4 Saturday Must Have Betting Pointers + a 505/1 Treble!

The first classic of the season is upon us, as our Newmarket Tips assess the 2000 Guineas! Some of the best colts of their generation go head to head as nineteen go to post in a bid to etch their name in the history books.

It’s also the final day of the Punchestown Festival which sees two Grade 1’s and the return of Benie Des Dieux who aims to get back to winning ways following her agonising fall at the final flight in the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham.

ITV Best Bet

The Palace House Stakes has gone to a very class horse in recent times, with all 9 of the most recent winners going on to Group 1 glory later that season. Sergei Prokofiev looks like he could do just that this campaign.

He was electric over five furlongs last season, especially so over course and distance in October when showing lightning speed to win a Group 3 comfortably. A win on reappearance over slightly further than ideal shows he’s in rude health.

Outsider to Watch

Pogo has some very smart form to his name from last season behind the likes of Advertise (who runs in the 2000 Guineas) and Main Edition. A solid 6th in Listed company at Newcastle on his reappearance, he was slightly out of his depth and this handicap is a much more realistic target.

He won on the July course at Newmarket last season so won’t have a problem with the undulating dip either!

Key Handicapper

James Tate has been brilliant at placing his handicap debutants over the past year with a 33% strike rate from from 40 runners as well as a £11.94 level stakes profit.

He has Intuitive running on handicap debut at Newmarket today. The horse he was conceding 6lbs to and beat at Kempton last time has since won a handicap off a mark of 80, subsequently being raised to 88. So Intuitive’s opening rating of 87 looks like it could be on the lenient side!

First Timers – 505/1 Treble

Some trainers have more success than others when having runners under specific circumstances for the first time. We’ve picked out three runners who could massively benefit from a change today.

William Haggas – 27% strike rate with First-Time Geldings

Saeed bin Suroor – 62% strike rate with a First-Time Hood

John Gosden – 33% strike rate with First-Time Wind Ops