Oli Bell's ITV Racing selections for Saturday September 23
Oli Bell previews Saturday's ITV Racing action and is backing Desert Encounter to claim the victory he deserves.
Oli Bell's best bets
City Of Joy - 2.00 Newmarket
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Desert Encounter - 2.15 Newbury
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Lanksy - 2.50 Newbury
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Sadly Ayr's Western Meeting was a complete washout but we're bringing you seven live races on ITV4 this Saturday, four of which are at Newbury and three from Newmarket.
Our attentions will also turn to one of the highlights of the global racing calendar as we preview the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, October 1 – another top event that will be live on ITV.
But before the French fun, I’ll be presenting tomorrow’s The Opening Show on ITV4 from 9.30 alongside Hayley Turner – fresh from her own cross-Channel success this week – Jason Weaver and Matt Chapman.
The afternoon coverage gets underway at 1.30 and after picking three winners and a second last Saturday, I’m hoping to continue the column’s form this week.
Take a look at who I’m backing...
2.00 Newmarket - International Stud Book Committee Handicap, 1m 2f
I think a horse of particular interest in this race is City Of Joy who ran well at York last time out in a race won by Mojito. Battered, the runner-up that day, has had a good season and all things considered City Of Joy's 5th of 15 was more then respectable. What's of particular interest on Saturday is the step up in the trip for this horse. Having run solely over 7f and 1m throughout his career, I think there could be improvement to come at 1m 2f - certainly on the dam line of his breeding this should suit being a half-brother to two 1m 4f winners. Crowned Eagle is a horse who has to be respected after running in better company of late and on the back of a gelding operation but for me, City Of Joy is the play.
2.15 Newbury - Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes, 1m 3f
Although the way the race could unfold might not be ideal for Desert Encounter, I think I would kick myself if he won and I didn’t tip him.
David Simcock’s five-year-old has had such a solid season and has run brilliant races in top level company.
He was third behind Ulysses and Barney Roy in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown two races ago and sixth in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes last time out. Admittedly Desert Encounter has been playing for places in those races, but he has still held his own.
The difficulty for him this weekend is that he's the one they have to beat whereas in recent runs he has played for places to a certain extent, so this time around he might have to force the issue a bit more, which might not suit him.
Given Desert Encounter’s performances in Group company alongside the best middle-distance horses in his category, he's got the best recent form to win this race.
There are a number of question marks hanging over some of his rivals, so I think Sean Levey's ride is the reliable option.
2.35 Newmarket - EBFstallions.com Bentley Cambridge Fillies' Handicap, 1m 4f
This is a competitive race on paper and finding the winner might be tough with a number of live chances and horses in pretty good form. The horse I like is lightly-raced and has the profile of a horse who could take a large step forward. The horse in question is Tarte Tropezienne who ran well at Bath on handicap debut behind Camerone and the front two pulled seven lengths clear. That can happen at Bath but I think it shows that William Haggas' charge is more then capable of winning off this mark and with improvement expected will go close at HQ.
2.50 Newbury - Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, 6f
Invincible Army won the totepool Sirenia Stakes in a very good time at Kempton on his most recent run earlier this month and has to be respected. However, he’s probably a bit too short priced.
The horse I’m going for is Lansky who I think was too green to really do himself justice at York in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes last time out, still running well to finish third to Wells Farhh Go and James Garfield.
Jeremy Noseda’s promising two-year-old will go up against James Garfield again, but with that experience from last month under his belt he can do much better this time.
Lansky was all over the shop in the first half of that race but the penny kept dropping and dropping and he finished strongly.
The horses near the top of the market deserve respect because they are talented, but Lansky can take a big step forward after his last run and is a good each-way bet.
3.10 Newmarket - Betfred Cesarewitch Trial Handicap, 2m 2f
I think I'm going to give another chance to Who Dares Wins who has very strong form from the Chester Cup (4th) and Ascot stakes (3rd) already to his name this season. He didn't get the run of things at Chester when down the field last time out so you can put a line through it. Obviously there are some very interesting horses in this race but for me I'm rolling the dice with Who Dares Wins for Alan King, who has had an excellent season with his runners on the level.
3.25 Newbury - Dubai Duty Free Handicap Stakes, 6f
Andrew Balding’s Brorocco will be competing in the Kingsclere Racing Club colours and would be an apt winner at Newbury.
The four-year-old found plenty of trouble at York last time out, when fourth behind Eddystone Rock at the end of August. The pair meet again this weekend.
Brorocco is a horse you do run the gauntlet with a little bit because of his running style and you do sometimes need him to weave his way through.
But he proved on his most recent run that he’s handicapped well enough to win this race. He does hit the crossbar sometimes and you do occasionally have to watch him from behind a pillow, but he's talented and has a very good chance.
4.00 Newbury - Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes, 5f 34y
Take Cover has been a good friend to me this year and I love the horse. I don’t have a strong view in the race and you could state arguments for a number of the entries.
But I’m a big fan of Take Cover, he keeps surprising and I’m going to go with him once again.
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