Saturday's Bets of the Day: Horse racing and football tips from our team
It's FA Cup final day while there's more high-class horse racing, all covered by our team.
Racing
Matt Brocklebank
The decision to miss the 2000 Guineas with JASH looks set to pay off for Simon Crisford and the team.
He was among the best two-year-old colts last year, finding only Ten Sovereigns too good in the Middle Park when last seen, and his pedigree suggests a mile may end up stretching his stamina. But the seven furlongs of the Betway King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday should be well within his compass and he’s strongly fancied to land this en route to a crack at the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He certainly looks well placed here in against a bunch of inferior rivals off level weights, while the prevailing ground is also ideal for the son of Kodiac.
GALLIC ran a race full of promise on her seasonal reappearance and is a strong fancy to land the Alan Wood 70th Birthday Celebration Handicap at Doncaster.
Another offspring of Kodiac, she finished third behind Aweedram and Archaeology on the Rowley Mile, travelling strongly and keeping on well inside the distance.
The front two have gone on to frank the form with subsequent victories at Ascot and Doncaster respectively and the selection races from only a 2lb higher mark here. Ed Walker has his team ticking over nicely and it all adds up to a big run.
Simon Holt
Saturday's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes looks a fiendishly tight race with 13 of the 14 runners officially rated within 2lb of each other.
Such fine margins demand a cautious approach but, in receipt of her 3lb fillies allowance, LAURENS should have the edge if she returns in top form.
The five-time Group One winner is a remarkably tough performer but she has only once run against male rivals (when unplaced behind Roaring Lion on soft ground at Ascot last October at the end of a tough season) and trainer Karl Burke has not been firing in the winners as he usually does.
Nevertheless, Laurens is reported in good shape and, in terms of all those victories at the highest level (including the Prix de Diane, Matron Stakes and Sun Chariot last year) she is easily the most successful horse in the line-up, albeit against her own sex.
She gets a slightly tentative vote with the recent Group Two Sandown winner Beat The Bank rated the danger.
Football
TROY DEENEY should start and he will proudly lead out the Hornets at Wembley. His passion and commitment to his side is admirable, as we saw him display in his post-match interview after booking their place in the final last month.
The striker will do his utmost to help Watford lift the trophy and you would expect them to at least have a few chances to get on the scoresheet. With this in mind, the 11/10 on Deeney to register at least one shot on target is particularly eye-catching and rates the best bet.
It's also worth backing ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE to find his way into the book. A key performer for Watford, Doucoure has been booked eight times this season, with six of them coming in 2019.
Three of those have been in Watford's last five games and frustration could get the better of him as he looks to break up play, especially when City start a speedy break.
Tom Carnduff
With City so heavily fancied for victory, there is value in backing youngster PHIL FODEN getting himself onto the scoresheet. The 18-year-old has found the majority of his playing time limited to the domestic cups this season but has managed to grab a total of seven goals across all competitions.
Pep Guardiola has put his faith in the attacking midfielder at various points and there’s a good chance he could do the same here. Foden has Wembley experience after starting in the Community Shield, and 3/1 is terrific value on a goal if he is involved from the off.
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