After the glitz and glamour of Royal Ascot last week, ITV Racing fans have a very different afternoon of action to look forward to on Saturday. The bulk of our racing comes from Newcastle, where the Northumberland Plate headlines a strong card. We'll also enjoy three competitive races live from York on Criterion Stakes day.
Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races at Newcastle and York.
ITV Racing Schedule
| Time | Track | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1:40pm | Newcastle | Education Network Handicap (Class 2) 7f |
| 1:55pm | York | Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap (Class 3) 1m |
| 2:10pm | Newcastle | Jenningsbet Chipchase Stakes (Group 3) 6f |
| 2:25pm | York | Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap (Class 2) 5f |
| 2:40pm | Newcastle | Jenningsbet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap (Consolation for Northumberland Plate) (Class 2) 2m½f |
| 2:58pm | York | Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes (Group 3) 7f |
| 3:15pm | Newcastle | Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 2m½f |
| 3:45pm | Newcastle | Jenningsbet Over 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap (Class 2) 6f |
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 27th June
1:40pm Newcastle - Education Network Handicap Tips
Saturday's action at Newcastle opens with an interesting seven-furlong handicap. I'm going to side with one of the outsiders, RAJEKO (28/1), on his first start since undergoing a gelding operation.
Michael Bell's four-year-old won on the all-weather at Chelmsford in December 2024, and was handed a mark of 100 after finishing runner-up to Rebel's Gamble in the Listed Spring Cup Stakes at Lingfield. Rajeko ran only once for the remainder of that campaign, and didn't show much on either of his starts in Dubai over the winter.
Bell's charge was gelded after returning from the Middle East, and the handicapper has dropped his mark by seven pounds to 93 for this outing. Danny Muscutt takes the ride, and Bell's classy gelding could be dangerously well handicapped.
1:55pm York - Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap Tips
FRANKIE'S DREAM (8/1) took an immediate shine to the Knavesmire when he first raced at York last spring.
Jennie Candlish's charge was unlucky not to finish closer than fifth in a messy three-year-old handicap here in May. Frankie's Dream then returned to York later that month and claimed a narrow victory in a competitive seven-furlong handicap, flying home from the rear to beat Sweet Fantastic and White Crown Star.
Following a couple of solid placed efforts at the start of this season, Candlish's four-year-old produced a career-best performance here two weeks ago, finishing a close second behind the well-backed Point Of Contact. A mile seems to be Frankie's Dream's optimum trip, and Clifford Lee will be pleased with a low draw in stall five.
2:10pm Newcastle - Chipchase Stakes Tips
Another who could represent good value at Newcastle is ZOOM ZOOM (18/1), who'll represent Ralph Beckett in the Chipchase Stakes.
Beckett's five-year-old has often needed soft ground to produce his best on turf. Zoom Zoom ran to an RPR of 110 when winning a handicap at Doncaster in 2024, and Hector Crouch's mount has since been placed in a couple of stakes races, including a runner-up finish to Spycatcher in the 2025 Wentworth Stakes.
Zoom Zoom kept on well from the rear to finish second to Royal Zabeel in the Golden Rose Stakes at Southwell later that month. Beckett's five-year-old won on his only previous start on a synthetic surface, and a low draw here could turn out to be an advantage.
2:25pm York - Dubai Dash Handicap Tips
Fortification and Naana's Shadow are solid contenders at the head of the market. I'll take a chance on MIGHTY MAGNUS (16/1), who comes into this on the back of an impressive victory at Musselburgh. Michael Dods' three-year-old was held up at the rear from stall one that day, but powered home to record a convincing one-and-a-half-length success.
Mighty Magnus is an experienced handicapper, and was unlucky not to make a winning reappearance over six furlongs at Ripon in April. This will be the first time Mark Winn's mount has encountered fast ground, but Mighty Magnus has been drawn well in stall four, and there could be more improvement to come from this likeable sprinter.
2:40pm Newcastle - Northumberland Vase Handicap Tips
I don't bet in consolation races - especially ones run on the all-weather!
2:58pm York - Criterion Stakes Tips
The bookmakers have this as a match race between the top two in the market. Saber Strike is turned out quickly after a disappointing effort in the Jersey Stakes last Saturday. William Haggas' rising star will be receiving 9lb from NEVER SO BRAVE (11/10) at the weights, but I still fancy Andrew Balding's stable star to get the job done.
Never So Brave put together an impressive sequence last summer, winning the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Summer Mile back at Ascot, and the Group One City Of York Stakes here on the Knavesmire. Oisin Murphy's mount then finished down the field in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day, and has struggled from the rear on both starts this term, finishing fifth in the bet365 Mile and the Tattenham Corner Stakes.
Fast ground always seems to bring out the best in Never So Brave, who should be nicely fit after a couple of hard races. Saber Strike is still inexperienced and has plenty of questions to answer. The favourite should have enough class to deal with his younger rival.
3:15pm Newcastle - Northumberland Plate Tips
Read our full guide to the 2026 Northumberland Plate to get the latest odds, key recurring trends and our best bets for Saturday's feature.
Visit our Northumberland Plate Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.
3:45pm Newcastle - Jenningsbet Over 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap Tips
TUCO SALAMANCA (5/1) has won five of his nine starts on the all-weather, and this two-time course winner doesn't appear to have stopped improving just yet.
Ollie Sangster's star bolted up in a similar race to this at Kempton in March, recording an RPR of 105 under an excellent ride from Billy Loughnane. Tuco Salamanca shaped well on his return to turf at York last time out, staying on to finish sixth as Dark Thirty held off Binhareer and Fandom.
This powerful gelding has taken his form to a new level since dropping back to sprinting distances during the second half of last season, rising from a mark of 82 to 98. William Buick takes the ride as Tuco Salamanca returns to the all-weather on Saturday, and he looks to have an outstanding chance.