Steve Ryder has picked out five horse racing tips for Saturday’s horse racing and lined up another selection for tomorrow’s card at York.
13:35 Ascot
Both Mission to Moon and REBEL TERRITORY (best priced at 6/1) will both appreciate the return to softer ground and with the benefit of a course and distance victory, preference goes to the latter. The Amanda Perrett trained six-year-old won both of his starts last season when dropped to 7f including an impressive four length success in the Victoria Cup.
An injury meant that Rebel Territory was off for 470 days before making an encouraging comeback at Goodwood a fortnight ago. He raced too keenly in the early stages round a bend before weakening late on which he was entitled to do after that amount of time off. This return to softer ground on a straight track will suit him well and he looks sure to run well with four places widely available.
15:35 Haydock
This looks an open renewal of the Haydock Sprint Cup but I feel Karl Burke holds the key to the race with both ELITE STATUS (best priced at 13/2) and SWINGALONG (best priced at 13/2).
Clifford Lee has chosen to ride the colt Elite Status for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid who is unbeaten on his two starts this season. An impressive winner at Newbury on his reappearance in a listed race, he beat Lake Forest and
Kind Of Blue in a strong renewal of the Hackwood Stakes at the same track. With his stablemate Swingalong also drawn high, he will get a good lead into this race and should be staying on strongly at the finish.
Swingalong finished a close 4th in this race last season when isolated down the nearside and comes into this race having finished a close 2nd in Group 1 contests on her previous two starts.
She was nabbed late on by Khaadem at Royal Ascot when only beaten ½ length before finishing a neck 2nd behind Mill Stream in the July Cup when she had the likes of Inisherin and Jasour behind her. She will no doubt make a bold bid from the front again under William Buick and should be involved in the finish once again.
15:55 Ascot
The return to Ascot will suit Rohaan but with recent form figures of 8080 he is passed over with preference going for the rock solid FRESH (best priced at 10/3). The James Fanshawe trained gelding is a stalwart in all of these 6f and 7f handicaps at Ascot throughout the season and he is extremely well handicapped on old form (won the opener on this card in 2022 off a mark of 102).
Fresh ran well to finish 3rd beaten only ½ length over 7f here last time behind Northern Express off a mark of 91 and he is deserving of a 2lb rise for that effort. He was 2nd at this trip of 6f on his penultimate start and can hopefully record a much-deserved victory in this race.
19:30 Wolverhampton
The Mark Usher trained ARLECCHINO’S GIFT (best priced at 4/1) has a good record over this course and distance this year with form figures of 3321291 and he comes into the race following a close 2nd last time.
The five-year-old won here by 1 ¼ lengths off a mark of 58 in July before slightly disappointing on turf on his next starts. He was then returned to the AW last time when 2nd by a short head at Lingfield a fortnight ago off a mark of 61.
The handicapper has raised Arlecchino’s Gift 1lb back up to a mark of 62 but he looks sure to run well once again from Stall 7.
16:00 York
Sunday 4:00 York- Purosangue 11/2 (0.5pt ew)
Quinault has won at this level on his previous two starts but now faces an improving three-year-old in the shape of PUROSANGUE (best priced at 11/2) who should have the edge on weight-adjusted ratings. The Andrew Balding trained colt was sent off 9/2 favourite for the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood last time but disappointed having got upset in the stalls.
Purosangue had previously shown strong form this season chasing home the likes of Jasour, Inisherin and Asfoora in Group races before finishing 2nd by ¾ length at Sandown on his penultimate start at Group 3 level. He has a good record at York finishing 2nd in a listed race as a juvenile before beating subsequent Greenham Stakes winner in the Rockingham Stakes on his final start last season. He is ground versatile and should run well despite being drawn high in Stall 11.
