Saturday Racing Cheat Sheet: Best bets for ITV Racing at Chester, Sandown and York

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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
13:35 Chester	Katie Midwinter	Tough Enough E/W	28/129.00
14:10 Chester	Alan Dudman	Startled	15/44.75
14:25 York	Katie Midwinter	Glenfinnan E/W	20/121.00
15:00 York	Katie Midwinter	Epic Poet	10/34.33
15:17 Sandown	Sam Turner	Cogitate E/W	10/111.00
15:35 York	Timeform	Thunder Call	6/17.00
15:55 Sandown	Alan Dudman	Weezzer	3/14.00

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Saturday Horse Racing Tips and Insight

13:35, Chester - Katie Midwinter: Tough has Enough to go close

Six-year-old gelding Tough Enough shaped with promise in his earlier days but has struggled for consistency since and is winless since a Sandown success in August 2023.

Despite this, he has been able to pose a threat on occasion since joining Antony Brittain from the James Tate stable, and is on a low mark of 70 currently, running off 75 in this contest.

He's only 2lb higher in this race than when second on reappearance at Southwell, and is 9lb lower in the weights than when outrunning odds of 40/141.00 to be beaten only a length-and-three-quarters at Newcastle last term.

At huge odds, the son of Showcasing shouldn't be discounted as he's more than capable of performing from his current mark in a race of this nature if on a going day. He had excuses at Doncaster when last seen, and could bounce back to form here.

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14:10, Chester - Alan Dudman: Don't be Startled if this wins

The draw in seven is not exactly ideal for Richard Hughes' Startled, but I am struggling to pinpoint exactly what tactics will be employed here from Luke Morris as he's been held off the pace before but also ridden prominently, but I suspect with Sir Albert and Masked Warrior drawn in one and three as front-runners, Morris will be happier sitting back.

Startled is progressive and landed back-to-back handicap wins from 76 and 78 at Newmarket and York and ran a cracker in a good race last time at Goodwood considering he bumped into the Godolphin beast Catullus - who bolted up from 96.

The finishing position in second for Startled was ahead of the 103-rated third, and he might have got closer to Catullus had he not been bumped down into the straight.

He's adaptable with going and he ran on well at Goodwood, so with pace to aim at here, I am hoping he comes home strongest under the silky guidance of Morris.

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14:25, York - Katie Midwinter: Drinks on Glenfinnan with a win

Likeable gelding Glenfinnan returned to winning ways with a narrow success at Beverley recently, and could be capable of another bold bid from only 1lb higher. He hadn't been seen to best effect in his previous outings this term, but had excuses and showed he still retains plenty of ability when recording his fifth career success when last seen.

Trained by Michael Dods, Glenfinnan was formerly in training with Andrew Balding and caught the eye in his second career start when chasing home Desert Order at odds of 33/134.00 in a competitive maiden at the Ebor Festival. He got off the mark in his subsequent run, and has put in many great performances since, including from a much higher rating.

A mark of 79 could still prove lenient, and Glenfinnan may be worth keeping onside over his optimum trip of 7f on the Knavesmire where he has run well in the past.

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15:00, York - Katie Midwinter: Poet can produce an Epic performance

In receipt of 5lb from favourite Al Qareem, Epic Poet gets the nod under Ryan Moore as he has plenty of good course form in his favour and has shaped well at Stakes level recently. Last season, he was only narrowly denied by Rebel's Romance over course-and-distance in the Yorkshire Cup, and has emerged with credit from multiple Group-level contests this year.

A strong stayer for David O'Meara, Epic Poet is a formidable rival on his day and this could be his chance to land another Stakes win in Listed company. He is a likeable performer and should be capable of a bold showing.

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15:17, Sandown - Sam Turner: Firsts can result in a first place finish

There are a number of firsts surrounding Cogitate's outing today,  not least his first start for Eve Johnson Houghton following the gelding's switch from Charlie Hills.

The five-year-old also sports the cheekpieces for the first time which should sharpen his mind and hopefully see him step up on recent efforts for his former handler.

Cogitate can't be accused of being a serial winner, but he again ran well over course and distance last time when keeping to his task up the Sandown hill after being caught a little flat-footed when the pace quickened in a tactical affair.

The son of Churchill is a little more exposed than a number of his rivals which sit towards the head of the market, but a change of stables and the application of headgear means that with four places on offer he makes some appeal from an each-way perspective.

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15:35, York - Timeform: Call fancied to Thunder home

This six-furlong contest for three-year-olds has been won by some smart sorts in the past including Twilight Son (2015), Mr Lupton (2016) and Quinault (2023).  

William Haggas hasn't won it since Sholaan scored by five lengths in 2012, but he looks to have a leading contender this year with 'Horse In Focus' Thunder Call who tops Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings following a ready reappearance Kempton win. 

He travelled strongly and quickly quickened clear that day in a manner that suggested better is still to come, and the booking of young Australian jockey Zac Lloyd, who won the Golden Slipper in March, is a positive for the horse's handicap debut.

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15:55, Sandown - Alan Dudman: In-form trainer respected

Weezzer, another powered by Varian and Ray Dawson, was turned over in a little Carlisle novice by an outsider at 150/1151.00 last time.

It was a slightly weird race as Ready Steady Go looked a giant for trainer Susan Corbett, but there was no fluke as he made the running, travelled well and fought hard to the line.

Weezzer came under pressure quite early in the straight and with the ground soft, he didn't look totally in love with conditions for a young horse but I am open-minded with regards to him handling it again, and his jockey that day (Ray Dawson) looked to be unsure whether to tack across to the stands' or stay with the rag and eventual winner.

Sire Sioux Nation has a pretty even split in terms of the numbers and stats regarding good and soft conditions so we shouldn't dismiss him totally on ground.

Varian is 7-30 at 20% in the last two weeks, and is 19.7% at Sandown with his runners from the last five years, and 86 for Weezzer should be a mark he can win from.

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Now read our Royal Ascot Mega Guide to next week's festival

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