Guide To Saturday’s Racing 30th June 2018

The ITV action on Saturday takes places on the main channel, with an All-Weather bonanza lined up. The bulk of the action comes from the northeast at Newcastle, with a further two races coming from the home of flat racing at Newmarket. The feature race of the day on the television is Northumberland Plate, with the gambled on Cesarewitch winner Withhold looking to prove he is group class. All our ITV Racing Tips are onsite and ready to view now, so you can be in the know for a bumper day of action. Away from the ITV action, there is the small matter of the Irish Derby, as Saxon Warrior looks to make amends for a disappointing run in the Epsom Derby.

Heritage doubleheader for Withhold?

The main betting race of the day is the Northumberland Plate, a staying contest that sees the Cesarewitch winner Withhold looking to win his second Heritage Handicap on the bounce. He was subject to a huge gamble in the Cesarewitch and has been in for market support for this contest most of the week. He will need to overcome a twelve-pound rise to land another big prize, but there is no doubt that he could be group class and needs plenty of respect. That said, he faces some serious competition today, including Ascot Stakes winner Lagostovegas, who looks to prove she’s still ahead of her flat mark.

Can Saxon show the heart of a warrior?

The feature race of the day, however, comes from the Curragh as Saxon Warrior looks to avenge his disappointing run in the Epsom Derby. He was backed as though defeat was out of the question that day but failed to pick up when asked on his first attempt of 1m 4f, finishing fourth behind reopposing rival Dee Ex Bee. His stamina remains a niggling question mark and although many say he was unlucky in that run, you couldn’t say he didn’t have enough time to get his act together when getting into the clear. He’s once again a short-priced favourite, but it’s a wide-open betting heat in behind him and our Irish Derby tip can be viewed on site now.

Going Reports

Chester – Good to Firm

Curragh – Good to Firm

Doncaster – Good to Firm, Firm in places

Lingfield – Good to Firm

Newcastle – Standard to Slow

Windsor – Good to Firm

York – Good to Firm

Market Movers

1.40pm Curragh – All The Kings Men (10/3 into 2/1)

3.15pm Newcastle – Zalshah (9/2 into 5/2)

Saturday’s Tips

With a 7/1 NAP winner on Thursday and two other winning best bets during the week, we’re looking for a fourth winning NAP of the day this week.

It was a terrific Tuesday when we landed our 73/1 Mega Acca and we’ll be looking to land another on Saturday!

Stat Of The Day

Quite remarkably, Aidan O’Brien has won twelve renewals of the Irish Derby and bids to make it thirteen with a four-pronged attack later this afternoon. Since 1997, the year the first won the race, only nine renewals haven’t gone his way. He runs four this year including favourite Saxon Warrior.