How To Bet £20 on Saturday: Tips for Newmarket and Haydock

There are plenty of potential stars in action on the final day of Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting on Saturday, with some classy two-year-olds set to line up in the two Group One contests.

Sacred Bridge is the clear favourite for the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (2.25pm), while Perfect Power is a similar price in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (3.00pm).

Both of these races, along with the Cambridgeshire Handicap, were put under the microscope by Tom Stanley and Martin Dixon in the The Knowledge on Racing TV earlier this week which is worth a watch if you haven’t already.

The ground was good at Newmarket on Thursday, although I expect it will be on the fast side of good by Saturday with conditions set to stay dry.

I also have a couple of selections at Haydock where, despite the chance of showers on Friday, the ground is likely to be no worse than good. Best of luck.

This four-year-old produced a career best to win a valuable handicap at York in August when defeating Magical Morning and Astro King - who are both leading contenders in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket - and that is arguably the strongest piece of form on offer here.

Admittedly, Tim Easterby’s charge did get his own way out in front in that contest, but with none of his rivals confirmed front-runners here, there is a chance he will get the lead again.

He also made all on both occasions when recording back-to-back victories in June and has impressed with his attitude under pressure this season.

He shaped as though he was still in form when a never-nearer fourth at Ayr last time out when he was unfortunate not to finish closer having been held up and the ground was against him when disappointing on his previous two starts at Haydock.

Noble Dynasty gets a handy weight allowance and is likely to have more to offer, although does appear to be a horse who has had his problems and his form is not as strong as Cruyff Turn’s. Nugget also holds strong form claims but may just need the outing returning from a break, and the selection is the one to be on at the prices, especially as he is just 3lb higher than his York victory.

Mondammej produced a career best over this course and distance on his penultimate outing and, with conditions in his favour, he ought to go close again here.

He is a sprinter that does need things to fall right, but he looked unlucky not to score on a couple of outings prior to his Haydock victory and it is best to forgive his run in the Portland Handicap last time out as he would not have been suited with give underfoot plus may have found the run coming a shade soon.

Copper Knight likes to get on with things and should help set the pace which will suit Mondammej who collared Tim Easterby's admirable seven-year-old close to the line when they last met here.

Mondammej has progressed in similar contests all season and should be capable of defying his career-high rating.

As pointed out in The Knowledge, the Prix Morny has been a key guide to finding the winner of this race, and Perfect Power looks to hold strong claims of continuing that theme on Saturday.

Richard Fahey’s youngster defeated Asymmetric and Armor with a bit to spare when landing the Prix Morny last time out, and what impressed me the most about his win in the French showpiece is that he could have easily become unbalanced when forced to create his own gap, but it did not stop his momentum and he was well on top at the finish.

That bodes well for him handling Newmarket and he had previously looked an unlucky loser in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood where he was blocked numerous times when attempting to challenge - the sectionals show he was the fastest finisher in the field in the final furlong - and finished full of running.

Christophe Soumillon said “it's a long time since I've ridden a two-year-old like him” after guiding Perfect Power to success in France and his mount is proven on quicker ground than he has encountered on his past two starts.

There is not a confirmed front-runner in the race, but I would be surprised if one of the contenders do not decide to make it a proper test, especially as the Middle Park has suited those who race handily in the past.

However, I have no doubt the selection is the best horse in the race and, granted luck in running, I can see him winning this contest cosily.

Astro King has been progressing nicely in competitive handicaps this year and looks tailor-made for this contest.

Having looked a shade unlucky not to win the Thirsk Hunt Cup in May, he was then unfortunate to bump into Real World in the Royal Hunt Cup and faced an impossible task on that occasion given Saeed bin Suroor’s charge has since scored at Listed and Group Three level.

He finished lame when producing his only below-par run this season at York, and it was noticeable how well he finished in another valuable handicap on the Knavesmire last time out.

He was drawn wide there and had to use plenty of energy to get a good position before he took a keen hold, and stuggled to quicken off the slow pace before staying on again towards the finish.

That performance again hinted he would be suited by a furlong or two further and the likelihood of a strong pace here is certain to suit.

His draw in stall 17 should not pose a problem as this race has proved favourable to those drawn high in recent years, and I expect him to edge over and be ridden handy on the stands' side.

Sir Michael Stoute continues in good form and his improving youngster remains on a rating of 102, so is sure to be involved in the finish here.

2.05 Haydock: £2 each-way on Cruyff Turn at a general 15-2

2.40 Haydock: £4 win on Mondammej at a general 5-1

3.00 Newmarket: £8 win on Perfect Power at a general 7-4

3.40 Newmarket: £2 each-way Astro King at 10-1 with Bet365

£1 each-way trixie on the three horses below (general odds in brackets):

2.05 Haydock: Cruyff Turn (15-2).

2.40 Haydock: Mondammej (5-1).

3.40 Newmarket: Astro King (8-1).

£5 win double on the two horses below:

2.40 Haydock: Mondammej (5-1).

3.40 Newmarket: Perfect Power (7-4).

£1 win accumulator on the four horses below:

2.05 Haydock: Cruyff Turn (15-2).

2.40 Haydock: Mondammej (5-1).

3.00 Newmarket: Perfect Power (7-4)

3.40 Newmarket: Astro King (8-1).

Plus £3 each-way on Astro King (3.40 Newmarket) at 10-1 with Bet365.