Seymour Biz has another quartet of Lucky 15 selections for you. Here’s his take on the Saturday televised races likely to interest punters the most. You can find all recent UK horse racing analysis and previews from Seymour Biz in his weekly Saturday Horse Racing Tips column.
This weekend the performance in France overshadows everything going on this side of the Channel. But on Saturday we have three meetings on television, Ascot, Newmarket and Redcar. In all, ITV are showing seven races, five of which are 7 furlongs or less, so it’s the sprinters that take centre stage. Because of this several horses are double or treble declared so I will look where they are most likely to to run and base my choices on that. This week’s races that do not form part of this weeks Lucky Fifteen include the Rous Stakes and the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot, it will be great to see Spring Loaded back on the track after an almost two months lay off in the Rous. In the Cumberland Lodge, Grey Britain is declared after 5 months off, I think they can both run well. In the Sun Chariot at Newmarket, Kevin Burke sends his top miler Laurens. She had a fabulous victory last time out at Leopardstown taking the scalp of Alpha Centauri and has enough pace to take this important contest. But as ever I am looking for better value and that can be found in the four sprints I have picked for this weeks Lucky Fifteen.
Starting with the 2.05 at Newmarket we have the British EBF Breeders Fillies Series Sprint Handicap over 6 furlongs. The favourite for this is Ed Walker’s Fille de Reve who is on a hat-trick after fine wins at Ascot and Haydock, she has certainly found her form after an indifferent start to the season. Mayleaf Shine is another who has been running well but has bumped into Intense Romance on the last two occasions and has had to settle for the runner-up spot. She did however have Beauty Filly and Miss Bar Beach behind her the last time on heavy going at Ayr. Roger Varian’s Queen Of Desire has had a good year with three victories but this is a big step up in class for the filly, she was tried in Listed company in Italy but flopped badly there. John Gosden has Perfection in the line-up, she won at Yarmouth last time, but without her jockey that day, Frankie Dettori, who will probably be in France and an 11lbs penalty she may struggle. Indian Tygress from James Fanshaws stable has shown some form this year, not finishing out of the first two, however her best form has been on the all-weather and this is a big step up in class for this filly. The one that really interests me here is the top weight, Eirene from Dean Ivory’s yard. She has been tried at 7f in a Group race at Doncaster last time, just going down by three quarters of a length to the very good Dancing Star, this drop back in trip should suit her here.
At Redcar we have the Racing UK Two Year Old Trophy at 2.45 over 6 furlongs. Vintage Brut looks to be one of the class horses running here, he won a Listed race back in May and just went down to Dave Dexter in another Listed race a fortnight ago. Richard Fahey has Red Balloons as an entry here, his filly ran well earlier in the season without getting her head in front however she has put all that behind her winning two of her last three. The latest victory was at York where she kept on strongly having Alfie Solomons behind her. Well Done Fox has been consistent all season with three victories for trainer Richard Hannon, but has yet to try 6f. San Donato is on a hat-trick after good wins at Haydock and on the all-weather at Kempton, but he is stepping up in class here. Behind him at Haydock was Hello Youmzain who ran green that day after winning at Carlisle, he looks a better prospect to me. But the horse with the best form here is Richard Hughes’ Sunsprite, a triple winner during his campaign this season, he just failed in a Listed race at Ripon last time. He led into the last half furlong but had to settle for third behind Sporting Chance and Gypsy Spirit who opposes him here, with better going as expected, Sunsprite can get his revenge and take this contest.
Moving south to Ascot we have the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes at 3.00 with Limato as the bookies favourite and he would have an excellent chance of taking this if he turns up. But he is much more likely to go to Longchamp for the Prix de la Foret leaving a very open line up. Projection from Roger Charlton’s yard has been very consistent without getting his head in front. His latest run was here at Newmarket when he was third to Limato, he ran on the stands’ side that day when the action was in the centre-but led his group home. Prior to that he was second to Yafta when sent off favourite at Newbury but he had Dream Of Dreams, Bacchus and Hey Jonesy behind him that day. A Momentofmadness and Baron Bolt both won top class handicaps last time out but this is a big step up for them and a big ask for them to take on established Group horses. Hugo Palmer has Gifted Master in the lineup, he is definitely a Group horse having won in Listed company but this year he has won two handicaps, then ran fifth to Limato, he can put up a good show here. I will also mention Richard Fahey’s Mr Lupton who won on soft ground at Newbury last time, but 5f seems to be his forte and he may run in an earlier race on the card. I will take Projection to get his nose in front for the first time this year.
At 3.35 (also at Ascot) is the Challenge Cup, a 7 furlong handicap. Top weight here is Dean Ivory’s Flaming Spear who won a top class handicap at Goodwood last time,but who has never won at Ascot. A contender who has won over the course and distance is Ripp Orf who won the Cunard on his penultimate start. David Elsworth’s horse is a Ascot specialist and when he won here in September he had several of these behind him including Cape Byron, Spanish City, Raising Sand and Vale Of Kent. Growl is entered but he has flattered to deceive this year. Gilgamesh finished in front of Ripp Orf last time at Newmarket but was outpaced by Muntadab that day and could find no extra over the last 100 yards. Ian Williams’s Shady McCoy is a course and distance winner back in 2017 but is another horse who has not run up to his former promise this year. I must mention Firmament, who has not won since 2016, he is probably the unluckiest horse in training. He has come so close on several occasions since, not least his latest second to Very Talented on the all-weather at Chelmsford, he could run into a place at a big price.
Saturday Lucky 15
2.05 Newmarket. Eirene
2.45 Redcar. Sunsprite
3.00 Ascot. Projection
3.35 Ascot. Ripp Orf
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