ITV Racing Tips: Ice Max Heads Best Bets At Ayr and Newbury This Saturday

ITV Racing will be showing nine races live from Ayr and Newbury this Saturday, with William Hill News previewing the action and our tipster has a whole heap of selections for readers.

At Newbury there are four races that include the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes (2.12), while at Ayr, it’s their biggest race day on the Flat calendar with the Ayr Gold Cup being the feature (3.40).

Our horse racing betting tipster Steven Mullington takes a look through all the terrestrial action on the box:

1.02 Newbury – 5f World Trophy Stakes (Group 3)

Kevin Ryan’s DICKENSIAN showed a return to his best last time out following wind surgery and is a massive each-way player today.

If he can put in a repeat of his York performance back in May then he should be on the premises once more.

1.20 Ayr – 1m Handicap

NORTHERN EXPRESS took a competitive 17-runner handicap at York in July and backed it up with a strong third at Thirsk and a close fifth of 17 in a York Heritage Handicap at the start of the month.

Like in the previous race, this horse has each-way written all over him.

1.37 Newbury – 1m5½f Autumn Cup Handicap

Carrying top weight of 9st 12lb, ROARING LEGEND brings class to the race.

Ridden by Irish ace Colin Keane, the resilient grey has hit the frame in four of his last six starts and should figure in today’s finish.

1.55 Ayr – 1m2f Doonside Cup (Listed)

ICE MAX (NAP) has opened as the early 3/1 market favourite and he is my NAP of the Day this Saturday.

Highly progressive this term, his front running speed could make him hard to peg back up the Ayr straight.

2.12 Ayr – 6f Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2)

The clear 5/4 market favourite in our sports betting, and the horse they all have to beat is ARAPAHO GOLD (NB). He is a perfect four-from-four so far, most recently scooping a Group 2 victory in the Gimcrack Stakes at York.

That form cannot be sniffed at and sets the standard here.

2.30 Ayr – 6f Silver Cup Handicap

This is effectively the consolation race for the sprinters who haven’t made the gold version, but no less competitive of a race.

Wathnan Racing have been firing home the winners this last fortnight and their five-year-old DEEP HAVANA has been flying the flag with aplomb for the yard right through the season.

He certainly deserves a race like this after dotting up in an 18-runner handicap at Thirsk. An each-way punt is advised today.

2.47 Newbury – 1m2f Handicap

The Richard Hannon-trained BOYFRIEND shaped with significant promise over a mile in the Spring Cup over this course earlier in the season before subsequently winning at Sandown.

The five-year-old is proving a popular pick with punters and can be in the thick of it.

3.05 Ayr – 6f Firth Of Clyde Stakes (Group 3)

Karl Burke’s ETONNANTE has already won twice over six furlongs this season and the filly is un an upward curve.

She acts on an easy surface, and Clifford Lee will be the ideal jockey to bring her home in front.

3.40 Ayr – 6f Ayr Gold Cup

Phil Cunningham followers will probably have their eyes drawn right to the bottom of the handicap here when they spot Classic winner Saffie Osborne on the lowest weight, however I believe his runner in the middle of the handicap – TWO TRIBES is hitting form just at the right time.

The five-year-old has been showing renewed vigour of late, as his two efforts over one mile, and one over seven furlongs have proved, and this looks like a shrewd move by Richard Spencer dropping him back down to six for the Saturday feature.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*