Saturday’s racing tips
- Team Player (Newcastle, 15.15) – 1pt each-way @ 11/1
- Zennor Storm (York, 13.55) – 1pt each-way @ 5/1
- Shrodinger’s Cat (York, 14.25) – 1pt each-way @ 11/1
- Invincible Boy (York, 16.15) – 1pt each-way @ SP
It’s Northumberland Plate day at Newcastle and our horse racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge has come up with a selection in the big race, plus three at York using the best odds from betting sites.
Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap (15.15, Newcastle)
We’ll start with the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ at Newcastle, where I’m going to side with TEAM PLAYER each-way.
Trainer Ewan Whillans has slapped cheekpieces and a tongue-tie on together for the first time and this four-year-old didn’t get the smoothest of passages when last seen in the Chester Cup (2m2½f, good) last month. Despite that he was beaten less than three lengths into fifth but there are reasons to believe that he may be able to atone here and at the least, run into the frame.
He’s already a C&D winner, a handy thing to have on your CV on this surface. He’s improved with all three of his starts since joining this trainer from Gemma Tutty and he does look well treated on the evidence of that latest Chester effort, remaining on a mark of 92.
The ante-post favourite, Circus Of Rome has been backed as if defeat is out of the question but I am happy to take him on at the cramped odds of 3/1 on horse racing betting sites that’s currently trading at and side with Team Player and Greg Fairley.
Saturday racing tip 1: Team Player (Newcastle, 15.15) – 1pt each-way @ 11/1
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap (13.55, York)
A big field handicap over a mile that may work out not to be as competitive as some do around the Knavesmire and that may be due to the presence of ZENNOR STORM, who goes into the race as the least exposed runner and the one with the greatest potential.
William Haggas trains the gelded son of Mohaather and in that statement, we could have grasped the key. He won both AW starts as a juvenile, first a 7f maiden at Kempton and then followed up back there over 1m.
However, he’s blotted his copybook in two starts this season, finishing last on both occasions, at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) and Newbury (1m, good), since which he has been gelded.
That should settle things down a little now and hopefully get him back concentrating on the job. It’s hard to believe that there won’t be a fair bit more to come from him now and I also think a stronger pace that looks assured in this race should play more to his strengths, so I’m suggesting a small stakes each-way play, as I would like to see him prove my theory before getting more heavily involved.
Saturday racing tip 2: Zennor Storm (York, 13.55) – 1pt each-way @ 5/1
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap (14.25, York)
A tricky-looking sprint for us but I liked the way that SCHRODINGER’S CAT made all and pulled well clear of his field for an eased down success in a 0-85 at Redcar last time (5f, good) and I think 11/1 (at the time of writing) is too big to spurn about his each-way chance in this higher grade of race.
He’s drawn against the far rail and I do like single figure drawn runners in York sprints, as they often tend to race middle to far side there. He’s clearly got plenty of pace and, although he has gone up 8lb for that success, he is still improving and I’ll be disappointed if he’s not able to give us a great run for our money. If you can get four places on betting apps, all the better.
Saturday racing tip 3: Shrodinger’s Cat (York, 14.25) – 1pt each-way @ 11/1
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sprint Handicap (16.15, York)
Bracing myself slightly as I write this but I am going to side with a runner who has a double figure draw in this 6f handicap, which is unusual.
As previously stated, I prefer backing sprinters with a lower draw here but there are sometimes exceptions and I am making one here because INVINCIBLE BOY is drawn near where the pace is likely to come from and I am therefore hoping it will be a positive.
Trained by the Faheys, he’s a three-year-old colt by Invincible Army who showed promise over C&D (good) on debut last October, when 1l second. Perhaps the heavy ground was his nemesis when a beaten favourite at Doncaster in November (6f).
However, he bounced back with an improved effort to score at Pontefract (6f, good to soft), doing so going away from his field. I think his initial handicap mark of 82 is fair and with the potential for further improvement, he could actually be well treated. I’m happy to take the chance this time.
Saturday racing tip 4: Invincible Boy (York, 16.15) – 1pt each-way @ SP
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