Free racing tips: Weekend preview including Newmarket's Criterion Stakes

Recommended bets, Saturday June 27

2pts win Limato in Newmarket's Criterion Stakes at 13/2

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Since his 2016 zenith, during which he won the July Cup and Prix de la Foret, LIMATO has won seven-furlong Group races in each of the three subsequent seasons and he's a fair price (13/2, Sky Bet) to continue that trend at the first time of asking this term when lining up in Saturday's Group Three Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

Said to be "as enthusiastic as ever" when signing off in 2019 with a very solid second to the Lockinge winner Mustashry in the Group Two Challenge Stakes in October, it's no surprise to see the experienced Tagula gelding back for more as an eight-year-old.

First time out hasn't necessarily been the time to catch Henry Candy's star down the years, but there have been extenuating circumstances along the way and he did win on seasonal return during his first two campaigns.

The key to this weekend's assignment is that the weather forecast is going to play ball, the horse significantly more effective when able to race on a fast surface. Good at the time of writing, the going at Britain's headquarters is going to get pretty spicy later in the week with temperatures expected to hit 30C on Wednesday and Thursday, with the sun hanging around until race day and beyond.

So there are no issues on that score, something which has blighted Candy's big-race planning with the horse in previous years, and another positive element is the venue - he simply adores Newmarket.

Limato's finest hour obviously came on the July Course but form figures of 112 on the Rowley Mile, all of which at Saturday's trip, show just how effective he is on the principal track at headquarters.

By contrast, Space Blues and Safe Voyage, first and second respectively in Haydock's recent Spring Trophy Stakes on good to soft going, have zero Newmarket experience between them. The Haydock third Happy Power could also turn out here but he looked ill-at-ease when blown away by Benbatl on his solitary Rowley Mile outing last September.

The obvious danger to Limato is the Marcus Tregoning-trained Mohaather, one of three entries for owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. Last year's Greenham winner has untapped potential after a luckless comeback run in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, but such a quick turnaround for a horse who hasn't stood up to racing in the past will have to come under close consideration.

The opposite applies to Mark Johnston's Vale Of Kent, who would be of interest if given the go-ahead after his highly creditable fourth under a big weight in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Even so, he still has something to find with Limato if the veteran resumes in similar form to when we last saw him and there's definitely juice in his current odds before the race cuts up - Charlie Appleby has four entered, Richard Hannon five.

There are some interesting price discrepancies when it comes to Newmarket's Listed Betway Fairway Stakes, a 10-furlong event for three-year-olds, but there's enough guesswork when it comes to what might turn up.

It could be last chance saloon for taking Leicester novice winner Highest Ground to put himself into the Derby picture but he's presumably not had a smooth run-up to this point and Sir Michael Stoute's horses aren't exactly flying, not first time out at least.

The Johnston-trained Thunderous is an exciting colt in his own right but has suffered two injury setbacks since we saw him making it three from three at Newbury in the race formerly known as the Washington Singer Stakes. He is 100/30 with Sky Bet and 13/8 at Ladbrokes, which tells its own tale.

It has to be a no-bet race at this stage.

One Stoute horse who has certainly hit the ground running in 2020 is Mubakker and he's the clear favourite after 25 entries were made for the Betfair Backs Racing Welfare Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle.

He proved deadly in a course and distance handicap at the start of the month and, following a 9lb rise to 104, is well worth his place in the line-up, though far more established performers Judicial, Brando and Major Jumbo aren't going to roll over and have their tummies tickled.

The latter shaped really well in third on his return in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket and it's slightly surprising it's taken this long for him to return to Newcastle's Tapeta surface, having won and been short-headed here on his only two previous appearances during 2017.

He has a really solid chance, but isn't wildly over-priced at 6/1.

The one I'd love to have on side, safe in the knowledge he's going to run, is the Hannon-trained Watan (14/1), who was a really good juvenile and might just make his mark as a sprinter at four having been campaigned like a Classic colt last year.

He didn't quite cut it but did have recent Palace House scorer Far Above behind him when a close third over seven furlongs in the King Charles II Stakes last spring and he is unbeaten from two starts at six furlongs.

Without knowing which weekend option he's being primed for - holds entries in the Criterion, a Newmarket handicap, as well as this race - makes him slightly too risky, even at the price, but he's one to take seriously if heading to the north east on Saturday.

Posted at 1600 BST on 22/06/20

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