ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 25th June: Newcastle, Newmarket and the Irish Derby

A week on from Royal Ascot, we’re back with the usual Saturday ITV Racing preview and tips where the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle and the Irish Derby at the Curragh provide the two big races of the day.

As every, Henry has run through all eight live races and given us his preview and betting tip for each race. Things get underway at 1.50pm from Newcastle.

 

1:50 Newcastle 

The 1:50 is a trappy handicap over 6f to open proceedings.

The one for me is STRIKE RED (6/1) here. The Richard Fahey are in decent form at the moment with two Royal Ascot winners including a Group 1. The addition of Oisin Orr is a positive for me too. Strike Red has twice ran over 6f at Newcastle and has won both times. He’ll get the strong pace he relishes here today and a return to form last time out has come at the right time for this.

 

2:05 Newmarket

The Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies Stakes is first up at Newmarket, a listed contest over 6f.

I’ll take on the favourite here as Richard Hannon debut winners don’t always improve as many expect in my opinion. I’ll go with BELIEVING (15/2) EW. She has looked full of ability but very green in both career starts to date. She came here to Newmarket first-time out and she finished a good second behind Royal Ascot runner-up Mawj. She then overcome a very slow start to win at Wolves on her next start and hopefully, she’s slowly getting that greenness out of her. She’s certainly got the ability to go close and James Doyle maintains the partnership.

 

2:25 Newcastle

The 2:25 contest is the Chipchase Stakes, a Group 3 over 6f.

I like the favourite but the price has gone so it’s GLEN SHIEL (6/1) EW for me each-way. He’s the likely pace angle here and should get his own way in front. He was supposed to run in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot last week but the rain didn’t arrive in time so this obviously presents a big drop in class. He has winning form here at Newcastle so the trip and track shouldn’t be a problem. It’s hard to see him being out the frame in a race that will suit well. Hollie Doyle is riding a crest or a wave after her first Classic victory last week.

 

2:40 Newmarket

The 2:40 race from HQ is the Fred Archer Stakes, more listed action but this time over 1m4f.

It’s STOWELL (10/3) NB for me here. I put him up at Royal Ascot where in the Copper Horse handicap which was a competitive race and he looked the winner 1F out before his stamina gave up and Dettori gave up. I expect that race to work out well and I don’t think this is the deepest race in the world by any stretch of the imagination. This is a drop in trip which looks ideal again and Havlin takes over.

 

2:55 Newcastle

Next up is the Northumberland Vase, a consolation race for the Northumberland Plate entries that missed out.

I’ll go with CATBIRD SEAT (14/1) EW here for Alan King and Hollie Doyle. Drawn in stall 8, he is a horse that likes to go forward so stall 8 should certainly prove beneficial. Alan King is currently operating at a 22% strike rate which is promising and as previously mentioned Hollie Doyle is in fine form herself. The selection is very rarely out the frame and always seems to hit the frame or be thereabouts. In a race that will be run to suit and he’ll have no hard luck stories from the front, I think he can hit the frame for us at least.

 

3:15 Newmarket 

The last race from Newmarket comes up at 3:15 and it is the Criterion Stakes, a Group 3 over the 7f trip.

A tough race, I’ll have a small bet on the rank outsider BASS PLAYER (18/1). Certainly, the least exposed in the line-up with only two career starts to date, she was a good winner on her debut and then she backed that up on her second start at Epsom finishing third despite showing signs of inexperience on the unique track Epsom offers. She gets weight off the majority of his rivals here being a 3 year-old filly and trainer Tom Clover is banging in the winners at the moment so stable form is no concern here.

 

3:30 Newcastle

The 3:30 is the Northumberland Plate, a wide-open handicap over an extended 2m.

I’ve landed on SOLENT GETAWAY (16/1) EW here. He was a well-backed favourite for the Chester Cup and I put him up that day. However, nothing went right from start to finish as he pulled like a train and the writing was on the wall early that day. That race is obviously working out tremendously well truth be told. Solent Getaway went to Epsom on his next start and was very unlucky, he was stopped in his tracks when making his effort and he looks set to go close. Again, I’m happy to draw a line through both of them as their was definitely excuses. He’s drawn in stall 6 for this which looks ideal and it wouldn’t be the first time we see a stable second string go in when the stable have the favourite.

 

3:45 Curragh

The feature of the day is the finale, the Group 1 Irish Derby over 1m4f. We have a fascinating clash between Oaks winner Tuesday and the unlucky Derby third Westover.

I expect TUESDAY (6/4)NAP to win this. I think the Oaks form is stronger than the Derby except for the Derby winner and I think she’ll back that up today. She relished the step up in distance to 1m4f in the Oaks where she stayed strongly right through the line to beat Emily Upjohn in a head bobber. I think she still has more pace has Westover and that could be a key aspect in this as it could very well prove to be a tactical contest.

 

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