Only bad luck prevented the Exceed And Excel gelding from following up at Doncaster and Seymour Biz believes he can win the the NetBet Sport Handicap, on Saturday.
We have some great racing to look forward to this weekend up and down the country. Television cameras are at three meetings this Bank Holiday Saturday, at Haydock, York and Goodwood with some top class players vying for the prizes on offer. Haydock has the Sandy Lane and Temple Stakes with Heartache and Battaash looking good for these races.York runs the Bronte Cup and I like Isabel De Urbina from Ralph Beckett’s stable. Goodwood’s opener is the Festival Stakes wth last years first and second in attendance, I fancy Spark Plug to get his revenge over First Sitting. But there are four great handicaps on TV and as I am looking for value I will look to these races for this weeks Lucky 15.
First let’s look at the 2.30 at Goodwood the NetBet Sport Handicap and here we have the unbeaten Society Power from William Haggas’s stable as the current favourite. But I can’t help feeling he has been cleverly placed and had to be driven out last time at Ascot when he didn’t have a lot to beat. This race could be a different matter there are some high class 3-year- old contenders he will have to face here. Lower down in the handicap is Maverick Officer who won at Lingfield prior to his run at Doncaster last week. He was denied a clear run that day and though he had to switch markedly right a furlong out, was only denied by half a length behind the smart Ventura Knight. Richard Fahey’s stable is on fire and he has Maybride in this, a winner last time at Newmarket, Fahey has been waiting for better ground for his filly. At a bigger price and from a smaller stable, Jedd O’Keefe runs Air Raid, a winner last time out at Wetherby after making all. He could hold on for a place if employing the same tactics, but I will stick with Maverick Officer.
Haydock’s 2.15 is the Amex Ready Mixed Concrete Handicap over two miles and it is noted Sir Michael Stoute sends Dannyday up north. A winner on the all-weather at both Newcastle and Chelmsford in 2016 he has not been seen out since June of that year, but if turning up here he could take the honours. Mancini turns out after two victories this year but he may find one or two too good stopping his hat-trick. Sir Mark Prescott is a prolific winner at Haydock and he has Melinoe in the line up, a runner up here last time behind Uber Cool he was running on at the finish. Master Of Irony won first time out this season at Doncaster in a close finish with half a length covering the first five, he got home by a nose from Warm Oasis proving he’s a fighter. He could go well here in this handicap on Saturday so I will side with him in a tricky contest.
At 2.50 the Amis Silver Bowl Handicap is run over a mile and Qaysar is the obvious favourite for this. A dual winner so far this year at Newbury and Kempton, winning well on both occasions, Richard Hannon has certainly got a tune out of him. Last season he defeated Crack On Crack On twice, but then they were on level terms now Qaysar must give Clive Cox’s charge 12lbs. Add to that Crack On Crack On won first time out this season when drawn widest at Lingfield, coming from last to first with a storming run. That form tells me he can go on from that victory to take this contest. Dragons Tail could be the one to chase him home at a good price, he was beaten only a neck by Another Batt at Chester last time. He unseated his rider and was loose for a time which would have unsettled him, however after being headed he responded to pressure but was unable to catch the winner.
Up at York we have the Mansionbet Sprint Stakes (Handicap) at 3.40 and at the top of the handicap is the 9-year-old Duke Of Firenze trained by David Griffiths. He ran a very creditable fourth in last years Prix De L’Abbaye and he always seems to go well at York, however both his weight and the going are against him. Robert Cowell has several entries and Evergate looks to be the best of them, a good second last time at Lingfield when doing his best work at the finish looks an ideal workout for this. El Astronaute won here at the Dante meeting fighting back well to take the contest close to the line. He will meet several protagonists from that day again on Saturday with 4lbs more on his back. Four lengths behind him in 7th that day was Line Of Reason who stayed on well over the final two furlongs. Paul Midgley’s charge carries a pound less than that day and all his wins have been on top of the ground so he looks the ideal candidate.
Saturday Lucky 15
2.30 Goodwood. Maverick Officer
2.15 Haydock. Master Of Irony
2.50 Haydock. Crack On Crack On
3.40 York. Line Of Reason
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Contact Seymour Biz, with your own thoughts, tips and questions, at the following address: ahroberts99@yahoo.com