Saturday Racing: Best Bets from Newbury and the Curragh

Following the by-now-familiar disappointment of the Euro 2024 Final, there is a feeling of "after the Lord Mayor’s show" this coming weekend. However, whilst the sporting menu may not be quite as spectacular, there are still punting opportunities aplenty – particularly on the racing front. Newbury stages one of the most distinctive races of the season in the Super Sprint Stakes whilst it’s Classic time over in Ireland as a talented cast of fillies line up in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

Here, using data presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we pick out our best bets for the big races on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Saturday: Fidelity Energy Hackwood Stakes – Newbury 3:00

We begin with the classiest event on the Newbury card as a field of 10 lines up for this 6f Group 3 affair. Open to all runners aged three and older, the elder statesmen have held the edge over the last decade, with seven of the past ten editions falling to a runner aged four or older.

The six-year-old Regional heads the betting, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment, with the Edward Bethell runner finishing a gallant second in the Group 1 King Charles II Stakes last time out. Already a Group 1 winner at the distance, he ought to go well. Elite Status and Diligent Harry are others to note from the head of the market, but we prefer an each-way punt.

The one to be on is the James Fanshawe-trained three-year-old Kind Of Blue. Only making his debut in April, this son of Blue Point burst out of the gates with back-to-back Novice wins at Kempton and Doncaster before being plunged straight into the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup on his third start. Finishing fourth of 14 that day, his effort is worth upgrading, considering he became extremely worked up on the way down to post. Fanshawe isn’t a trainer to target a sprinter at a Group 1 unless he is confident they are up to the task. Down in class and still open to improvement, Kind Of Blue looks an excellent bet to make the frame.

• Recommended Bet - Kind Of Blue each way @ 10/1 BetGoodwin

Saturday: Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes – Newbury 3:25

An unusual sprint event for the two-year-olds up next, in a race where the weights carried by the runners are determined not by their handicap rating but rather by their purchase price – the more expensive the runner, the more weight they carry.

Third in the ratings but only 17th in the weights, it's easy to see why the market has latched onto the Hugo Palmer runner It Ain’t Two – particularly with the red-hot Oisin Murphy in the saddle. Second in a Listed event last time out, he’s hard to fault but looks short enough at 5/1 in a 19-runner field.

We will again take an each-way approach to this event. The one to catch our eye is the Mehmas filly Miss Collado. Only three lengths adrift of July Stakes runner-up Mountain Breeze in May, she arrives seeking a hattrick, having landed Maiden and Novice events at Wolverhampton and Salisbury. Well on top at the line, she seems likely to stay 6f in time, and a strongly run 5f on rain-softened ground should prove ideal. Trainer Richard Hannon has won this four times in the past ten years, suggesting he knows the sort required.

• Recommended Bet - Miss Collada @ 14/1 with BetGoodwin

Saturday: Juddmonte Irish Oaks – Curragh 3:40

Moving right up in class, our third selection takes us to County Kildare for the final fillies-only Classic of the British and Irish season. Aidan O’Brien boasts a strong team as he bids to land an eighth success in the race, with the unlikely source of Willie Mullins adding further strength to the home team. However, the British trainers have a solid record in this event and will be represented by runners from the yards of David Menusier, David O’Meara, and Ralph Beckett.

The fact that Ryan Moore opts to ride Content may be an ominous sign, with stablemate Port Fairy seemingly bringing stronger recent form to the table. However, Content is hard to support at around 3/1 on what she has shown this season. Willie Mullins’ Lope De Lilas is an intriguing challenger on her third career start, but this is a huge step up from Maiden company.

Ribblesdale winner Port Fairy is our pick from the head of the market, but at double her price, the one to be on is the filly who finished only a neck behind her at Ascot. David O’Meara’s Lava Stream travelled like a dream that day, making up lengths in a matter of strides to hit the front a furlong from home, only to lose out in a hammer-and-tongs battle to the line. We would like to see Danny Tudhome hold onto her for a little longer to utilise that turn of foot to best effect this time. At a double-figure price, she is the value each way bet in the race.

• Recommended Bet - Lava Stream each way @ 10/1 with BetGoodwin

Saturday: Ric And Mary Hambro Aphrodite Fillies’ Stakes

The quality action continues into Saturday evening, with this Listed event for the fillies serving as the centrepiece of the excellent Newmarket card. Another event open to runners aged three and older, the younger contenders have held sway of late – winning six of the past seven editions.

Given that recent record for the three-year-olds, it is a little surprising to see the four and five-year-old Drawn To Dream and One Evening currently vying for favouritism - particularly as the former is stepping markedly down in trip and the latter hasn’t run for 276 days.

The John & Thady Gosden-trained Danielle is the shortest-priced youngster in the field, but the one we like best is Nakheel. By Dubawi and out of a Galileo mare, this Owen Burrows inmate makes stacks of appeal on paper and caught our eye when hitting the line strongly for third in a 1m2f Listed event (won by none other than Lava Stream) in June. That effort suggested this step up in trip should suit and, at 9/1, she looks a big price here.

• Recommended Bet - Nakheel each way @ 9/1 (generally available)

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