Today’s FREE ITV racing tips: Hexham, Newmarket, Chepstow, York and Chelmsford – Steve Mullen’s betting preview for the racing this Saturday, October 13
Steve Mullen guides you through Saturday's racing at Hexham, Newmarket, Chepstow, York and Chelmsford
CLEONTE has what it takes to win the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (3.40).
Andrew Balding’s five-year-old has come on in leaps and bounds this season and landed a staying win in the Shergar Cup Stayers at Ascot.
He cruised along there before finding a good finishing kick to score with plenty in hand over the 2m trip.
After such a solid success, the handicapper has taken a chance by putting him up just 3lb.
Balding knows what he’s doing and has wrapped him in cotton wool since that win to make sure he couldn’t creep any higher up the weights.
He’s finished behind favourite Stratum twice this season but was far from disgraced each time and seems to have taken a big step forward since then.
Stall seven is a decent draw which means he shouldn’t be shunted out too far wide, which is a real danger around the tight bend. Jockey Oisin Murphy can do nothing wrong at the moment and is capable of plotting a course to victory.
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Stratum is a worthy favourite and will prefer this longer distance to the Ebor over 1m6f. He didn’t run badly in midfield there and was blocked when trying to throw down his challenge.
He was imperious when landing the JLT Cup at Newbury where he sustained his finishing effort for a long time. He’ll need that staying power again here.
Robert Winston’s mount is part of a strong team from Irish legend Willie Mullins. Limini is another interesting one of his on the back of a battling win at Leopardstown last time.
She’s a high-class hurdler and the 1m5f of that race was only just revving up her engine. This is just her fourth run on the level so there could well be a lot more to come.
Similar comments apply to Law Girl, who was head behind Limini last time and is another who should be suited by the trip.
Aidan O’Brien has a live contender in Southern France. He was second in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase and ran an excellent third to stablemate Kew Gardens in the St Leger last time.
He should be carrying top weight but gets a handy allowance for being a three-year-old and that could make all the difference stepping up in trip.
If the Ces seems a little easy, let’s try and conjure a win in the 19-runner Coral Sprint Trophy at York (3.15)!
SAVALAS landed three nice wins on the spin earlier this season before the handicapper caught up with him on faster ground.
He’s now dropped to the mark that saw him finish an excellent second at York in a similar race to this.
Kevin Ryan’s flyer likes to race up with the pace and those tactics are likely to be essential up the Knavesmire today.
His best form has come with some cut and that’s pretty much guaranteed there at this time of year. The return to 6f after running over the minimum trip looks another plus.
Glenamoy Lad is interesting on just his third run of the season. He showed little at The Curragh last time but earlier ran well in the Stewards’ Cup and has come down the weights.
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PERSIAN KING can reign supreme in Newmarket’s Autumn Stakes (2.25).
Andre Fabre’s French raider has been very impressive on home soil with a couple of convincing wins at Chantilly.
He didn’t have to come out of first gear when winning by five lengths there last time and is bred to be something special.
Magna Grecia caught the eye when winning on debut at Naas last time and looks the pick of the Aidan O’Brien runners. He should appreciate the step up to a mile and has a touch of class about him already.
NEWMARKET
1.50 Sydney Opera House
2.25 Persian King
3.00 Sangarius
3.40 Cleonte
4.15 Happy Power
4.50 Perfection
5.25 Awesometank
YORK
2.05 Aasheq
2.40 Dave Dexter
3.15 Savalas
3.50 Lola’s Theme
4.25 Defence Treaty
5.00 Arrowtown
5.35 Grand Inquisitor
CHEPSTOW
1.55 Pym
2.30 Supremely Lucky
3.05 Festival Dawn
3.35 Master Tommytucker
4.10 Cubswin
4.45 Theclockisticking
5.20 Thomas Patrick
5.55 Rosie McQueen
HEXHAM
1.40 Arthur Mac
2.15 Creadan Grae
2.50 Simply The Betts
3.25 Classical Milano
4.00 Sharp Response
4.35 Reverse The Charge
5.10 Mr Scrumpy
CHELMSFORD
5.45 El Gumryah
6.15 Furious
6.45 Flora Tristan
7.15 Kodicat
7.45 Samphire Coast
8.15 Mr Potter
8.45 Yaa Mous
9.15 Dame Nellie