Horse Racing tips: Frank Hickey’s 7 best bets across the tracks on Saturday

Frank's got you covered for Saturday's action at Ayr and Newbury.

Frank Hickey Shady Operator

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

13.15 Ayr – Sebastopol

It’s difficult to get away from SEBASTOPOL if the visor works as well as last time when bolting up at Kempton off 8lb lower. The second that day has come out and won easily at Ascot since to frank the form and the Tom Lacey yard remain in form.

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13.50 Ayr – Doyen Breed

Dusart ran well enough at Cheltenham behind L’Homme Presse but my worry would be Cheltenham is a lot closer to Ayr this year than other years so I’d be wary backing anything that had a hard race there. I wouldn’t say DOYEN BREED is chucked in off a mark of 141 but he’s won nicely enough this season. He’s also been second to the likes of Threeunderthrufive and Does He Know. Sandy Thomson’s probably had this in mind for a while. He’ll do for me each-way!

14.10 Newbury – Bermeo

Harry Fry is in red-hot form with a 41 per cent strike rate and BERMEO is fairly well handicapped off a mark of 107. If you go back to this time last year he was rated 124 and he had form at Cheltenham when he won at the October meeting. He’s a fair enough price.

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14.25 Ayr – Socialist Agenda

I’d be surprised if Milkwood is able to defy a mark of 150. West Cork would be my idea of a likely winner but he ran in the County Hurdle two weeks ago and that’s not ideal. I’m going to chance SOCIALIST AGENDA at the prices. He won at Musselburgh last time out off 12lbs lower. The cheekpieces suggest to me he might kick on in front and will he have much opposition for the lead? It’s not ideal that he’s out of handicap but he is improving and he’ll do for me each-way!

14.45 Newbury – Speech Bubble

I really like SPEECH BUBBLE, she’s a really nice horse. I was a bit disappointed when she was beaten at Sandown but it turns out she bumped into a really good horse in Love Envoi, who went on to win at Cheltenham. Speech Bubble’s the class horse here and I think she might be able to give the weight away.

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15.00 Ayr – Minella Drama

It’s not the strongest Grade 2. I’ll side with MINELLA DRAMA even though he’s got the 5lb penalty. Kiltealy Briggs ran in the Ultima and this is a quick turn around while I’m not fully convinced that Do Your Job wants this trip despite his win here last time. A process of elimination leads me to Minella Drama and he sidestepped Cheltenham for this.

15.35 Ayr – Stormy Judge

STORMY JUDGE is the one and I’m very, very sweet. As soon as the Leinster National was over, I said he’d win the Irish National – and this is nowhere near as strong as that. Hill Sixteen carries top weight off a mark of 147 and you’ve got horses rated in the low 120s getting a run here. It’s not a very strong renewal.

Stormy Judge ran in two handicaps last season, winning a competitive race over 2m4f on heavy ground at Naas off 120 before following up in a strong novice handicap at Navan off 127. He had Enjoy D’allen, who is among the favourites for the Grand National, back in second and School Boy Hours was 12l back in third, who came out and won the Paddy Power this year. Foxy Jacks was back in sixth and went on to win at the Punchestown Festival. He got 12lbs for that but it looks fair considering what they have done for the form in the interim. He could blow these away, he’s in a different league!

Frank Hickey’s Top Tips:

13.15 Ayr – Sebastopol
13.50 Ayr – Doyen Breed
14.10 Newbury – Bermeo
14.25 Ayr – Socialist Agenda
14.45 Newbury – Speech Bubble
15.00 Ayr – Minella Drama
15.35 Ayr – Stormy Judge

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

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