US racing tips: Shane Ketteridge provides two selections at Keeneland on Saturday

Nobals
8.40 Keeneland
1pt win

Mountain Bear
10.48 Keeneland
1pt win

The Grade 2 Woodford Stakes is the first of five straight Graded events on a Keeneland card packed full of quality and this can go to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Nobals.

Larry Rivelli’s five-year-old knows where the winning line is as he has won ten of his twenty starts so far with eight of those being in Stakes company.

His form went to a new level last year, recording form figures of 11211 from his last five outings in the calendar year, culminating in a career-best victory at the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

He showed good tactical speed that day and will be very tough to beat here off the back of two prep runs at Saratoga and Kentucky Downs. Jockey Gerardo Corrales has plenty of options from stall six.

Aidan O’Brien has won the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile on two previous occasions with Landseer (2002) and Aussie Rules (2006) and his improving Mountain Bear can make it a third victory for Ireland's champion trainer.

This well-travelled son of No Nay Never, who himself was a two-time winner around here, first caught the eye when finishing second behind stablemate Unquestionable in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last year.

He has run well in Group events at Leopardstown the last twice and can go close here, which will set up a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar next month.

Saturday's free racing tips: six horses to consider putting in your multiple bets

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Published on 4 October 2024inFree tips

Last updated 18:00, 4 October 2024

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