Ayr and Newbury Horse Racing Tips for Saturday

There are nine races live on ITV on Saturday, with five jumps races at Ayr complemented by four Flat contests from Newbury and the Scottish Grand National is the big one at Ayr.

Saturday's Ayr and Newbury Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

15.00 Ayr – Ottizini @ 12/1
15:15 Newbury – City Of York @ 14/1
15:35 Ayr – Spanish Harlem @ 8/1

15:00 Ayr – Ottizini @ 12/1

This 3m½f mares' handicap hurdle at Ayr is a competitive race, but Stuart Crawford might have the answer. He saddles two runners and ready preference is for OTTIZINI.

The seven-year-old handles any ground and looked good when running away with a 3m novice hurdle at Musselburgh in February by six-lengths. That was a career-best effort on Racing Post Ratings.

Ottizini had to give weight all round in a Listed mares' hurdle at Doncaster last time and did well to finish half a length behind the winner in second after jumping to her right for most of the journey.

She again goes left-handed here, but hadn't shown a tendency to go right before her last run and should be dangerous if she can eradicate that problem this time.

This is her first handicap on her 11th outing over hurdles and a mark of 122 doesn't look too harsh. She has been dropped 2lb following her second at Doncaster last time and is capable of cashing in.

15:15 Newbury – City Of York @ 14/1

The Spring Cup Handicap is the big betting race at Newbury and CITY OF YORK could go well for David Simcock, who has probably had this race in mind since the gelding won here last season.

City Of York ran away with a handicap over course and distance on heavy ground on that occasion and should have similar conditions here. He has run only twice since and is open to more progress.

The four-year-old was probably feeling the effects of a long season when beaten at Newmarket in November and then looked in need of the outing on his seasonal return at Lingfield two weeks ago.

He beat only two home, but will be a different proposition here now that he is returned to a testing surface on turf with that run under his belt, and he has a good draw on the inside in stall three. 

Hayley Turner takes over from Callum Shepherd in the saddle and she is superb in big-field mile handicaps on straight tracks like this.

15:35 Ayr – Spanish Harlem @ 8/1

The feature at Ayr is the Scottish Grand National and it's worth putting your faith in Willie Mullins, who is going all out for the British trainers title and saddles the unexposed SPANISH HARLEM.

He has no form to suggest he can win a race like this, but that also means he is almost impossible for the handicapper to get a handle on and a mark of 140 could seriously underestimate his ability if he improves for stepping up in trip. This will be his first start beyond 2m4f on just his fourth chase run.

Spanish Harlem went off at just 6-1 for the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival last season, a race that Mullins has won with future top-class stayers like Sir Des Champs, Don Poli, Killultagh Vic and Galopin Des Champs. The fact that Spanish Harlem ran there suggests Mullins thinks he will stay.

The forecast rain shouldn't be a problem for Spanish Harlem, who has plenty of form on soft and heavy ground, and he can get the job done under the outstanding Paul Townend.

Read more horse racing betting tips and predictions on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.