Horse racing tips: Ascot, Market Rasen, Catterick, Ffos Las, Stratford and Wolverhampton – Steve Mullen’s top betting preview for Saturday, October 21
Steve Mullen guides you through Saturday's racing from Ascot, Market Rasen, Catterick, Ffos Las, Stratford and Wolverhampton
STRADIVARIUS can string them all along in the Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot (1.25).
He stunned Big Orange by winning the Goodwood Cup over this trip in August before proving that was no fluke by finishing a close-up third to Capri in the St Leger.
The drop back to 1m6f at Doncaster didn’t play to his strength — which is staying.
He is the type of horse who never knows when he’s beaten and there seems to be bottomless reserves of stamina to call on.
Given the weather forecast, the ground could easily be on the testing side come off time and that would hold no fears.
He has Big Orange to beat again and it should be a good ding-dong between them once more.
Of course, there’s the little matter of Order Of St George to think about too.
He’s a class act with an Ascot Gold Cup to his name and he won the Irish St Leger without breaking sweat last month.
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Aidan O’Brien then dropped him in trip for another tilt at the Arc and he ran well to finish fourth.
The worry for his supporters is he came here after running in France 12 months ago and was beaten despite being sent off at 4-6. He’s a short Order again and it’s worth taking him on.
Ascot’s card is a real cracker today but there are some really solid favourites. It’s hard to see anything beating Harry Angel in the Champion Sprint at 2.00.
He’s likely to be odds-on but if you’re looking for one with a sporting chance at an each-way price The Tin Man loves Ascot and should hit the frame.
The Fillies and Mares Stakes at 2.40 sees a rematch between Journey and BATEEL from Chantilly last time — and the outcome should be the same.
Steve Mullen's top tips for Saturday
1.25 Ascot - Stradivarius: 'Stunned Big Orange at Goodwood before proving that was no fluke by finishing a close-up third to Capri in the St Leger'
2.40 Ascot - Bateel: 'Has landed a hat-trick of Group wins and she had plenty left when winning in smart style'
3.15 Ascot - Churchill: 'Got no luck in running in the Irish Champion Stakes last time and can make amends'
4.30 Ascot - Lord Glitters: 'Looks the one to beat after his narrow second here last time out'
The French filly dug deep to get the better of John Gosden’s mare by more than two lengths and there’s no reason why the form should be reversed.
Bateel has landed a hat-trick of Group wins and she had plenty left when winning in smart style. A bit of rain would only help her chances as soft ground is ideal.
Gosden has another chance with Coronet who would really come into this if the going turned testing. She was a game fifth in the St Leger last time and has had a little break since.
Hydrangea comes here on the back of a good run at Chantilly.
She was beaten by stablemate Winter in a bobbing finish over 1m2f there and it will be interesting to see how she gets on upped in distance.
CHURCHILL got no luck in running in the Irish Champion Stakes last time and can make amends in the QEII Stakes at 3.15.
He had the door firmly slammed on him heading into the straight at Leopardstown and Ryan Moore eased off the gas.
He crossed the line in seventh and he’ll be happy to drop back to his favourite trip today.
He seemed to love the mile when winning the 2,000 Guineas on both sides of the Irish Sea and he handled soft ground well when scoring at the Curragh.
Ribchester sets a good standard after landing his fourth Group 1 of the season at Chantilly last time. He’ll make a bold bid from the front but could set the race up for the Ballydoyle star.
After all the glamour, it seems strange to end with a handicap at 4.30.
LORD GLITTERS looks the one to beat after his narrow second here last time out. That was over 7f and he might have won with a clearer run entering the business end of the race.
The step up to a mile should be fine as his best form in France came over this trip. He was coming back from a five-month break for that UK debut last time so there should be more to come.
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ASCOT
1.25 Stradivarius
2.00 The Tin Man
2.40 Bateel
3.15 Churchill
3.50 Cracksman
4.30 Lord Glitters
CATTERICK
1.50 Emphatic
2.25 Crotchet
2.55 Swendab
3.30 Green Door
4.05 Mr Sundowner
4.40 Roaring Forties
5.10 Our Cilla
FFOS LAS
2.10 Grania O’Malley
2.45 Eragon De Chanay
3.20 Brelan D’As
3.55 Flying Eagle
4.25 The New One
5.00 Bramble Brook
5.35 Al Dancer
MARKET RASEN
1.10 Cabaret Queen
1.40 Not That Fuisse
2.15 Magnum
2.50 Love The Leader
3.25 Blue Comet
4.00 Western Miller
4.35 Sporting Boy
5.05 Grand Sancy
STRATFORD
1.55 Sky Of Stars
2.30 Graceful Legend
3.00 Bristol De Mai
3.35 Itshard To No
4.10 Kapricorne
4.45 The Black Squirrel
5.15 Mr One More
5.45 Global Thrill
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.40 Raffle King
6.15 Magic Moments
6.45 Master Singer
7.15 The Throstles
7.45 Navajo Star
8.15 Born To Reason
8.45 Eium Mac
9.15 Outlaw Torn