Saturday Racing Tips: Back Patrol to win the lolly in Sweet Solera

The Sweet Solera - presumably named after the excellent ice lolly that boasts a "delicious soft vanilla core, rippled with an exotic fruit swirl, and coated in delicious sorbet with real fruit pieces" - is Channel 4's only offering from Newmarket at 15:35.

But forget the iced confectionaries, even if they are a very acceptable 90 calories per stick, as it is Stroll Patrol that has got me eating out the palm of her hand.

Back her at odds of 15.014/1 or bigger.

The filly is a much bigger price than she should be, as she has shown abundant promise in her two runs to date.

She travelled like the best horse in the race for a long way on her debut when third to today's rival Winters Moon over course and distance last month, where impressive Goodwood scorer Shagah split the pair.

And then she went and impressed in winning over 6f at Leicester, perhaps not travelling with the same ease as at the July course but forging away late on in a manner which suggests the step back up in trip will very much suit her.

Now, this is obviously a highly competitive race and she has 1 ½ lengths to find with Winters Moon for starters. But I was taken by her strong-travelling nature here first time up - she traded at 1.330/100 in the run - and the manner in which she surged clear in a good time at Leicester last time.

I am sure there is a bit of the "smaller trainer" factored into her inflated price, but Charlie McBride knows the time of day all right, and in this sister to last week's progressive Group 3 Goodwood runner-up Hors de Combat I think he has a very decent one on his hands.

In addition, I think McBride has only ever had one runner in this race before - certainly in recent seasons - when his Blue Maiden finished second at 66-1 in 2009, so that has to be another positive.

Soleras all round if she wins. Our victory jig should burn off the 90 calories.

Before we attack the Shergar Cup meeting - I am not sure if I am going to have a pop at the moment - let's go over to Haydock for their three terrestrial races.

The opening five-runner nursery at 13:50 doesn't float my boat, and I managed to narrow the nine-runner Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at 14:55 to seven, so you get my drift there. No bet.

But we will play in the 14:20 in the shape of Elhaame at odds of 9.08/1 or bigger, with a saver on Truth Or Dare at 21.020/1.

I would be very worried about the consistent Salutation or a back-to-form Rye House as dangers, but the main selection has plenty going for him.

He was very progressive last season, when winning with cut in the ground and running well when second here at the start of his improvement curve, and shaped well when sixth in the 1m4f Duke Of Edinburgh last time at Royal Ascot.

I am very surprised to see that the handicapper has dropped him 2lb for that and he now finds himself 8lb better off for the 3 ¼ lengths he was beaten by Salutation at Ascot.

The step back in trip will suit - I expect him to be ridden more prominently today - and he has a big shout.

I can't resist throwing a few quid at Truth Or Dare, though. He is the only 3yo in the line-up and the handicapper has given him a real chance, dropping him 12lb since the start of the season.

This is his easiest task of the season to date - he has been mainly flying too high in Group 3 and listed company - and I think this trip with a bit of ease in the ground could see him massively outrun his odds.

The race isn't on Channel 4 and so I am not tipping her as such, but if you could tell me here and now that there will be good ground come race-time at Haydock on Saturday, then I would have no hesitation in telling you to get on Psychometry to find the improvement needed to win the 15:25.

I had a big bet on her in the Sandringham last time and she was the best horse in the race, believe me. On decent ground, I think she will show what she is capable of, even against such proven Classic performers such as Lightning Thunder.

But, back to my Channel 4 beat, and the Shergar Cup at Ascot.

The betting dilemma at this meeting is whether you side with the established jockeys around here and accept the shortened prices as a result, or go for the inflated odds available of the mounts of the foreign riders.

And, that in a nutshell, is why I don't really bet seriously at this meeting because I want the domestic top flight jockeys on my side.

But there are four races on Channel 4 - incidentally the first two races are the best on the card but they are bizarrely only on More 4 - so I will run you through them, and put up a sole small-stakes selection in the last.

I think Craig Williams has a fair shot on Presburg in the 14:05, Tom Queally is on much the likeliest winner in the 14:40 in the shape of Magic City, and Wrangler is my preferred choice under Frankie in the 15:15.

But the problem is that they are all favourites and, while I obviously wouldn't put you off backing them, they are not my kind of prices in my kind of races.

But there is definitely some mileage in Rufford in the concluding sprint at 15:50.

He ran a moderate race at York last time but he has been dropped 2lb for it, has Ascot form, acts on any going and has Frankie on board, as well as first time cheekpieces.

Add up all those factors and he is no 15.014/1 chance. Back him.

Recommended Bets

Back Stroll Patrol @ 15.014/1 or better - Newmarket 15:35
Back Elhaame @ 9.08/1 or better - Haydock 14:20
Back Truth Or Dare @ 21.020/1 or better - Haydock 14:20
Back Rufford @ 15.014/1 or better - Ascot 15:50