Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Doncaster, Cheltenham and Newbury
- Scott Allen
- 21 October 2022
The ITV cameras are rolling at three meetings on Saturday, October 22 and we've a tip for each of the nine live races.
We draw the curtain on the Flat season proper this Saturday, with the last Group 1 of the season at Doncaster in the guise of the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes.
There's also four races from Cheltenham, two at Newbury and a further two from Donny.
First a quick list of our selections, plus the reasons behind our highlighted picks further down the page. You can check out the race cards, results and live odds in
Planet Sport's racing live centre.
Selections:
13:50 (Newbury) Caragio
14:05 (Cheltenham) The Hollow Ginge
14:25 (Newbury) Hamish
14:40 (Cheltenham) Pied Piper
15:00 (Doncaster) Aesop's Fables
15:15 (Cheltenham) Editeur Du Gite
15:35 (Doncaster) Auguste Rodin
15:50 (Cheltenham) Didtheyleaveuoutto (e/w)
16:10 (Doncaster) Designer
13:50 (Newbury) Caragio
Roger Teal can enjoy a big-race victory at Newbury with Caragio, who goes in the Virgin Bet Horris Hill Stakes.
The impression he made when second first time up was confirmed at Leicester earlier this month, really taking the eye in moving powerfully and looking to have plenty left when pretty useful yardstick Highbank came to him.
That he is turning out to be potentially smart is not a surprise, as he is a half-brother to Teal's 2000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win.
14:05 (Cheltenham) The Hollow Ginge
The Hollow Ginge returns to action following a disappointing run in a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree in April, but he has gone well fresh in the past and certainly looks capable of being in the mix.
He made his seasonal debut in this contest last year and was denied victory by a head, but the fact he is now rated 10lb lower suggests he can go one better.
Captain Cattistock is feared most ahead of Lord Accord, who should be sharper for his Worcester third over timber.
14:25 (Newbury) Hamish
Definitely smart is Hamish, who is hard to oppose in the Virgin Bet St Simon Stakes.
William Haggas' six-year-old is well capable of mixing it with the best and gave the mighty Kyprios a real race in the Irish St Leger, after which he made no mistake as a short-priced favourite in the Cumberland Lodge at Ascot.
14:40 (Cheltenham) Pied Piper
A race that stands out at Prestbury Park with a view to the future is the Masterson Holdings Hurdle. It also stands out as a rematch of the dramatic clash between Knight Salute and Pied Piper from Aintree.
The pair originally dead-heated, but a stewards' inquiry rather surprisingly deemed interference caused by the Gordon Elliott-trained Pied Piper at the last had been sufficient to impact the result.
Whatever the merit of that call, one thing beyond doubt is the sweet-travelling Pied Piper was not really seen to best effect and Davy Russell was furious with himself afterwards feeling he had gone too soon.
With that in mind, Jack Kennedy can be expected to be at pains to wait as long as he can before pressing the button.
15:00 (Doncaster) Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables can set a high standard in the Carlsberg Marstons Doncaster Stakes.
He had shaped as a smart prospect himself when returning to the fray from a lay-off at the Curragh in August, making it perfectly reasonable to try him in the National Stakes and, most recently, the Dewhurst.
Although he came up short in those assignments, this Listed event represents much calmer waters and coming back to six furlongs will not do him any harm either.
15:15 (Cheltenham) Editeur Du Gite
In this competitive contest, it may pay dividends to side with Editeur Du Gite, who struck twice here just under a year ago.
The Gary Moore-trained eight-year-old then ran well for fourth in the Grand Annual and he can defy top weight to record a sixth career victory.
Conditions may suit El Borracho and he rates the most immediate danger after a successful autumn campaign so far.
Clear The Runway arrives on the hunt for a sixth consecutive victory and also demands respect.
15:35 (Doncaster) Auguste Rodin
Auguste Rodin is expected to enhance his Classic credentials with victory in the Vertem Futurity Trophy.
Aidan O'Brien has won the final Group One of the domestic season with some very smart ones over the years - the likes of Camelot and St Nicholas Abbey among them - and in this Deep Impact colt he again has obvious claims.
Beaten only on debut by subsequent Beresford Stakes winner Crypto Force, O'Brien's charge had no trouble shedding his maiden tag after that at Naas before going to Irish Champions Weekend and picking up Group Two honours.
While he was not overly spectacular there, he equally was always doing enough and O'Brien was glowing in his praise afterwards.
15:50 (Cheltenham) Didtheyleaveuoutto
Salvador Ziggy is on a five-timer and warrants the utmost respect off top weight.
Preference, however, is for Didtheyleaveuoutto, who hit the line with plenty of conviction when fourth in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow. The Nick Gifford-trained gelding remains on a workable mark and is expected to relish this step back up in trip.
The handicapper has started to loosen his grip on Kansas City Chief and the course specialist is also respected as he attempts to repeat last year's triumph.
16:10 (Doncaster) Designer
Marginal preference is for the relatively unexposed Designer, who ran with credit in Listed company at Ascot last time out and was a convincing winner of a valuable fillies' handicap at York before that.
Another three-year-old who has been in consistent form of late is Fast Response and she is likely to figure alongside Whenthedealinsdone.
Kimngrace was well on top of Vintage Clarets (second) when they met on the Knavesmire recently, but it is the latter who is fancied to overturn the form in receipt of weight on this occasion.
