ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double from Sandown and Beverley

In the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap, the ITV opener, I am willing to give one more chance to the ridiculously well-treated ALPHA CAPTURE (best price 12/1) who will appreciate the drop in grade and would have outstanding claims against these if he can reproduce any of his two-year-old form, which is the best on offer. 

The only previous time he ran in this grade, he finished a close-up second to the 108-rated Shouldvebeenaring, and this former classy two-year-old, even landed the Listed Coral Rockingham Stakes last season, as well as finishing second in the 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster, which again is the best form in the race.

That form has worked out well given the winner, Cold Case, who is rated 110+, only beat him by a short-head, while a host of horses rated 105+ were in behind. He has not been able to replicate any of his two-year-old form at three since the turn of the year, but surely a mark of 82 is within his capabilities and at a double-figure price, he is worth the chance with four places widely on offer. 

JOJO RABBIT (best price 12/1) went straight into the notebook after an eye-catching run at Wolverhampton last time, where he was forced to challenge wide, which is far from ideal at such a track and kept on well into fourth to suggest a return to winning ways could be imminent. 

It has been over a year since he last got his head in front but that win was from a 17 pounds higher mark and he is 12 pounds lower than when seventh of 16 over course-and-distance in April, which came in a class three race. This is a class five and he is lurking on a career-low mark back on the turf. 

He gets the box seat in stall 1 and although he isn’t straightforward, there isn’t a better treated horse in this race and is Ruth Carr’s only runner on the card, too. With various firms paying four places, this five-year-old must be considered as a significant each-way player from this basement mark. 

Extra Tips for Saturday's ITV Racing

I was deeply impressed with the way HEREDIA (best price 4/1) ripped apart a good field at Haydock last-time-out in a Listed race when back up to a mile and should take the world of beating if able to stage a repeat performance in this race. 

This former Royal Ascot winner has now won five of her 11 career starts, which is a remarkable statistic, and her overall form at this trip now reads 131, so there is every chance she has even more to come and conditions will hold no fears either.

I also want to back the very smart MIDNIGHT MILE (best price 6/1) who ran a good race when third in the Group 3 Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes last time, where she probably hit the front far too soon but did well to still reach the frame and must be respected back down in trip. 

Richard Fahey’s filly comes out best at the weights given she is the second-highest rated in the field but will be in receipt of five pounds from her main protagonists. The drop in distance also seems a positive move, which could unlock further improvement back against her own sex. 

The only time she has run over this trip to date was when she finished an excellent fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on just her third career start. On the face of it, this is easier and she has improved a lot since that effort in defeat too. I think she has a great chance

Over at Beverley in the feature race the Bullet, I think it is hard to rule out another bold showing from APOLLO ONE (NAP) (best price 3/1) who is an extremely consistent sprinter and has raised his game again this year, mostly in valuable handicaps, and has a good opportunity to deservedly get his head in front on the turf. 

The five-year-old concluded last year with a win at Chelmsford on the all-weather and his four starts this year has seen him make the frame in four of the hottest handicaps this season; the Howden Handicap, the JRA Tokyo Trophy, the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood last time, finishing no worse than third in each of those. 

He is drawn really well in stall 2 and should be able to get a good position in a race that will be run to suit with conditions perfect for him as well. His form this year is much stronger than what any of his rivals have achieved this year, so the top-weight must hold strong credentials of taking the spoils with Graham Lee interestingly booked to ride. 

GAASSEE (best price 13/2) travelled like the best horse in the race last time but could only finish fourth which was a bit of a disappointing result in the aftermath. 

That said, the drop in trip in a strongly-run race will suit, while his unlucky fourth in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock on his penultimate start, off the same mark, is quality form. 

He beat subsequent course winner Forza Orta here last year with plenty to spare and, with a lot more to come, the five-year-old can put it all together and go close to succeeding here. Up to five places available. 

GROUNDBREAKER (best price 10/1) can also be considered in the Virgin Bet Handicap, who has deliberately been kept fresh for the race and the combination of wind surgery plus a two pounds lower mark than last time can see him transcend a big performance back on the turf. 

This four-year-old has good enough form to get heavily involved in the outcome, who placed twice at Listed level last year before a good fourth behind Marching Army off this mark at Newbury. He then backed that up with a solid return at Chester when fourth behind Pride Of America, form which is key for this race. 

He is very well-handicapped off 97 and I have no doubt he will do a lot better than the last time we saw him as he was sent off favourite to win that race at Chelmsford. The form hasn’t worked out well, but the rest of his form has, and I can envisage him running a big race at value odds with up to five places on offer.