All eyes on Newbury on Saturday with the £135K Super Sprint taking centre stage. It is always a great punting race and we have seen some nice horses win it down the years. It looks open again with it 4/1 the field at the time of writing.
We also have Jumps racing from Market Rasen where the Summer Plate looks fiercely competitive as you’d expect plus the Bell-Ringer Handicap from Ripon to complete seven races live on the channel.
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ITV Racing (Saturday) tips
Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for ITV Racing on Saturday (18th July)
Find my top tips for Saturday 18th July 2026 racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:
Newbury 1.55 BetVictor Steventon Stakes (Listed) (Class 1) 1m2f
Sallaal looks a really smart horse so for PERSICA to get within two lengths of that rival at Sandown last time was a really good run.
He has been fairly consistent all season and has a golden opportunity to get back in the winners enclosure here. Silawi should put good pace to the race so that will avoid it turning tactical and I think that will suit the selection.
Oceans Four was beaten a little over a length in the Hampton Court Stakes and if building on that could emerge as the biggest danger to the favourite.
It is still early days for Al Zanati but at the same time he does have a bit to prove off the back of that run in the Dante.
🏇 Bet on PERSICA to win at 6/4 with bet365 🏇
Market Rasen 2.10 Betway Summer Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m1/2f
The Skelton team have brought LOUIS VERON along steadily and he is really thriving now. He won head in chest at Stratford and is eyeing up a hat-trick now. He obviously goes handicapping for the first time but the drop back in trip will suit and he should have a good chance of landing this prize.
Mojito Des Mottes has only had four starts and was denied just a neck at Ascot when last seen. Freshened up there is going to be more to come and he looks the danger.
Tom Lacey has Squeezebox who has won three of his last four and probably appeals most from an each way perspective but I do expect the Skelton hotpot to take this out.
🏇 Bet on LOUIS VERON to win at 15/8 with Betfred 🏇
Newbury 2.25 Pertemps Network Handicap (Class 2) 2m1/2f
I was with RIDE THE THUNDER in the Northumberland Plate and I just think he was a bit too keen to see that out as strongly as he would have hoped.
He still ran a very good race to finish sixth beaten just over four lengths and if he settles better here back on turf he could put in a much better performance. He still has a lot of potential as a stayer and it is too early to give up on him.
Baileys Khelstar is a typical Johnston horse who just keeps rolling. He is on a hat-trick now and it would be no surprise to see him get competitive here despite this being tougher.
A lot like the selection Shrimp Shady is still unexposed as a stayer and has been largely overlooked in the market so worth keeping an eye on him as well.
🏇 Bet on RIDE THE THUNDER to win at 10/3 with Betway 🏇
Market Rasen 2.45 Betway Summer Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) 2m51/2f
The Summer Plate is always fiercely competitive and there have been quite a few surprises in it down the years. I like the look of SOUL ICON from an each way perspective. He was denied just a neck by Sure Touch in this 12 months ago and could be ready to gain compensation.
He was out of luck when last seen at Aintree getting brought down mid-race. He has been given time since and comes here a fresh horse so despite being 4lb higher than last year he must be in with a big shout again with Harry Cobden booked this time.
Dan Skelton saddles Kingston Narcissus who has been knocking on the door since joining this yard. He was only beaten half a length at Uttoxeter last month and if building on that again could be a big player.
At a huge price Riaan comes over from Ireland and looks quite interesting. He is around 16/1 at the time of writing and may well be worth a saver.
🏇 Bet on SOUL ICON each way at 7/1 with Coral 🏇
Newbury 3.02 Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) 6f
I think the two to focus on are Binhareer and SOLDIER’S TREE and the latter was in front of the former in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot last month. That was just his fifth start and I can see him improving again and confirming those placings here.
He was only a length and a bit behind Double Rush so that was a huge run. He was also beaten less than a length by Almeraq on stable debut before that so his form is really stacking up. He has more to come and deserves a crack at Group company now.
Binhareer is clearly extremely talented but he wears earplugs to post and is quite hard to keep a handle on at times. Obviously if he remains calm in the prelims he would have a big shout as he is progressive too.
Symbol Of Honour won a Group 2 at Haydock last year and should come on for that run at Newcastle last month so is another one to note in a good renewal.
🏇 Bet on SOLDIER’S TREE to win at 3/1 with bet365 🏇
Ripon 3.15 Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap (Class 3) 1m4f
I know ELSASS was disappointing in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last time but I think he came with his effort too soon and as a result paid the price.
There is a chance he bounces back here and if he does he would be a danger to all. He is down 1lb and should still have further improvement off this mark if the race is run to suit this time.
Yafreh was an excellent second at Thirsk at the start of the month and the winner Parisian Scholar has won again since to frank the form so he looks the danger.
Prince Of The Seas was denied just a neck at Hamilton and has knocked on the door the last twice now so is another one to note albeit more exposed than the pair mentioned above.
🏇 Bet on ELSASS to win at 11/4 with Betfred 🏇
Newbury 3.37 Weatherbys Super Sprint Stake (Class 2) 5f
The Super Sprint is always such a competitive race but I have had my eye on one for a while now in the shape of ETIENNE. I was told before he ran at Newmarket that they would be targeting this race. I thought he was desperately unlucky not to win on debut.
I thought he moved into the race going better than anything but he got caught widest of all and inexperience ultimately cost him in the head bob.
The third Mysterious Times has bumped into the exciting Flann Sunna since so the form has a useful look to it already. He will know a lot more now and dropping back to 5f with tons of pace on looks ideal.
Understandably plenty of dangers likely headed by Bint Archange who tops the market. This filly looks fast and has won two of her last three now impressing again at Sandown last time.
Sky Secret looked potentially useful winning at Leicester and put away since with this in mind is another one I can see getting seriously competitive.
Of those at big prices Zigazig Ah is a stablemate to the selection and looked good landing a gamble at Yarmouth so might go better than the market is suggesting.
🏇 Bet on ETIENNE each way at 26/5 with SBK 🏇
My top tip for ITV Racing on Saturday
Another exciting Super Saturday to get stuck into and it would be good to see PERSICA get his head in front after some solid efforts in defeat this season.
I have doubled him up with the improving SOLDIER’S TREE who looks ready to take the step up to Group company.
🏇 Bet a win double on PERSICA and SOLDIER’S TREE at 8/1 with bet365 🏇
About the author
Joe Norris
I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.
Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO
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