Saturdays Horseracing Tips, 31 October

By Carl Harris

Its a really good day of racing with top quality cards on the flat at Newmarket and over jumps at Ascot and Wetherby. I hope that all goes well at Wetherby, a once great track which has had problems in recent seasons. They certainly have attracted some very decent runners and the day deserves to go well. I will be there with fingers crossed.

There are so many good races today and I will be having multiple bets, focusing on the top three meetings of the day at Newmarket, Wetherby and Ascot. I have discovered a winning formula of late on the flat, back Godolphin! Their recent form is staggering.

2:35 Newmarket- Shaweel, Win

Shaweel (14:35) should enhance Godolphin’s strike rate which is one in three over the last couple of weeks, with Frankie Dettori winning with one in four rides in the same period. On Thursday ar Lingfield connections teamed up to land a four-timer and they are the team to follow. Shaweel looks very well treated in this listed race over a mile and should benefit from the drop in grade.

Get on Frankie at Newmarket

3:45 Newmarket- Prince Siegfried, Win

Prince Siegfried (15:45) is in form having won his last two races, last time out being a listed win at Ayr. Dettori takes the ride and should be full of confidence. I rate this one as the best bet, certainly on the flat, of the day. I will make this the cornerstone of my bets on this busy Saturday.

2:55 Wetherby- Tamarinbleu, Win

Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase has only attracted five runners but it is a competitive and quality race. Ollie Magern is looking for a third win in this race, clearly he likes the track. For me though Tamarinbleu (14:55) is worth taking a chance with. He has not won since January 2008, but is a high quality performer who if having benefited from a long break comes back fit, well and in the right frame of mind he could take some stopping. Hopefully his most recent form will make him a decent price and we may benefit from some value in this small field.

Fair Along at Wetherby

3:25 Wetherby- Fair Along, Win

I am a big fan of Fair Along (15:25) who is a tough little horse, especially over hurdles. He usually front runs and makes it a tough stamina test. Many people’s favourite hurdler, the tough Lough Derg makes his season reappearance making this a very decent race. David Pipe’s granite horse will have to give Fair Along four pounds, which I think may just be too much and I side with Fair Along.

1:50 Ascot- Gone To Lunch, Win and Place

Gone to Lunch (13:50) is my value bet of the day. With seventeen runners, over three miles, there will be plenty of layers keen to take on Gone To Lunch who has to give weight to the field. Fresh after a break he was last seen when second in Ireland in a grade one chase. I think he is tough and consistent with a decent young jockey, Nick Scholfield, taking over from McCoy who rides for his retained stable, and has a great chance at decent odds, certainly of a place.