ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double for Ayr & Newbury

Dan Skelton’s SAIL AWAY (best price 11/2) has raced sparingly in his career but has improved with each start over the last year and shaped very well when second on his reappearance at Chepstow. 

Whilst he couldn’t sustain the tactical speed of the speedy Jetoile over an inadequate trip of 2m3f, he took a blow and then kept on well after the last fence to only be beaten around three lengths at the line. 

He will strip fitter for that reappearance and the return to three miles, with that run under his belt, are major positives. After just seven starts for this stable, he is totally unexposed, who jumps well and has more to offer. 

His second to Corach Rambler back in October 2021 when giving the winner six pounds was decent and is only three pounds higher. I am firmly inclined to think he is a horse ahead of the assessor and is the least-exposed in the field. 

This Fillies’ Group 3 event has attracted a quality field and I am drawn to the claims of the Hugo Palmer-trained STENTON GLIDER (best price 14/1) who really impressed on debut at Chester when beating an odds-on favourite, who has advertised the form with success since.

There was no fluke about that performance either, as the favourite had a dream passage throughout, whereas this filly was short of room twice rounding the home-bend but did well to pick up strongly three-deep of her two nearest rivals and win quite comfortably by over two lengths. 

Any horse who wins on their debut at a sharp track like Chester has to be given the utmost respect going forward and while this is a tough deeper race, she should have more to offer and Tom Marquand takes the ride this time. With four places generally available, she makes chunky appeal. 

Hurricane Lane is the highest-rated in the field but was below-form in both starts last year and only beat one home in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July. His trainer is amongst the winners but he might be worth taking on at the odds. 

Instead, preference is for MOJO STAR (best price 4/1), who was second in the Derby and St Leger in 2021 and ran a huge race when half-a-length second to Kyprios in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on his sole start last term. 

He should have a lot more to come in the stayers’ division this season and his stable is in good form, so he is worth an investment, as it is hard to see him not going close with a good record fresh. 

The other one who appeals at even bigger odds is LONE EAGLE (best price 14/1) who will make his stable debut for Ralph Beckett. He was down the field in a Group 3 here in October but the ground was really testing that day, so I am happy to draw a line through his performance. 

He is better judged on his Irish Derby second, which was the last time he tackled 1m4f. He internally hasn’t reproduced that form since but he was unlucky to be caught in the final stride by Hurricane Lane and that form gives him a squeak.

He doesn’t need much more on that form to gain revenge on the favourite if ready to roll in first-time blinkers plus Frankie Dettori is reunited with him. If the stable switch has a positive outcome, he has a good each-way chance at a price. 

The fact that connections bypassed this year’s Cheltenham Festival with COLONEL MUSTARD (best price 9/2 could pay dividends in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, who is one of the classiest horses in this race. 

He placed in Grade 1 company in 2021 and has produced some really smart performances in defeat since, including a two length second to Jonbon in a Grade 2, as well as a good third in last year’s County Hurdle to State Man. 

He was the only horse in the race able to go with State Man and it would be fair to say, none of these would be able to do that plus he is better off at the weights with First Street with conditions ideal. 

He couldn’t succeed in either of his two chase starts earlier this season but ran a cracker back over hurdles when second in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, where he travelled well and might have won but for being impeded before the second last hurdle. 

Benson flew home to take the spoils but he lost nothing in defeat in second and the handicapper has only raised his mark two pounds. He has deliberately been kept fresh for this and must have a chance. 

L’EAU DU SUD (best price 13/2) is the one I want to be backing in the race, who has improved with each start for team Skelton and wasn’t far behind Colonel Mustard in the Morebattle Hurdle last time when third. 

His trainer won this in 2016 and this unexposed five-year-old remains on the same mark as last time, which is essential from a handicapping perspective. He would have finished closer last time but for a mistake at the second last hurdle. 

He won’t be bothered by the ground and this course should suit his hold-up style of racing with Bridget Andrews replacing Harry Skelton so, with more to offer after just three starts in Britain, it would be surprising if he weren’t in the shake-up. 

Chaldean is the form pick and is the most likeliest winner given he beat subsequent Craven Stakes, Indestructible. However, I like two at bigger odds from an each-way point of view. 

Firstly, STREETS OF GOLD (best price 14/1) who is unbeaten in five starts and while he only won by half-a-length at York on his final start, he drifted across the whole course, so he would have won much easier otherwise. 

This race requires further improvement but he is clearly a smart prospect, hasn’t put a foot wrong in all of his races, winning all of them and could be good value against the favourite at double-figure digits. 

I cannot comprehend why CHARYN (best price 18/1) is the price he is, who is the second highest rated in the field and was last seen winning a Group 2 in France. 

He had previously ran well when third over 6f here in the Mill Reef behind Sakheer and the way he has been hitting line strongly suggests he will be suited to this extra furlong, which should allow him to hit top gear sooner. 

If official ratings and form-lines are anything to go by, Roger Varian’s charge should outrun market expectations under David Egan and potentially give the favourite a fright. 

UNEXPECTED PARTY (best price 5/1) has finished behind one or two of these before but Dan Skelton’s charge has run with credit in some really hot races over fences and progressed well over hurdles last season. 

He wasn’t discredited when fifth behind Stage Star at Cheltenham in a Grade 1 and will find the return to a handicap a lot easier. He does need to find improvement to get his head in front over fences but that’s possible.