Bond Chairman has fared well in the ballot with “Magic Man” Joao Moreira in the plate, and Bryan Smart’s consistent four-year-old can make the frame at least from a decent draw. His full C&D record reads 4th of 18, 2nd of 18, 4th of 10 and third of 14, all in similar handicaps to this, and he has a whopping 8lb better off with Intrinsic Bond for the 2½ lengths he was beaten by that rival here last time. With the stalls on the stands rail, and the ground drying out, I’d fancy Bond Chairman to reverse that form.
Jessie Harrington’s team have started August well, and The Very Man ran really well at Galway in the QR staying handicap, staying on best of all to be second of 20 to the well-named Teed Up, and that came on the back of an encouraging fifth in a competitive Curragh handicap over 1¾m where he was again noted doing sterling late work. In an ideal world, he would welcome further rain but it was good at the Curragh, and he does handle all ground types, so should go well with Hollie Doyle another positive draw on the jockey front.
Poet Master has done nothing wrong on his two starts to date when winning at Musselburgh and Haydock. He looked like a black-type performer in his last run and he looks really progressive.
La Yakel shines out like a beacon in this handicap, with the son of Time Test going into the notebook as a certain future winner when just worried out of things on his return from a lengthy absence over C&D last month, and needing a penalty to be sure of a place in the field for the Ebor in a couple of weeks.
La Yakel was the winner of a C&D handicap here last September before a close fourth in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket on his final three-year-old start. He looked just short of peak fitness when getting the worse of a battle with Oneforthegutter here on his return, and looks sure to step up on that with fitness now assured. Most of his rivals are in the grip of the handicapper, and it’s stablemate Pride of Priory who looks his biggest danger. Joao Moreira again takes the ride, and I’m sure this tactically astute rider will be aware that his wide draw is something of a positive over the trip at Ascot.
Midnight Mile did not stay a stiff 1½m under positive tactics in the Ribblesdale, but looked a different filly when beating Mukaddamah by 2½ lengths in the Lyric Fillies’ Stakes at York late last month. She settled well held up at York, and proved that she had trained on fully by pulling clear a furlong out in that contest. She looked a filly of great potential last term and can build on her latest success now that connections have found her ideal trip.
The Mile looks pretty open this year, but with his stable back in top form, I fancy John Quinn’s Empirestateofmind to outrun his odds. His handicap record at 7f/1m on good or softer ground is an impressive 21112314122725, improving to 21112314122 when rated below 99. He’s slipped below that mark for the first time since he ran a cracker to be second at York last October.
Empirestateofmind travelled notably well when fifth over the straight mile here last time, but while the Quinn horses were in a lull at that time, the yard’s handicappers have produced form figures since the start of the Qatar Goodwood Festival of 13146110, and it’s clear that a corner has been turned. He’s taken to step up on this season’s creditable efforts and get back to winning ways with Frankie Dettori riding.
Cry Fiction ran better than her final position would suggest in the Princess Margaret at Ascot last time, having been second in the Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Stakes here prior. She is bred to want 7f on fast turf, and gave the impression this test would suit her better when keeping on gradually last time, and can reward each-way support at a hefty price.
There are other, more obviously progressive types in here, but I thought that Sovereign Spirit was overpriced here given that he’s a thoroughly likeable sort who stays the 1½m trip well, and who built on several earlier victories when a ¾-length second of 12 to Fox Journey at Newbury last time. That effort looks at least as good as anything he’s achieved before, and he’s perhaps not reached his peak just yet. He is vulnerable in handicapping terms having gone up 3lb for that defeat, but the winner is a very well-treated horse, and Sovereign Spirit is likely to give his running again, so makes appeal for each-way betting purposes.
He’s been well found in the market, so I’m in no hurry to back him now, but I’m also loth to be against the admirable Quinault as he bids for a seventh consecutive win this season. Starting on a mark of 59, he’s been a revelation this year, and his latest game defeat of Mill Stream in a traditionally hot Newmarket handicap was boosted when the runner-up landed a Listed contest at Deauville recently. He will be hard to stop even though he’s up 7lb for Newmarket and is losing the benefit of Connor Planas’s useful 5lb claim.
This is a tight race and Bucanero Fuerte, Unquestionable and Porta Fortuna are all tied through form lines. I’m with Bucanero Fuerte as I loved his performance in the Railway Stakes last time out when beating Unquestionable. His run when third at Royal Ascot wasn’t too bad either. He’s a class horse and he’s also a tenacious runner.
Horse Racing tips: Rory Delargy’s best Saturday bets for ITV Racing
There's 10 races on the tellybox on Saturday and Rory has his value selections in mind.
By Rory Delargy / Horse Racing Tips / 4 months ago
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Saturday Horse Racing Tips
13:35 – Ascot – Bond Chairman
14:10 – Ascot – The Very Man
14:25 – Haydock – Poet Master
14:45 – Ascot – La Yakel
15:00 – Haydock – Midnight Mile
15:20 – Ascot – Empirestateofmind
15:40 – Newmarket – Cry Fiction
15:55 – Ascot – Sovereign Spirit
16:30 – Ascot – Quinault
16:40 – Curragh – Bucanero Fuerte
*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.
13:35 – Ascot – Bond Chairman
Bond Chairman has fared well in the ballot with “Magic Man” Joao Moreira in the plate, and Bryan Smart’s consistent four-year-old can make the frame at least from a decent draw. His full C&D record reads 4th of 18, 2nd of 18, 4th of 10 and third of 14, all in similar handicaps to this, and he has a whopping 8lb better off with Intrinsic Bond for the 2½ lengths he was beaten by that rival here last time. With the stalls on the stands rail, and the ground drying out, I’d fancy Bond Chairman to reverse that form.
14:10 – Ascot – The Very Man
Jessie Harrington’s team have started August well, and The Very Man ran really well at Galway in the QR staying handicap, staying on best of all to be second of 20 to the well-named Teed Up, and that came on the back of an encouraging fifth in a competitive Curragh handicap over 1¾m where he was again noted doing sterling late work. In an ideal world, he would welcome further rain but it was good at the Curragh, and he does handle all ground types, so should go well with Hollie Doyle another positive draw on the jockey front.
14:25 – Haydock – Poet Master
Poet Master has done nothing wrong on his two starts to date when winning at Musselburgh and Haydock. He looked like a black-type performer in his last run and he looks really progressive.
14:45 – Ascot – La Yakel
La Yakel shines out like a beacon in this handicap, with the son of Time Test going into the notebook as a certain future winner when just worried out of things on his return from a lengthy absence over C&D last month, and needing a penalty to be sure of a place in the field for the Ebor in a couple of weeks.
La Yakel was the winner of a C&D handicap here last September before a close fourth in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket on his final three-year-old start. He looked just short of peak fitness when getting the worse of a battle with Oneforthegutter here on his return, and looks sure to step up on that with fitness now assured. Most of his rivals are in the grip of the handicapper, and it’s stablemate Pride of Priory who looks his biggest danger. Joao Moreira again takes the ride, and I’m sure this tactically astute rider will be aware that his wide draw is something of a positive over the trip at Ascot.
15:00 – Haydock – Midnight Mile
Midnight Mile did not stay a stiff 1½m under positive tactics in the Ribblesdale, but looked a different filly when beating Mukaddamah by 2½ lengths in the Lyric Fillies’ Stakes at York late last month. She settled well held up at York, and proved that she had trained on fully by pulling clear a furlong out in that contest. She looked a filly of great potential last term and can build on her latest success now that connections have found her ideal trip.
15:20 – Ascot – Empirestateofmind
The Mile looks pretty open this year, but with his stable back in top form, I fancy John Quinn’s Empirestateofmind to outrun his odds. His handicap record at 7f/1m on good or softer ground is an impressive 21112314122725, improving to 21112314122 when rated below 99. He’s slipped below that mark for the first time since he ran a cracker to be second at York last October.
Empirestateofmind travelled notably well when fifth over the straight mile here last time, but while the Quinn horses were in a lull at that time, the yard’s handicappers have produced form figures since the start of the Qatar Goodwood Festival of 13146110, and it’s clear that a corner has been turned. He’s taken to step up on this season’s creditable efforts and get back to winning ways with Frankie Dettori riding.
15:40 – Newmarket – Cry Fiction
Cry Fiction ran better than her final position would suggest in the Princess Margaret at Ascot last time, having been second in the Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Stakes here prior. She is bred to want 7f on fast turf, and gave the impression this test would suit her better when keeping on gradually last time, and can reward each-way support at a hefty price.
15:55 – Ascot – Sovereign Spirit
There are other, more obviously progressive types in here, but I thought that Sovereign Spirit was overpriced here given that he’s a thoroughly likeable sort who stays the 1½m trip well, and who built on several earlier victories when a ¾-length second of 12 to Fox Journey at Newbury last time. That effort looks at least as good as anything he’s achieved before, and he’s perhaps not reached his peak just yet. He is vulnerable in handicapping terms having gone up 3lb for that defeat, but the winner is a very well-treated horse, and Sovereign Spirit is likely to give his running again, so makes appeal for each-way betting purposes.
16:30 – Ascot – Quinault
He’s been well found in the market, so I’m in no hurry to back him now, but I’m also loth to be against the admirable Quinault as he bids for a seventh consecutive win this season. Starting on a mark of 59, he’s been a revelation this year, and his latest game defeat of Mill Stream in a traditionally hot Newmarket handicap was boosted when the runner-up landed a Listed contest at Deauville recently. He will be hard to stop even though he’s up 7lb for Newmarket and is losing the benefit of Connor Planas’s useful 5lb claim.
16:40 – Curragh – Bucanero Fuerte
This is a tight race and Bucanero Fuerte, Unquestionable and Porta Fortuna are all tied through form lines. I’m with Bucanero Fuerte as I loved his performance in the Railway Stakes last time out when beating Unquestionable. His run when third at Royal Ascot wasn’t too bad either. He’s a class horse and he’s also a tenacious runner.
Rory Delargy’s ITV Racing Tips
13:35 – Ascot – Bond Chairman
14:10 – Ascot – The Very Man
14:25 – Haydock – Poet Master
14:45 – Ascot – La Yakel
15:00 – Haydock – Midnight Mile
15:20 – Ascot – Empirestateofmind
15:40 – Newmarket – Cry Fiction
15:55 – Ascot – Sovereign Spirit
16:30 – Ascot – Quinault
16:40 – Curragh – Bucanero Fuerte
*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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