Steve Ryder picks three top betting angles for Saturday's racing action at Newbury and Ripon.
1:25 NewburySee All Odds
TIP 1: Rebel Rocker - 1pt
Best odds of 14/1 at PricedUp while publishing.
Three-year-olds have won five of the previous seven renewals of the Geoffrey Freer Stakes which makes REBEL ROCKER (best priced at 14/1) the one of interest as he is the only representative from the classic generation. The Faye Bramley trained colt was a rare debut winner for Faye Bramley last year when successful in a Kempton maiden in November.
Rebel Rocker ran well to finish 2 nd in the listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom before outrunning odds of 66/2 to finish 6 th beaten less than 10 lengths in the Epsom Derby on his next start. He stayed on strongly that day shaping like this step up in trip will suit and with his rating of 103 and a 10lb weight-for-age allowance, he looks overpriced at current odds.
2:55 RiponSee All Odds
TIP 2: Mark’s Choice - 0.5pt EW
Best odds of 18/1 at PricedUp while publishing.
The Gemma Tutty trained MARK’S CHOICE (best priced at 18/1) is a ten-time winner at Ripon in his career and this race appears to have been a plan. The ten-year-old won twice here last season off marks of 63 and 66 in cheekpieces so he is competitively handicapped off a mark of 67, further shown by his two good runs here in June and July when beaten less than 1 ½ lengths on both off occasions off marks of 70 and 69.
Mark’s Choice ran without his usual cheekpieces at York last time when 6 th beaten 3 ½ lengths but the handicapper has been generous in dropping him 2lbs down to a mark of 67 as result. He has a draw, the return to Ripon and the reapplication of cheekpieces are all positives and he looks sure to run well.
3:10 NewburySee All Odds
TIP 3: Witness Stand - 1pt EW
Best odds of 7/1 at William Hill while publishing.
WITNESS STAND (best priced at 7/1) is at his best when able to dictate from the front and he appears to be the only pace angle in this contest. The five-year-old finished 2 nd behind More Thunder in this race last season and has shown improved form this season since a wind operation. He finished a head 2 nd behind subsequent Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Ten Bob Tony on at Epsom before a luckless passage at Chester on his next start which can be excused.
Witness Stand was only reeled in late on by Lake Forest in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time when able to dictate from the front and he looks to hold strong each way claims once again with Saffie Osborne taking over on board for the first time.
