ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Double for Lockinge Stakes Day at Newbury

DESERT HERO (best price 11/8) did extremely well under the circumstances to finish a staying-on second in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his return, and he’s fancied to put his fitness to good use by taking Newbury’s opener. 

This progressive four-year-old has won four of his eight starts, and last season, he won a traditionally competitive renewal of the King George Handicap at Royal Ascot before overcoming traffic problems to win a high-class Group 3 race at Goodwood.

He had then taken a major step forward on those couple of wins to finish third in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster. He subsequently reappeared in the Gordon Richard Stakes and only lost out by a head, despite the trip being on the sharp side. 

The return to a longer trip here is certainly going to bode well for him, and a win here could set him up nicely for a tilt at the Coronation Cup at Epsom. William Haggas and Tom Marquand are in flying form at present, so he’s the one to beat, with more to come. 

The second part of my ITV Double is KING’S GAMBIT (best price 9/2) in the Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap, who I think has a seriously good chance for the Harry Charlton and William Buick combination.

This son of Saxon Warrior took a major step forward from his debut run at this course in July to open his account here a month later. In that race, he had the 107-rated Boiling Point in behind, who won a Listed race a couple of weeks ago. 

He then improved again to marginally be denied by Bracken’s Laugh back here in September, having conceded 6Ib to the winner. The winner has since finished a half-length in the Dee Stakes at Chester and is rated 108. 

Now if you take both of Gambit’s pieces of form into serious evaluation, then surely he is absolutely thrown in here off a mark of 93. The longer trip should suit him, and his trainer has a good record in this race. I’ll be disappointed if he’s not competitive. 

In the JenningsBet Handicap, I’m really sweet on the chances of Roger Varian’s DASHING DARCEY (best price 9/2), who I have no doubt is better than a mark of 87 and should be hard to topple. 

After winning two of his three completed starts last year, this son of Muharaar caught the eye with a strong finishing third at Chester nine days ago behind favourite, Never So Brave. 

His performance can be markedly upgraded given that he blew the start but made up chunks of ground from an impossible position to be nearest the finish behind two horses rated 94 and 97.

Just on that evidence, Varian’s charge must be well-handicapped off a mark of 87, and that’s without Aidan Keeley’s 3Ib claim taken into account. He can get the better of Richard Hannon’s Love Billy Boy. 

RELIEF RALLY (best price 9/2) seemingly failed to see out the longer trip of seven furlongs in the Fred Darling on her return here, but she still ran well and can regain the winning thread in the Listed Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes.

This top-class filly won four of her five starts at two and bolted up in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes on her only previous run over this distance. Not only that, but she also won the Super Sprint at this course over five furlongs. 

That latest piece of form, in which she travelled well before fading late on, has worked out well, with the third Elmalka subsequently winning the 1,000 Guineas. With a strong pace to aim at, she can get back on track for her in-form team. 

Richard Fahey’s MALC (best price 12/1) could turn out to be the each-way value in the Listed Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes.

Having bolted up on his debut at Carlisle, he then ran a storming race at huge odds to finish runner-up in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at the Royal meeting. He wasn’t quite at the same level when he was only sixth in the July Stakes next time.

However, he caught my attention when he finished fourth behind Big Evs in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes, and that form has worked out well, with the winner landing a Grade 1 in America as well as a win at York this week. 

This three-year-old clearly goes well fresh, and this race presents a significant drop in class. I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the best of him yet, so at double-digit odds, he is an appealing proposition on his seasonal return. 

Four places are generally available and advised.

KOY KOY (best price 7/1) has been unable to make an impact in three starts in Meydan so far this year, but his fitness will be spot on, and the return to Britain off a realistic mark should see him make a serious impact this weekend. 

George Boughey’s five-year-old concluded his time on the turf in the UK last year in good form, with a close-up third at Ayr when shouldering a big weight. The second Titan Rock has franked the form with victory in the Thirsk Hunt Cup.

That effort was off a 4Ib higher mark than today’s one, and his only previous trip to Newmarket resulted in success. This mark is within his compass, and he has his ground, so anything short of a place would be a shock. As I have an inclination, he will go very close. 

Most firms are offering four places, and that is very generous for a horse who has plenty going for him. Billy Loughnane has been booked to ride. 

At a higher price, don’t be put off the chances of French raider MAKE ME KING (best price 18/1), whose mark of 104 doesn’t seem too harsh judged on his latest fourth in a Group 2 race in Meydan. 

The French horses often do well at this course, and it’s very interesting to see Harry Burns booked to do the job, who can offset an additional 3Ib to help matters. He’s drawn fairly well in stall 7 and could be set to run well. 

Four places are available and advised.