Kevin O’Malley’s ITV Racing Picks on Cambridgeshire day
Top tipster Kevin O’Malley is back on the winner hunt on Cambridgeshire day at Newmarket, with a host of top notch races set to be shown on ITV Racing. Below you will find his best bets for the televised action on Saturday.
Mandate to star for Beckett in Royal Lodge
New Mandate (1.50 Newmarket) has done nothing but improve in recent starts and arrives on a hat-trick with Frankie Dettori booked to ride the son of New Bay. The sire has made a real splash this season and New Mandate recorded a classy speed figure last time out when battling well late to land a Listed success at Doncaster.
This is another step up the ladder, but New Mandate is a potent blend of experience and form now and can get the better of Cobh and Gear Up.
Amulet can strike Group 1 glory for Condon
Miss Amulet (2.25 Newmarket) was well backed to win the Lowther Stakes at York last time out and she justified it with an excellent performance on the day. Ryan Moore is booked for this opening dip into Group 1 company and she looks nailed on to run a huge race.
Irish trained horses have won the Cheveley Park the last four years and Miss Amulet has the form and profile to further add to that impressive tally.
Tactical a fair each-way play in open Middle Park
Minzaal, Lucky Vega and Method make for a potent trio heading the market for the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at 3.00pm and it’ll take something special to deny one of them winning. Tactical could be the dark horse in the field though and at double figure prices, could be worth a Win and Place place play on the Tote.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the Queen’s son of Toronado didn’t quite handle things behind Campanelle in the Group 1 Prix Morning at Deauville last time out. However, he didn’t disgrace himself either and that top grade experience will do the horse good. Back on home soil, he can bustle them up a bit under William Buick.
Sir Busker a Group horse in a handicap
On speed figures in top handicap races, Sir Busker is a Group horse waiting to happen. Although William Knight’s 4yo has to shoulder a big weight in the 3.35 Cambridgeshire handicap at Newmarket, this gelding is due to land another big pot and comes here having run a cracking race in a Group 3 at Goodwood last time out.
The additional furlong will do him no harm given his style of running and rain-softened ground poses no problem. Top chance.
Save on Bell Rock to pass Cambridgeshire test
Bell Rock is one to have a saver on in the Cambridgeshire. Andrew Balding’s 4yo has stacks of useful form to his name and a mark of 103 is very workable if he can put together an A1 performance today. He didn’t quite get home over 1m2f behind a well-handicapped horse last time out, but will have conditions to suit here and a big run is expected.