ITV Racing Tips from Newmarket and York on Saturday 12th October

1:15 Newmarket

The first race is the Group 3 Darley Stakes over the 1m1f trip.

The one for me is LEAD ARTIST (5/2) NAP. This progressive 3 year-old looks up to landing this Group 3 race. He was a good winner at Glorious Goodwood fulfilling his earlier promise in the campaign two starts back. He was then stepped into Group 2 company at Doncaster last time out and ran a cracker chasing home Kinross who’s a Group 1 level performer. Back to Group 3 level here, I think he’s the one they have to beat with more to come.

 

1:30 York

We have three live races from York. The first of those comes up at 1:30 and it is the listed Rockingham Stakes over 6f.

The one for me is BOLO NEIGHS (3/1) NB. After three solid efforts to start his career, he displayed a massive improved level of form last time out at the Curragh to bolt up by 7 lengths running right through the line in impressive fashion. He comes from the Ralph Beckett yard who remain in rude health and I think he can back that victory 2 weeks ago up again here with another victory here at listed level. 

 

1:50 Newmarket

The 1:50 from Newmarket is the Zetland Stakes. A Group 3 contest over 1m2f for the 2 year-olds.

I like SHACKLETON (9/4) in this for the Aiden O’Brien operation. The choice of Ryan Moore, he’s progressed well in his first three starts. Runner-up on the first two occasions, he was a gutsy winner last time out at the Curragh showing a willing attitude to fend off the challengers. He looks sure to relish this extra distance and this son of Camelot can continue on his upward curve and land the Zetland.

 

2:05 York

The 2:05 from York is next. It is a trappy handicap over the extended 1m2f trip.

I think BOLSTER (7/1) can run a big race here under top weight. This prominent racer was a good winner at Pontefract and Epsom earlier in the year and I’m hopeful he may get his own way out in front again here. He bounced back to form last time out when finishing a good second behind the well-handicapped Mustazeed. Hes proven on a soft surface and from the same mark as last time out, I’d be expecting a bold bid. 

 

2:25 Newmarket

The 2:25 race is the Group 3 Autumn Stakes over the mile.

Similar to the last race at HQ, it’s hard to get away from the potent combination of Aiden O’Brien and Ryan Moore. This time in the shape of DELACROIX (15/8). The Dubawi colt has also progressed well in three starts. A debut runner-up effort full of promise was followed by a decent victory albeit in a maiden on his second start. He was then pitched into Group 2 company last time out and chased home Green Impact at Leopardstown in second. I think Green Impact is a Group 1 horse so that’s no bad effort and compensation awaits here for the selection.

 

2:40 York

The 2:40 from York is the competitive Trophy handicap over 6f.

I do think GERMANIC (12/1) is a well-handicapped horse off his current mark of 97 and if you excuse his run at Ascot last time out, he has to be strongly considered here in this race. Things just didn’t go to plan at Ascot and he weakened out of things in the final furlong to finish well beaten. I think York will suit his running style a lot more as he’s all pace and likes to sit handy. Prior to that, his fine third placed effort at Doncaster reads well given he went clear of the field before being closed on late on by the first two home. I find it interesting that Haggas is wasting no time in getting him right back out.

 

3:00 Newmarket

The feature race is the 3:00, the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes for the 2 year-olds over 7f.

It’s the same story here back at a Newmarket with THE LION IS WINTER (10/11) the selection for O’Brien and Moore. An impressive winner on debut at the Curragh, the son of Sea The Stars then went to the Acomb Stakes at York and duly bolted up. That form has been boosted since and with further progress likely, I think he’s going to be very tough to beat here. 

 

3:40 Newmarket 

The big handicap of the day ends proceedings. The competitive Cesarewitch handicap over the 2m2f distance.

I’ve landed on SIXANDAHALF (8/1) EW in this competitive handicap. The 4 year-old has a lovely racing weight of 8’5 for this when taking the jockey’s 3lb claim into consideration. He’s progressing well this season and he’s arguably still unexposed at this level. He was a winner here at Newmarket two starts ago albeit on the July Course but it at least shows us he travels well and this type of track should suit him well. He was last seen two weeks in the Irish equivalent of this and he finished a fine third there. That experience will have done him the world of good and if he’s come out of that race well, I see no reason he can’t go close in this and hit the frame at least.

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