2:25pm Lingfield - Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Tips
2:40pm Ascot - Victoria Cup Tips
3:00pm Lingfield - Lingfield Derby Trial Tips
3:15pm Ascot - Handicap Tips
3:35pm Lingfield - Chartwell Fillies' Stakes Tips
ITV Racing fans have nine live races to take in on Saturday. Two Classic Trials feature on Lingfield's card, as well as the Chartwell Fillies' Stakes. Three races will be shown live from Ascot on Victoria Cup day, along with the Swinton Handicap Hurdle live from Haydock.
Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV Races at Lingfield, Ascot and Haydock.
ITV Racing Schedule
Time
Track
Title
1:15pm
Lingfield
William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes
(Listed Race) 1m3½f
Incredibly, a Listed race worth £34k has attracted just three entries and the only runner entered in the Epsom Oaks is 2/7 favourite Giselle. No bet.
1:35pm Haydock - Swinton Hurdle Tips
BLACK HAWK EAGLE (16/1) won two decent handicaps soon after joining Kerry Lee's yard last term, and kicked off this season with strong placed efforts in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and at Huntingdon on his next start.
Having found soft ground difficult during the winter, Lee freshened her mount up and Black Hawk Eagle went close on his return at Hereford last month, losing out narrowly to Goblet Of Fire. Richard Patrick's mount remains on this reduced mark of 119 and ground conditions at Haydock should be suitable.
1:50pm Lingfield - Handicap Tips
Nothing for me here either. I'd rather save my money for the better races.
2:05pm Ascot - Fillies' Handicap Tips
I don't want to back Rainbows Edge on her seasonal reappearance, but I don't fancy taking her on either. I'll pass on this one too.
2:25pm Lingfield - Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Tips
An interesting runner in this mile-and-a-half handicap is VICE PRESIDENT (9/2), who was chucked in at the deep-end on his British debut.
Richard Hughes' recruit ran in three Leopardstown maidens during his time in Ireland, finishing a close second in June before claiming an easy victory over ten furlongs last July. Vice President was then upped to two miles for his handicap debut in the valuable Silver Bar Handicap at Newbury in April, where Hughes' inexperienced recruit ran keen at the rear before staying on to finish fifth.
Dropping back in trip seems smart for a horse with such little experience and Ryan Moore has been booked to take the ride. Vice President is clearly a hardy sort and remains unexposed.
2:40pm Ascot - Victoria Cup Tips
We then move onto a typically competitive renewal of the Victoria Cup, where I fancy METAL MERCHANT (12/1) will go well at an each-way price.
Jack Channon's five-year-old ran out an impressive winner of the Spring Cup on his reappearance last season. Metal Merchant then followed the classy Sonny Liston home on his next start and went on to record two solid performances here at Ascot - finishing seventh from a bad draw in the Royal Hunt Cup, before a one-length defeat behind Northern Express in the International Handicap in July.
Metal Merchant attempted to defend his Spring Cup crown under 9-11 last month, but was keen and failed to get involved from off the pace. Jack Channon's horses are in much better form now and a high draw is often vital at Ascot, so David Probert will have been delighted when his mount was placed out in stall 15.
Metal Merchant (left) beating Godwinson in the 2024 OLBG Spring Cup Handicap at Newbury. (Getty)
Turqino will defend an unbeaten record in this middle-distance handicap, on what will also be his first start on turf. My preference is for FIREBLADE (5/1), who made the ideal start to life with Dylan Cunha.
A full-brother to the former global superstar Cracksman, Fireblade was a nearly horse for the Gosdens, running mainly on soft ground and the all-weather. Cunha's recruit went off at 11/1 on much faster ground at Leicester last month, but picked up a head of steam in the closing stages to run down Mighty Bandit and claim a one-length victory.
The runner-up and the sixth from that handicap have scored since and the third went very close in a Class 3 next time out. Cunha is fantastic at helping his recruits improve and William Buick is an excellent jockey booking.
3:35pm Lingfield - Chartwell Fillies' Stakes Tips
JABAARA (5/2) enjoyed a progressive three-year-old campaign last term. Having won a couple of Listed races earlier in the season, Roger Varian's filly finished second to Porta Fortuna in the Falmouth Stakes and looked to have landed the Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, only to get demoted to second in the stewards' room.
Following a decent fourth on her reappearance at Wolverhampton, Varian sent his filly over to Keeneland for the Jenny Wiley Stakes. Joel Rosario held his keen-going mount up well of the pace and was forced widest of all to challenge, but could only keep on to finish a fairly close sixth behind Choisya.
Considering the trip she caught that day, Jabaara ran well on her US debut and should have a fitness edge over most of her rivals on Saturday. She brings genuine Group One form into this Group Three and fast ground won't phase her.
Verdict
Saturday's Top ITV Racing Tips:
Best Bet1: Jabaara 3:35pm Lingfield @250.00 at Stake.com - 5 Units
Best Bet2: Fireblade 3:15pm Ascot @500.00 at Legendz - 5 Units
Best Bet3: Vice President 2:25pm Lingfield @450.00 at dabble.com - 5 Units
Best Bet4: Metal Merchant E/W 2:40pm Ascot @1200.0 at Vave - 5 Units
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