An unbeaten juvenile, stable debutant and classy handicapper – five interesting entries across the Saturday cards

We have delved through the Saturday cards identifying five interesting entries . . .

Annaf

Mick Appleby's Annaf, a 50-1 third in last year's King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, ended last season with wins in the Portland Handicap and the Group 3 Bengough Stakes.

He kicked off his five-year-old campaign with a second in Listed company at Lingfield before running out a three-quarter-length winner of a 7f Group 2 in Saudi Arabia, a victory that produced a joint career-best Racing Post Rating of 116.

Annaf returned from a 196-day break in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock this month where he beat just one rival home, but having been denied a run at a crucial stage, that effort can be upgraded and he should improve for the outing.

The son of Muhaarar is set to drop to Group 3 level at Newbury on Saturday and is the one to beat at the weights, but five furlongs may prove too sharp a test.

Annaf13:30 Newbury

View Racecard

Jky: Jason Watson Tnr: Michael Appleby

Botanical

Race: 1.50 Ayr, 1m2f Listed

Botanical, one of ten horses removed from Roger Varian's stable by owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum last month, is set to make his debut for George Boughey in Listed company at Ayr on Saturday.

The four-year-old justified favouritism in a 1m2½f handicap on his reappearance at York in May, pulling three lengths clear of his rivals.

He bounced back from a poor effort in the Wolferton Stakes when runner-up in the John Smith's Cup at York last time. Freshened up since that race, the RPR of 116 he achieved there would have been good enough to land seven of the last nine runnings of this contest.

Botanical13:50 Ayr

View Racecard

Jky: Billy Loughnane Tnr: George Boughey

Defence Minister

Race: 3.15 Newbury, 6f Group 2

The Hamad Al Jehani-trained Defence Minister comes into this with a perfect 2-2 record, supplementing a Newmarket debut success when justifying 11-8 favouritism in a novice at Haydock this month.

Defence Minister took a while to get organised there but appeared to win with a bit in hand under a penalty.

He steps up in grade for Saturday's Mill Reef Stakes, for which he was supplemented at a cost of £5,000 on Monday, and looks open to significant improvement.

Defence Minister15:15 Newbury

View Racecard

Jky: James Doyle Tnr: Hamad Al Jehani

Amphius

Race: 4.25 Newbury, 7f handicap

Amphius finished a three-and-a-quarter-length fourth behind Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics in a Newbury maiden on his debut in April and is set to return to the track to contest the 7f handicap on Saturday's card.

Harry Charlton's colt kicked clear on his handicap debut at Kempton last month before idling and being caught inside the final furlong.

The son of Kingman has since gained a confidence-boosting win at short odds in a Beverley maiden and a mark of 91 looks workable on his return to handicaps.

Amphius16:25 Newbury

View Racecard

Jky: Ryan Moore Tnr: Harry Charlton

Min Huna

Race: 4.30 Newmarket, 1m2f fillies' handicap

William Haggas's Min Huna comes into Saturday's 1m2f handicap at Newmarket seeking a hat-trick following wins in a Windsor novice and a Sandown handicap.

The daughter of Dubawi had two subsequent winners behind at Windsor before taking the step up to 1m2f in her stride last time.

Min Huna looked value for further than the two-length winning margin there and an 8lb rise looks unlikely to stop her from following up.