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

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.

COURSE DETAILS

NEWBURY

GOING: Good to firm

Going Stick: 5.9, Thursday 6am (odd that it hasn’t been updated for five days)

Soil moisture average = 44% (updated 14th July).

TUESDAY COURSE UPDATE:  We lost 5mm in evaporation (ET) yesterday (28C). Forecast: 29C & windy again today and tomorrow. Now looks dry through to racing. Wind eases Thursday & Friday, but remains warm 29C.

WATERING: 8mm cycle Friday. 15mm cycle Saturday/ Sunday. 10mm cycle yesterday. 10mm cycle today.

Weather forecast (yr.no as at 11.37am Tuesday): Hot, dry and sunny all week (25-30 degrees)

RIPON

GOING: Good to firm, good in places

Going Stick: 8.1, Sunday 8.45am (not updated since)

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

TUESDAY COURSE UPDATE: Dry and warm for the past five days and set to continue. Tuesday – Sunny intervals, moderate breeze, 24’c. Wednesday – Sunny, moderate breeze, 25’c. Thursday – Sunny intervals, moderate breeze, 26’c. Friday – Sunny intervals, moderate breeze, 24’c. Saturday – Sunny intervals, moderate breeze, 23’c.

WATERING: 6mm being applied by night for the past 5 nights and will be continued.

Weather forecast (yr.no as at 11.37am Tuesday): Hot, dry and sunny all week (22-25 degrees)

MARKET RASEN

GOING: Good (they must have been watering the granny out of it…)

Going Stick: N/A

Rails: Rail alignment to be confirmed next week (presumably an old note). Added distances likely to be a minimum of 150yds owing to summer rail configuration (sic).

TUESDAY 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, watering continues today.

Weather forecast (yr.no as at 11.37am Tuesday):  Hot, dry and sunny all week (22-23 degrees)

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 (today left in a Group 2 at the Curragh on Sunday)

3.15pm Ripon: Duraji, Elsass, Percy’s Daydream, Salamanca City, Zachory Hickes

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