ITV cameras are at Newcastle and Newmarket on Saturday – great news for all armchair fans at weekend. The channel are showing some fantastic racing from the Curragh, Cartmel and Uttoxeter on Sunday, too, so we’re really being spoiled!

Big Saturday highlights include the Northumberland Plate, the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes, a couple of Listed contests at HQ, alongside another Group 3, the Criterion.

Newcastle

12:20 Newcastle Jenningsbet Festival Handicap (Class 2) (6f)

12:55 Newcastle Jenningsbet Chipchase Stakes (Group 3) (6f)

1:30 Newcastle Jenningsbet Northumberland Vase Handicap (Class 2) (2m1⁄2f)

2:05 Newcastle Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap (Class 2) (2m1⁄2f)

Newmarket

12:40 Newmarket Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) (6f)

1:15 Newmarket Fred Archer Stakes (Listed) (1m4f)

1:50 Newmarket Criterion Stakes (Group 3) (7f)

Seven on Saturday then – and here’s who I’ll be supporting, as we look forward to a highly entertaining early afternoon.

Selections;

12:20 Newcastle Jenningsbet Festival Handicap (Class 2) (6f)

Middleham Park Racing have a promising 3-yr-old colt in Batal Dubai. Plenty of club members will no doubt be present to cheer him on, and with Oisin Murphy booked the Charltons seem to mean business.

He’s entered up in some big forthcoming contests, and did well under the circumstances at Windsor time. Lost ground at the start, and hampered late – but only beaten under 3l. That was his seasonal reappearance in early June, and a productive period could be just around the corner.

Batal Dubai each-way @ 6/1

12:40 Newmarket Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) (6f)

An early start at HQ, and a likely warm fav in the shape of Star Of Mystery (around 5/4, for Buick, Appleby, Godolphin). Wide-margin scorer at Haydock last time, this is evidently a smart and well-regarded filly.

Nice educational introduction at Donny on debut, then a deal of improvement for that Haydock Park romp. Some big yards oppose, but I’m absolutely with her for this third racecourse appearance, and she could be very tasty.

Star Of Mystery to win @ 5/4

12:55 Newcastle Jenningsbet Chipchase Stakes (Group 3) (6f)

Tiber Flow has run very well here before. He runs pretty well wherever he goes to be fair, and this Bunbury Cup-entrant will surely make them all go on Saturday.

Decent effort last time in a Haydock Conditions race, having reappeared in HQ’s Abernant Stakes in April, finishing a close-up fourth. Big chance for me, on only his third start of the season. Should be coming to the boil nicely.

Tiber Flow to win @ 10/3

1:15 Newmarket Fred Archer Stakes (Listed) (1m4f)

Two stand out on ratings here – New London (11/10) and Al Aasy (2/1). The other three have got it all to do on official figures, and the one I like is Shadwell’s Al Aasy, trained by William Haggas and ridden by Jim Crowley.

Fairly lightly-raced for a 6-yr-old, this one comfortably took a Listed contest at Ascot in May. He’s a solid Group performer – and though New London boasts some similarly tip-top form, the Appleby colt hasn’t run since last term’s Leger, followed by wind surgery (some 293 days).

A fascinating clash that could get very tactical.

Al Aasy to win @ 2/1

1:30 Newcastle Jenningsbet Northumberland Vase Handicap (Class 2) (2m1⁄2f)

Four places each-way for this open-looking staying handicap. It’s a consolation race for those who didn’t get into the Plate.

Blow Your Horn (7/2) is in epic form right now, and is chasing a four-timer. He’s one of several recent winners who might, just might, now be in the grip of the handicapper. We’ll soon find out.

A course-and-distance scorer who operates at decent handicap levels is Mostly Sunny, a 4-yr-old gelding trained by Heather Main. Probably ran as well as ever when a narrow second at Goodwood three weeks ago, and at around 15/2 appeals as an each-way play.

Quick shout out to an interesting contender for me – Irish-trained La Hacienda (10/1), ridden by brilliant 3lb claimer Harry Davies. Saw Harry to great effect on Dereham at HQ the other day, and it’s an eye-catching booking.

Mostly Sunny each-way @ 15/2

La Hacienda each-way @ 10/1

1:50 Newmarket Criterion Stakes (Group 3) (7f)

Small but select group of six contest this £45,000 to the winner heat, on Newmarket’s famed July course.

William Haggas’ Aldaary (7/4) must have had his issues, as we’ve not seen him since lifting a Listed contest in May 2022, some 420 days ago. Berkshire Shadow (4/1) ran well in the Queen Anne at the Royal meeting, and Jumby (9/2) took a Haydock Group 3 cosily at this trip.

Audience, for the Gosdens (12/1), won a Leicester handicap in eye-catching style last autumn, and has some fancy entries upcoming.

This is an absolutely fascinating and for me wide-open affair. Jumby (9/2) is in prime nick and has Will Buick on top, but is held on one form line by Pogo (11/4), last year’s winner of this.

Pogo didn’t appreciate the mile trip at Ascot (Queen Anne again), but back to 7f here Charlie Hills’ 7-yr-old can retain his title.

Race of the day, intrigue-wise, for me.

Pogo to win @ 11/4

2:05 Newcastle Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap (Class 2) (2m1⁄2f)

The ‘Pitmen’s Derby.’ A fabulous, famous old staying test, with around 80 grand to the winner. We’re paying five places, so that’s definitely the way I’ll be playing this one. Some course form would be good on Newcastle’s Tapeta surface, too.

Zoffee fits the bill (8/1), and ran really well in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting. Lightly-raced this term – brilliant 2nd in the Chester Cup, Ascot, and now this.

Could be cherry-ripe, and won the Northumberland Vase last season with ease, off 84. Rated 95 these days, but is running to it just about and I want him on my side.

Rainbow Dreamer is one at a price (25/1) that knows his way around here, too. He’s now 10-years-young, but represents trainer Alan King and jockey Rossa Ryan. Top practitioners in their fields.

‘Rainbow’ won a huge pot here in April under Hollie Doyle, and as Rossa knows him well I’m hopeful that he can get in amongst the places on Saturday.

Zoffee each-way @ 8/1

Rainbow Dreamer each-way @ 25/1

Have a brilliant afternoon’s racing, don’t forget that Sunday afternoon ITV bonanza too, and as always, take care.

In case it’s of interest, here’s what ITV are serving up for us tomorrow, on SUNDAY … including of course the Group 1 Irish Derby, from the Curragh.

1:50 Curragh GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) (6f)

2:05 Cartmel Oakmere Homes Handicap Chase (Class 2) (2m5f)

2:25 Curragh Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes (Listed) (6f)

2:40 Cartmel Oakmere Homes Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (2m1f)

3:00 Curragh Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap (5f)

3:40 Curragh Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) (1m4f)

3:12 Uttoxeter bet365 Summer Cup Handicap Chase (Class 2) (3m2f)

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