Saturday Racing Tips: Best bets, expert picks and multiple selections

Our experts' best bets

SKIPPER - 1.30 Haydock (Matt Brocklebank)

SKIPPER impressed with the way he finished off when opening his account in a Chelmsford maiden last month and while the opening mark of 92 is no gimme, he looks a horse to follow. His sire Calyx is having winners all over the place at the moment and the sire's progeny appear to cope particularly well with deep conditions. They include three-time Haydock winner Nellie Leylax so it's hoped Skipper can maintain his level of progression this weekend.

ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT - 1.50 Newmarket (Ben Linfoot)

I'm keen to take on the market leaders in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge as they have achieved their ratings on much better ground and ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT is bred to enjoy a testing surface. He ran behind two nice prospects in the Solario last time when he was lit up on the front end after being bumped at the start, but that experience should stand him in good stead and he should love stepping up in trip by a furlong.

Recommended multiple: Lucky 15

13:50 Newmarket – Law Of Design

A good looking renewal of the Royal Lodge with plenty of potential on offer but no stand out on what they’ve achieved so far and it looks worth taking a chance on LAW OF DESIGN to take a big step forward going up in trip on testing ground. By Sottsass who famously beat Enable in a heavy ground Arc, he’s bred to relish these conditions and his strength at this finish when winning in a good time over at Ascot suggests he will improve again over this extra furlong.

3.00 Newmarket – Whistlejacket

This looks a battle of the Ballydoyle duo with WHISTLEJACKET, the choice of Ryan Moore, preferred narrowly over his stablemate Ides Of March. Crucially, Moore’s mount is proven on soft ground and he can make all in the Middle Park to add another Group 1 to his CV.

3.40 Newmarket – Roi De France

The Gosden’s have a bit of history with unexposed three-year-olds in this race and ROI DE FRANCE looks another who is potentially well ahead of his mark heading into the Cambridgeshire. He’s bred to be good and after beating a couple of now-useful sorts at Windsor in July he looked unlucky not to follow up at Yarmouth last time where he conceded first run to the winner and was unsuited by the steady gallop. A big field handicap like this will enable him to show what he can really do and he’s landed a good draw in stall 25.

4.45 Newmarket – Mission To Moon

After kicking off his three-year-old campaign with a win at Goodwood (on soft ground), MISSION TO MOON has been running really well in defeat in some hot handicaps this season and was again better than the bare result when fourth at Ascot last time after being forced to make his challenge away from the winner on the wrong park of the track. A proven mudlark, he will have his ideal conditions on Saturday to get back in the winners’ enclosure.

Timeform race-by-race ITV verdicts

1.15 Newmarket

GEO took a big step forward and won in good style on her handicap debut at Newbury and can progress again. She's taken to follow up, with improving Thirsk winner Magic Love the biggest threat ahead of Ghost Run, who got back on the up with victory at Doncaster.

1.30 Haydock

Course-winner EARLS didn't get the rub of the green at Galway but may well have been targeted at this contest by his excellent handler and remains feasibly treated. He can land the opener. Skipper is low mileage and will be dangerous if handling the likely slow conditions, whilst Whiskey Pete and Rhoscolyn are also much respected.

1.50 Newmarket

WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE found only The Lion In Winter too strong when a fine second in York's Acomb Stakes last time out and with this longer trip also likely to suit then James Owen's Kameko colt looks the way to go. Charlie Fellowes' upwardly-mobile son of Frankel Luther could emerge as the main danger, with Royal Playwright, Angelo Buonarroti and Puppet Master all capable of better and worthy of consideration too in a fascinating Royal Lodge.

2.25 Newmarket

The first of two Group 1s in Britain for 2-y-o fillies and this looks a mouth-watering clash between an unbeaten pair, the sponsor's representative BABOUCHE selected to take her sequence to four at the expense of Ballydoyle's Lake Victoria, who is a most exciting prospect but may flourish over further in time. French-raiders Daylight and Rayevka can fight out third spot, the former narrowly preferred having gone close in the Prix Morny at Deauville last month.

2.35 Curragh

Aidan O'Brien can win this for a remarkable 22nd time, with TRINITY COLLEGE narrowly preferred to the unbeaten Lambourn. The fantastically-bred son of Dubawi stormed clear in a good time at Galway and could be hard to catch again. Hotazhell's Futurity second looks better now and he seems sure to be in the mix.

3.00 Newmarket

Aidan O'Brien looks to have a strong handle on this race again and the tough WHISTLEJACKET is a strong candidate to make all at the likely expense of stablemate Ides of March, who was most impressive in the Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh last time. Shadow of Light hasn't finished improving, so he's the clear pick of the British-trained contingent.

3.15 Haydock

Low-mileage 4-y-o WILTSHIRE took his form up another notch when successful at Newcastle in June and, with a 6 lb rise looking far from prohibitive, he looks to hold sound claims of coming out on top again returned to turf. Silky Wilkie, following his excellent second in last week's Ayr Gold Cup is a threat with conditions holding no fears. Jer Batt and Blue Storm complete the shortlist.

3.40 Newmarket

Going softer than good is an unknown for ROI DE FRANCE but his stable has had a couple of 3-y-os win this race with plenty to spare in recent years and he gets the vote with further improvement on the cards. Bopedro is 9 lb lower than when third in this last year and it would be no surprise to see him make a bold bid again. Paddy The Squire and This Songisforyou are other likely types, while Mythical Guest shaped well behind the selection at Yarmouth and could go well at longer odds.

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