Horse Racing tips: Frank Hickey’s fine fancies for Saturday’s ITV Racing

It's 2,000 Guineas day at Newmarket and Frank is all over the tellybox action.

*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

13:50 Newmarket – First Folio

First Folio raced in France as a two-year-old. He switched to James Ferguson last year and won a Yarmouth handicap off 80 and won at York two starts later off 90. He didn’t go on the soft ground in the Stewards Cup consolation race but then finished a close 4th at Newmarket on the July course off 98 and at York off 97 in a three-year-old 6f sprint when only beaten by a half length. That York form is working out well already this season with the winner just touched off in a Newmarket handicap and the 2nd winning twice this season already, while there were plenty of subsequent winners in behind. Ferguson is also red hot with 4-7 the last two weeks (57%). The fast ground really suits him and he looks to have a really solid chance.

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14:05 Thirsk – Pisanello

Pisanello was running in Group races in 2020 when trained in France and won at Listed level. He switched to O’Meara last year in July and struggled in three runs for him with his mark dropping from 85 to 77. He was impressive with how well he finished when winning at Beverely last week off 77, as he met plenty of trouble in running. He’s up 6lbs but could be one that could be rated much higher now that O’Meara has found the key to him.

14:25 Newmarket – Movin Time

Fast Medicine bolted up at Nottingham on his reappearance and is 6lb well in under a 5lb penalty but that was only a class 4 event. Movin Time carries top weight but he bolted up in a maiden here last May beating Kemari who went on to win the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot and is rated 109. He was 5th at Royal Ascot in the Hampton Court Stakes and 4th at Listed level at Newbury last July and off since. He was gelded but has Harry Davies claiming 7lb off him and dropping in to a handicap will suit him. Roger Varian has his string in decent form also with 5-28 (18%) in the last two weeks.

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14:40 Goodwood – Primo Bacio

Zanbaq is interesting as she won on her debut at Kempton and cost £450k but this a fair step up. Almohandesah was 2nd in the Nell Gwyn at 28/1 and gets a stone off the older horses. On ratings she has a big chance but I wouldn’t fully trust her rating. Primo Bacio progressed nicely last season, bolting up in a Listed race at York from subsequent Group winners Creative Flair and Snow Lantern. She was a 1.5l 5th in the Falmouth. If she is anywhere near her best she should taking plenty of beating.

15:00 Newmarket – Khaadem

Came From The Dark was unlucky in this last year when beaten a neck by Lazuli but he can tend to need his first run back and hasn’t been seen since a Group 3 win at Sandown last July. Twilight Calls bolted up here a couple of weeks ago off a mark of 94 and goes up in grade but looks up to it. He is the favourite. When Khaadem won the Stewards Cup back in 2019 off 107 I was convinced he would win a Group 1. Fast ground is important to him and he hasn’t got that much in the last few seasons. He was 4th in the 2020 July Cup but did win a Doncaster listed sprint over 5f on fast ground last September and was gelded before running well in Meydan. He was 3rd in a 6f Listed race behind Man Of Promise and Lazuli. Charlie Hills made a fast start to the season, operating at 25% overall.

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15:40 Newmarket – Native Trail & Tacarib Bay

2,000 Guineas

Native Trail is 5-5 and was impressive in winning the Craven. He easily beat Point Lonsdale in the National Stakes at the Curragh too. He won the Dewhurst easily and has a big stride and comes home strong. Charlie Appleby is red hot and he’s difficult to oppose.

With four places on offer I will put up Tacarib Bay at a wild price. He won at Haydock on his debut and then ran in the Group 3 Horris Hill at Newbury where he did too much and got nailed late by Light Infantry and Cresta. Noble Truth was 4th and he was 2nd in the Lagardare. He was well backed in the Free Handicap here a few weeks ago but found New Science too strong. He was too free that day again and I think he will be suited to the decent pace, big field scenario here and I wouldn’t be surprised if he nicked a place here.

Frank Hickey’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips

*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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