The grey gelding was unlucky in the Wokingham and can score for Rowley Racing, on Saturday at Ascot, believes Seymour Biz. Here are his Lucky 15 picks.
They say you can’t get too much of a good thing, well that’s certainly the case on Saturday with ten, yes ten, races on ITV and ITV3. There are six wonderful flat meetings to be enjoyed and one jumps card covering the length and breadth of the country. The good weather is promised to continue so get along to your nearest course and have a great time. The highlight of the day is the July Cup at Newmarket, a pity Harry Angel is not involved after his injury so I think this opens the door for Limato who drops down in distance. He won this as a 4-year-old in 2016 and he can take it again this year. But I am looking for better value at the three main meetings and here are my thoughts for four of the handicaps on offer.
Firstly at 12.45 at Ascot we have the Bet With Ascot Heritage Handicap over 5f. Mr Lupton is saddled with top weight here after stepping back into handicap company, he had a sluggish start at Sandown last week and that was the end of his chance in a Group race won by Judicial. Major Jumbo ran a great race over 6f in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot finishing third to Bacchus after hanging right-handed throughout the race, he has been unable to get his head in front since April. Line Of Reason won at Ayr this week but carries a 6lb penalty for that. His trainer Paul Midgley also has Tanasoq declared and he is looking for his fifth win on the bounce including the Dash at Epsom on Derby day, Phillip Makin gets the ride. But I am looking to Spring Loaded to get off the mark this year at a nice price. His run in the Wokingham was impeded 2f out, he had to switch to make headway and kept on well to finish a close up ninth, he can improve on that run here.
The bet365 Bunbury Cup Handicap at Newmarket is at 1.40 and as usual there will be 20 runners spread across the July course. Gilgamesh is the bookies favourite mainly due to his victory at York in May, his latest run in the Wokingham where he finished seventh was a furlong short of his best distance. Aces is on a hat-trick of wins, his latest victory was over this course and distance where he got up in the last strides. He has a 6lb penalty for that win, but his trainer, Ian Williams, will have him spot on for this. He also has Shady McCoy declared who could go well at a big price. Makzeem always seems to run well at Newmarket and with the booking of Ryan Moore, his trainer Roger Charlton must rate his chances. Masham Star was unable to quicken at Sandown last week when trying to follow up his victory there in June, but he is essentially a miler. Higher up the handicap is Mubtasim, and William Haggas has had his eye on this prize since his close second to Tabarrak at Haydock in May. He can go one better here.
Up at York at 3.10 is the John Smith’s Racing Handicap over a mile and Roger Varian has the favourite Bowerman. Very much a stable in form he sends this horse out for his first run the season. He had two wins on the all-weather last year and goes well fresh, he could be the answer to this tricky handicap. David O’Meara looks to Mythical Madness to follow up his win at Haydock last week where he ran on strongly with Wahash fourth. Seniority has won twice this term both on all-weather where he seems a specialist, he has not won on turf since 2016. What’s The Story ran fourth at Royal Ascot and trainer, Keith Dalgleish, will be looking for him to taste victory after that promising run. Tim Easterby has two horses at the bottom of the handicap, Brother McGonagall, who has been picking up small prizes all over the north of England and Scotland, and Parys Mountain who won here at the end of last month. Either of these should be respected however I will stick with Bowerman to take this contest.
Lastly we have the 59th John Smith’s Cup Handicap at 3.40. This is always an exciting 10f handicap and a top class betting heat. Dash Of Spice is the bookies choice as he goes for a treble after wins at Royal Ascot and Epsom, both times over 1m 4f, I can’t help feeling this trip could be on the sharp side for him now. Thundering Blue is a course and distance winner but flopped at Ascot behind Dash Of Spice, he does depend on some give in the ground. Afaak won here in May then ran a great race in the Royal Hunt Cup where he beat all but Settle For Bay who was well handicapped that day. Willie Mullins sends over Chelkar who ran fourth in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting. But I will look to a real outsider in this big betting contest, Brorocco has been crying out for a big field handicap for some time. He needs a true run pace and he will get that here. He won two big handicaps last year at Newbury and Epsom and has run well this year but is not suited by small fields, this race will suit him down to the ground.
Saturday Lucky 15
12.45 Ascot. Spring Loaded
1.40 Newmarket. Mubtaism
3.10 York. Bowerman
3.40 York. Brorocco
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Contact Seymour Biz, with your own thoughts, tips and questions, at the following address: ahroberts99@yahoo.com