Horse Racing Tips: Frank Hickey's 6 best bets for Saturday's ITV races

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Naas 13:00 – Celtic Times

Jim Bolger riding a wave after the Guineas win last week and has a 21 per cent strike rate in the last two weeks with a RTF of 68 per cent. Celtic Times ran a cracker on his debut at Navan when beaten a half length by Masseto in what looked a very useful maiden (re-opposing Andreas Vesalius was 6l back in fourth). He knew his job on debut but looks tough to beat here granted natural improvement.

Lingfield 14:15 – Ocean Road

Gosden has won this three times in the last four seasons and Loving Dream has a solid chance after her excellent second behind the beautifully bred Noon Star at Wetherby. I like one that has also finished second to Noon Star in Ocean Road.

That was over a mile at Nottingham on soft ground, so easing of the ground is no issue. She made a big move to go the lead that day before Noon Star powered past her.

She was an eye-catching move for one with so little experience and she improved on that to win very easily at Lingfield on the AW over a mile.

There are mixed messages from that Lingfield form but the fourth won twice since and the sixth won a lowly level. She is a half sister to Wigmore Hall who improved as a 3 year old and won a Grade 1 in Canada. Being by Australia, she is sure to improve for stepping up from a mile to a mile and a half.

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Ascot 14:30 – Deja

Deja is top rated in this race on 110. He was quite progressive last season, finishing second here in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at the Royal meeting over a mile and a half off 100. He won the Old Newton Cup then at Haydock on soft ground off 105, conceding 7lbs to Laady and beating him over a length.

He was a bit too free when midfield in the Ebor stepping up in trip and the good ground on reappearance at Newbury wouldn’t have been absolutely ideal. Forecast rain a big positive for his chances and he has course form too so there’s lots to like!

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Lingfield 14:50 – Adayar

Sectionals will tell you that Adayar was a little unlucky not to win the Grade 3 Classic Trial at Sandown over 10f on good ground on his reappearance when beaten a half length by Alenquer.

He was held up while the winner was prominent and that was the difference really. He had been very impressive when winning his maiden on his second start. That was over an extended mile at Nottingham on soft ground. Stepping up in trip will really suit and the overnight rain will only boost his chances.

Haydock 15:10 – Shanroe (Each Way)

Shanroe won three bumpers but didn’t take to hurdles initially. He’s good on the flat also, easily beating The Jam Man over 1m6f in Killarney last October when conceding 10lbs to him and was an excellent fourth next time in the November handicap at Naas despite being raised a stone to a mark of 97.

It finally clicked over hurdles last time at Fairyhouse over 2m when he bolted up by 9l off a mark of 123. He got a stone on the handicapper and the UK handicapper has added on another 6lbs.

The fifth from Fairyhouse won a Punchestown handicap to frank the form and based on his flat ability, the mark of 144 is not impossible for him, particularly when factoring in the Irish domination of handicap hurdles when coming over. He handles fairly testing ground on the flat, so the overnight rain shouldn’t inconvenience at all.

Ascot 15:40 – Ropey Guest and Sunset Breeze (Each Way)

Ropey Guest was highly tried as a juvenile, running 10 times without winning but was placed in Listed company and was placed in the Grade 3 Acomb, Tattersalls, Autumn and Horris Hill Stakes.

He was behind nice horses like Military March, Wichita and Al Suhail. His Horris Hill second behind Kenzai Warrior was on heavy ground, so the rain is a positive for his chances.

Last season, he was fourth in the Grade 2 Jersey Stakes at the Royal meeting, beaten just over 4l by Molatham, with Symbolize half a length in front of him but Ropey Guest is 5lbs better off here.

He was then third in a NM listed race behind Al Suhail and won a Chelmsford novice race. He disappointed when a 40/1 shot in the Balmoral off 103 but a mile stretches his stamina.

He’s drawn in 23 which might not be the worst spot and looks a bit of value to hit the places with the six on offer.

Sunset Breeze is drawn 29 which I’m hoping won’t be a negative. He was quite progressive last season, winning his first three starts in handicaps over 6f at Newcastle, Newmarket and Chelmsford going from 69 to 87.

He was a little disappointing then in a decent 3 year old sprint handicap at NM when only sixth of 17 and could have thought that the handicapper had caught up to him. He had a little break and returned at Ascot when just touched off by Double Or Bubble (off 87) over 7f and that looks strong form now with Double Or Bubble bolting up at Newmarket on her reappearance this season and now rated 16lbs higher.

That run proves he should get the 7f, which would have been a question mark. Last start was at Doncaster in a 6.5f handicap where he was just caught late by Tranchee (off 87) who is now rated a stone higher than that day and form has been franked by those behind also. He’s gone up 4lbs for that but likely to have improved again.