ITV Saturday Newbury, Kempton and Doncaster Preview

The first race of the day on ITV comes from Kempton on the all weather with the Listed Magnolia Stakes seeing a small but select field of runners heading to post.

We are siding with the William Haggas trained Faylaq that has promised so much during his career to date and this season can finally show how good he can be.

The five year old in 2019 showed his pure ability when notching up a good run of performances, winning at Ripon, Newmarket and Kempton, whilst also finishing second at Ascot in handicap events.

He was off the track for sometime and returned in June 2020 and looked to need the run when well beaten in the 1m4f Listed Buckhound Stakes at Newmarket.

He was dropped to 1m2f last time out and although running slightly better, faded again in the final stages in the Listed Steventon Stakes.

The son of Dubawi was an extremely expensive purchase of 1,500,000gns and if fit should be taken seriously having bags of ability and now just needing to show it.

The second race of the day on ITV is the Listed Mile Stakes and a nice price of 5/1 we think that Top Rank for trainer James Tate could run a big race.

The five year old really hit the ground running last term and looked to be a highly progressive colt having won on his seasonal debut at Thirsk after almost a year off and then backing that up with a narrow third at York in a hot handicap that has seen he form franked since.

He then showed exactly how good he can be over a mile, taking the Group Three Superior Mile Stakes at Haydock and from there Tate was always stepping him up in class again.

Tate had his eyes set on the QEII at Ascot as the big target end of season target but after finishing a poor sixth in the Joel Stakes in September, he was then put away for the season.

He returns a year older but still very unexposed for his age and if fit and ready for his first event looks to be a big price at 5/1.

Has winning form on both good and soft ground.

The second and final event from Kempton on Saturday afternoon sees the Rosebery Handicap over 1m3f and Al Zaraqaan looks the horse to beat.

The well backed favourite heads into the event looking for a four timer having landed his last three events in taking style and although going up in the handicap, looks to be very progressive and should take it in his stride.

Having bombed out on debut at Newmarket back in 2019, he was given some time off and returned in June of last year at Doncaster.

Stepping up to 1m2f he was a superb winner on quick ground in a Novice Stakes and he then backed that up next time out over course and distance at Kempton when a very short price.

He entered his first handicap event in December at Lingfield off a mark of 90 and beat a decent field by a length, with the second going on to win at the same track next time out.

Up 5lb for that today still sees him on a workable mark and he looks a class above the field.

The Spring Mile Handicap over a mile sees a huge field head to post for this event that over the years has seen some nice priced winners.

We feel we have found another that fits that bill with the Richard Fahey trained Amaysmount, who has been largely consistent during his career to date and will enjoy the jump back to the turf having been doing well on the all weather.

Richard Fahey's horses seemed to have now bounced back to form having not had his best season to date and this frequently raced miler should go close in this one.

Having been running all through the winter to a good standard, he has only been seen three times this year and he is yet to finish outside the top three.

In January he landed a Class 3 Handicap over a mile at Kempton and then backed that up later in the month when a good third under a penalty.

He was last seen at Wolverhampton finishing a close second over 8.5 furlongs and going back to turf could see more improvement.

Having been tried at six and seven furlongs early in his career, the switch to a mile seems to have bought him on a lot.

Each way player.

The Novices' Handicap Hurdle sees a classy field head to post for a race of this stature and Good Ball for Paul Nicholls looks the class angle.

Having moved over from France to Nicholls this season, he came over with a big reputation having finished second to the smart Teahupoo at Auteuil on his sole hurdles start.

He made his British debut in December at Newbury and got off to a fine start when beating home the likes of Gowel Road and Grumpy Charlie.

Last time out he went back over the same course and distance and Gowel Road reversed the form, but Good Ball put in another cracker.

Now stepped up slightly in trip it should bring more improvement on his handicap debut and being given a mark of 131 looks generous.

The feature race of the day is the Lincoln Handicap over a mile and with so many horses going to post we have two selections.

Our win pick is the John and Thady Gosden trained Haqeeqy who looks to have been primed for this event off the back of last season and with smart 7lb claimer Benoit De La Sayette on board, he could be very well in.

Many say you need a group horse to win this handicap and if any of them are its this gelding who has shown some serious ability on his five starts to date.

Needing his debut back in 2019, he came back last season in June and got off the mark in great style on quick ground at Yarmouth.

He backed that up next time out at Newmarket before being sent in the bet365 Mile Handicap at Newmarket and running no sort of race.

He was given one final run last season in September over course and distance at Doncaster and was a east winner of a handicap.

He heads into the race on a mark of 100 but with 7lb taken off, you would like to think he has a big chance in this field, also being versatile to ground.

At a bigger price and our each way selection in the event it is the Michael Dods trained Brunch who is a very experienced runner in these sorts of events.

Quick ground is the key to this horse and it looks like he will get it on Saturday which makes his price of 16/1 very attractive.

The gelding ran seven times last season, starting at Newcastle over a mile on the all weather and getting off to a winning start.

He then went to Haydock and finished fourth behind some nice horses, but bounced back to winning ways next time outa at York over 7f on quick ground.

He seems to really like York and landed the Mile Stakes Handicap at the Ebor meeting, seeing off 16 runners which was his best run of the year.

The four year old then went to Ayr and finished a short head second to the top weight in this Johan and getting weight off him here should see him reverse the form.

Brunch then finished third and sixth in hi next two races on soft ground which can be discounted and although now on a career high mark, the quick ground is a big factor in seeing him run a big race.

The feature event at Newbury on Saturday is the Grade Two Mares' Novices' Hurdle and with a decent sized field heading to post we have a win and each way selection.

The Colin Tizzard trained Rose Of Arcadia has took the eye at 4/1 in the Cheveley Park Stud colours and this season over hurdles has done very little wrong.

Having won her P2P in December 2019 she was bought for £170,000 and given to Tizzard who gave the mare her rules debut in March 2020 in a bumper at Taunton and she was an impressive winner.

Stepped over hurdles this term, she made her seasonal debut at Ffos Las and looked to need the run finishing fourth of 10.

Since then she has been superb, finishing a narrow second over Christmas at Wincanton and at the same track next time out she broke her maiden tag when stepped up in trip.

She is sure to improve from that run and the second and third in that race have since gone on and won some nice events.

At a much bigger price is our each way selection for the inform Olly Murphy who has had 10 winners from his last 45 runners which sees him pose a 22% Win rate over the last two weeks.

He fields his mare Alpha Carinae who has been consistent this term and hopefully if the rain can stay away will get the better ground she needs.

Having won on her bumper debut in January at Newcastle, Murphy this season stepped her straight over hurdles and she made a winning start at Perth over 2m4f on good ground.

She then went to Market Rasen in October and was a good second behind the smart Aggy With It for the Skelton's, who went on to frank the form.

Since that run she has found things tough, finishing fourth behind The Glancing Queen in a Mares' Novices' Hurdle and then third last time out in a Listed event over three miles at Doncaster.

Dropping back in trip is a plus with 2m4f being her trip and if getting nice ground could outrun her odds of 16/1.

Another superb event on the Doncaster card is the Listed Cammidge Trophy Stakes over six furlongs and the horse we like the look of is Royal Commando.

The Charles Hills trained four year old made a superb seasonal debut last season when finishing fourth of 16 in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

That acts as some of the stand out form in this field, not being far behind the winner Golden Horde, who is a top class sprinter.

He went to York, Newbury and Deauville after that run and could not show the same form over six and seven furlongs, but having gone well fresh last season it might be the time to catch him.

Any run like his one at Ascot makes him a player.