Two picks for Saturday....

Friday, 3rd July 2026

Two picks for Saturday….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in the big Saturday handicaps on ITV….

I’m on RIVER KING in the 2.25 at Sandown – up at 11s….

…. and I’m on AL AALI at 16s in the 3.15 at Newmarket….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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…. the Coral Challenge - Sandown – 2.25....

There’s not a lot of pace on early doors for this….

…. and that could well suit RIVER KING whose got a catbird starting position in stall 2….

Sean Levey’s chosen to ride him over last year’s winner Classic – now 12lb higher in the weights….

…. and I don’t think he’ll be on a go-slow from the front in a bid to turn the race into a sprint finish….

Stamina is the 4yo’s big card – he gets 10f – and I reckon Levey will want to put it up to the rest of the field and do as much as he can to turn the race into a true test….

…. much like Pat Dobbs did riding the same horse at Newbury in April – albeit in a lesser race – when smashing the opposition to pieces….

As I outlined earlier this week, River King ran a cracker from the front at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace….

…. sticking on well and finishing 5/28 with the horses that beat him all drawn closer to the favoured stands-side rail….

…. in what was a first go at a proper handicap pot – an experience he will have learnt something from….

It’s hard to win from the front up the Ascot straight….

…. but the turning configuration at Sandown tomorrow is potentially a more helpful proposition and I think he’s nicely priced-up at 11s….

Richard Hannon’s won this race twice in the last decade….

…. and in the progressive River King he has another solid contender to go to war with tomorrow….

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…. the Old Newton Cup – Newmarket – 3.15....

I’m having a swing of the bat and backing AL AALI at 16s for this race….

…. rerouted to Newmarket from Haydock on account of the track problems they’re experiencing at the Merseyside venue….

George Scott hasn’t had this 4yo for very long but appears to be finding his way with him….

…. last time at Sandown the horse produced his best effort yet for his new yard….

…. and the way he flew up the stiff finish over 10f that afternoon gave the distinct impression that tomorrow’s extra yardage will be right up his street….

He’s certainly well-handicapped enough to figure if the longer trip does succeed in turning the key….

He earned himself a mark of 104 after finishing a close second in a Listed race in France in last summer….

…. and whilst he hasn’t backed that up in any way, shape or form since, the upside is that he’s down to 90 on the official scale….

That last time effort at Sandown tells me he’s boiling up to something….

…. and now that he’s up in trip….

…. with first-time cheekpieces applied to help with his concentration….

…. I think he can run bigger tomorrow than his price suggests….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more next week….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd