TONY CALVIN: SATURDAY’s ITV COURSE DETAILS, DOUBLE ENTRIES AND COPY

A low-key weekend in store (in racing at least – as we have another six live back-to-back rugby matches on Saturday…), with not many five-day entries relative to maximum-field sizes.

Thankfully, there aren’t that many double entries (see below), so hopefully the fields stand up.

If they do, we could get better prices and place terms on the day (or, more accurately, after the final fields are known at 10am on Thursday – when the cherry-pickers will charge in!).

We also have the Irish Oaks from the Curragh at 4.35pm, though that is not on the box. We will know the four-day fields early on Tuesday afternoon, but it sounds like Inis Mor will be supplemented for 50,000 euros.

We now have a field of 11, with Diamond Necklace not confirmed. Five for Aidan O’Brien, and three for son Joseph.

I’ll wait for all the prices to come through (including on the seven ITV races), and maybe add to the column early on Wednesday morning.

The early betting on the Classic is very tight, with six horses priced between 3s and 7s (and they are at the best prices – one firm is betting 5/2, 5/2, 4/1, 9/2, 6/1 and 6/1).

There are two Market Rasen races on ITV, so I’ll have to start from scratch there…

I actually quite liked one at Ripon but only two outfits have priced up the 1m4f handicap, so I am better off waiting there.

THE SEVEN ITV RACES

1.55pm Newbury – Only one of the 10 currently jocked up

I imagine midweek ante-post betting interest will be minimal but here goes.

Punters would be advised not to take early-week jockey bookings too seriously but it was half-interesting to see that the [5/2] favourite Persica was the only horse jocked up on Wednesday morning.

We have just 10 five-day entries for this 1m2f Listed race, with Charlie Appleby, fresh from an excellent July Cup meetings, responsible for four.

Who he runs is anyone’s guess.

2.10pm Market Rasen – Shameless domination by Skelton to continue?

We still don’t have a going stick reading at Market Rasen.

We have a five-day field of 17 for this 2m Summer Handicap Hurdle (maximum field of 17 allowed on the day) and, as of 8.34am on Wednesday morning (ie before we know Friday’s confirmed runners), six of those could go elsewhere this week.

See below for those (I’ll update those later this morning).

The all-conquering Dan Skelton unashamedly has set himself the target of breaking all National Hunt records this season and he has two in here, including the [5/2] favourite Louis Veron – that price is available with AKBets, too – so plenty think that one has been done a favour by the handicapper with a mark of 124.

He opened up at 4s on Tuesday morning.

Skelton wouldn’t be in top form at the moment but he has already had 54 winners this season at a strike rate of 36 per cent (and a level-stakes loss…).

Shameless domination incoming.

Saligo Bay and High Fibre actually have Friday Flat entries, so I will keep an eye on those and report back. Both are double-entered on Saturday too, though.

I’d probably prefer Newtown Rambler, from a stable in good nick, at 9s if he runs, but I have no idea if the chaser (he has won his last three over fences) is reverting back to hurdles for this 50k pot.

2.25pm Newbury – Baileys the early mover

Baileys Khelstar has worked his way towards the top of the market at 5s, alongside Square Necker and Ride The Thunder, and that is understandable.

He was 10s in two places on Tuesday morning and he certainly has a likeable progressive profile who has seemingly had a new lease of life as a 6yo, with a win and a second from two starts at this course.

But, looking at the current betting, I’d say punters are better off waiting now any possible early ricks have ironed themselves out to little money.

Duraji is also in at Ripon on Saturday.

2.45pm Market Rasen – Stable form a worry but 8/1 Soul Icon has major form claims off 141

We have a five-day field of 16 for this 75k 2m5f  Summer Plate (maximum field of 16 allowed on the day) and, surprise, surprise Cilla, Skelton’s Kingston Narcissus heads the market at a general [7/2] but there are a couple of spots of 4s knocking about, and 5s in a place.

I can definitely see him going close but the likes of Soul Icon, King Roly and In The Air are players too – though the latter is double-entered, so hold bets there – at twice (and more) his price.

Soul Icon at 8s would have interested me a lot more if Keiran Burke was in  better form. I get that his eight recent runners have all been big prices (the odds on his runners have ranged from 15/2 to 150/1) but they aren’t excelling.

As for the horse, a falling mark of 141 is highly exploitable on several of his better efforts, Harry Cobden is booked it seems, and he was only beaten a neck in this race in 2024.

3.02pm Newbury – Watch your ante-post bets on the double-entered Marvelman

Be careful if you are tempted by general [7/2] poke Marvelman ante-post here (4s with one outfit), as yesterday he was also confirmed for Sunday’s 7f Group 2 at the Curragh.

He is the highest-rated in the field, but there must be a chance he heads to Ireland unless the owner likes wasting money.

Just 10 again for this 6 Group 3, which could have accomodated twice that number on the day.

I’ve nothing much to add at this stage on what looks a tricky, tight-knit race.

3.15pm Ripon – I’ll have to come back to this one

With only two bookmaking outfits having priced this up, I’ll have to come back to this 1m4f handicap later in the week.

This race has a history of attracting single-digit fields (just five last year), so they’ll probably not be too disappointed with 14 five-day entries (maximum field of 17).

Don’t back Percy’s Daydream ante-post, as that one is down to run on Friday.

3.37pm – Hoping to see Candy land this big pot with Angels

The 275k Weatherbys Super Sprint has 30 entries for a possible maximum field of 25.

Not a race I’d be running to have a bet in, but I saw the double figures about Angels Lane were taken on Tuesday – that would have taken the square root of jack shit, mind you – so I had a look at her debut win at Chepstow last month.

And it was quite a taking win.

She is Henry Candy’s only juvenile runner this season, and it is sad to see the Great Eyebrowed-One struggling again this season (just five winners), so I hope she runs a big race for him (and Laura Pearson too, if she takes the ride).

Angels Lane won that Chepstow race in a fair time on the wide outside, finding again when challenged close home, and she clearly has bags of scope for progress.

Fern Clyde is due to run on Friday.

COURSE DETAILS

NEWBURY

GOING: Good to firm, good in places

Going Stick: 5.8, Thu 6am

Anticipating ‘Good to Firm’ ground for racing.

Soil moisture average = 44%

Rails: Back straight moved in 4m to provide fresh ground and the 7f & 5f bends will be moved to Line 1 (inner most line) for racing on Saturday.

THURSDAY COURSE UPDATE: We lost 4.3mm in evaporation (ET) yesterday (28C). Forecast: Bright start, 28C. Sunny tomorrow 28C.

WATERING: 8mm cycle Friday. 15mm cycle Saturday/ Sunday. 10mm cycle Monday. 10mm cycle Tuesday. No watering Wednesday. Selective watering today

Weather forecast (yr.no latest at 8.27am Thursday): Hot, dry and sunny all week (25-29 degrees)

RIPON

GOING: Good, good to firm in places

Going Stick: 8.3, Wed 9.15am

Rails: Rail from back straight to home straight dolled out by 2 yards adding about 4 yards to races on the round course.

• Race 3:Race distance is now +4y to 1m 4f 14y
• Race 4:Race distance is now +4y to 1m 1f 174y
• Race 5:Race distance is now +4y to 1m 4y
• Race 6:Race distance is now +4y to 1m 4y

Stalls: Straight Course – Stand side Round Course – Inside rail 1 mile 4 furlongs – Centre

THURSDAY COURSE UPDATE: Dry and warm for the past week and set to continue. Thursday – Sunny, gentle breeze, 27’c. Friday – Sunny intervals, moderate breeze, 23’c. Saturday – Sunny intervals, gentle breeze, 21’c.

WATERING: 6mm being applied by night for the past 7 nights and will be continued.

Weather forecast : (yr.no latest at 8.27am Thursday); Hot, dry and sunny all week (22-26 degrees)

MARKET RASEN (massive additional distances to races – see below)

GOING: Good

Going Stick – Chase: 7.4; Hurdles: 7.6; Thursday 7.45am

Rails: Wood bend is out 20yds. Stands Bend is out 24yds Chase and 21yds Hurdle.

THURSDAY COURSE UPDATE: Cooler this week, although still bright and sunny, with temperatures peaking at around 24C. Raceday looks to cool a little more, with overcast conditions and highs of 20C.

WATERING: 15mm applied on Friday, 15mm applied on Monday, 15mm applied on Tuesday, 10mm applied on Wednesday, watering continues today

Weather forecast (yr.no latest at 8.27am Thursday):  Dry and sunny all week (23-24 degrees; 19 degrees Saturday)

DOUBLE ENTRIES

1.55pm Newbury: NONE

2.10pm Market Rasen: Break Point, High Fibre, Letterston Lily, Morning Mayhem, Percy Shelley, Saligo Bay

2.25pm Newbury: Duraji

2.45pm Market Rasen: Breizh River, In The Air

3.03pm Newbury: Marvelman (left in a Group 2 at the Curragh on Sunday)

3.15pm Ripon: Duraji, Percy’s Daydream (due to run on Friday), Zachory Hickes

3.37pm Newbury: Courage Best (finished 9th of 12 Monday), Devon Angel (third of five at Ffos Las on Tuesday),  Fern Clyde (due to run on Friday), Rapid Deployment