ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double for Ascot & Lingfield

The Peroni Nastro Azzurro EBF Fillies' Handicap is littered with potential and while One Morning is respected on handicap debut, JULIA AUGUSTA (best price 6/1) gets the vote, who returns after an absence and should have no issue in regards to fitness having won smoothly on her debut at Kempton at the backend of 2021.

Roger Varian’s filly lost her unbeaten record at Newmarket when last seen but clearly didn’t show her true colours. That said, she still travelled well and looked the winner when powering to the lead before being headed inside the final furlong and only staying on at the one pace. Just on that evidence, she is well-handicapped off 92, as the second is rated 104.

She is a daughter of Ulysses, who was third in an Arc on soft ground, so conditions should be fine for her. I think she is undoubtedly a 100+ rated filly in waiting, so with David Egan here to ride for the in-form Roger Varian team, she could be ready to run a big race on her return. 

BRIGHT DIAMOND (best price 11/2) is held in high regard by Karl Burke and after winning very easily on debut at Newmarket by nine lengths, she has been strong at the finish in finishing third on his next two starts, including in the Group 1 bet365 Fillies' Mile when last seen. 

This is a significant step up in trip but she should stay, her connections are hopeful and, as far as I can see, her form is by far the strongest on offer. She is also the highest-rated in the field, so if she can translate her turf form to the all-weather and prove she stays this far, she surely goes close to winning this. I am a little surprised she isn’t favourite as none of these can boast similar profiles. 

SHEER ROCKS (best price 14/1) also appeals and has a stronger chance than his odds imply in the opener. He is only three pounds higher than when winning a shade snuggly at Chester last July and on a strict reading of that form, he actually holds a few of these, including the favourite. 

He beat Post Impressionist in that race, who has beaten the favourite and went close on his sole visit here over course-and-distance in the Shergar Cup Classic, beaten only a neck. He was also an unlucky fourth in the Oliver Brown Handicap at Goodwood, faring best of those held up. 

He is a pound lower now and drops in class after not disgracing himself in better company the last two times as well. He is unproven on the ground but connections seem keen to try him on a soft surface and if he handles it, I’m pretty confident he will go close. I am quite staggered that he has been overlooked.

I cannot resist an each-way dart on RHYTHMIC INTENT (best price 10/1) who is two pounds lower than when winning the Mallard Handicap at Doncaster back in September 2021 and could be ready to run a big race in a race that will no doubt be run to suit under Danny Tudhope, who has a great strike-rate for this stable. 

He was tentatively handled on his return at Epsom when sixth over a trip that was shorter than ideal and that run ought to have sorted him out fitness-wise. He goes well on soft ground as well, who was second on soft ground in the November Handicap three seasons ago. I can see him running well at double-figure odds.

Queen Aminatu has an excellent record on the all-weather but even though she is unbeaten in two starts here and William Buick rides, her stablemate SACRED (best price 11/8) goes well fresh, is the highest rated in the field and should prove hard to beat under Ryan Moore. 

She has twice been behind Sandrine previously but she didn’t get the run of the race behind her in the Lennox Stakes last July when an unlucky fifth and has a good chance to finally gain revenge from a nice slot in stall 1 with Ryan Moore in the saddle. 

She finished an excellent fifth of 24 in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on her return last year and this dual pattern-class winner, who has a lethal turn of foot, should have too many gears for her stablemate and Sandrine on these terms on her all-weather debut. She makes plenty of appeal on her return. 

PEROTTO (best price 11/1) has mostly raced on better ground so far in his career but he is a good horse on his day and has recently joined Roger Varian, who could spark him back to his best. He has fallen down to a dangerous mark of 97 and was rated as high as 110 this time last year. 

He won at this course at the Royal Meeting two years ago and while he has been winless since, he didn’t shape badly at Newmarket when last seen. He gets a high draw, goes well fresh, will get a good pace to aim at and if he handles the ground, his turn of foot could be too much for these. Six places widely on offer. 

SPYCATCHER (best price 12/1) has a big weight to carry but he produced a convincing performance when easily scoring at Thirsk last time and the fact he has been allowed to tackle a handicap, which is rare, certainly makes him of interest here from an each-way point of view. 

Karl Burke’s classy five-year-old returns to handicap company for the first time in over a year and his two-length second to Highfield Princess in the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes is a serious piece of form. 

He was giving the winner three pounds and would have finished even closer had the winner had not dragged him across the course when he was going to make a challenge, so his performance can be markedly upgraded. 

The winner has won three Group 1’s since, so there is no doubt this five-year-old is a pattern-class horse running a a handicap, so a bold display can be anticipated from this classy five-year-old with six places widely on offer. 

The ten-year-old SAFE VOYAGE (best price 14/1) ran a belter from a poor draw to finish third in the Thirsk Cup last time, proving he still has what it takes to run to a useful level despite his advancing years and caught the eye on his last visit here when fourth of 20 in the Balmoral back in October which came off a three pounds higher mark. 

He would have won that day with a clear passage and is drawn well here in stall 22 and gets his favoured conditions. He is also on the same mark as last week, so this former two-time Group 2 winner must surely go close if he is within striking distance at the furlong pole with plenty going for him. Six places widely available.