ITV Racing Tips: Bay to go one better on the Knavesmire

It’s one of the biggest ITV live Saturdays I can recall, with ELEVEN contests coming our way across the terrestrial airwaves. Terrific racing from some of the most iconic venues in our sport – Newmarket, York, and Ascot.

Here we go then with our ITV Racing tips for July 13. A bit of sunshine would be nice but ahead of that little football match in Berlin on Sunday we’re certainly going to be regally entertained on the racetrack. First race on the channel is at 13:45.

Horse Racing Odds

Today’s Horse Races

The full ITV menu;

Newmarket
14:12 Bedford Lodge Hotel Handicap 7F
14:50 bet365 Mile Handicap 1M
15:25 bet365 Superlative Stakes – Group 2 7F
16:00 bet365 Bunbury Cup – Handicap 7F
16:35 My Pension Expert July Cup – Group 1 6F

Ascot
13:45 Ascot Heritage Handicap 5F
14:20 Summer Mile – Group 2 1M

York
14:00 John Smith’s Handicap 1M
14:35 John Smith’s City Walls Stakes – Listed 5F
15:10 John Smith’s Cup – Handicap 1M 2F
15:45 John Smith’s Silver Cup – Group 3 1M 6F

Rationale;

13:45 Ascot – King’s Lynn each-way @ 7/1

I like the drop to 5f, the seven-year-old gelding has operated from much higher marks in the past, and crucially he goes well with cut in the ground.

King’s Lynn will have the red-hot Oisin Murphy up top, and Andrew Balding trains. We’re paying FIVE places each-way, and there’s a free bet offer too – kindly click the price for full details on the website.

Excellent, very close near-miss at Goodwood in May off this very mark (94).

14:00 York – Sailthisshipalone each-way @ 14/1

Cracking e/w value in my book and as we’re going FIVE places again that’s the route I’ll be taking.

Richard Fahey trains, and there aren’t many better at securing prizes on the Knavesmire. Superb run last October here over 7f, just falling short on testing ground. I’ve a feeling it will be on the softer side again on Saturday.

Sailthisshipalone has run well here, is admirably consistent, and on just career start number six, and his second as a three-year-old, has loads of scope for improvement.

14:12 Newmarket – Miss Bodacious @ 9/2

Love the name – that’s almost enough to warrant the selection! Cliff Lee rides for the mighty Karl Burke yard.

Miss Bodacious is a three-year-old Zoustar filly and is two-from-three in her brief career so far. She’s a very progressive sort, improving nicely along the way, and three weeks ago landed a modest little handicap here in an eye-catching manner.

We’re about to find out I suspect today that this hike up to Class 2 is entirely warranted. She runs in the famous Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum silks. Fabulous little heat.

14:20 Ascot – Sonny Liston @ 3/1

Tough-as-teak five-year-old Lawman gelding trained by Ralph Beckett.

No Rossa Ryan on top unfortunately (no disrespect to Rob Hornby), as he’s at HQ. The pair had a real time of it at the Royal meeting in the Hunt Cup, coming within a head of victory in that £90k, 29-runner charge.

Sonny Liston is the very model of consistency, and as a consequence must operate from a career-high mark of 114. I still think he’s one of the best-treated horses in this Group 2 and I applaud connections for seeking such a prestigious, and what for me would be richly-deserved, success.

14:35 York – Starlust @ 11/4

Another visit to what many refer to as God’s racecourse, for a 5f Listed affair.

Starlust appears in the familiar Mrs Fitri Hay colours, Ralph Beckett trains, and Hector Crouch will be doing the steering.

Zoustar progeny again, a three-year-old, and a previous scorer here on the Knavesmire. He comes out best on official figures and after a steep Group 1 assignment last time in the Commonwealth Cup (beaten a respectable 7.75l), this will feel a lot less exacting.

14:50 Newmarket – Celtic Warrior each-way @ 14/1

Another operating under Mrs Hay’s banner, Andrew Balding is the trainer, and the brilliant Silvestre De Sousa is in the plate.

Celtic Warrior has a lovely racing weight of just 8st 6lb, and ran right up to his best last time at Goodwood. Connections now reach two classes higher in the handicap for an attractive £25k pot, and it’s a bold move that might just pay off.

Four e/w places available here at Betfred – let’s take advantage of that.

15:10 York – Haunted Dream @ 11/2

Having been on a few River Ouse Ghost Cruises in the past in this wonderful city I’ve perhaps selected this one with that subliminally in mind!

Haunted Dream was highly-tried last time at the Royal meeting but ran a blinder, just 2.75l adrift of Israr in the Listed Wolferton Stakes. Class 2 handicap company on Saturday represents far calmer waters for Newmarket trainer H Al Jehani’s five-year-old Oasis Dream gelding, and he’s got a great chance for Wathnan Racing.

The outstanding Danny Muscott rides.

15:25 Newmarket – The Parthenon @ 5/1

Group 1 action now from HQ, and the peerless Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore axis.

The Parthenon is a Kingman two-year-old colt, having just career start number three. Debuted in a Curragh Group 3 no less, beaten only 1.75l, and then took a hot maiden nearly a month ago at Gowran Park, narrowly.

He could be anything at this point but Aidan’s team are always to be feared/respected, and this one is no exception.

15:45 York – Salt Bay @ 7/2

A Group 3 at the Ebor trip, and a selection once again trained by the excellent Ralph Beckett.

Salt Bay featured in a Listed thriller here four weeks ago, losing out by a short-head to Klondike, who benefitted from a majestic Ryan Moore ride on the day. No Moore on Saturday for the re-opposing Klondike – he’s at HQ – but Salt Bay’s regular pilot Hector Crouch IS on top for the revenge mission.

Testing ground seems ideal but it’s hard to say right now how soft it’s going to be. It’s likely in my book, and from nearly getting there last time I’m backing him to succeed on Saturday en route to taking up one of a number of imminent, decidedly fancy staying entries.

Humdinger of a race.

16:00 Newmarket – Divine Libra each-way @ 7/1

The historic Bunbury Cup, we’re paying FIVE places – and you can guess which way I’m approaching this ultra-competitive heat.

My selection Divine Libra is trained by Charlie Hills, showing a nice level-stake profit if you’d backed all his winners this year. Will Buick, encouragingly, has been booked to ride.

His last three starts have been in career-best waters including at this venue, though on the Rowley Mile course. Had no luck in running last time at Ascot and is better judged on a narrow defeat here off a pound lower the time before that. Great chance, each-way.

16:35 Newmarket – Inisherin @ 9/4

What a terrific race we have for the July Cup, a flying 6f Group 1 sprint.

Inisherin is in sensational form right now, seeking a hat-trick of Group successes after joy at this trip at Haydock (G2) and Ascot (G1). Seems to act on any ground, and at just three years of age with only five races on the clock the Shamardal colt’s potential is frightening.

The superb Kevin Ryan deserts Yorkshire for the day and regular pilot Tom Eaves, a Breeders’ Cup-winning jock, once again gets the leg-up. This one could be, indeed already probably is, something rather special.

If you’re playing take care, have fun as always, and enjoy what looks to be a stellar afternoon of flat racing.

ITV Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.