Horse racing tips: Newmarket, York, Chepstow, Hexham and Kempton – Steve Mullen’s betting preview for Saturday, October 14
Steve Mullen guides you through Saturday's racing from Newmarket, York, Chepstow, Hexham and Kempton
WHO DARES WINS has the perfect name for the 34-runner puzzle that is the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (3.40).
Alan King knows what it takes to lift this prize having done it with Grumeti two seasons ago. This year’s hopeful has already proven his liking for the course and distance when winning the trial three weeks ago.
He had no trouble negotiating his way past 19 rivals there and looked to have something left as he hung right slightly in the closing stages.
He shoulders a 4lb penalty for that convincing success but he’s still pretty lightly raced on the Flat for his age and could easily be open to improvement.
All ground seems to come the same to him so it won’t matter if it quickens up further.
Withhold came back from 11 months off and a gelding operation — ouch! — to run well at Newbury three weeks ago.
It looked like there was a bit left to work on there as he finished a solid second. He goes off the same mark today and Silvestre De Sousa is an interesting booking by Roger Charlton.
John Constable has been popular since the betting opened and he’s a quality performer over hurdles. He was with Aidan O’Brien in his formative years on the Flat but was never able to win a handicap.
He’s clearly improved since those days but he looks a little short given how many dangers are lurking.
Trainer Mark Johnston has a good record in this and has solid claims with Time To Study. He is only three and looks just the type to improve as he steps up in distance.
He kept digging out more to win the Mallard Stakes at Doncaster over an extended 1m6f last time and looks to be crying out for a real marathon.
PURSER looks a class act in the making and can take another step forward in Newmarket’s Autumn Stakes at 2.25.
He may have been overlooked a little because his last victory came on the all-weather at Newcastle. But it was an excellent effort with no less than nine lengths in hand. That was over 7f and he looks tailor made for this extra furlong.
He has proven himself on turf by winning his maiden at Newbury before putting up a solid effort in the Solario Stakes at Sandown.
Ghaiyyath will have plenty of supporters after cruising home in a big-field maiden here last time out. He went from the front there and left his rivals for dead. This is clearly a tougher assignment but there should be a lot more to come.
The two Aidan O’Brien runners are clearly not from the Ballydoyle top drawer but Zabriske looks to have more to offer than Flag Of Honour at this stage. Both need to improve if they are to figure but it wouldn’t be a shock if they did.
Steve Mullen's top tips for Saturday
3.40 Newmarket - Who Dares Wins: 'He’s still pretty lightly raced on the Flat for his age and could easily be open to improvement'
2.25 Newmarket - Purser: 'He looks tailor made for this extra furlong'
3.15 York - Teruntum Star: 'The 6f trip is ideal and he won’t mind the bit of juice in the ground'
TERUNTUM STAR is one of those horses who looks a world beater one day and a slowcoach the next — but he’s got the talent for York’s 3.15.
This is another tough nut to crack and a low draw should help, which is good news for Kevin Ryan’s runner.
He was close to his best when winning the William Hill Silver Trophy at Ripon last time and this is a similar sort of test.
The 6f trip is ideal and he won’t mind the bit of juice in the ground.
Raucous is capable of bouncing back and defying his long odds. He hasn’t been firing on all cylinders lately but many horses don’t like Goodwood and The Curragh where he’s been running.
He went well at Newbury earlier and is another who has been lucky with the draw.
Mr Lupton has been running in smarter company than this with credit and has a handy weight if you take his rider’s claim into account. He’s suited by conditions and looks another threat at an each-way price.
NEWMARKET
1.50 Dee Ex Bee
2.25 Purser
3.00 Expert Eye
3.40 Who Dares Wins
4.15 Noblemans Nest
4.50 Thafeera
5.25 Muffri’Ha
YORK
2.05 Anythingtoday
2.40 Shabaaby
3.15 Terentum Star
3.50 Awesometank
4.25 Sunstorm
5.00 Coeur De Lion
5.30 Dance King
CHEPSTOW
1.55 Captain Simon
2.30 Skewiff
3.05 Finian’s Oscar
3.35 Dolos
4.10 Wholestone
4.45 Sizing Codelco
5.20 Wide Harper
HEXHAM
2.15 Niceandeasy
2.50 Western Jo
3.25 Dame Rose
4.00 Purcells Bridge
4.35 Total Assets
5.10 My Idea
5.40 Klare Castle
KEMPTON
5.45 Vegas Boy
6.15 Lansky
6.45 Jazeel
7.15 Connaught Ranger
7.45 Topology
8.15 Brilliant Vanguard
8.45 Glenamoy Lad
9.15 Estibdaad