Saturday horse racing tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets

Aidan O’Brien has won six renewals of this race since saddling his first winner, Rock Of Gibraltar, in 2001, and Ballydoyle’s most recent success in the Newmarket showpiece was provided by St Mark's Basilica who went on to win another four Group One contests.

This year, O’Brien saddles City Of Troy, an exciting son of Justify who has emerged as the leading light of an exceptional crop of Ballydoyle juveniles having won both his starts in visually impressive fashion.

Although he now faces his toughest challenge yet, he certainly sets the standard, and is expected to stamp his authority plus prove himself as the best two-year-old on show this year.

Iberian, the biggest danger to the favourite on ratings, recorded a comfortable success in the Group Two Champagne Stakes in September when beating a field that included subsequent Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Rosallion.

On that performance, he is a lively contender, but he was beaten by the since exposed Haatem in the Vintage Stakes prior to that, and will likely need to improve further to lower the colours of City Of Troy.

Outsider of the field, Haatem is a big price considering he’s a Group Two winner, and if he is able to replicate the level of form shown at Goodwood, he could be able to sneak a place. However, he was well beaten in the Gimcrack when last seen, and couldn’t land a blow in the Mill Reef Stakes, indicating that he is likely to be found wanting at Group One level.

The supplemented Array could represent each-way value if the forecast rain has a significant impact on the ground conditions, which is likely, but is another contender that must show further improvement now upped in grade. The progressive Indian Run showed promise when winning the Acomb Stakes and beating Ballymount Boy, who was well beaten by Rosallion at Longchamp. That effort suggests the Sioux Nation colt may be out of his depth at this level.

Selection: A no bet race for me, but CITY OF TROY would have to be my selection.

The Coral Sprint Trophy Handicap looks fiercely competitive, and Significantly seeks another big-race victory following his Ayr Gold Cup win, which he was raised 4lb for, and ought to go close again.

However, I’m siding with one who is a best-priced 66-1 here. Although Rousing Encore has struggled to build on a promising juvenile season in which he finished second to Sakheer in the Mill Reef, he finished fifth in the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot in May, the form of which has worked out well.

Magical Sunset, a length-and-a-half behind Rousing Encore at Ascot, is now rated 107 following a Group Three success at Goodwood, and the third home, Bradsell, won the King’s Stand the following month.

It may require a leap of faith, but if Rousing Encore can show improvement on his first run following a wind operation, then a rating of 90 could be low enough to see him return to form at an enticing price.

Course-and-distance winner Albasheer finished less than a length behind Significantly in the Ayr Gold Cup and remains on a rating of 100, so is capable of reversing the form if at his best.

Wobwobwob justified strong market support to win the Ayr Silver Cup and now runs off a career-high rating of 91, whilst the ever-consistent Apollo One, narrowly beaten on many occasions this term, may be due his day in the sun, running off a workable mark of 102.

Selection: Rousing Encore (each-way).

This race sees the return of many familiar names, including Threeunderthrufive, who makes his first appearance following wind surgery, and top-weight Stolen Silver.

However, eight-year-old Tea Clipper often runs well on his first appearance of the season and is 4lb lower than when finishing a neck second in this race 12 months ago.

The Tom Lacey-trained gelding is also 9lb lower than when sixth in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival where he finished ahead of Threeunderthrufive when in receipt of 3lb. That rival now has to concede 9lb to Tea Clipper, and with his previous form in the race, as well as the drop in ratings, he has an excellent chance of going one better this year, providing the ground conditions aren't too testing.

Selection: Tea Clipper.

Pied Piper, bred and formerly owned by Queen Elizabeth II, won at Grade Two level on his second start over obstacles for Gordon Elliott before finishing third behind Vauban in the Triumph Hurdle, and while he hasn’t quite reached Grade One heights, he has performed consistently well in competitive races plus was unfortunate not to win the County Hurdle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Although he may not get his favoured conditions on Saturday, he is likely to be competitive off a rating of 96, with Ryan Moore booked to ride.

Vino Victrix finished second in the race last year under Benoit de la Sayette, and the pair are reunited once again. Hughie Morrison’s charge has failed to sparkle since, but signalled he was returning to form when last seen, and off a similar mark, he is capable of making the frame again.

Grand Providence is 4lb higher following her win in the Cesarewitch Trial, and the consistent daughter of Nathaniel is yet to finish outside of the top three in eight starts, plus receives the allowances.

Andrew Balding’s other runner, Typewriter, who has 3lb claimer Callum Hutchinson aboard, finished half-a-length behind last year’s Cesarewitch winner Run For Oscar when the pair met in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, and is capable of outrunning her odds.

Emmet Mullins’ The Shunter appears well handicapped off a rating of 94, and must be respected, whilst fellow Irish-raider Jesse Evans finished fourth in the Irish equivalent, and could have a say for trainer Noel Meade.

Eleven-year-old Not So Sleepy won on heavy ground off a rating of 98 at Newbury when last seen and has been raised 4lb since. The quirky individual enjoys racing prominently and could be difficult to peg back if getting into a nice rhythm.

Former Ballydoyle resident Wordsworth landed a maiden hurdle on debut for David Pipe last week and had previously placed at Group One level on the Flat. The weight burden will make his task tough off a rating of 105, although Christian Howarth taking off 5lb will help his cause.

Ocean Wind has previous form behind top stayer Stradivarius and returned from a 771-day absence to finish third behind Yibir in a Listed contest at Sandown in July. Disappointing since, he has been dropped to a mark of 100 (runs off 102 here) and could have potential in this race if he is able to rediscover his old form.

Selections: Pied Piper and Typewriter (both each-way).