Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
After all the excitement at Epsom last week, ITV Racing has a more mundane programme this Saturday as we get to our more bread-and-butter racing.
There are seven races to look forward to from two courses, Haydock Park and Beverley. I wonder how many of the top presenters will travel ‘oop north’ now they have put their top hats away?
There are four races from Haydock, two Group 3s, a Listed race and a Class 2 Handicap. While at Beverley, there are two 2-year-old Conditions races – one for fillies and one for colts, and a Class 4 handicap.
I have looked through the contests, and there could be some value to be had. Here are my thoughts on the best of this week’s action.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Haydock. Iron Lion
3.00 Haydock. Caernarfon
3.35 Haydock. Noble Dynasty
3.15 Beverley. Billyb
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Haydock with the 2.25, the Betfred “Play Fred’s £5 Million” Handicap, which is a Class 2 contest run over 1m 4f. Top weight here is Adam Nicol’s Wise Eagle who ran 8th on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket last month. He drops back in trip here from his usual distances.
Charles Hills’ Maghlaak won at Goodwood in May then ran down the field at Redcar later in the month after going off favourite. He moves up in trip.
Bottom weight is David Simcock’s Melek Alreen, who won on the all-weather at Southwell in March, but this is a big step up in class.
Charlie Johnson’s Knightswood is another who steps up in class, his latest run was third place in a Class 4 contest. Much more is required here.
One who can make that step up is David O’Meara’s Iron Lion, who won at Doncaster in early May. He then went off as favourite at Newmarket a fortnight later and was making headway when badly hampered and unbalanced two furlongs out. He can gain recompense here.
The 3.00 is the Betfred Nifty Fifty Lester Piggott Fillies Stakes, a Group 3 run over 1m 4f. This race was formerly known as the Pinnacle Stakes but has been renamed in honour of the great jockey who rode his first and last winners at Haydock Park.
Ralph Beckett’s Lady Boba is having her first run of the season after winning at Fontainebleau in a Listed race last November. She looks consistent and is sure to go close.
Andrew Balding’s Night Sparkle was a fine second at York last month but is dropping down in distance here.
There’s a lot to like about John and Thady Gosden’s Queen Of The Pride who was second in a Listed race at Goodwood in May after running green. If she has got over her inexperience, she can contest the finish.
Charlie Appleby’s Sapphire Seas rattled up a four-timer last season. She has since run well in two Group 2 contests but is stepping up in trip.
I like the look of Jack Channon’s Caernarfon, who was eased behind Sapphire Seas at York last time. Prior to that, she had run well in third at Newmarket and looks a progressive sort.
The big race of the day is the Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes, a Group 3 contest run over 7 furlongs. The favourite here will probably be Richard Hannon’s Witch Hunter, who ran third here at Haydock in May in a Listed race. He then finished a remote third in the Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury a week later and although he drops down in class more is required.
Karl Burke’s Flight Plan was a remote last in the Lockinge, but he won a Group 2 at Leopardstown last September and will come on for that Newbury run.
William Haggas’s Tiber Flow won a Group 3 on the all-weather at Newcastle last July. He has done most of his racing at 6f and is moving up in trip for the first time in Group company.
Ramazan is a course and distance winner for trainer Richard Fahey, and his two seconds so far this season show he is a force to be reckoned with.
But I prefer Charlie Appleby’s Noble Dynasty, who returned to action after a 17-month break with 5th place in Dubai in March. He then won a handicap at Newmarket in early May, and I take him to continue this upward trend.
I will move to Beverley for the final leg. The bet365 Handicap is at 3.15, a 7 1/2f Class 4 contest. One of the top weights is Harriet Bethell’s On The River, who, after two fine runs, could only finish 7th last month at Nottingham.
The other top weight is John Quinn’s Tropez Power, who could find no extra at York on his latest run last month.
Julie Camacho’s Zapphire finished sixth on his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle last month, but he did not get a clear run inside the final furlong.
Roy Bowring’s Cliffcake has won twice on the all-weather this season but this is tougher.
My preference is for Craig Lidster’s Billyb, who showed improvement on his seasonal reappearance after changing stables. His fine fifth at York stands him in good stead to run well here.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Haydock. Iron Lion
3.00 Haydock. Caernarfon
3.35 Haydock. Noble Dynasty
3.15 Beverley. Billyb
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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