Saturday Racing Tips: Thunder is forecast in Northumberland

On a scorching Saturday, there's seven meetings - all on the flat - across the UK & Ireland to get stuck into.

I've studied the cards and landed on four that form my Saturday Racing Tips.

13:45 Curragh - Giant Sequoia @ 8/15

The opener at the Curragh on Saturday is a seven-furlong maiden for two-year-old colts and gelding. It sees Aidan O'Brien's GIANT SEQUOIA renew rivalries with Bull Shark for Robson De Aguiar.

The latter was the winner of round one, but the selection - a son of Frankel with a couple of Group 1 entries for later in the season - is taken to reverse the form on return to County Kildare.

Giant Sequoia shaped like a typical Ballydoyle debutant the last day, moving into contention nicely before fading at the business end of the race. Clearly, he needed the run.

He's open to significantly more improvement than Bull Shark, who was making his fourth appearance on a racecourse. He beat just one of 20 rivals in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last week, so now has questions to answer as well.

It's fair to say I'm very hopeful about a different result on this occasion.

14:02 Chester - Stardom Glory @ 7/4

Chester. Hugo Palmer. Stall 1 over a sprint trip. Need I say more?

Racing is never, ever that easy, but it's hard to get away from the claims of STARDOM GLORY in this two-year-old maiden over six furlongs on the Roodee.

The son of Starspangledbanner, who fetched 90k guineas as a yearling, was runner-up on debut at York last month, in a Class 3 novice won by Karl Burke's Possessive. A place behind the selection was subsequent Norfolk Stakes third Mussab, while Cuban Heels (rated 81) was back in fourth.

Strong form, then, and Stardom Glory ought to be marked up slightly as he was slow into stride, hung about the place and rallied when it was too late. 'Did well in the circumstances', says the Racing Post. Indeed.

He returned to the Knavesmire just over three weeks later and bumped into a 4/9f for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin in Inner City Blues. A €900k purchase, entered in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh in September.

These are much calmer-looking waters on Saturday and if he gets a good start, I'm expecting David Probert to make all.

14:58 York - Saber Strike @ 13/8

After his very disappointing effort in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot just a week ago, I told myself I'd never back SABER STRIKE again. And yet...

I've convinced myself, after reading trainer William Haggas' comments, that he's worthy of another go in the G3 Criterion Stakes at York on Saturday.

The three-year-old Night Of Thunder colt, who I'd heard whispers about beforehand, made a huge impression on me in taking Listed honours at Newmarket previously, on just his second start, and I thought he was a good thing in Berkshire. How wrong I was.

However, I don't believe that was his true running. Haggas, who holds this colt in the highest regard, doesn't either. He told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast: "I was a little disappointed with him at Ascot. He was very sleepy beforehand and looked like he went through the motions to me. He never really picked up like we know he can."

The fact he's turning him back out just seven days later is reassuring, and I'm backing him to make amends in receipt of nine pounds from the slightly out-of-form favourite Never So Brave.

15:15 Newcastle - Ride The Thunder each way @ 13/2

The big race of the weekend is the Northumberland Plate - a £150k handicap over an extended two miles on Newcastle's Tapeta track.

I like the look of the Roger Varian-trained RIDE THE THUNDER for Victorious Forever, who also own the aforementioned Saber Strike.

This four-year-old Night Of Thunder gelding has just one win to his name in eight starts, but with form figures of 22214423 he's a picture of consistency and has bumped into some smart types.

Last time out, on return from a 253-day break during which he was gelded, he was a fine third in a Hamilton handicap won by William Haggas' Valiancy, who was sent off 9/4f for the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot, despite an eight-pound hike in the weights. He could only manage sixth, but in the circumstances (slow away and never really travelling), it was a respectable effort.

Ride The Thunder, who's up a couple of pounds, ought to improve plenty for the run, and he rates a major player in this tricky race.

With the latter point in mind, take the 5 places each way in this one.