Weekend Preview: I'll Have Another bids for US Triple Crown

The six furlong handicap looks to be the highlight on Saturday's Newmarket card with plenty of top horses going to post for what promises to be an exciting race. Medicean Man heads the weights for the contest but he has plenty to find with Pearl Ice according to the Timeform ratings, that one seemingly well in under a 6 lb penalty having won well at Ripon this week. The likes of Irish Heartbeat and Mirza are two others in with a chance in a race that cannot be missed.

The one and a half mile handicap, due off at 16:00 looks equally as attractive with Ithoughtitwasover currently topping the weights. The four-year-old colt has finished placed on four of his five starts this season and looks steadily progressive for trainer Mark Johnston. The likes of Spifer and High Jinx are also in the field, however, and the two Timeform Horses to Follow should have the race between them, top in weight-adjusted ratings terms and considered open to more progression than their rivals.

The one mile handicap for three-year-olds and the ten furlong handicap are likely to prove the most fascinating races on the Newmarket undercard with the likes of Apostle, Ocean Tempest and Campanology the ones to beat in the former contest whilst Reachforthebucks, Landaman and John Louis could be the three to side with in the latter race.

A class 2 conditions stakes over a mile and two furlongs looks to be the best race on offer at Doncaster, with Expense Claim, Kingsdesire, Starboard and Counterglow set to line up. Of the quartet, Starboard heads the Timeform ratings and looks open to more progression than his trio of rivals after just three starts. His second place effort in a minor event last time is the best form on offer and he is expected to come on for that seasonal reappearance on just his fourth racecourse start in total.

The seven furlong Handicap feature at Doncaster gets underway just over half an hour before and features Tariq Too and Kingcroft, the former who was well fancied for Ascot's Victoria Cup a few weeks ago and the latter who finished a solid second at Catterick on his latest start. Also in the line-up is Fathsta, who has featured in some of the top handicap races in the past two seasons and could be potentially well-in if able to produce anything close to his very best.

The best handicap on offer at Chester on Saturday afternoon is the Willow Water taking place over seven and a half furlongs and due off at 14:35. Fourteen runners are currently entered with Jamie Osborne's Rakaan heading the weights despite being off the track for almost a year. Van Ellis heads the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, considered 1 lb superior to Obligada, whilst Clockmaker and Orpsie Boy are two others who cannot be overlooked given favourable draws.

The other class 2 handicap is the John Halewood Memorial takes place over ten furlongs and is due off just over half an hour later with Stand to Reason and Resurge top on figures after promising races in recent weeks. Memory Cloth is also prominent in ratings terms after an excellent display in a top handicap on Guineas Weekend whilst Robemaker is one who cannot be written off given the capabilities of his trainer.

Flat Racing is completed by meetings at Newcastle and Windsor on Saturday whilst there are also Jumps Meetings at Hexham and Worcester. Over in Ireland there is a seven-race flat card from Navan.

The Belmont Stakes is the highlight in North America this weekend as I'll Have Another bids to become the first horse to win the US Triple Crown since Affirmed did so in 1978. He will have to be at his best to beat the likes of Union Rags and Dullahan, however, with the Doug O'Neil trained colt racing from stall number 11 on Saturday evening.

There are two other Grade 1 contests on the Belmont card with the Longines Just A Game Stakes, a fillies and mares' race contested over a mile and due off at 20:59, and the Manhattan Handicap, a contest for three-year-olds over ten furlongs and due off at 22:57, those two contests looking excellent renewals on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

There are two Jumps Meetings in the UK on Sunday with Perth and Worcester both hosting racing, the former arguably possessing the stronger of the two cards with the City of Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase the most exciting race on a seven-race card.

Over in Ireland there is Flat Racing at the Curragh with a listed contest due off at 15:50. Await the Dawn is currently the one to beat in that contest, but he will have to get back to his best for the victory given his disappointing campaign in 2011.

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