Saturday’s racing tips: Best bets and odds for Carlisle and Catterick

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It’s another super Saturday of action and our horse racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge has been running the rule over the cards at Carlisle and Catterick for his racing tips using the best odds from betting sites.

You may recall that I was sweet on the chance of Humble Spark at Haydock last weekend until their ground issues forced that race to be abandoned. I still respect his chance in this field but a little less so now it’s not the return to the marathon trip that I felt would suit.

This stiff 1m3f will still bring his stamina into play but perhaps he’ll be more vulnerable to a potential improver over this distance and that could come in the shape of OPPORTUNITY.

William Haggas sent the Frankel gelding to Ascot last time, where he raced a bit too freely but was still able to stay on for third (1m4f, good to firm) on what was his handicap debut.

He’s only gone up 1lb for that and, after just five starts, remains open to improvement. It’s no surprise that the layers want to keep him onside and I feel the same, as he does look potentially the best handicapped runner in the line-up.

Saturday tip 1: Opportunity (Carlisle, 13.30) – 2pts win @ 7/4 Sky Bet

Some classy sprinters line up for this contest over a stiff 5f, with the progressive Redorange heading the market for the Clive Cox team. You’d have to be impressed by his recent success at Windsor (5f, good) and he’s a big player.

He’s only rated 3lb inferior to STARLUST but it’s Ralph Beckett’s five-year-old son of Zoustar that gets the nod. Beckett has his team in fine form at present and he brings this representative back to the track after an absence of almost a year.

Last seen 1½l fourth behind American Affair in last year’s Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm), he’s a former Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner who has also won in Group 3 and Listed company.

There may be a slight doubt about his fitness on his first run back but, as mentioned, the stable’s string is going well and it’s hoped he’s ready to do himself justice on his reappearance. A stiff 5f should really suit him but we’ll tread with a bit of care after his layoff and play to small stakes with a decent price available on horse racing betting sites.

Saturday tip 2: Starlust (Carlisle, 14.33) – 1pt win @ 9/2 William Hill

Those wanting to play each-way in this, I wouldn’t put you off having a bet on Azaniya, for the in-form Owen Burrows team. There is not a lot between her and stable companion Waardah on form and the latter may have just been over the top when beaten almost 8l by Kalpana in the Group 1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (1m4f, good) at Ascot last October.

ESTRANGE finished much closer that day, 2½l behind the winner in second place and David O’Meara’s mare progressed well last season, rising 16lb in the ratings after winning this race easily at its usual home of Haydock Park, returning there to win the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks and then finishing second in successive Group 1 races.

She is high class and if she can run to within three or four pounds of her best here, that should be good enough, even if others are at their peak. How she’ll handle this track is, I suppose, the unknown but she clearly took to a stiff 1m4f with that most recent effort at Ascot.

Saturday tip 3: Estrange (Carlisle, 15.10) – 3pts win @ 11/10 William Hill

Another race carried forward to this track after last week’s Haydock abandonment but this time I’m taking a slightly different angle.

As I said last week, I think the bookies probably have the right favourite here in Princling, who looks more than fairly treated on handicap debut but the same applies to my suggestion a week ago, Langstone.

However, Clive Cox’s runner looked the better value bet at almost three times the price of the market leader ahead of last week’s race and the bookies’ offering isn’t quite so generous this week. In addition, I thought he’d be suited by the cut in the ground at Haydock and he’ll have quicker conditions to cope with at Carlisle.

He’s still improving and may do so again now upped in trip but at this week’s ante-post prices I think we have a decent each-way bet to nothing with CREST OF FIRE, with four places up for grabs in this 16-runner field.

Jack Channon has, admittedly, gone a little quieter in the last fortnight after a good start to the turf campaign. His three-year-old improved when entering handicap company as a juvenile and was just held at Doncaster (1m, good to soft) in his sole nursery start.

Not seen until March, he dotted up by 10l in a Southwell maiden (1m, AW), improving again in the process. He should be fine on fast ground and still looks well treated now returning to this sphere. I suggest an each-way play on betting apps and if things drop right, he could come out on top.

Saturday tip 4: Crest Of Fire (Carlisle, 15.45) – 1pt each-way @ 11/2 Paddy Power

Catterick course specialist EVOCATIVE SPARK arrives in great form, having won three of his four turf starts this season, two of those here over 7f and the latest over C&D.

He’s gone up another 4lb but looked like he had a bit more up his sleeve last time and looks capable of winning again before, perhaps, the handicapper takes his measure.

Good Earth, a superb servant who has won 16 of his 99 starts (including three this year) is another C&D winner who could give the selection the most to do after a comfortable Haydock Park win last time. He’s up 6lb and that might just anchor him.

Saturday tip 5: Evocative Spark (Catterick, 16.12) – 1pt win @ SP

Dipping our toes in at a lower level for this, where the standard is set by La Tosca, who has invaluable experience over this trip. Gemical is also of interest after showing more last time but the suggestion is STAR OF EMERALD.

Edward Bethell’s gelding returns from a break and looks to be on a workable mark for this handicap debut, with the longer trip offering possibilities for improvement.

He was well beaten over 7f on his first two starts but performed a little better over 1m last time, with all three starts so far being on Newcastle’s Tapeta).

He’s been gelded since he was last seen in February, which may help with concentrate the mind, and as a half-brother to two winners at around 1m4f, he may be capable of better now upped to this trip.

With his trainer among the winners, he looks worth a small stakes play on his handicap debut.

Saturday tip 6: Star Of Emerald (Catterick, 17.17) – 1pt win @ SP

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