Matt likes the look of Lightning Polka in the 15:00 at Ayr.
Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV racing tips
13:15 Ayr – Thunder Roar
13:30 Newbury – Montassib
13:50 Ayr – Certain Lad
14:05 Newbury – Miller Spirit (each-way)
14:25 Ayr – Binhareer
14:40 Newbury – Defiance
15:00 Ayr – Lightning Polka
15:15 Newbury – Rock On Thunder
15:35 Ayr – Strike Red (each-way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
ITV Racing goes to Ayr and Newbury on Saturday, starting here with a handicap over 1m. THUNDER ROAR has nothing in hand of the handicapper, even though he has been dropped 1lb for this race.
That all said, he’s bang in form and will love any juice in the ground. The Tony Coyle/Kaine Wood runner was far from disgraced with eighth at Ascot two runs ago and bettered that when fourth to Native Warrior in the Schweppes last time.
That last effort was over 7f, but 1m is no issue as he showed when second in the Spring Mile at Doncaster in March. David Nolan rides.
ITV start at Newbury with this Group 3 World Trophy Stakes over 5f. It will take a huge effort to land this after 336 days off the track, but it’s quite possible MONTASSIB will be up to the task for William Haggas and Cieren Fallon.
My selection landed the Group 1 sprint at Haydock last season and ended up with a fine fifth at Ascot. All being wel,l here he will no doubt head to Champions Day again, and this 5f is short enough. But with some give in the ground, if he’s anywhere near ready, he might come through and pick this lot up.
Up in class now for the Listed Doonside Cup over 1m2f. Almeric will be hard to beat if ready to go after 158 days off the track. That all said, CERTAIN LAD will be too big a price for a horse who goes well with juicy ground and has some decent form at his best.
He’s been a non-runner many times in 2025 with the ground just too fast, but he gets his ideal conditions here and showed in France at the end of last season that he still has plenty of ability.
At the age of nine, he’s not getting any better, but he can go close or on the pace here and might be hard to pass. Jack Channon trains with George Bass on top.
A handicap over an extended 1m5f. MILLER SPIRIT drops to a mark of 89 for this and might just surprise a few if the ground remains on the easy side.
He hasn’t been at his best of late, but his second at Yarmouth in July was a decent effort in soft ground, and a sixth at Epsom in June off 94 wasn’t bad either. There are more obvious winners, but he might go all right here for Gary & Josh Moore and Rhys Clutteerbuck.
THERE’S £/€10K UP FOR GRABS IN PADDY’S ELIMINATOR RACING GAME
The Silver Cup Handicap over 6f. There’s no doubt for me that BINHAREER should run a huge race for William Haggas and Oisin Orr.
The lightly raced three-year-old ran a huge race when third off the same mark of 90 as here to Brosay at Ascot earlier this month and is unexposed at this trip, having been running over further. He scored at this track over course and distance in July, and everything is in place for a massive effort.
A handicap over 1m2f. DEFIANCE has been knocking at the door, and while he doesn’t have much in hand if anything off 100, his second at Hamilton and third at Goodwood behind Westridge is decent handicap form.
Stays 1m2f well and has no issue with the cut in the ground, should it not dry out. William Buick rides for Roger Varian.
A Group 3 in the Firth of Clyde for juveniles over 6f. It’s impossible to know if LIGHTNING POLKA is up to this for the King and Queen at this stage of her career, but she looked decent at Haydock on debut and will see the distance out well.
She’s nicely bred and related to Black Type horses and is a fascinating runner for Ed Walker and Kieran Shoemark.
A big one for youngsters in the Group 2 Mill Reef over 6f. All eyes are on Into the Sky here after his debut room. However, ROCK ON THUNDER is the one to beat for me following his second to Lifeplan in the Gimcrack at York.
He showed loads of pace that day, but then threw away his chance by going left-handed when asked for an effort. I suspect he will be ridden differently here and tucked in behind runners, and he might well be too good for Kevin Stott and Kevin Ryan.
The big betting race of the day in the feature Ayr Gold Cup over 6f. STRIKE RED should give us a run for our money for Richard Fahey and Billy Garrity.
A mark of 95 is workable for this tough sprinter, and he was a fine second in similar conditions to re-opposing Two Tribes in the Stewards’ Cup. He was also 12th in this last year, but that was on good to firm ground, and I think he’s better with some cut like he will get in this.
He was only beaten by just over four lengths that day, in any case. An each-way chance.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me, Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV racing tips
13:15 Ayr – Thunder Roar
13:30 Newbury – Montassib
13:50 Ayr – Certain Lad
14:05 Newbury – Miller Spirit (each-way)
14:25 Ayr – Binhareer
14:40 Newbury – Defiance
15:00 Ayr – Lightning Polka
15:15 Newbury – Rock On Thunder
15:35 Ayr – Strike Red (each-way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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