The William Haggas-trained filly can defy top-weight and land the Distaff on Saturday, believes Seymour Biz. Here are his Lucky 15 betting tips.
Huge sporting occasion on Saturday that will have us all on the edge of our seats. I always enjoy the Eclipse at Sandown Park, the race where the best three year olds of their generation meet their older compatriots. I believe there is another sporting contest on in Russia at the same time. But seriously I have received a message from Haydock Park this week offering half price tickets for their great Old Newton Cup meeting promising the football will be shown on all their monitors. Great value at this great course. As to the Sandown meeting every tipster in the land is giving Forest Ranger in the Eclipse, I will go against them and look to Roaring Lion who dodged Royal Ascot for this contest. We have several good handicaps to get our teeth into this weekend on television with some excellent value to be had so here we are with my thought on these.
The first race on the TV is at 12.35, the bet365 Handicap over 1m 6f with some of these 3 year olds trying this distance for the first time. Top of the betting are Ghostwatch and Rude Awakening who both won last time out over this distance, so they are proven to have stayed the course. Ghostwatch was beaten by Austrian School at Chester in May but that horse flopped over the same course in June. Ed De Giles has Sexy Beast declared and after being moved up to this longer distance last time at this course he easily dispensed with his rivals winning by four lengths, he looks like he can follow up despite this big step up in class. John Gosden’s Almoghared is well regarded and lightly raced, after a victory at Chepstow he went to Royal Ascot and was not disgraced running an excellent fourth behind the very good Kew Gardens. Even with top weight he will take some stopping. Well behind him that day was Lynwood Gold and in receipt of 7lbs here, he should show some improvement and can run into a place at a big price.
The bet365 Old Newton Cup Handicap at 1.45 is Haydock’s flagship race of the season and there is a great turnout for this prestigious race. Roger Charlton has Atty Persse at the head of the betting, he has not been out since running fourth to Cracksman at York last August after his great victory in the King George V at Royal Ascot. He is a very interesting contender. But his other declaration is one who catches my eye, Blakeney Point won three times last year and was disqualified from third last time at Goodwood for interference. He was fourth in this race last year but has improved a stone since then. Alan King sends Elgin who is on a hat trick, he has won two small field events at very short prices but this race is a totally different proposition. Marco Botti has claimed this prize twice in the last four runnings and he sends Crowned Eagle who was sixth in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot last month, he has been running consistently well for the stable. Golden Wolf has been knocking on the door, but I’m afraid he always finds one too good, he could again be placed at a big price.
Moving south to Sandown Park at 12.55 is the Coral Challenge Handicap over a mile. Roger Varian sends his very smart Daira Prince, two from two this season,he has shown himself to be clever in tight situations. Via Serendipity was a course and distance winner last time out with Manson in second, however Manson has a four pound pull here and can reverse those placings. He was fifth in this last year, but I think he’s a stronger individual now and he has 3lb less than he had then. Original Choice is not a fast ground performer and with no rain forecast his chance of getting the ground he wants is unlikely. Masham Star finally got the win he has been promising under his belt last week, he stayed on well at Windsor and can go well at a big price. Also worth a mention is Chiefofchiefs from Charlie Fellowes stable. He won well here on his penultimate start then ran into Via Serendipity but has 4lb for that defeat, it may not be enough.
At 1.30 is the Coral Distaff, a one mile race for three year old fillies with Awesometank at the top of the weights. William Haggas’s top rated filly followed up two 2-year-old victories with a win on the all weather at Chelmsford. She coasted home that day and if she can deal with the firm conditions must have a very good chance. Aiden O’Brien has Broadway declared, she ran a stinker in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot beating only one home in a field of 23. After the race the jockey stated that the filly suffered interference in running. Desert Diamond was fourth that day, 4 lengths behind the winner so she must have a fair bit of class. James Fanshawe sends out Preening, a Dutch Art filly, she won here at Sandown three weeks ago pretty easily and will be looking to build on that, however this is a big step up in class. The German bred Narella looks smart after her wins in Germany and France, but it’s her first time out this year, so I will side with Awesometank to take this contest.
Saturday Lucky 15 Tips
12.35 Haydock. Almoghared
1.45 Haydock. Blakeney Point
12.55 Sandown. Manson
1.30 Sandown. Awesometank
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Contact Seymour Biz, with your own thoughts, tips and questions, at the following address: ahroberts99@yahoo.com