Racing Tips · Saturday, 10 October 2026

Rick Doyle's ITV Racing

Stephen Welch, our normal Saturday ITV racing tipster, has the weekend off for a wedding, so Rick Doyle steps into the hot seat. Rick selects seven horses from today's ITV racing at Newmarket and York.

Rick Doyle

Racing Tipster

Rick DoyleITV RacingITV RACING TIPS

• 13:15 Newmarket

  Modern Games Darley Stakes (Group 3)

  1m1f | Class 1 | Good

  Humidity 3/1

  James Doyle/Andrew Balding

  Live price from 10 Bet

  HUMIDITY looks a fascinating contender on his seasonal return, with his excellent juvenile form and the potential for further improvement making him a serious threat in the Darley Stakes. The son of Ulysses won his first two starts last season, including the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, before proving himself against some of the best two-year-olds around. He was beaten just a short head in the Solario Stakes before producing his finest effort in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket, finishing only a length behind Bow Echo. The third subsequently finished runner-up in the Futurity Stakes, giving that form a particularly strong look. There is plenty to suggest Humidity could be even better at three. His sire Ulysses improved with maturity, while full brother Holloway Boy has continued to develop with age. He has also undergone a gelding operation since his last appearance, which could help unlock further improvement. His official rating of 111 puts him at the head of the field, and the weight allowance he receives from his older rivals is another significant advantage. James Doyle taking the ride is also interesting given his successful association with Haatem, one of today's main dangers. The 378-day absence is the obvious concern, but Humidity won on debut and has already shown he can perform fresh. With proven Newmarket form, a progressive pedigree and the potential to return an even better horse, he looks capable of making a winning comeback.

  

  Humidity

  13:15 Newmarket

  Best Odds3/1
• 13:50 Newmarket

  Native Trail Zetland Stakes (Group 3)

  1m2f | Class 1 | Good

  Drumbeat 1/1

  Ryan Moore/Aidan O'Brien

  Live price from 7Bet

  DRUMBEAT looks a colt going places and can make his class count after two encouraging performances in competitive Irish nurseries. The son of Wootton Bassett was particularly impressive when running away with a mile handicap at Gowran Park in September, showing a sharp turn of foot to put the race to bed in convincing fashion. He backed that up with a respectable third at the Curragh, where the stiff mile provided a different test of his ability. That latest effort suggests he is holding his form well, while his commanding Gowran victory remains the strongest indication of what he can do when everything falls into place. Newmarket's demanding straight mile should suit a colt who has already shown both speed and stamina, and he brings a solid level of handicap form into this contest. With his experience over the trip and a ratings advantage over his rivals, Drumbeat looks to have an excellent chance of getting back to winning ways.

  

  Drumbeat

  13:50 Newmarket

  Best Odds1/1
• 14:05 York

  Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap Stakes (gbbplus Race)

  1m2½f | Handicap | Class 2 | Soft

  Stoneacre Donny 10/1

  Duran Fentiman/Tim Easterby

  Live price from BetMGM

  STONEACRE DONNY looks capable of bouncing straight back to winning ways at York, where he produced a cracking performance over this course and distance last month. He was hugely impressive that day, putting the race to bed in convincing fashion, and there was every indication he had more in hand than the winning margin suggested. His subsequent defeat at Doncaster is easily forgiven, as he encountered traffic problems at a crucial stage and never really got the opportunity to show what he could do. Returning to York looks a major positive, particularly with some ease in the ground. He has already demonstrated how effective he can be under these conditions, and there is every reason to expect another strong performance if getting a clear passage. The Gosden pair Water To Wine and My Love Is King bring plenty of potential, but Stoneacre Donny has the advantage of proven course-and-distance form. With his latest defeat masking his true ability and conditions looking firmly in his favour, he looks capable of outrunning market expectations.

  

  Stoneacre Donny

  14:05 York

  Best Odds10/1
• 14:25 Newmarket

  Emirates Autumn Stakes (Group 3)

  1m | Class 1 | Good

  Rock Montreal 5/4

  William Buick/Roger Varian

  Live price from 10 Bet

  ROCK MONTREAL looks ready to make the breakthrough at Group level, with today's step up to a mile potentially bringing out another sizeable improvement from Roger Varian's exciting colt. The Godolphin youngster made a striking impression when winning on debut at Yarmouth before producing an even better performance in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster. He was caught a little flat-footed when Forbidden Fire quickened clear, but really found his stride inside the final furlong and was gaining with every yard, eventually going down by just a head. That form has worked out particularly well, with third-placed Nabati subsequently winning the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes. Rock Montreal finished 1½ lengths ahead of him at Doncaster, giving that performance a particularly strong look. The extra furlong should be right up his street. He was doing all his best work late at Doncaster and Varian subsequently suggested he was shaping like a miler. His official rating of 106 also puts him among the leading contenders, despite having raced only twice. William Buick takes over in the saddle and Godolphin's record in this race is exceptional, having won eight of the last ten renewals. Sergei Diaghilev is a genuine danger after his Champagne Stakes second, but Rock Montreal has the potential to improve considerably now tackling a mile. With proven form on quick ground, an excellent Doncaster performance behind him and the longer trip looking ideal, Rock Montreal should take plenty of beating.

  

  Rock Montreal

  14:25 Newmarket

  Best Odds5/4
• 15:00 Newmarket

  Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1)

  7f | Class 1 | Good

  Desert Castle 5/6

  William Buick/Charlie Appleby

  Live price from LiveScore Bet

  DESERT CASTLE looks a colt of exceptional promise and can maintain his unbeaten record in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes after two hugely impressive performances. Charlie Appleby's son of Frankel made an immediate impression when winning on debut at Newmarket before taking a significant step forward in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. He travelled beautifully through that contest and quickened clear to win by three lengths, looking every inch a future Group 1 performer. That victory earned him an RPR of 123, the strongest figure in today's field, and he already has the advantage of winning experience over this course and distance. With only two starts behind him, there could be considerably more improvement to come. Darkness Falls is a serious rival after his impressive Group 1 victory at Leopardstown, but dropping from nine furlongs to seven presents a different challenge. Great Barrier Reef has plenty of ability too, although his strongest performances have come over six furlongs. Desert Castle, by contrast, has already shown that seven furlongs suits him perfectly. With William Buick retaining the ride, proven Newmarket form and the potential to improve again, he looks capable of confirming his position among the leading juveniles in training.

  

  Desert Castle

  15:00 Newmarket

  Best Odds5/6
• 15:17 York

  Sky Bet Sprint Trophy Handicap Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

  6f | Handicap | Class 2 | Soft

  Pellitory 7/2

  Daniel Tudhope/David O'Meara

  Live price from BetWright

  PELLITORY looks to have an excellent chance of adding another valuable sprint handicap to his record, with a favourable draw and a string of outstanding recent performances making him difficult to ignore. His victory in the Ayr Gold Cup was the highlight of a remarkable run of form, but there is every reason to believe he remains at the top of his game. He has won twice in his last four starts and was unlucky not to finish closer at Ascot last weekend, where he suffered interference when making his challenge before recovering to finish fourth of 18, beaten only 1½ lengths by Mezcala. That Ascot effort was particularly encouraging given it came over 7f. Dropping back to 6f should allow Pellitory to make better use of his natural speed, while his previous performances at York show he is more than capable of handling the Knavesmire. The draw is another major positive. Pellitory starts from stall three, and the last nine winners of this race have all emerged from stalls one to nine. That puts him in a promising position to secure a good racing line without having to waste energy early. The quick turnaround is the obvious concern after a busy campaign, but there has been no indication that his enthusiasm is waning. His recent form is among the strongest in the field, and he has already shown he can compete successfully in big-field handicaps. With a favourable draw, proven York form and his Ayr Gold Cup victory still fresh in the memory, Pellitory looks capable of producing another big performance and should be firmly involved in the finish.

  

  Pellitory

  15:17 York

  Best Odds7/2
• 15:40 Newmarket

  Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

  2m2f | Handicap | Class 2 | Good

  Mountain Road 12/1

  Paul Mulrennan/Jim Goldie

  Live price from William Hill

  MOUNTAIN ROAD looks tailor-made for the Cesarewitch and could be the one finishing strongest when the others have cried enough over Newmarket's demanding 2m2f. Jim Goldie's seven-year-old has been enjoying an excellent campaign and produced arguably his best performance when runner-up to Small Fry in a competitive 16-runner handicap at York's Ebor meeting. Held up off the pace, he made relentless late headway to finish just a length behind the winner, looking very much like a horse who would appreciate an even greater stamina test. That York form has worked out nicely, with seventh-placed Valedictory winning next time, while Mountain Road had previously won a competitive staying handicap at Thirsk and finished a close third at Ascot. The handicapper has raised him 4lb to a career-high mark of 92, but there is every reason to believe he can cope. He has improved steadily throughout the season and, despite being seven, continues to produce some of the best performances of his career. Today's extra two furlongs could be the making of him. He has been finishing his races strongly over two miles and Newmarket's long, demanding straight should give him plenty of time to work his way into contention. His patient running style also looks well suited to a race that often develops into a serious test of stamina. The good-to-firm ground is another positive, having already shown his best form on a sound surface, while Paul Mulrennan returns to the saddle following their successful partnership at Thirsk. Stall 26 is hardly ideal and he will need the race to unfold favourably, but his hold-up tactics should help minimise that concern. With proven staying form, a progressive profile and the longer distance likely to play to his strengths, Mountain Road looks capable of producing another career-best performance in one of the season's toughest handicaps.

  

  Mountain Road

  15:40 Newmarket

  Best Odds12/1

More Racing Tips & Previews

Opinion

Rick DoyleSunday BestSUNDAY RACING TIPS

Opinion

Vincent Van De HornAcca Backer83/1 ACCA BACKER

18+, please gamble responsibly. Odds are correct at time of writing and can change.