Ben Morgan’s Saturday tips – Newmarket and Sandown – Varian improver to shine bright in Eclipse

Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan selects his best bets for the action across Saturday at Newmarket and Sandown.

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Newmarket 1:30 – Star and Silvestre set to shine

Like most handicaps for 3 year old sprinters this looks quite competitive, but PERCY’S LAD looks to have a solid chance in my book. 

Chris Dwyer and connections seemed to take their medicine in his opening three runs and ended up with a mark of 68 on handicap debut.

This looked a tad low and it certainly proved to be the case as he scooted in at Leicester last time out. I am not sure what he beat but it was more the manner in which he did it that impressed me.

He received a 8lb hike in the weights for that performance but I don’t think that would have stopped him today day so he should be more than capable of going close again here albeit up in grade. 

Silvestre De Sousa, who rode him to win the last day, keeps the ride. 

 

Sandown 3:35 – Sandown star Saddadd to serve it up to younger rivals 

Having put up SADDADD at huge prices for this race in this months Racing Ahead Magazine I was hoping Constitution River wasn’t going to turn up.

He certainly looks a bit ‘freakish’ having won a French Derby from an impossible draw which came after his ‘wow’ performance on the Roodee. However I do think he had a hard race at Chantilly and he isn’t certain to back that up here.

I’ve always been a fan of my selection as he has steadily improved throughout his career and his record at Sandown in particular is very good.

That course form could prove vital as the stiff finish is likely to play a part in the result given there are two pacemakers in here.

He ran a career best in the Group 1 at the Curragh last time, where he was just needing either slower ground or a stiffer finish in order to really play a part.

He gets the stiff finish here on Saturday so if his improvement continues I can see him going very close here at 15/2. 

READ MORE: Andy Newton’s ITV Racing tips (Saturday 4th July), including 5/1 Sandown NAP