The Timeform and Sporting Life racing experts combine to provide their best bets for Saturday’s action.
PATONTHEBACK – 2.45 Catterick (Graeme North)
Gemma Tutty is making something of a name for herself as a ‘Saturday trainer’ after victories this season from both Look Back Smiling and Blue Storm and she can follow up those wins with another courtesy of PATONTHEBACK. Granted, Catterick Bridge is not the type of venue not usually associated with ‘Saturday horses’ but it is what it is and after another 2lb drop in the weights despite getting no sort of run whatsoever last time Patontheback now finds himself off a mark 1lb lower than when a four-length winner at Newcastle last year and 6lb lower than when a close second at Musselburgh next time, so his chance from a handicapping perspective is undeniable.
KEKE – 2.55 Navan (Billy Nash)
Eddie Lynam hasn’t managed a winner on turf in Ireland so far this year but has had enough run well of late to suggest that one is imminent and that one may well be Keke at his local track. This lightly-raced gelding broke his duck at Bellewstown last year and was a big eye-catcher at Naas last time when a never-nearer third to Mehman having been stopped in his run more than once. A wide draw means he should be able to avoid trouble this time, this represents a slight drop in class and it seems significant that Billy Lee – who won on Rappell last time – has chosen to ride him.
BILLYB – 3.15 Beverley (David Johnson)
BILLYB made into a useful handicapper as a 3-y-o, but rather like much of Ann Duffield’s string, had a rather uninspiring 2023. However he’s come down the weights as a result and there was more to enthuse about on his debut for a new stable at York last month, finishing fifth in a big field behind Feel The Need. He went with enthusiasm up with the pace that day and stuck on better than might have been expected to do best of those ridden close up. Similar tactics on this sort of ground at Beverley will probably see him to good effect, as will a low draw in stall 4 which should allow him to get into a position to be ridden efficiently. In a race that doesn’t look as strong as the field size suggests, Billyb can go well.
SUNNY ORANGE – 3.20 Catterick (Kieran Clark)
A relatively quiet Saturday sees my best bet come in a 0-65 but there’s plenty to like about the claims of SUNNY ORANGE. Tim Easterby has his string in fine form and Sunny Orange caught the eye at Redcar last time when an arguably unlucky fifth, meeting plenty of trouble in running as well as being drawn highest in a race that unfolded towards the far rail, somewhat typically for the track. He’s surprisingly been dropped 1 lb to a career-low mark of 56 (was placed from marks in the 70s around this time last year) and can cash in from a favourable low draw.
FRESH – 4.45 Haydock (Andrew McLaren)
FRESH was running some big races in some of the top six-furlong handicaps last season when rated 100+ so is beginning to look a very well handicapped horse now off a mark of 92. His two runs this season haven’t been without promise either, blowing away the cobwebs at Kempton before catching the eye at Newbury last time when running into traffic and given an easy time of things by Danny Tudhope once his chance had gone. He still has an entry in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot but will probably need to win this to get a run there (last year’s bottom weight was rated 95), and he should go close to doing so granted more luck in-running this time.
INTRINSIC BOND – 4.45 Haydock (Matt Brocklebank)
It’s not on the ITV4 schedule sadly but INTRINSIC BOND could be worth having on side in Haydock’s six-furlong handicap at 4.45. He has a reasonably promising record when fresh and the Michael Wigham yard is 2-8 in the past fortnight so I don’t think him having his first start since December is a bad thing at all, while he’s been eased to a workable mark for this 2024 comeback. Beaten just half a length by Annaf when third in the Portland off a perch of 99 at Doncaster in September, he can compete off 92 here and seems perfectly happy on all types of ground too. The booking of Silvestre De Sousa can only be considered another positive factor.
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