poor start and as a result had to make up significant ground from out the back of the pack. He kept on nicely all the way to the line.

An extra furlong or so should really suit and in essence he races off four pounds lower - a pound relief from the handicapper and valuable claimer Alec Voikhansky taking off a further three.

As is always the case in these nursery handicaps, the thrice-raced debutants are impossible to gauge, but Vintage Heat should make a bold bid.

16:35 Longchamp - First Look @ 4/1

Back across the Channel for the Prix Dollar - a Group 2 over 1m2f - which looks a humdinger of a race.

The English challenge is strong, courtesy of Bay City Roller, Damysus and King Of Cities, but this can go to FIRST LOOK for the home team.

Andre Fabre's four-year-old has always shown ability, but ultimately he could only manage one win from the first 10 starts of his career. For balance, he was runner-up in the French Derby and a couple of Group 3s during that time.

However, the Wathnan Racing-owned son of Lope De Vega appears to have turned a corner of late, winning two in a row - a Listed event at Clairefontaine before claiming Group 3 honours at Deauville in August.

Who did he beat in Normandy? Goliath, the King George winner from 2024. Fair and square, too. He franked the form by subsequently landing the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany. There's no doubt in my mind that's the best form on offer in this field of nine.

That was First Look's first run since being gelded, so he may be open to more improvement yet. He'll also cope just fine with likely conditions, and has Mickael Barzalona in the plate. That'll do for me.

19:45 Newcastle - Spell Master @ 7/2

Finally, I'm hoping for a bit of magic from SPELL MASTER in the North East.

Andrew Balding's three-year-old son of 2000 Guineas winner Kameko was a horse I backed a few times last season, in lucrative handicaps at York, Doncaster and Newmarket.

He gave me a run for my money on each occasion without getting over the line, but his career has stalled somewhat in the meantime.

In April this year, 181 days after his final run at two, he finished third in a Class 2 handicap at Newbury off a mark of 87, despite racing keenly and hanging under pressure. An encouraging return to action.

For one reason or another, he spent another 156 days on the sidelines, reappearing in the Betfred City Of Doncaster Handicap at the St Leger meeting. He finished 10th at Donny, just over four lengths adrift of the winner. The layoff and his SP of 14/1 suggests he was lacking fitness, so I'm willing to look past it.

Off a pound lower in a Class 4 for the first time, he makes strong appeal. If he is back to anything like his best, he could take a bit of beating in this company.

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