ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double for York and Newmarket

The John Smith's City Walls Stakes is another competitive event on the ITV terrestrial but I like the each-way chances about QUEEN ME (best price 6/1) who ran a good race to finish sixth of 13 in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, beaten only a couple of lengths and is eased in grade with Andrea Atzeni booked to ride. 

This smart filly, who is trained by Kevin Ryan, came close to winning the Group 2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes last August at this course when beaten just a neck into second and that form is class given she had Mawj and Dramatised in behind, who have advertised the strength of the form in a big way since. 

She was then a good third in a Group 3 at Ayr and ran a decent race on her return in the 1000 Guineas when ninth of 20 on ground that was against her. This will be her first start over five furlongs but she evidently has plenty of speed and must enter calculations with four places widely on offer in this easier contest. 

ROYAL DUBAI (best price 11/2) caught the eye on his turf debut in the UK at Chester, where he came from an unpromising position to take second, beaten under a length, and a two pounds rise seems lenient with more to come. 

He’s won two of his four starts and made a successful stable debut at Chelmsford over this distance. Neil Callan is booked to ride and the form of his latest second has been boosted by the third and fourth who have both won since. 

I think this course will suit and he remains totally unexposed after just two starts for this stable. I have liked how he has conducted himself and he did well last time considering Chester’s course was probably on the sharp side for him. I really like his credentials with four places widely on offer. 

Extra ITV Tips

The Charlie Hills-trained EQUILATERAL (best price 11/1) has finished fifth in the Group 1 King’s Stand for the last two years over course-and-distance, including last-time-out when faring second best of those drawn low, as the only other runner that was drawn low was the winner Bradsell. 

In addition, he has already placed in various Listed/Group events this year and Richard Kingscote takes the ride this time. The eight-year-old has conditions to suit and deserves a change in fortune at a track he consistently runs well at, so he’s a strong each-way fancy in the opener at Ascot with five places widely on offer. 

It’s John Smith’s Cup day at York and whilst the opener has an open feel about it, the David O’Meara-trained RHOSCOLYN (best price 12/1) has been granted an excellent opportunity by the handicapper to make his presence felt with plenty in his favour. 

The five-year-old hasn’t really found his form this year and has remained winless for the best part of more than two years but on the flip side of the coin, he’s fallen to a dangerous mark and placed twice last year off marks of 101 and 103 in good-quality handicaps. 

Essentially, he’s down to 92 now, which is a pound below his last winning mark and will find this easier than last time. He still needs to prove he has not massively declined but if he can rekindle some of his best form, he’s got an each-way chance with four places generally available. 

The John Smith’s is one of the hottest handicaps of the year and was won last year by the classy Anmaat. It’s unlikely we will see a horse of his calibre in this year’s renewal but I like a couple at a big price. Firstly WHITE WOLF (best price 14/1) who is a very interesting candidate given his lightly-raced profile and his connections tend to do well in competitive handicaps with similar types. 

He won both starts on the all-weather last year and was deemed good enough to contest the Group 2 Dante Stakes over course-and-distance and ran really well to finish sixth. He couldn’t land a blow on his last visit here when midfield but was only denied by a short head at Chelmsford next time and shaped well when seventh of 18 in the Duke of Edinburgh three weeks ago.

I thought he ran very well on just his fifth start in the UK last time, where he travelled beautifully throughout and should have much more improvement to come. Paul Hanagan is an interesting jockey booking as well, and if he can get him smothered up in the pack before angling him out for a run, I am optimistic this four-year-old, who has been laid out for this, will run a very big race. 

Six places are generally available. 

At an even wilder price, I can also see MARIE’S DIAMOND (best price 25/1) running very well, who can be a serious weapon when let loose on the front-end and has no better front-running jockey on his back than Jason Hart, who’s an excellent judge. 

He was last of six at Epsom last time but went very close from the front over track and trip two starts ago, where he was only beaten a neck and is only a pound higher in this race. 

He was down the field last year in this race but is four pounds lower this time and while he’s not won for a while, he must have a decent each-way chance at a big price if he can hang in there for as long as possible. 

Six places widely on offer.  

In the Bunbury Cup, I am all over STREETS OF GOLD (best price 8/1) who could be set to make it six wins from nine starts on handicap debut. 

This very likeable son of Havana Gold won all of his five starts last year, including valuable pots at both the Curragh and York and ran well on his return when sixth in the Greeham behind Isaac Shelby, which is a very smart piece of form. 

He then ran well at Epsom in a Listed event when third, coming from well off the pace to make the frame and was last seen running a huge race when third of 15 at Royal Ascot from a low draw in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes.

He travelled noticeably well throughout and was only beaten just over a length. He is the joint second-highest rated in the field at 105 here but gets chunks of weight from his main rivals and undoubtedly comes out best on these terms. 

Additionally, he has course-winning form having won here on her second start last year and is drawn well in stall 10. There is plenty to like about his chances, so with most firms going five places, and ticking all of the main trends, he’s a major contender. 

BIGGLES (best price 9/1) is another runner I want on side in the Bunbury Cup, who was first home in his group when ninth of 29 in Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot and has plenty in his favour here with Ryan Moore retained to ride. 

Ralph Beckett’s six-year-old is a progressive individual, who won four times last year and was a good second behind Rebel Territory in the Victoria Cup two starts ago. He fared well from an unfavourable draw at Royal Ascot last time and should have more to come. 

He is drawn effectively in stall 18 and should be suited to the way the race will develop here. I think he’s got a really solid each-way chance with five places generally available. This has definitely been his long-term plan this season.