ITV Racing Tips: Best Bets From Newcastle and York

A focus on the televised ITV races, with William Hill News tipster Steve Mullington bringing you his thoughts on every race broadcast on the channel this Saturday.

After the razzamatazz of Royal Ascot, ITV Racing returns on Saturday to bring us eight live races with coverage coming from Newcastle and York.

The feature race at Newcastle is the 2m½f Northumberland Plate, which with £150k of prize money, is one of Newcastle’s richest races of the year. The most valuable race from York’s Knavesmire is the £100k Criterion Stakes, a Group 3 affair over 7f.

ITV Racing Tips:

• 1.40 – Nivoko
• 1.55 – Golden Strike
• 2.10 – Diligent Harry
• 2.25 – Fortification (NAP)
• 2.40 – Shrimp Shady
• 2.58 – Qirat
• 3.15 – Asgard’s Captain (NB)
• 3.45 – Strike Red

Here, Steve Mullington looks through the televised action on ITV this Saturday and gives his best bets and reasoning on each race.

1.40 Newcastle – 7f Handicap

Trainer Michael Herrington has a 21% win strike race this past fortnight, and it would come as no surprise to see his course and distance winner NIKOVO land the first prize in this sprint.

Just over four lengths away in the Victoria Cup at Ascot, the five-times all-weather scorer will enjoy being back on an artificial surface, whereas some of his rivals here won’t.

1.55 York – 1m Dubai Mile Handicap

GOLDEN STRIKE is as consistent as they come at present and should give another good account of himself.

A winner here in May over seven furlongs, the Fahey runner should be ok going up in trip.

2.10 Newcastle – 6f Chipchase Stakes (Group 3)

Course and distance winner DILIGENT HARRY can figure prominently again in this Group 3 affair.

The Clive Cox-trained eight-year-old has faired really well in this last two races at Group level and he gets on well with Saffie Osborne.

2.25 York – 5f Dash Handicap

FORTIFICATION (NAP) won over this distance at the Dante meeting and will be happy get back over this minimum trip at a racecourse he clearly thrives at.

Joanna Mason keep the ride after the pair just missed out two weeks ago over the six furlong sprint course at York.

2.40 Newcastle – 2m½f Northumberland Vase Handicap

I was at Chester when SHRIMP SHADY took the spoils and I believe he can follow up on Newcastle’s biggest day.

The Andrew Balding yard remans in top form and it would surprise me if this four-year-old colt is not in the shake up.

2.58 York – 7f Criterion Stakes (Group 3)

Last season’s shock 150/1 Sussex Stakes winner QIRAT has yet to reach those dizzy height again, but at odds of around 10/1 in our horse racing betting, he’s worth a speculative each-way punt in this small field.

I’m really hopeful that this drop down in trip will spark him back into life.

3.15 Newcastle – 2m½f Northumberland Plate Handicap

ASGARD’S CAPTAIN (NB) finished 13th of 20 in last year’s renewal of this race, but I’m of the view that he’s a much better horse twelve months on.

The six-year-old’s running style suggests he will be staying on in the closing stages, something he did when landing a nice race last August at York’s Ebor meeting.

Trading at 16/1 in our sports betting, Dylan Cunha’s charge is my main each-way play of the day.

3.45 Newcastle – 6f Handicap

Course and distance winner STRIKE RED has hit a very favourable mark and can exploit it on Saturday afternoon.

Trained by the Fahey’s, the eight-year-old has been running some very solid races of late and can get back in the winner’s circle under 3lb claimer Warren Fentiman.

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