Horse Racing tips: Frank Hickey’s best bets for Saturday’s ITV Racing

Frank is all over the action at Ayr & Newbury and thinks Fast Response can go close in the Ayr Gold Cup (15:35).

Frank Hickey Newbury Flat racing

By / Horse Racing Tips / 8 months ago

Frank Hickey’s Horse Racing Tips

13:15 Ayr – Isla Kai
13:30 Newbury – Nymphadora
13:50 Ayr – My Prospero
14:05 Newbury – Salt Bay
14:25 Ayr – Jump The Gun
14:40 Newbury – Balance Play
15:00 Ayr – Great Generation
15:15 Newbury – Mister Sketch
15:35 Ayr – Fast Response

*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 – Isla Kai

Isla Kai got his head back in front at Ripon last time when he had Diamondonthehill back in fourth. In third was Kathab, who was just touched off in a Class 2 handicap at Kempton on his next start. One doubt is the Nigel Tinkler yard haven’t had a winner in 24 days (35 runners) but this isn’t a strong handicap. Koy Koy looks high enough off 99, Titan Rock is better over 7f and Revich is interesting but is 3lb above his last winning mark.

13:30 Newbury – Nymphadora

Sense of Duty is probably the class angle but she has never raced on turf slower than good and it’s currently heavy at Newbury. Designer will handle the ground but Nymphadora is the one to be on. She was outclassed in her last couple of runs in the graded King George Qatar Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Earlier this season she won a Chester handicap off a mark of 97 on soft and then a York Listed race on good to soft. The ground will be no issue for her.

13:50 Ayr – My Prospero

Royal Rhyme was very impressive when winning a Goodwood handicap off 95 but is now rated 105. The worry is that he wants soft ground to be at his very best. I can’t get away from My Prospero, who has been campaigned at Group 1 and Group 2 company and takes a big drop in grade. Only last October he was beaten half a length in the Champion Stakes and was beaten a half length in the SkyBet York Stakes. He wears cheekpieces for the first time too.

14:05 Newbury – Salt Bay

Salt Bay has been disappointing in two starts this season, both at Listed level, but he won on his debut last year on ground with cut in it before a fine third in the Criterium International behind Proud And Regal and Espionage on heavy ground. He’s by Farhh and makes his handicap debut while getting the 7lb three-year-old weight-for-age allowance. The Ralph Beckett yard remain in fine form too.

14:25 Ayr – Jump The Gun

Jump The Gun was beaten five lengths into fifth in this race last year off a mark of 90 and he followed that up with a second here too. He was out of form this season until last time, when a neck second to Rathbone at Doncaster off a mark of 80. Jump The Gun also bolted up here last August off a mark of 82 over 7f and he’s 3lbs well in off 80 compared to last year. He also has jockey William Pyle taking off 5lbs.

14:40 Newbury – Balance Play

Balance Play was a comfortable winner of a Glorious Goodwood handicap off a mark of 88 and the second that day, True Legend, who got no luck in running, ran  well at Ascot last time to give the form a solid look. Balance Play was poor at York subsequently when sent off favourite in a strong handicap but York doesn’t suit some horses and the fast ground may not have been ideal. He’s by Lope De Vega so I’m hopeful that he will act on the heavy ground at Newbury. He also gets the 5lb three-year-old weight-for-age allowance.

15:00 Ayr – Great Generation

This race can throw up a freak result with individual winners at 20/1, 16/1, 11/1, 16/1 & 25/1 in the last 10 years. Great Generation won on her debut at Haydock for Marco Botti. She was very impressive when winning a conditions event at Chester last time, slamming Jabaara by more than three lengths, but she was getting 6lbs that day. Jabaara was disappointing in the the Albany at Royal Ascot and was then fourth in the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket, so has solid form. Great Generation is bred to appreciate further but is clearly capable at 6f and the stronger they go, the better for her.

15:15 Newbury – Mister Sketch

Mister Sketch was just touched off here on his debut by a neck and he was extremely impressive at Salisbury when winning by nearly ten lengths in a decent time. He’s a big horse by Territories, who should be fine on the testing ground.

15:35 Ayr – Fast Response

There seems to be more pace in the lower stalls in the Ayr Gold Cup. Juan Les Pins is going to be popular being 8lbs ‘well in’ after his runs at Listed level, but he is six years old and this is his best season to date. A third place finish in the Wokingham off a mark of 96 being the highlight so far.

Fast Response would be a strong selection on soft ground or worse, but I wouldn’t rule her out on better ground. She runs off a mark of 101 but was second at Doncaster in April at Listed level over 6f and in July was second at Listed level at Chester over 7f on soft.

She was poorly positioned track wise at Goodwood the only time she has truly disappointed this season. She was second last time out to Mitbaahy at Chester over 6f and Ehraz was third. Fast Response is 2lb well in and any ease in the ground will really suit her. Brandon Wilkie also takes off a handy 7lb and he is 4-16 when riding for Karl Burke.

Frank Hickey’s Horse Racing Tips

13:15 Ayr – Isla Kai
13:30 Newbury – Nymphadora
13:50 Ayr – My Prospero
14:05 Newbury – Salt Bay
14:25 Ayr – Jump The Gun
14:40 Newbury – Balance Play
15:00 Ayr – Great Generation
15:15 Newbury – Mister Sketch
15:35 Ayr – Fast Response

*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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