Saturday Racing Cheat Sheet: Best bets for ITV Racing at Newmarket and Goodwood

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Tips Summary

Please Note: Prices quoted in table below were correct at time of each writer/tipster's column being published on Betting.Betfair.

Race	Tipster	Tip/Runner	Odds
13:30 Goodwood	Mark Milligan	Hassaleh	6/17.00
13:45 Newmarket	Katie Midwinter	Brian E/W	25/126.00
14:05 Goodwood	Katie Midwinter	Betty Clover E/W	30/131.00
14:20 Newmarket	Alan Dudman	Tycoon E/W	16/117.00
14:40 Thirsk	Sam Turner	Blue Rc	9/25.50
14:55 Newmarket	Mark Milligan	Rumstar	5/16.00
15:35 Newmarket	Katie Midwinter	Avicenna E/W	12/113.00

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Saturday horse racing tips and insight

13:30 Goodwood - Mark Milligan: Hassaleh aiming for black type

It's a belting day of racing on both sides of the Atlantic on Saturday, with Newmarket staging the first UK Classic of the season in the shape of the 2000 Guineas, while over at Churchill Downs we have a wide-open renewal of the Kentucky Derby.

I'll be concentrating on the UK stuff as usual for this column and I'm starting out at Goodwood, which stages a nice supporting card to the main events, with a couple of the races on ITV.

This 6f fillies listed contest doesn't look particularly deep for the level and a few of them - including the favourite Fitzellla - are already beginning to look a tad exposed. One who isn't anywhere near fully exposed is Godolphin's Hassaleh, who only has two runs under her belt and was an impressive winner of a Newmarket maiden just a couple of weeks ago.

At this stage, it's hard to tell if that race had any real depth to it, but the daughter of Night Of Thunder treated her four rivals with contempt, posting very fast closing sectionals to back up the visual impression she created.

She's undoubtedly going to progress with that experience under her belt, and I think it's telling that Charlie Appleby aims her straight for black type rather than going for something a little less competitive.

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13:45 Newmarket - Katie Midwinter: Brian enjoying life

Four-year-old gelding Brian shaped with great promise as a juvenile, putting in a number of good performances against horses such as Bedtime Story, Cool Hoof Luke and Lady With The Lamp. 

He began his previous campaign in similar fashion, finishing fourth to Big Mojo in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot, but struggled to kick on although did show he still retains ability when second at Newbury. 

Now 2lb lower than that runner-up effort, the son of Shaman could be worth keeping onside from a workable mark. Things didn't pan out favourably for him when last seen, but he was supported from 50/151.00 into 14/115.00 when failing to get the run of the race, and holds each-way claims once again in his 18th career start.

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14:05 Goodwood - Katie Midwinter: Betty in Clover at Goodwood

A close second in the race last year to subsequent Royal Ascot winner Crimson Advocate, Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Betty Clover has proven form in the race in her favour as she bids to return to form following a fifth-placed effort in her reappearance outing at Kempton in March. She has the benefit of a recent run here, as she did last year, and could improve for her return to action.

Whilst she wasn't in the best of form during the second half of last season, the daughter of Time Test had some excuses. She had been pulled up during the summer at Royal Ascot and found to be lame, therefore can be forgiven for not quite being at her best in subsequent runs including in softer conditions. This should suit and she is too big a price to ignore at 30/131.00.

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14:20 Newmarket - Alan Dudman: Tycoon can make us rich

Tycoon, rather well named with the financial prowess in the ring of Amo Racing, is a horse of interest in one of the Newmarket handicaps and at 16/117.00 has tempted me in with the four places on the Sportsbook.

I took a chance on him in the 1m Handicap at the Craven meeting on the opening day at headquarters, and gambled on a high draw stands' side and a front runner the night before. Of course it panned out those drawn low rather than high were in a better position and Mister Winston came home the best over the far side - of course making all.

Tycoon's run was not without hope over what perhaps was a little shorter than his ideal distance, and the extra 1f to 1m1f will suit him better.

He was a big drifter too for his seasonal reappearance and went out from 10/111.00 overnight to 20/121.00 on the morning of the race and a BSP of 30.

Beaten only 3L in the end in fifth spot, he should improve for that return and I am hoping for some "firm" in the description at some point on Saturday, as that will very much be in Tycoon's favour and is treated well from 94.

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14:40 Thirsk - Sam Turner: Strong gallop can suit Blue Rc

A nine-race Newmarket card may feel slower than a weekend in jail, especially if the rains arrive in the afternoon and I preferred to look elsewhere for potential Saturday wagers with two in particular catching the eye at Thirsk.

The first of which runs in the Thirsk Hunt Cup where Blue Rc appears to have good claims of landing the feature handicap for trainer James Tate.

The Blue Point colt was arguably a little unlucky to bump into Newcastle course specialist Tyrrhenian Sea on all-weather finals day and returns to the scene of his impressive three-length triumph last summer.

He should relish the prospect of a strong gallop here with last year's winner Flight Plan and Accentuate in opposition and his turn of foot could be a potent force under Connor Beasley.

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14:55 Newmarket - Mark Milligan: Rum can Star at HQ

Jonathan Portman has got his string in cracking form and his Rumstar should make a bold bid to retain his Palace House Stakes crown as he gets going for the season.

A solid sprint handicapper who made the leap to listed winner on his final 2024 start, Rumstar had a real breakthrough year in 2025, including when taking this contest on his seasonal debut, posting a career-best effort in the process. Effectively on the wrong part of the track in the King Charles III at Royal Ascot in June, Rumstar quickly put that behind him with another fine success in the Coral Charge on his next start.

His season rather tailed off after that but a freshening over the winter should have done him the world of good and his trainer's current strike-rate is making people sit up and take notice.

Asfoora, who hails from Australia but is currently being prepared for another tilt at Royal Ascot by Lemos De Sousa, makes her seasonal reappearance here too, but she might not be fully cranked on her return from 209 days off and doesn't make all that much appeal at current prices.

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15:35 Newmarket - Katie Midwinter: Avicenna fancied to enjoy step up in trip

Starspangledbanner colt Avicenna caught the eye in defeat to Oxagon in the Craven Stakes last month, beaten two-lengths by the winner but staying on well in the closing stages. Things didn't pan out favourably for him during the race but he gained valuable experience over course-and-distance on the Rowley Mile, which should hold in good stead, and now has the benefit of a recent run.

In his penultimate start, the Roger Varian-trained contender beat subsequent Group Three winner Hankelow to claim Listed honours at Doncaster, again finishing strongly, closing late on to just prevail. This trip should suit and he appears on an upward trajectory, with plenty to like about his chances as he steps up into Group One company.

You can read Katie's Runner-by-Runner guide and 1-2-3 tips for the 2000 Guineas here.

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Now read Rachael Blackmore on the Punchestown Festival

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