There’ll be a whole host of betting opportunities this weekend across the country, especially within horse racing.
What we’re looking for this time, more specifically, are some longer odds to get stuck into in some of Saturday’s live TV races. Our eyes are drawn to three events especially at Newcastle and York.
2:10 Newcastle
Newcastle’s second race, live on ITV, is the Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs. This is a six-furlong sprint won last year by Montassib, subsequent winner of the Haydock Sprint Cup.
It’s a classy affair generally but this year it has a little extra dazzle added by Wathnan Racing’s Kind Of Blue. James Fanshawe’s four-year-old is now a Group 1 winner, but he didn’t run too well last time out in what was meant to be a prep for Royal Ascot.
He’s 11/8 for this and has had an interrupted run-up to the race. He is also rated 116 and gives away 7lbs for his penalty, making him a net 109. That wouldn’t necessarily be enough to win this race even if he’s back to his best.
The suggestion is ALYANAABI for Shadwell and Owen Burrows. Another for-year-old, this is the horse who chased home City Of Troy in the Dewhurst in 2023 before running fifth last season in both the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Going down in trip this season has seen improvement from him and the stiff six at Newcastle could be ideal. He’s rated 112 now but has been 114 in the past and can even better that now. Odds of 6/1 is more than fair.
2:25 York
The seven-furlong Criterion Stakes is the Group 3 race previously run at Newmarket. It is staged at York from this year, and the 2025 renewal looks deep. Formal and Lake Forest are the ones for money, but there is clear value against them with two horses in particular.
PABORUS could move towards Group 1 form with just a little improvement after his Thirsk win and he is around 7/2 for this race in from 6/1 which looked too big as he is all class.
NOSTRUM is another not to ignore. Formally a high-class prospect for Sir Michael Stoute, he was capable of disappointing and did so numerous times. He has been sold by Juddmonte and is now with David O’Meara who can be trusted to get a tune out of him. He’s a fine each-way prospect at 16/1.
3:15 Newcastle
This is the Northumberland Plate, the biggest betting race of the day. Brian Ellison tries again with stable star and last year’s winner Onesmoothoperator, while Who’s Glen has been holding sway in the market for Andrew Balding. Willie Mullins is also represented here by 9/2 shot Pappano.
This race has been the plan for a while now though for GOLDEN RULES, second in 2023, and he is the best handicapped horse of the bunch. Silvestre De Sousa has been booked and an opening price of 6/1 is very tempting indeed.