Horse Racing Betting Tips: O’Brien’s Wichita can give Pinatubo a true test in the Dewhurst Stakes

NEWMARKET takes centre stage again tomorrow with all eyes onGodolphin’s Pinatubo as he bids to make it a perfect six out of six in theDarley Dewhurst Stakes (3.30pm).

The son of Shamardal landed the first Group One of hiscareer in last month’s National Stakes at the Curragh by a breathtaking ninelengths and is no bigger than 1/3 to round off his season with anothertop-flight success.

He seems to be improving with every start and has at least astone in hand on all of his rivals according to official ratings.

Bookmakers already have him as the red-hot favourite fornext year’s 2000 Guineas, with only Ladbrokes of the major firms offeringodds-against at 5/4.

However, at the prices, I’d far rather take him on each-waywith Aidan O’Brien’s WICHITA at around the 4/1 mark.

He took a giant step forward from defeat at Doncaster justover four weeks ago to rout his rivals in the Group Three Tattersalls Stakeshere last time.

Admittedly, he needs to step up again dramatically to rufflethe favourite’s feathers, but he is definitely on the upgrade and we may not haveseen the best of him yet.

The fact that he handles the track is another huge positiveand Pinatubo will be having his first experience of Newmarket tomorrow.

They are both two hugely exciting juveniles and I amprepared to gamble on the fact that the market may be exaggerating Pinatubo’sdominance of the division.

Ryan Moore could be in for a good day as he is booked toride the exciting ASCENSION for Roger Varian in the opening nursery(1.45pm).

The son of Dark Angel should relish the recent rain and wasan impressive winner on similar ground at Salisbury back in August.

Stepping up to this seven-furlong trip is another bigpositive and there is every chance that his opening handicap mark of just 87may be a tad lenient.

The big betting race of the afternoon is the EmiratesCesarewitch Stakes (4.10pm), which once again sees a maximum field of 31 battleit out over 2m2f.

Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins saddled the first twohome 12 months ago and once again has a very strong hand with the favouriteBuildmeupbuttercup.

She was second in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting backin June and has run well in Ireland twice since.

Frankie Dettori takes the ride and she is bound to come infor more support.

She is 7lbs higher in the weights than at Ascot and itwouldn’t surprise me if Great White Shark, another of his runners, fared alittle better.

Sir Mark Prescott has two big chances with Land Of Oz andTimoshenko, but both have been well found in the market.

Ranch Hand is another who has halved in price this week andwill surely be a factor if he stays the trip.

With an unsettled forecast, I’m going to give anothereach-way chance to old friend COEUR DE LION at a whopping 28/1.

Alan King’s six-year-old never landed a blow in this racelast year, but the ground would have been far too lively.

He seems in much better form a year on and with rain in theair, he looks the value call in what is a wide-open race.

POINTERS SATURDAY

Ascension 1.45pm Newmarket

Wichita e/w 3.30pm Newmarket

Coeur de Lion e/w 4.10pm Newmarket