Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 40/1 Newbury fancy

Newbury, 13:25 - Back Catching The Moon @ 9/25.50

Richard and Peter Fahey-trained Catching The Moon shaped with great potential in three runs last term, including when landing Group Three honours at Ayr in September, beating a field which included subsequent Listed winner Lam Yai.

She had previously shed her maiden tag in good fashion at Beverley, following on from an eye-catching second to Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken at Leicester.

The daughter of No Nay Never, who is out of Riches And Rubies, a half-sister to Group One-placed Pearls And Rubies, is related to a whole host of black-type achievers and Classic performers, and could take a significant step forward from her debut season last year.

Newbury, 13:25 - Back Splish Splash E/W @ 25/126.00

Despite being more exposed than some of the main market leaders, Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Splish Splash could outrun her odds in this contest. She beat subsequent winner Zooming convincingly last term, before finishing third to Spicy Marg in Listed company at Newmarket, the form of which has already been franked by runner-up Azleet, who landed the Nell Gwyn Stakes at odds of 50/151.00 on Wednesday.

By Wootton Bassett, Splish Splash is out of Scat Daddy mare Skitter Scatter, a Group One winner over this trip. Her dam is a half-sister to Listed-winning miler Skellet, 7f Listed winner Victory Dance, and Grade Three-placed Data Dependent, dam of Grade One winner Aspen Grove.

There are plenty of high-class black-type achievers in the family and Splish Splash could be capable of showing further improvement having shaped with some promise during her juvenile campaign.

At double-figure odds, in a race won last year by 33/134.00 chance Duty First, Splish Splash warrants each-way consideration and may be able to outrun her price.

Newbury, 14:00 - Back Albert Einstein @ 2/13.00

In two juvenile outings last season, Albert Einstein shaped as a hugely exciting prospect for Ballydoyle and potentially a special horse. He made a successful debut at Naas before landing a Curragh Group Three, overcoming traffic problems to prevail on that occasion, further enhancing his reputation.

Absent for the rest of the term, the son of Wootton Bassett returned from a 307-day absence in Listed company last month when sent off as the 11/102.11 favourite. He could only manage sixth, disappointing on his reappearance, but is entitled to improve for the outing after a lengthy layoff, and the yard's horses often improve as the season goes on, too. 

Out of Group Two-placed mare Yet, the Coolmore homebred is out of the family of multiple Group One winner and top stallion Giant's Causeway, also related to a number of other black-type achievers and talented performers.

Whilst his reappearance was underwhelming, there have been plenty of other talented juveniles from the yard that have disappointed on their three-year-old debuts, including City Of Troy and Auguste Rodin, two of the most talented Aidan O'Brien-trained horses in recent years who both went on to win the Derby.

Albert Einstein could have Classic assignments further down the line but regardless of his future options, he is surely much better than shown in his latest run and it could be worth keeping the faith in a colt who made a significant impression in only two starts last term.

Ayr, 14:20 - Back All In You E/W @ 8/19.00

Warren Greatrex-trained All In You caught the eye in defeat at Ascot earlier in the season when narrowly denied by Dance And Glance, with whom he was able to reverse the form in his subsequent run at Sandown. His win in his penultimate start was particularly impressive as he swiftly made up ground to win in good fashion.

Upped 5lb for his latest success, the six-year-old was pulled up at Newbury when last seen upped in grade in a competitive contest won by Tutti Quanti. The winner was dominant on that occasion and it may be a run worth putting a line through for All In You, who may not have been suited by the way the race panned out.

Making only his tenth start over obstacles, it could be worth keeping the faith in the son of Triple Threat, who could have plenty of further improvement to come. He's a likeable performer on an upward trajectory and, despite being on a mark of 131 here, could be capable of putting in a bold bid under James Bowen.

Ayr, 14:20 - Back Gibbs Island E/W @ 15/28.50

Gibbs Island ran a great race in defeat at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen, staying on strongly at odds of 50/151.00 to finish seventh to Wilful in the hugely competitive County Hurdle. He's 1lb lower rated here and could be capable of a bold showing for Tom Lacey under regular rider Stan Sheppard.

The five-year-old has shown promise over hurdles winning three from nine starts over obstacles, showing raw ability last term whilst appearing to be learning on the job. He won on his reappearance at Chepstow earlier in the season and is only 1lb higher rated than his latest success, putting him in with a solid each-way chance at the weights.

Newbury, 14:35 - Back Pride Of Arras @ 11/43.75

Four-year-old gelding Pride Of Arras announced himself as an exciting prospect with an impressive win in the Dante Stakes at York last spring, defying odds of 18/119.00 to beat a number of talented rivals including Damysus and The Lion In Winter.

He couldn't justify a price of 4/15.00 in the Derby, and didn't feature in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh either, but both runs were worth forgiving and he returned to form in good fashion to win the Great Voltigeur at the Ebor Festival on his return to the Knavesmire following a gelding operation.

Having shown to possess plenty of talent on his day, the Ralph Beckett-trained son of New Bay makes the most appeal in this field. He remains open to further improvement in only his seventh lifetime start, and could show further progression as a four-year-old having amassed plenty of valuable experience last term including a fourth-placed effort in the Bahrain International Trophy.

Newbury, 15:10 - Back Ancient Rome E/W @ 40/141.00

Things didn't pan out favourably for Ancient Rome last season but he did put in a competitive effort from a 3lb higher mark at Sandown, and has shown form over a mile in the past including when second in an Ascot Group Two to Quddwah, now rated 114, when beating now 114-rated Royal Dubai. He also won the Mint Million Stakes at Kentucky Downs over this trip on firm ground following a 33/134.00 success on debut for Charlie Hills in the Chesterfield Cup.

With excuses to be made for some of his disappointing efforts last term, the experienced seven-year-old could fare better on his return to action and has gone well fresh in the past. This is a hugely competitive handicap, but the son of War Front is far from a forlorn hope on a decent mark if able to perform to the best of his ability.

Newbury, 15:10 - Back Whip Cracker E/W @ 10/111.00

Five-year-old gelding Whip Cracker couldn't make an impact in the Irish Lincolnshire despite being sent off at odds of 13/27.50, but could fare better in this race for Richard Hughes, making each-way appeal at odds of 10/111.00.

The mount of Ryan Moore is yet to add to his novice win at Chelmsford during his juvenile campaign, but has put in a number of good efforts since, including when second to the sadly ill-fated talented Jayarebe in Listed company and when competitive in multiple handicaps last year. He's rated 2lb higher than when narrowly beaten by Gladius at Goodwood, giving 6lb to the three-year-old winner who is now rated 111, with Linwood, who was in receipt of 7lb with the weight-for-age allowance, now rated 105.

There's substance to his form and Whip Cracker could finally strike in handicap company in this contest. He'll need to be at his best but should be capable of a bold showing.

Ayr, 15:35 - Back Maximilian E/W @ 20/121.00

Point winner Maximilian is on a workable mark if able to show improvement following wind surgery and put in his best effort under 3lb claiming William Maggs. He put in a decent performance at Haydock when last seen over an extended 3m4f, and, although he has stamina to prove over this marathon trip, has shaped as a strong stayer over fence.

Absent for long periods in recent years, Maximilian had shown great promise in his earlier days, just denied at Grade One level over hurdles by Apple Away, when beating Iroko, following a Grade Two win in the River Don at Doncaster. He made a pleasing return when narrowly denied following a 284-day absence in December, having made only one appearance since April 2023 prior, and has performed with credit on a couple of occasions since.

Now on a mark of 132, the 10-year-old could be dangerous over this sort of trip and may be capable of outrunning his odds for Donald McCain, still lightly raced and unexposed.

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