Horse Racing tips: Frank Hickey’s sweet Saturday selections for ITV Racing

You don't have to ask Frank twice for a Saturday tip and our trader likes Magna Sam in the Scottish Grand National.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 12 months ago

Frank Hickey’s Saturday Tips:

13:15 – Ayr – Frere Darmes
13:30 – Newbury – Mojo Star
13:50 – Ayr – Temptationinmilan
14:05 – Newbury – Remarquee
14:25 – Ayr – Salsada
14:40 – Newbury – Chaldean
15:00 – Ayr – Balco Coastal
15:15 – Newbury – Lattam
15:35 – Ayr – Magna Sam

*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 – Frere Darmes

Pay The Piper was a big eyecatcher at Aintree when fifth, while Hasankey was fourth and is a pound lower than when beaten a head here in October. Frere Darmes is very lightly raced with only eight starts under rules in total. He’s had three chase starts and won the first two in November.

He won a Kempton handicap over 2m2f off a mark of 120, easily beating Haddex Des Obeaux, who was running off 126 and won his next two starts.

He then went to Newbury and beat Aucunrisque off a mark of 128. Aucunrisque was the subsequent Betfair Hurdle winner, in third was Datsalrighgino who was second in a good handicap at Cheltenham before finishing second in the Pendil and in fifth was Balco Coastal, who bolted up in a Kempton handicap on his next start and was second to Gerri Colombe at Sandown.

Frere Darmes was off then until three weeks ago when running at Ascot when he was second off this mark of 136. He travelled really well but didn’t finish strongly, suggesting he may have needed the run.

13:30 – Newbury – Mojo Star

Hurricane Lane is top on ratings but only had two starts last season when turned over in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot and was then turned over at odds on again at Saint Cloud in the Grand Prix De Saint Cloud.

Mojo Star only had the one run last season when a half length second to Kyprios in the Gold Cup. He was second to Hurricane Lane in the 2021 Leger.

Amo racing are having an amazing time of things and I’m sure Mojo Star is likely to be raring to go for this considering he hasn’t had a run in nine months.

13:50 – Ayr – Temptationinmilan

Temptationinmilan is a half brother to Princely Player and Kings Temptation, who were both stayers and really appreciated good ground. He has been kept busy since last July, running 10 times since. He did manage to win at Listowel in September off just 97 over 2m4f and finished second three times on the bounce before unseating at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He won at Navan off 112 on decent ground and he was then third at Navan in a good novice handicap chase off a mark of 120 but the heavy ground wouldn’t have been ideal. He’s back on better ground and is running off just a 2lb higher mark than that Navan third, while he only carries 10st 8lbs.

14:05 – Newbury – Remarquee

I like Bridestones, who was impressive on her debut at Yarmouth in October over a mile on soft ground. She might find 7f sharp enough and might be one to follow stepped up to middle distances and would be on my watchlist for the Oaks at this stage.

Ralph Beckett did win this race back in 2015 with Redstart and he’s got Remarquee. She was very impressive when winning at Salisbury on her debut in September, generating a really good time figure in the process. She was two seconds faster than the second division.

14:25 – Ayr – Salsada

Salsada was progressive on the flat in 2020, winning her maiden at Newcastle before winning handicaps at Haydock and Ayr off 76 and 79 respectively. She was only beaten just over 3l in a 10f Listed race at Doncaster to end the season.

She started to have issues with the stalls in 2021 but did win her hurdles debut at Sedgefield on good ground. She was then turned over twice at odds-on before running well at Salisbury last June over 1m6f off 92 and was only beaten less then 2l in fourth. She was then off until January, when she was stepped up to Grade 2 company and ran above herself when second, despite only being rated 118.

However, that form hasn’t worked out. A strongly run 2m on decent ground will be ideal for her and while you could argue that 130 for what she has done over hurdles overestimates her, on her flat ability she is capable of making her presence felt. Patrick Wadge takes 5lbs off and he is a fine claimer. He is operating at a 22% strike rate this season.

14:40 – Newbury – Chaldean

Chaldean looks tough to beat but is not a betting prospect. Knight has been impressive in both starts, winning over 7f at Yarmouth on his debut and winning the Group 3 Horris Hill here over 7f on heavy ground and would be the main one if you were looking for an each-way bet against the favourite.

15:00 – Ayr – Balco Coastal

Balco Coastal underperformed in the Turners but that was a messy race that may not have been run to suit on ground that was soft enough for him. Prior to that, he had given Gerri Colombe a fright in the Scilly Isles and that form is rock solid.

He also slammed Solo at Kempton off a mark of 133 over Christmas. Getting back on better ground will help and he probably brings the strongest form to the table.

15:15 – Newbury – Lattam

I can’t oppose Lattam off the back of his impressive performance when winning the Irish Lincoln off 87. He travelled so well through the race and he flew home once he got a gap. He only got 5lb and has to be well treated still, as you can upgrade that performance.

15:35 – Ayr – Magna Sam

I can see the case for Monbeg Genius and Kitty’s Light has to be a big player. Malina Girl could also be interesting but I like Magna Sam.

He never showed anything in bumpers going way back but did win a point four years ago and won a hunter chase at Ludlow in January 2020, when the main protagonists fell. Nothing was shown in the point or hunter chases after that until moving to Sophie Leech and winning at Musselburgh in December 2021 over 3m off a mark of 109, bolting up by 41l.

He followed up at Musselburgh in February 2022 off 115 before a fine third at Carlisle off 122 and being pulled up at Aintree. He then switched to Alastair Ralph and made his debut for him in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh over 4m in February off 120.

He won in fine style. He was prominent and travelled well and found plenty to win by 4l. The second Captain Cottistock won at Cheltenham earlier this week, the third Flower Of Scotland had won the Borders National on pervious start and the fourth Just Don’t Know won next time.

Magna Sam went up 5lb and is 3lb out of the handicap but is far from exposed, particularly at marathon trips. He makes each-way appeal.

Frank Hickey’s Saturday Tips:

13:15 – Ayr – Frere Darmes
13:30 – Newbury – Mojo Star
13:50 – Ayr – Temptationinmilan
14:05 – Newbury – Remarquee
14:25 – Ayr – Salsada
14:40 – Newbury – Chaldean
15:00 – Ayr – Balco Coastal
15:15 – Newbury – Lattam
15:35 – Ayr – Magna Sam

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