Racing Tips – Top Tipster Steve Mullen’s best racing selections for Saturday, August 26
Steve Mullen guides you through Saturday's racing from York, Goodwood, Chester, Newmarket, Redcar, Windsor and Cartmel
STAR can Storm away with the Ebor at York (3.35).
Trainer James Fanshawe knows a thing or two about staying handicappers and has had this race in mind for STAR STORM since his excellent third in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He went really well over the 1m4f trip there and might have finished closer had he made his challenge a little sooner.
As it was, he made up plenty of ground in the closing stages and looked to have plenty left in the tank crossing the line.
That bodes well for this step up in distance and the fact that he was able to pick his way through a 19-runner field is another plus.
The handicapper has been fair with a 1lb rise in the weights and he should be in the frame again at rewarding odds.
Flymetothestars has been well backed for this and the bit of cut in the ground should be ideal for Sir Mark Prescott’s hopeful.
He was last seen running a close-up third in the Northumberland Plate on the all-weather at Newcastle.
It was a good effort to stay the extended 2m there because he pulled like a lively two-year-old in the early stages.
Steve Mullen's top tips for Saturday
2.25 York - Intellect: 'Impressive when winning at Newbury last time and can step up in class'
2.45 Goodwood - Johnny Barnes: 'Looks due a big win after hitting the crossbar in a similar big-field contest at Ascot last time out'
3.35 York - Star Storm: 'The handicapper has been fair with a 1lb rise in the weights and he should be in the frame again at rewarding odds'
That’s understandable because he has few miles on the clock and he’ll hopefully have learned to settle better since Gosforth Park.
He’s another who looks fairly weighted, especially as there should be some improvement to come.
Magic Circle is an interesting runner because he only scraped into the field by winning on the opening day of the Ebor meeting.
That pushed his weight up enough to get a run and he’s not without a chance if that victory didn’t take too much out of him.
It came over 2m but this race can sometimes feel like that far if they go quick early on. His proven stamina should be an asset, especially if there’s any more rain.
At monster odds, Clever Cookie is not without a chance. He showed up well in a Listed race over course and distance last time and was good enough to win the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup here last season.
That proves he has a little touch of class and he’s back in handicap company from what still looks a reasonable mark.
INTELLECT was massively impressive when winning at Newbury last time and can step up in class for York’s Melrose Stakes at 2.25.
Sir Michael Stoute’s colt took a giant leap forward on his first try over 1m4f and stormed to the line like a colt who needs further again.
He showed a high cruising speed and Ryan Moore barely had to shake the reins to get an impressive response.
That was just his third run so you would expect a lot more — and he won’t mind if there’s still a bit of juice in the ground as it was soft at Newbury.
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Bin Battuta looks a threat on the back of his gutsy win at Ascot last time out. He’s another who wasn’t stopping over the 1m4f trip and had to dig deep to prevail in a bobbing finish.
The handicapper has been fair with a 5lb rise in the weights and he should go well.
JOHNNY BARNES can score in Goodwood’s wide-open 2.45.
John Gosden’s five-year-old looks due a big win after hitting the crossbar in a similar big-field contest at Ascot last time out.
He was a place behind Mjjack that day but has touched much luckier than Karl Burke’s hopeful with the draw. Barnesy’s in the ideal stall two and can take full advantage.
This is his best distance and there’s no problem with a little bit of juice in the ground. The handicapper has done the sensible thing by leaving his mark alone, which gives him strong claims.
He goes well in a big field and should give us a good run at a big price.
YORK
1.55 Forest Ranger
2.25 Intellect
3.00 Cardsharp
3.35 Star Storm
4.10 Bengali Boys
4.40 Khairaat
5.15 Major Jumbo
CHESTER
1.50 Barbarianatthegate
2.30 Ballesteros
3.05 Reflektor
3.40 Sable Island
4.15 Calder Prince
4.45 See Of Rome
5.20 Alexander M
GOODWOOD
1.35 Polly’s Gold
2.10 Billesdon Brook
2.45 Johnny Barnes
3.20 Zonderland
3.55 Uae King
4.30 Mountain Hunter
5.05 White Desert
NEWMARKET
2.05 Rockies Spirit
2.40 Maksab
3.15 Ariena
3.50 Codeshare
4.25 Steady Pace
5.00 Cool Bahamian
5.35 Foxy Forever
CARTMEL
2.15 Knockmaole Boy
2.50 Whispering Affair
3.25 Flying Eagle
4.00 Noble Call
4.35 Fair To Middling
5.10 Captain Brown
5.45 Mrs Grass
REDCAR
4.50 Beauden Barrett
5.25 Fyre Cay
5.55 Dorcas
6.25 Mon Beau Visage
6.55 Gun Case
7.25 Clenymistra
7.55 Majestic Stone
WINDSOR
5.10 Angel’s Whisper
5.40 Arctic Flower
6.10 Harlequeen
6.40 Frankuus
7.10 Fivetwoeight
7.40 Love Conquers