Horse Racing Tips: Frank Hickey’s Saturday ITV Racing Picks

Top trader Frank Hickey scoots through the eight ITV races & two bonus picks from Punchestown.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 10 months ago

Frank Hickey Horse Racing Tips

13:15 – Haydock – Raasel (each-way)
13:50 – Haydock – Mr Wagyu
14:05 – Beverley – Midnight Affair
14:25 – Haydock – Good Show
14:40 – Beverley – Outrun The Storm
15:00 – Haydock – Nachtrose
15:15 – Beverley – Fusterlandia
15:35 – Haydock – El Caballo

13:55 – Punchestown – Annalecka
16:15 – Punchestown – Da Capo Glory

*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 – Haydock – Raasel (each-way)

Equilateral ran really well in the Temple Stakes a fortnight ago but I couldn’t be certain he will back that up, as he hasn’t won since February 2021. The booking of Frankie Dettori is eye-catching though. Prince of Pilio is an excellent juvenile sprinter but it can be tough for three-year-old sprinters going into open company. I’m going to side with RAASEL even though he ran poorly in the Temple Stakes. He had a decent run in the Palace House Stakes when fourth of 12 and won this race last year under today’s jockey James Doyle.

When Doyle rides him the record reads: 1,1,1,2,1,1,2,4. Other jockeys are: 2,8,6,1,1,1,5,8,7,8,5,11,10. So James Doyle does seem to get the best out of him and 2021 was the last time he won without Doyle aboard. I expect him to bounce back here and he’s a fair price each-way.

13:50 – Haydock – Mr Wagyu

I’m a little bit wary of Silver Samurai who won this last year off 3lb lower but cheekpieces go on for the first time. While he’s capable of winning, his form can be patchy. MR WAGYU ran well at Epsom last week and finished third off this mark. He’s running off a mark of 96 now but has won off a mark of 100 last July at the Curragh. He was placed in good handicaps off marks of 103 and 104 also.

The form of the yard form is a bit of a concern as John Quinn hasn’t had a winner in nearly three weeks and 26 runners at time of writing. Not many of the competition are in form going into this race. I’m going to stick with Mr Wagyu.

14:05 – Beverley – Midnight Affair

MIDNIGHT AFFAIR was strong in the market late in the day on debut at Newmarket. Didn’t get the best of runs when second to Soprano and the form hasn’t worked out too well but this doesn’t look like a good renewal. She looked like one who would improve plenty from that debut run and is a 180,000 guineas sister to Rhythm Master.

14:25 – Haydock – Good Show

GOOD SHOW was thought good enough to be tried at Group 3 level on just his second start last October but obviously found that test coming too soon for him even though he’d won on his debut. He was sent off as a 9/2 favourite for the Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh on reappearance on handicap debut, it was a disappointing run on the day but it’ll have done him good.

He was then a good third at Hamilton behind Postileo and Faylaq and then won at Hamilton over a 1m 4f off a mark 88, It wasn’t the strongest run race which wouldn’t have suited him, because 1m 4f should be the bare minimum trip for him. He’s only gone up 3lb and provided this is a more strongly-run race, he is capable of defying the rise in weight.

14:40 – Beverley – Outrun The Storm

OUTRUN THE STORM would have needed the reappearance run at Thirsk. Won this time last year at Leicester off 75 and was a close second at Leicester and Newmarket off 76. He runs offf a mark of 74 now so he’s handicapped to go well. Fast ground suits him.

15:00 – Haydock – Nachtrose

Mimikyu is top rated on 110 but she concedes a 5lb penalty and it is a quick turnaround from her reappearance at York two weeks ago. I prefer NACHTROSE who is rated 106 and was a Group 2 winner in Italy last year and wasn’t disgraced when fifth in the German Oaks.

She is a half to Group 1 winner Nightflower and her dam was a Group 2 winner also. Although she was beaten a length in a Group 2 in Germany last month, I always respect the German form and she may be underestimated a fraction. She’s the danger to Mimikyu and just edges the pick for me.

15:15 – Beverley – Fusterlandia

Bombay Bazaar was impressive here last time on his second start and has won since as well since to frank the form. Cuban Slide was also impressive on debut but that probably wasn’t much of a race. Room Service won nicely at Wetherby but that form has been let down since.

FUSTERLANDIA was beaten by a neck on debut at Leicester. He cost 135,000 guineas and Richard Hannon’s juveniles improve following their debut runs. He’ll be very difficult to beat and the Hannon yard are in good form at present.

15:35 – Haydock – El Caballo

The Astrologist was disappointing at York but perhaps he needed the run after a couple of months off and travelled well. He’s a Group 3 winner in Australia and went close in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Meydan last March. The booking of Ryan Moore would suggest they’re expecting an improved run and is another positive. Jumby won at Group 2 level last year over this trip and has run at 6f and a mile this year. He’s back to his optimum trip here.

EL CALBALLO was poor on reappearance at Doncaster but likely the heavy ground didn’t suit. He has won over 7f on the all weather and the Karl Burke yard remains in good form. He is 6-9 overall and did win the Sandy Lane at Haydock last year and it’s always good to have Haydock form when returning to the track.

13:55 – Punchestown – Annalecka

There’s two I fancy at Punchestown including ANNALECKA who is a point-to-point winner who won really nicely on bumper debut at Tipperary last month. Steps up in trip for hurdling debut and that should suit her considering she won a point-to-point. This isn’t a deep maiden hurdle but she’s the value play.

16:15 – Punchestown – Da Capo Glory

Ash Tree Meadow returns for his first start since October and reverts to hurdles as a likely preparation for the likes of Galway Plate over fences later in the summer.

DA CAPO GLORY was a good second at the Punchestown festival behind Grangeclare West. He didn’t jump the last well but it was still a fair effort. That was his first start at 2m 4f. The season before he was third to El Fabiolo at the previous Punchestown Festival so he does tend to run well at this venue. I’d like to see him get his head in front; he’s a horse with good ability.

Frank Hickey Horse Racing Tips

13:15 – Haydock – Raasel
13:50 – Haydock – Mr Wagyu
14:05 – Beverley – Midnight Affair
14:25 – Haydock – Good Show
14:40 – Beverley – Outrun The Storm
15:00 – Haydock – Nachtrose
15:15 – Beverley – Fusterlandia
15:35 – Haydock – El Caballo

13:55 – Punchestown – Annalecka
16:15 – Punchestown – Da Capo Glory

*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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