Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Kempton, Haydock, Ascot and Leopardstown
Saturday's highlights include two Group 1 races from Leopardstown's Irish Champions Festival - the Matron Stakes (1425) and the Irish Champion Stakes (1520).
There's also the Group 1 Sprint Cup (1535) at Haydock to get stuck into.
We will start off with a quick run through our tips, with the reasons why we've picked them further down the page.
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Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)
Saturday's selections:
13:35 (Kempton) Israr13:50 (Haydock) Light Infantry 14:10 (Kempton) Two Tempting 14:25 (Haydock) Naqeeb14:35 (Ascot) Quinault14:45 (Leopardstown) Tahiyra15:00 (Haydock) Forza Orta15:10 (Ascot) Alsakib15:20 (Leopardstown) King Of Steel
15:35 (Haydock) Shaquille
13:35 (Kempton) Israr
There is Group action on the all-weather a Kempton with the Unibet September Stakes, a Group Three in which Israr looks a real challenger.
John and Thady Gosden train the four-year-old for Shadwell and this year he has never let them down when defeated by only narrow margins in the Aston Park and the Grand Cup before winning the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes by four and a half lengths.
This is his all-weather debut, however, but if he can replicate the ability he shows on turf then he should be at the head of affairs.
13:50 (Haydock) Light Infantry
David Simcock’s Light Infantry can strike in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes.
The chestnut is yet to win this term but has often been thereabouts in five runs, four of which were Group One events.
Second in the Prix d’Ispahan, third in the Queen Anne and third again in the Prix Jacques le Marois, this contest is an easing in grade for a consistent horse who looks on the cusp of a victory for new connections before he heads to Australia.
14:10 (Kempton) Two Tempting
Two Tempting should be competitive from a low weight. Ran fourth over course and distance when only beaten last time and could be firmly in the mix.
Fantastic Fox is better than recent outings would suggest and an interesting contender if returning to his best.
Kathab, who was denied a hat-trick finishing third at Ripon last out, and First View, who was second at Ripon, are in with a shout.
14:25 (Haydock) Naqeeb
William Haggas’ Naqeeb, a 10-length winner of a Kempton novice when last seen and a narrow second to Middle Earth the time before – the latter horse a subsequent Melrose winner who is due to be supplemented for the St Leger.
The three-year-old contests the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Handicap under Tom Marquand and though it is a competitive affair with Aidan O’Brien’s Denmark also in the mix, he is clearly on the up and holds a lot of promise as a half-brother to Baaeed and Hukum.
14:35 (Ascot) Quinault
Quinault was denied a six straight victory at Ascot in early August, and steps up in trip following that third over six furlings.
The three-year-old is in excellent order and with the assistance of an apprentice claim rates a top chance.
Love De Vega bids for a hat-trick and justifies favouritism after scoring as favourite at Musselburgh last time.
Popmaster bounced back to better form when runner-up at Newbury and holds each-way claims.
14:45 (Leopardstown) Tahiyra
Tahiyra returns from a summer break and looks poised to resume the fantastic campaign that has seen her win the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes when she runs in the Group 1 Matron Stakes.
Meditate will appreciate the quicker conditions, but has finished behind Tahiyra three times and a place is likely to best here again.
Zarinsk and Just Beautiful should be respected.
15:00 (Haydock) Forza Orta
Forza Orta has a strong chance dropping back in distance. Working from a reasonable handicap mark and scored over 2m at York in his last outing.
Sea King returned after a short spell with a Goodwood success, and is in the mix.
Aztec Empire placed the past three outings including a good second behind the main selection.
Post Impressionist holds each-way claims.
15:10 (Ascot) Alsakib
Alsakib was denied a hat-trick when third at Goodwood in a fifteen runner contest. He enjoys these big field handicaps and rates a leading chance.
Overactive, is going for a third three consecutive win and is also in the mix, along with Gallant Lion who scored by a neck at Windsor last out, but this will be a tougher test.
15:20 (Leopardstown) King Of Steel
Leopardstown is headlined by a great renewal of the 10-furlong Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.
Much of the discussion will revolve around the Derby first and second, Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel.
It is the latter who holds more appeal as Auguste Rodin folded in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth and has previously run as though the final two furlongs of a mile and a half trip were vital to him.
15:35 (Haydock) Shaquille
Shaquille can seal a Group One hat-trick for Julie Camacho in the Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes.
The colt has taken every challenge in his stride this year, winning both the Commonwealth Cup and the July Cup despite missing the break both times and leaving himself with ground to make up.
He faces many of the same rivals and has been doing some stalls work in Malton with James Doyle, with whom he reunites, and looks the obvious horse to beat at the peak of a superb season.
