ITV Racing tips: Saturday, June 28 – Curragh, Newcastle and York

Telegraph

5 hours ago

There's good, competitive racing wherever you look on Saturday, with ITV1 showing nine races from 1.30-4pm. Ron Wood, among the winners again with his tips this week, has selections for all of them.
Ron Wood's selections
NAP:
Pappano (3.15, Newcastle) 1pt win @ 13/2 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Next best:
Kalpana (3.30, Curragh) 1pt win @ 6/5 with William Hill @ 40/1 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Others:
He's A Monster (1.40, Newcastle) 1pt win @ 40/1 with William Hill ⭐⭐
Pocklington (1.40, Newcastle) 1pt win @ 11/2 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Archivist (1.55, York) 1pt win @ evens with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Kind Of Blue (2.10, Newcastle) 1pt win @ 6/4 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Nostrum (2.25, York) 1pt win @ 25/1 with William Hill ⭐⭐
Godsend (2.40, Newcastle) 1pt win @ 9/2 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Habooba (3.00, York) 1pt win @ 4/1 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Jouncy (3.45, Newcastle) 1pt win @ 11/1 with William Hill ⭐⭐
Odds provided by William Hill and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5).
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1.40 Newcastle – Class 2 Handicap (6f)
I have two selections in this sprint, starting with HE'S A MONSTER. He hasn't been seen in Britain since 2023, more recently being trained in France and Qatar, and has been off for five months.
However, he went 4-4 on the all-weather when trained over here and the last of those successes – in 2023 – came from 3lb higher than his current mark. The wins came over 7f but this is a stiff 6f and, at dismissive odds, a chance can be taken on him.
The other of interest is POCKLINGTON. He has been off since last August, so presumably had an issue, but he caught the eye in a competitive York handicap when last seen. He had earlier won on both of his starts over course and distance and he is potentially well handicapped.
Selection: He's A Monster 1pt win @ 40/1 with William Hill
1.55 York – Class 3 Handicap (1m)
ARCHIVIST has shown a useful level of ability in maiden and novice company, most recently winning well at Leicester, and while he's in a more competitive race now he still has improvement in him, being a well-bred runner for good connections.
He is a brother to New Kingdom, who reached a handicap mark of 105, which is 15lb higher than this horse's mark, and his trainer William Haggas continues to be in form.
2.10 Newcastle – Chipchase Stakes (Group 3, 6f)
KIND OF BLUE is on a retrieval mission after blowing the start and finishing last as the 1/2 favourite in a Group 3 race in France on his reappearance this month. He also carries a 7lb penalty.
However, he was good enough to win the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot last year. He has had just eight starts so should have more to give, and his strong-travelling style will be suited to this track. He also won a minor race on his only previous all-weather start.
2.25 York – Criterion Stakes (Group 3, 7f)
A chance is taken on NOSTRUM on his debut for trainer David O'Meara. He became disappointing for Sir Michael Stoute after winning a Group 3 prize as a two-year-old and a Listed race at three, but he was still good enough to finish runner-up in this race last year when it was staged at Newmarket.
The selection was sold for 120,000gns in October. He may need the run but he has always had a lot of talent and is a strong traveller who should go well for jockey Daniel Tudhope.
2.40 Newcastle – Northumberland Vase Handicap (Class 2, 2m)
GODSEND has been winning some small-field handicaps and faces a more competitive scenario in this consolation race for the Northumberland Plate, but he will be suited by the stamina test and he is a big horse who still has improvement in him as he continues to strengthen and learn the job.
Selection: Godsend 1pt win @ 9/2 with William Hill
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3.00 York – Class 2 Handicap (5f)
It's hard to get away from HABOOBA, who has won her last two starts, most recently landing a race similar to this over course and distance.
She went off at 28/1 last time, despite having won the time before, but she was well on top at the line and the others in the frame both won on their next outings. Jm Jungle, who was third that day, won the Dash at Epsom on his next outing and re-opposes the selection here.
3.15 Newcastle – Northumberland Plate Handicap (Heritage Handicap, 2m)
The Willie Mullins-trained PAPPANO (NAP) still looks well handicapped for his return to the Flat. He was useful for the Gosdens, notably winning two of his three starts on the all-weather, including lowering the 1m 6f Southwell track record in September, and he was later sold for 200,000gns.
He was pulled up in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March on his sole start for Mullins, but this race has doubtless been a long-term aim.
3.30 The Curragh – Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1, 1m 2f)
This is an interesting clash between KALPANA, who won last year's Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot, and Whirl, who won this season's Musidora Stakes at York and finished second in the Oaks at Epsom.
Kalpana finished third on her seasonal reappearance in a Group 1 contest over course and distance against male rivals and we're backing her to prove the superior filly.
Selection: Kalpana 1pt win @ 6/5 with William Hill
3.45 Newcastle – Class 2 Handicap (7f)
JOUNCY was an unplaced favourite at Chester last time, when selected on these pages, but that race didn't pan out well for him and the feeling remains that he could still land a decent handicap like this.
The selection was runner-up in a Group 3 contest on the all-weather at Kempton last year.
Selection: Jouncy 1pt win @ 11/1 with William Hill
Today's UK and Irish racing
(Flat unless stated)
The Curragh 1.15-5.15
Windsor 1.35-5.10
Newcastle 1.40-5.30
York 1.55-5.25
Chester 2.00-5.20
Lingfield 5.35-8.45
Doncaster 5.50-9.00
What does NAP mean?
NAP is a word used in betting circles to describe a prediction that a tipster thinks has a particularly strong chance of winning.
Many horse racing tipsters pick out a 'NAP of the day', which is their favoured selection from all the races across the different meetings.
The term NAP derives from the French card game Napoleon. When players of this game thought they had a particularly strong hand that they would win with, they would shout 'Napoleon'.
What is an each-way bet?
An each-way bet is a popular type of wager, particularly with horse racing fans. It is essentially two bets, both of which have the same size stake.
An each-way bet features one bet on the selection to win and the other bet on the selection to place.
So a £10 each-way bet will cost you a total of £20. There will be one £10 bet on the selection to win and another £10 on the selection to place.
It's a popular bet because it offers punters the chance of a return, even if the horse in question fails to win. Bookmakers will pay out at a stated percentage of the odds for a place finish, for example one-fifth of the starting price (SP) for finishing in the first three.
The more runners there are in a horse race, the more places will be on offer. In races that feature lots of runners, the horses will be available at bigger odds, making an each-way bet a wise choice.
Ron Wood 2025 horse racing P/L
(up to and including Wednesday June 25)
Star ratings explained
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy
⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims
⭐⭐ - tentative choice
⭐ - minimum confidence
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