Newcastle and York host Saturday racing with Harry Wilson’s tips

By Lewis Hartnell · Senior Football Correspondent · 27.06.2026

By Lewis Hartnell — 27 June 2026 — 5 min read

Saturday’s racing highlights

This Saturday features a full day of racing from Newcastle and York, with eight races broadcast live on ITV. Racing expert Harry Wilson has provided his selections for each event, offering insights into various contenders across both venues.

The action at Newcastle begins with the Education Network Handicap at 1.40pm. Harry Wilson‘s tip for this 7f race is Bobby Bennu. This horse showed promise on its return from a 224-day break last month at Chester, securing fourth place despite a wide draw. Its career-best Racing Post Rating was achieved on an all-weather surface, suggesting the return to this type of track could be beneficial. Bobby Bennu is also considered well-treated, running 2lb below its last winning mark.

Meanwhile, York kicks off its programme at 1.55pm with the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap over 1m. Frankies Dream is Harry Wilson‘s pick here, having consistently performed well in its last three starts. Notably, it achieved a career-best RPR of 91 two weeks ago at York in a 1m1f handicap, finishing by half a length. Its record at this course stands at 512, and a 2lb rise to a mark of 83 is considered manageable.

Key races and contenders

A significant race at Newcastle is the Jenningsbet Chipchase Stakes (Group 3) over 6f at 2.10pm. Harry Wilson suggests Wiltshire for this event. Wiltshire previously demonstrated improved form after wind surgery, winning a 6f handicap at Newcastle with ease in April. Its record over the course and distance under jockey Cieren Fallon is 2-2. Its last defeat on quicker ground is viewed as forgivable, and the horse is expected to perform well at this level back on its preferred surface.

Other notable contenders in the Chipchase Stakes include Marvelman and Diligent Harry. Diligent Harry secured this prize last season, beating Annaf by a neck, and is expected to be competitive again following a strong fourth-place finish in the Group Two Minster Stakes. Marvelman, trained by Andrew Balding, carries a 5lb penalty after winning the Group Two Park Stakes at Doncaster in September. Having not raced since a less successful outing in Saudi Arabia, Marvelman will need to be at its peak for this return. Poet Master and Symbol Of Honour are also in consideration for what is described as an open contest.

At 2.25pm, York hosts the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap over 5f. Stargazed is Harry Wilson‘s selection, having narrowly missed out by half a length on her handicap debut over the course and distance last month. This form was subsequently validated when the third, seventh, and fourth-placed horses from that race went on to fill the top three spots in the 3YO ‘Dash’. Stargazed also benefits from a better weight allocation compared to several rivals and is expected to find this race more suitable than her previous run in a Royal Ascot handicap.

Northumberland Plate and other selections

The Jenningsbet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap, run over 2m½f at 2.40pm at Newcastle, sees Harry Wilson backing Believitanducan. This horse has achieved comfortable victories at Ascot and Chester since returning to Flat racing, beating a subsequent easy winner at Ascot and dominating from an early stage at Chester. Believitanducan is considered open to further improvement over this distance and appears well-treated despite a 5lb penalty. Charging Thunder is another horse to watch in this race, being 4lb below its last winning mark, though it will face competition from Cesarewitch winner Alphonse Le Grande and Arc Zoosve.

The feature race at Newcastle is the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap at 3.15pm, also over 2m½f. Harry Wilson has two tips for this race: Team Player and Saint Etienne. Team Player has shown significant progress this year, with victories at Newcastle and Musselburgh, followed by a fifth-place finish from a poor draw in the Chester Cup. This horse is considered a strong contender off an unchanged mark. Saint Etienne, a three-time all-weather winner in France, is thought to be well handicapped based on its best form and has been specifically prepared for this race. Circus Of Rome is also a leading fancy in the Northumberland Plate, with trainer Richard Hughes targeting this race since an August win at the track. Despite potential questions about the trip, Circus Of Rome is reported to be peaking for the event. Last year’s one-two, Spirit Mixer and Dancing In Paris, also hold each-way chances, alongside Moon Over Miami and Ride The Thunder from the Roger Varian team.

The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes (Group 3) at York at 2.58pm, over 7f, is another race where Harry Wilson has provided a tip: Chicago Critic. This horse’s fourth-place finish in the Tattenham Corner Stakes at Epsom this month is believed to be better than the result suggests, as it would have preferred a stronger pace. Chicago Critic is also thought to perform better on faster ground, making this race potentially suitable. Finally, the Jenningsbet Over 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap at Newcastle at 3.45pm, over 6f, sees Power Fizz as Harry Wilson‘s pick. Power Fizz progressed well over 7f last year and improved further after a gelding operation, winning a handicap over the course and distance in March. The horse performs well fresh, so a break since its last run is not a concern, and it is expected to offer more as a sprinter.

The Newcastle card concludes with the Jenningsbet Over 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap, where Power Fizz and Al Najashi are considered strong contenders.

Source: racingpost.com

Lewis Hartnell

Senior Football Correspondent

As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”