Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Dual-purpose mare can return to winning ways at Chester

One week on from Royal Ascot’s completion and we are treated to a highly competitive but extremely tricky afternoon of domestic horse racing action.

The featured event comes at Newcastle in the form of the Northumberland Plate - and if you would like to read my preview of that extended 2m contest then please click this link! I will be sticking to my best bets in this particular article, though, and there is no better place to start than with the NAP.

Malakhana is the horse in question, and she will take to post in the Jam Shed Handicap (4.52 Chester). This five-year-old mare is best described as ‘scrappy’ as she relishes a fight, and that is borne out in her prolific career strike-rate of seven wins from 20 starts. 

Ian Williams’ mare began her British career over hurdles and made an instant impression with four victories from her first seven outings, which included a Grade 3 event at Cheltenham in April 2022. 

Connections quickly realised that she would be equally effective on the flat and, although it took her four runs to show her best, Malakhana racked up impressive back-to-back successes last autumn at Ascot and Newmarket. In the latter event she held off a strong challenge from Novel Legend, who won his next two starts and is now rated 15lb higher.

It is fair to say that her 2022/23 winter jumps campaign didn’t go to plan, albeit she was pretty highly tried off a lofty mark, but I was pleasantly surprised by her recent reappearance on the level at Chester 14 days ago and I’m more than happy to back her to make amends for what was a luckless third-placed finish.

I’m opting to head to the Curragh for my other bet on Saturday, as Ice Cold In Alex warrants support in the Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Handicap (2.50). 

Rarely do I side with a nine-year-old sprinter, but Ken Condon’s charge hasn’t shown any signs of regression just yet (his last two efforts have been right up there with his best) and he should be suited by a much bigger field this time around. 

This veteran has been tried over a range of trips in the last year, but a fast-run six furlongs looks optimum. He’s only 2lb higher than when last successful and 5lb apprentice Jamie Powell, who rode him that day, retains the mount. 

Furthermore, most of his best efforts have come at the Curragh - he has four wins and six places here - and he’s been crucially allocated a high draw (stall 10) on a track that generally favours those towards the stands’ side rail. 

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips

Ice Cold In Alex (2.50 Curragh) @ 14
Malakhana (4.52 Chester) @ 3.85