Best bets for the horse racing this weekend around the world

We have plenty to enjoy over the weekend with meetings the length and breadth of the country and ITV racing broadcasting Saturday and Sunday. If all the meetings here aren’t enough for you, at Churchill Downs they have the Grade One Kentucky Derby due off just before midnight our time Saturday with a top-class supporting card whilst there's decent cards in Ireland and France on Sunday. I am trying to stay selective as there are a few running I have backed before and a few I half fancy, it is the type of weekend you could have bets running every five minutes. Even being selective I have seven bets planned in four different countries!  

Best bets for the horse racing at Lingfield Park on Saturday

It’s Trials day down in Surrey with the 1m3½f Listed SBK Derby Trial Stakes the first off at 2.40. Walk Of Stars still looked as if he had a bit to learn at Newbury last time but still won despite that beating stablemate Hafit and you would think the step up in trip is likely to see him progress further. Shorter than I thought he might be at Evens I have still taken that overnight. His stable companion, Natural World, made a winning debut the day before at Newbury and the son of Frankel could be anything as they say and is another naturally open to improvement after just one start. United Nations is naturally feared from Ballydoyle.  

At 3.15 it’s the same C&C for the Listed SBK Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes. Emily Dickinson got off the mark at the third attempt last time at Naas with what was a cosy win in the end. She looked to be going better the further she went and this step-up from the 1m2f that day is expected to suit. A half-sister to the decent fillies Nicest and Secret Thoughts who were both Group performers she is expected to take this with the red-hot Ryan Moore assisting in the saddle. I have 13-8 overnight.

Best bet for the horse racing at Ascot on Saturday  

One Ruler is one I have followed many times, was my 2,000 Guineas bet last year, but he has gone backwards ever since truth be told. He may win the Victoria Cup, and at his best would, but he aint won since his two-year-old campaign and is best watched for now. The 5f Jemima Howden Novice Stakes is well worth a watch with some expensive purchases making their debut, not least of all Noble Style for Charlie Appleby and Walbank for David Loughname, who both cost a cool 525,000 Guineas.  

After The Rain is one of those I have backed before that is running, I tipped her last month at Windsor when she won. The daughter of Shamardal lines-up in the 4.40 the 1m2f Dare To Dream Racing On Facebook Fillies' Handicap off bottom weight with Harry Davies taking off a further 7lb. She has enjoyed stepping-up to this distance and, I think, has more improvement in her yet and to be worth a bet in her hat-trick bid. 5-4 sure aint generous but she has a great chance and should like this stiff 1m2f track.

Best bet for the horse racing at Churchill Downs on Saturday

The race I am getting involved with the other side of the pond is the 7f Grade One Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford due off 9.31 our time. Jackies Warrior owes me having got beat at the Breeders Cup, the colt was actually my first ante-post bet at the meeting this year and a strong fancy. He got back to winning ways winning the G.3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park over 6f last month and can nick me a few quid back at the 7-4.

Best bets for the horse racing at Leopardstown Sunday

At 4.05 some nice fillies line-up for the mile Group Three Cornelscourt Stakes. Agartha was collared late in the G.3 7f 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes here last month by Homeless Songs and that looks strong form to me; the winner would probably have been my bet in the 1,000 Guineas had she run and is currently second favourite for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches next weekend. She was fourth in the G.1 Prix Marcel Boussac over the mile last year so trip holds no fears and I will be looking to back her when prices are available.  

The 1m2f Group Three Derby Trial Stakes is due off at 4.35 and Stone Age is the one to be on here. The colt didn’t win a race at two, actually was beaten by the re-opposing Atomic Jones here over a mile last September, but looked to have come on leaps and bounds over the winter winning at Navan in March. The official winning margin was nine-lengths but Ryan Moore was little more than a passenger and it could have been double that distance if he had got after the son of Galileo. I will be sniffing around for the best price when they chalk-up.  

Best bet for the horse racing at Saint-Cloud Sunday  

Out in France on Sunday Agave runs in the Group Two 1m2½f Prix Greffulhe looking to remain unbeaten. The Juddmonte owned filly trained by Andre Fabre won on debut at two before being put away for the winter. She was out early at three winning a Listed heat here in March and then won the G.3 Prix Penelope over this track and trip in April. She will be backed if I can get a fair price but she might be odds-on.  

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