Swinging the bat on Saturday....

Friday, 14th August 2026

Swinging the bat on Saturday….

In ATC today….

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

I’m on I’M NEXT in the 3.25 at Ripon – up at 16s….

…. and I’m on THE THAMES BOATMAN at 20s in the 1.55 at Newbury….

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 Great St Wilfrid – Ripon – 3.25....

The market ain’t daft….

…. and in Dark Cloud Rising and Kodiac Thriller it’s latched onto two very likely types….

…. with both horses drawn high and possessed of early pace (see preview)….

I couldn’t put you off either – but I like a price and I’m much more interested in I’M NEXT from stall 10 at the general 16s….

The 4yo’s always on the go, he runs off a career high mark, and he steps up to 6f for the first time since he ran in a maiden at this track in 2024….

…. so, it’s not like he’s got a shoo-in profile….

But he does win pretty frequently, he’s been in good heart of late, and there could well be more to come from Tim Easterby’s charge….

He’s on a career high mark thanks to back-to-back wins at Redcar and Beverley earlier in the summer….

… before running down the field at Pontefract last time out….

For both wins he bounced out quick, got over to the rail, and made all – not for stopping on either occasion and showing good attitude….

…. whilst at Pontefract he was drawn out wide and couldn’t get the desired inside position….

I’m not sure either of the two horses mentioned earlier will want to run from the very front….

… and that could enable I’m Next to get across under John Egan (good from the front) and do his thing – a thing that tends to work well in this race….

If he can do that – and he stays – the 16s will look generous….

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…. the Excellence In Nutrition - Newbury – 1.55....

Glamorous Breeze has been in cracking – and consistent – form across the summer….

…. she likes to come late and with tomorrow’s contest likely to benefit from a strong early pace (she’s right in amongst it on the far side) things could unfold just right for her….

She’s shown enough this term to suggest that she can land a pot off her current mark when everything falls right – but she’s under 10-0 and on the short side at 6s….

As per usual I can’t resist going the contrarian way and backing one at a price….

Look at his profile and THE THAMES BOATMAN looks like an out-and-out AW horse….

…. and – granted – he’s only managed to win the once from 21 goes on turf….

But he’s been running well enough on the green stuff of late and a turf mark of 74….

…. compared to an AW ranking of 82….

…. has sufficient potential in-built generosity to tempt me in at the general 20s….

Saffie Osborne – in a career purple patch – takes what is a first-time ride on the horse….

…. she’s a rider who takes opportunities when they’re presented to her – her 59 winners this calendar year are spread across 27 trainers – so I see her as something of a plus right now….

…. and she’s two from three for Richard Hughes this term….

The Thames Boatman needs pace to run at, he gets that tomorrow and, up at a general 20s this morning, he’s well worth a swing of the bat….

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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 – which delivers the Ebor meeting at York….

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

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

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd