Newsboy's ITV selections for Newmarket, York and Ascot, plus tips from Saturday's other UK meetings

FLORA OF BERMUDA is fancied to prove a thorn in the side of favourite Notable Speech in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup (4.35) at Newmarket today.

The Andrew Balding trainee, a close third in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot last October, went under by a neck to this afternoon’s rival Inisherin when making her return in the Group 2 1895 Duke Of York Stakes in May.

But she had that rival in behind when finishing third in the top-tier Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, finishing three and a half lengths behind Lazzat.

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Neither the winner nor runner-up Satono Reve are in opposition here, and Flora Of Bermuda’s Ascot effort needs marking up as she came from further back than the front pair.

Notable Speech heads the betting but steps back from a mile and Flora Of Bermuda, with Wathnan Racing jockey James Doyle on board for the first time, can show the favourite a clean pair of heels.

RUN BOY RUN is the choice to improve on an impressive record at Newmarket’s July Course by beating 12 rivals for the bet365 Bunbury Cup (2.50).

Richard Spencer’s four-year-old has two wins and two seconds to show from four visits to the summer venue and ran a cracker when fourth to this afternoon’s favourite More Thunder over the final six furlongs of the Rowley Mile on 2,000 Guineas day in May.

My selection was subsequently a good second to Aramram over the same trip at Newbury a fortnight later and should be forgiven a down-the-field effort behind Never So Brave in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot on his most recent outing, as he was marooned in a group of three towards the far side.

The following afternoon, things didn’t go to plan for MISS NIGHTFALL in the Sandringham Fillies’ Handicap, but the James Fanshawe trainee has plenty to recommend her in the Trustatrader 20th Anniversary Fillies' Handicap (2.12).

A well-backed 16-5 favourite, Miss Nightfall did best of those attempting to make ground from the back and won’t be troubled by going back from a mile to seven furlongs.

Another Ascot also-ran, RAAFEDD , is taken to bounce back in the bet365 Mile Handicap (3.25).

Tom Marquand’s partner found daylight hard to come by in the Britannia Handicap but clear water here will enable him to show his true colours.

The blistering form of Aidan O’Brien’s juveniles points to favourite ITALY in the Group 2 bet365 Superlative Stakes (4.00), while the stars can align for ORION’S BELT in the Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (1.50).

At York, HAND OF GOD , impressive in two wins in 2024 but beaten on both starts this season, is given the chance to get back on track in the John Smith's Cup (3.10).

By contrast, AL QAREEM is on a roll for Karl Burke and should continue the good work by capturing the Group 3 John Smith's Silver Cup (3.45).

He comes here on a losing streak of nine, but WASHINGTON HEIGHT drops down to Listed class for the John Smith's City Walls Stakes (2.35), and is poised to take advantage.

A 4lb rise for a course-and-distance score at the Dante fixture may not be enough to prevent OLD COCK from following up in the John Smith’s Racing Handicap (2.00).

With an excellent strike-rate of two from three at the track, and top-class form at the trip, HAATEM makes obvious appeal in the Group 2 Cornish Orchards Summer Mile (2.12) at Ascot.

A third in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at the royal meeting enhanced his burgeoning reputation, so REDORANGE should go well in the LK Bennett Butterfly Mark Heritage Handicap (4.50).

Saturday's selections

NEWMARKET
1.40 ORION’S BELT
2.12 MISS NIGHTFALL (NB)
2.50 RUN BOY RUN

3.25 RAAFEDD
4.00 ITALY
4.35 FLORA OF BERMUDA (NAP)
5.10 ASGAARD’S CAPTAIN

YORK
2.00 OLD COCK
2.35 WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
3.10 HAND OF GOD
3.45 AL QAREEM
4.15 DACRES CROSS
4.45 ROCK N ROLL PINKIE
5.25 FISCAL POLICY

ASCOT
1.45 CREST OF FIRE
2.22 HAATEM
2.57 CALVERT
3.03 ORANGE SKY
4.10 MOUNT ATLAS
4.50 REDORANGE
5.20 WAR HOWL

CHESTER
4.20 MOON ANGEL
4.55 BANG ON THE BELL
5.30 WITNESS STAND
6.05 EASY PEELER
6.35 I CAN IMAGINE
7.10 WHATSGOINGONMARVIN

SALISBURY
5.40 LITTLE MISS MAGIC
6.15 A BIT OF SPIRIT
6.45 SWISS LIGHTNING
7.20 SOUL DANCE
7.50 LEXINGTON KNIGHT
8.20 GRAND HARBOUR

HAMILTON PARK
5.50 STORMY PEARL
6.25 UTMOST RESPECT
7.00 TAYGAR
7.30 TWO AULD PALS
8.00 RAINWATER
8.30 SHANAZ
9.00 REDONDO

DOUBLE: FLORA OF BERMUDA and MISS NIGHTFALL