Saturday Racing Tips – 3rd October 2026: Newmarket & Ascot

This Saturday's racing takes us to Newmarket for the BetMGM Sun Chariot Day and to Ascot for the BetMGM Autumn Racing Weekend. 

We analysed the leading contenders in five key events and chose the five most likely to excel in Saturday's televised races. 

See the latest horse racing odds on LiveScore Bet

Saturday Racing Tips Summary

Below are our expert picks for Saturday's Racing, including our top choice for each featured race.

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13:00 – Tattersalls October Auction Stakes (Newmarket) – Zigazig Ah

• 7f – Flat Turf, Auction, Class 2

• Runners: 15 (MAX 30)

• Good To Firm

The first televised race of the day for today’s ITV coverage is the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes over at Newmarket. 

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Night In Vegas (4/5) is the early favourite, but it’s Richard Spencer’s Zigazig Ah (5/1) that offers the best odds in my eyes. With an RPR (Racing Post Rating) of 107 (compared to Night In Vegas’ 109), Zigazig Ah looks underpriced in the current market. 

The 2-year-old bay filly has performed well in her last 5 races, particularly at Newmarket in August, where she finished second in a field of 18. Jockey Saffie Osborne will be hoping to take the fight to Charles Bishop in the weekend's opening race. 

Table: Recent Form of Zigazig Ah

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13:35 – BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes (Newmarket) – Blue Bolt

• 1m – Flat Turf, Group 1, Class 1

• Runners: 7 (MAX 20)

• Good To Firm

Next up, we’re sticking at Newmarket for what is billed to be the biggest race of the weekend – the BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes. 

It’s hard to recommend anything other than Blue Bolt (1/2) – the favourite in this one – following her recent immaculate run, winning five consecutive races (including three Group 1s). She arrives at Newmarket with the highest RPR.

Her odds are short at 1/2, making it hard to call her underpriced. But if she performs as well as she has in recent months, you’d be a fool to bet against her.    

Table: Recent Form of Blue Bolt

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14:25 – BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Ascot) – Royal Power

• 1m4f – Flat Turf, Group 3, Class 1

• Runners: 6 (MAX 19)

• Good 

Over to Ascot now for our first prediction of the BetMGM Autumn Racing Weekend, and the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes, our entry point into the Berkshire racecourse.

There’s plenty of good, strong runners in this one, including two from William Haggas’ stables – Tenability (2/1) and Al Aasy (3/1). We, however, are more interested in Charlie Appleby’s entry into the 1m4f flat turf race – Royal Power (11/2).

Despite only offering a handful of starts, he has already shown he can compete at Group 1 level. He won the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship over 1m4f on good ground in February and will be hoping for a return to form, piloted by Kieran Shoemark this time out. 

Table: Recent Form of Royal Power

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15:00 – John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (Ascot) – Prince Of India

• 6f – Flat Turf, Group 3, Class 1

• Runners: 12 (MAX 18)

• Good 

The John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes immediately follows, with 12 runners currently entered in the 6f flat turf race.

William Haggas once again has the early favourite in Division (9/4), but I've got my pick in Prince Of India (5/1) from Marco Botti’s stable. He’s had a fantastic last pair of races, finishing second at Newbury and first at Newmarket in August. 

He’s shown he’s got the raw ability; now it’s just a matter of jockey Pat Dobbs putting everything together on the day. A fantastic choice for an each-way (EW) bet. 

Table: Recent Form of Prince Of India

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15:35 – BetMGM Challenge Cup (Ascot) – Desert Shadow

• 7f – Flat Turf, Handicap, Class 2

• Runners: 18 (MAX 18)

• Good 

Our last prediction of the day – the BetMGM Challenge Cup (Ascot), a 7f flat turf handicap with 18 runners currently entered. 

Desert Shadow (12/1) is our pick in this one – a 4-year-old chestnut gelding coming into the Challenge Cup after winning two of his last three starts, including a 7f success at Sandown on good to firm ground. 

He then followed that victory with a narrow second over the same course and distance, suggesting he remains in excellent form. His recent performances indicate that 7f is his optimum trip, and quicker ground at Ascot should suit. 

Carrying a relatively light weight also makes Desert Shadow an excellent option for an EW bet. 

Table: Recent Form of Desert Shadow

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