This tip has expired. Please check our free horse racing tips section of the website to find the most up to date.
LIFE really is quite strange at the moment: Barry Geraghty has retired, we can't go to the racing or the football and Leeds United are back in the Premier League.
It feels strange for me too with my racing tips because I keep knocking on the door without quite bursting through. It's been a series of near misses and excuses and what might have beens for the past few weeks but sometimes it's like that and at least they aren't all finishing stone last.
This weekend brings two great days of racing on Saturday and Sunday. Have a listen to the Gambla racing podcast where we preview all of Saturday's live card on ITV4:
2:15pm Newbury
The run that MIGHTY GURKHA put in at Royal Ascot was a decent standard and I think the return to 6 furlongs will be helpful too. He looks a good each way alternative to the unproven short priced favourite.
2.3opm York
I tipped TINANDALI two weeks ago and he rewarded us with a decent run in third place. He has only had 8 career runs and just 2 for David O'Meara and I think he should be much shorter than 20-1 here. My second choice in the race is another David O'Meara horse, BALTIC BARON, who I tipped at Royal Ascot when he ran into a place at 33-1. This step up in trip will suit, Angus Villiers takes 5lb off his back and he is still on the same mark that he was on at Ascot so he also looks like great each way value. Be sure to take the 6 places that William Hill are offering on the race.
3:05pm York
The old reliable EL ASTRONAUTE is my selection here. He is a course and distance winner and is as good as ever as he showed with his win last time out. They will do very well to get past him if he starts with his usual early burst from the stalls.
3:25pm Newbury
The 3 year olds in this race receive an 11b weight allowance which I think that VIRGIN SNOW can put to good use. She is likely to improve further for this step up in trip and her stable clearly think a lot of her because she was a well backed favourite for a group 3 last time (finishing 2nd). They have done well to find her a good opportunity to make amends here.
3:40pm York
This is a wide open handicap but the most appealing choice is ARCTIC FOX who is a course and distance winner dropping down in the handicap ratings to a very workable mark. I think she will go very close and could well go off as favourite.
4:00pm Newbury
I have been indulgent in this one with two selections. TIS MARVELLOUS should be much shorter in the betting in my book. He returns to 6 furlongs for the first time since an excellent 2nd at Royal Ascot over a year ago and I think he will outrun his big price having shown that he is in good form on his last two runs. SUMMERGHAND is my alternative selection after a career best performance to win last time out in a good quality handicap (well-backed even money favourite). In the form of his life I'll be surprised if he doesn't challenge and go very close in this and I would have him much shorter than 15-2. Betway and a couple of other firms are paying 4 places in the race so make sure you to take advantage. I seem to have a knack for picking placed horses lately so we might as well take what we can get.
