Horse Racing tips: Our top pundits cheat sheet for Saturday’s ITV Races

Three tracks. Five pundits. 35 picks. What's not to like?

It’s a Super Saturday of action across the UK and Ireland with the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster and Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown taking centre-stage.

But not to be outdone we’ve got our own trumpet to blow as despite it only being 2021 we’ve decided to go digital with Paddy’s famed and acclaimed Horse Racing Cheat Sheet.

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So instead of clicking on, downloading or printing (does anyone even do that anymore?) simply feast your eyeball space on our slick new Cheat Sheets with bet widget to match. Huzzah!

Now there’s one thing that never changes and that is our mission to give you a steer on the best bets ahead of a day’s racing. So with our stellar cast of pundits, broadcasters and best guessers we’ve lined up 35 picks across three tracks for today’s action.  Surely we’ll bag a couple of winners, right?

 

Timeform

Mick Fitzgerald

Jason Weaver

Paddy Power

Matt Chapman

Timeform

Jawwaal didn’t fire in last year’s renewal of this, but otherwise boasts a fantastic course record and, having shaped encouragingly the last twice, he’s worth chancing in a typically competitive renewal.

Mick Fitzgerald

Jawwaal finished  just in front of Stone of Destiny at Haydock but  loves Doncaster. He can confirm the placings in this.

Jason Weaver

PREMIER POWER has gone off a well punted favourite on all but one start to date. Champion jockey Oisin Murphy takes over in the saddle and he’s going to fly under the radar at big odds.

Paddy Power

I’m prepared to give Whenthedealisdoen another chance after his no show last time. His win before at Goodwood was impressive.

Matt Chapman

Mondammej has been crying out for this trip and while he’s up in the handicap for a recent Haydock win that must have boosted his confidence and might allow him to defy the rise in the weights.

Timeform

Alounak looked better than ever when third in the Ebor 3 weeks ago and, with a fitness edge over his chief rival, Alignak, he’s a confident selection

Mick Fitzgerald

Alignak gets the nod with Richard Kingscote booked to ride. He hasn’t run for a year but he won this last season. He will have to be fit though to beat Ebor third, Alounak.

Jason Weaver

ALIGNAK managed to win this contest last year and has obviously not been the easiest to train as we haven’t seen him since. However, his record fresh is not too bad, so the 364 day absence shouldn’t be a problem for his excellent handler Sir Michael Stoute.

Paddy Power

The smart Alignak hasn’t raced for 12 months but signed off with a win over course and distance. His back form makes him a serious player.

Matt Chapman

Alounak stays well and has a fitness advantage over Alignak so should be hard to beat for Andrew Balding and David Probert

Timeform

Reach for the Moon was a very taking winner of the Solario at Sandown last time and can make the most of the 3 lb he receives from dual Group 2 winner Lusail

Mick Fitzgerald

Reach for the Moon is the best young horse the Queen has had for some time and they have Classic aspirations for him next year.

Jason Weaver

There is not going to be much between REACH FOR THE MOON and likely second favourite, Lusail, who has to carry a 3lb penalty. That can just about swing it in the favour of the former.

Paddy Power

It looks a match between Lusail and Reach for the Moon and i just favour the John Gosden runner.

Matt Chapman

Lusail has only tried 7f once but he won over the trip at Newmarket in the style of a horse who stays well. Since then he’s shown loads of speed to land the Gimcrack at York

Timeform

Hochfeld has two wins, two seconds and third in this year’s Chester Cup to show from five previous visits here. He’s now 2lb lower from that good run in the Chester Cup so looks well worth siding with at a venue which plays to his strengths.

Mick Fitzgerald

Arrow of Gold is lightly raced and off a rating of 77 has to be of interest against exposed opposition.

Jason Weaver

We have only seen MR CURIOSITY on one occasion on the turf and that was a pretty smooth success at Bath. He’s a great big powerful individual, who always looked as if this test trip (and further) was going to suit him as he grows and strengthens into that massive frame.

Paddy Power

I’ll take a chance on Au Clair De Lune improving again for the step up to two miles. Some of the others have had plenty of chances over this track and trip without delivering.

Matt Chapman

Gabrial the One is slipping down the weights and might have a little each-way chance, He’s down to 73 having once been on a mark of 81. Has a good draw.

Timeform

St Mark’s Basilica coped very well with a small-field scenario when an impressive winner of the Eclipse and can land a fifth Group 1 success in a row.

Mick Fitzgerald

With plenty of rain forecast in Dublin that sways things in favour of St Mark’s Basilica as that will suit him more than Poetic Flare.

Jason Weaver

This is probably going to prove to be a very tactical affair, with just the four runners taking part, but it’s an absolute cracker of a contest. ST MARK’S BASILICA should have too many gears for these from the quarter mile pole.

Paddy Power

It’s very rare to get a horse that can win a Group 1 on firm (Breeders Cup Turf), heavy (Prix de l’Opera) and good (Prix Vermaille) ground – and Tarnawa has done just that. She is special and there was nothing wrong with her preparation for this.

Matt Chapman

I’ll still with Eclipse winner St Mark’s Basilica. With just the four runners it will be hugely tactical and a race of nerve and finesse.

Timeform

Danyah has thrived in top handicaps this season, notably when doing very well to make all in the 19-runner International at Ascot last time, and he looks well up to this level.

Mick Fitzgerald

It’s significant that Jim Crowley returns from a bad fall here on Wednesday to ride Lanequash who made an eye-catching return last time.

Jason Weaver

LANEQASH has strong course and distance form from last season and is completely unexposed, unlike all of the others – with a slight exception for Rhythm Master and Danyah.

Paddy Power

Laneqash should come on a tonne for his seasonal reappearance and looks the one to beat.

Matt Chapman

Danyah is very progressive and should take some stopping for Dane O’Neill and Owen Burrows. Fourth in the Lincoln, second in the Spring Mile and Buckingham Palace, he finally got a win on the board at Ascot last time

Timeform

Charlie Appleby can secure a first St Leger win with Irish Derby hero Hurricane Lane who spreadeagled his field in the Grand Prix de Paris and holds a clear form edge.

Mick Fitzgerald

Hurricane Lane is out of a mare who stayed two miles so I am not worried about the 1m 6f trip. Any rain that falls between now and post time would be a bonus.

Jason Weaver

Rated at 120, HURRICANE LANE is already a proven top-class performer coming into the final classic of the season. It’s not rocket science to see him taking this pretty comfortably judged on what we have seen so far.

Paddy Power

Boring I know but it’s hard to look past Hurricane Lane who is well clear on official ratings. Sir Lucan could be in the mix with the step up in trip sure to suit.

Matt Chapman

I fully expect the Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane to hack up in the final British Classic of the season, the St Leger. At a bigger price Youth Spirit could hit the places each-way.

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