Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
It really is Super Saturday this week with action from the UK’s top three racecourses, Ascot, York and Newmarket. ITV Racing are offering us no fewer than 12 races this week, with the first off at 1.40 and the final at 4.55, making it a huge day of racing with something for everyone.
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Newmarket is the day’s premier fixture, with six races being televised from the July course. The Group 1 July Cup is the highlight of the day, with Venetian Sun getting the fillies and age allowance, and the day is backed up by a Group 2, three Class 2 handicaps, and a Class 3 maiden contest.
There are four races being shown from the Knavesmire in York. A Group 3, a Listed race and two Class 2 handicaps, including the John Smith’s Cup, while Ascot’s first two races are also being televised, consisting of a Group 2 and a Class 2 handicap.
So there are six handicaps from the three courses for punters to get their teeth into, and I have trawled through them to look for value. Here are my thoughts, along with this week’s Lucky Fifteen. Good luck, everyone!
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.55 Ascot. Toca Madera
2.39 York. Cerulean Bay
3.45 York. Hand Of God
3.25 Newmarket. Great Acclaim
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Ascot with the 1.55, the Club 26 Heritage Handicap, this Class 2 race is run over the course’s lush 5 furlongs. Stuart Williams’s King Of Light won at Windsor last month with Fandom and Regal Envoy behind him, but he has risen 7lbs in the handicap since then, making this hot handicap a tough ask.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Havana Hurricane ran in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot but was beaten by over 12 lengths. Since then, he has run in a 5-horse contest at Sandown, finishing third. This is tougher.
Hugo Palmer’s Dubai Bling came back from winning in Bahrain in April to finish second at Chester’s May meeting, beaten just a head. He didn’t get a clear run when finishing 10th in the Wokingham here at Ascot last month, and I expect him to go very close here.
George Scott’s Behike has won twice at Lingfield this term but was sent out in a Group 1 here last month and was totally outclassed, finishing 18th of 26, beaten by over 5 lengths.
Annaf is a fine old warrior for trainer Michael Appleby. He has won twice at Ascot, but over 6 furlongs, he is yet to score this season and has plenty of weight here.
The answer here could be David O’Meara’s Tocoa Madera, who was favourite when finishing 6th at The Curragh a fortnight ago. Earlier in June, he won easily at Doncaster in a Class 3 and just gets the nod over Dubai Bling.
Moving north to York, “The Ascot Of The North”, the 2.39 is the John Smith’s Racing Handicap, a Class 2 contest run over one mile. There has been money coming in for Charlie Fellowes’s Cosi Bello, who won at Haydock in April, but he disappointed in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot, finishing 10th of 28 runners, beaten by almost 6 lengths.
Kevin Ryan’s Apiarist plied his trade on the all-weather courses earlier in the season, winning once at Lingfield. He also ran at Buckingham Palace, finishing 18th, beaten by 8 lengths.
Andrew Balding’s The Lost King won two Class 2 races on all-weather courses at Kempton and Wolverhampton in January and March. He then ran 4th at Newmarket in May before finishing second-last, 27th, in the Buckingham Palace after initially racing prominently.
Top weight David Of Athens, trained by Hamad Al Jehani, has only ever run on man-made surfaces. He has won twice this season at Jebel Ali, including a Group 3 in February. He was never going well at Meydan in March, finishing last of 12. This is his first run on grass. He could be anything, but he has plenty of weight.
David O’Meara’s Cerulean Bay was tipped up by me last week but was withdrawn, but I have no problem picking him once again. He ran a good 5th of 28 at Royal Ascot, one place behind Indalo, who won last week. Prior to that, he ran a fine second here at York in May, beaten just a neck. He can go one better this time.
York’s 3.45 is the John Smith’s Cup. This Heritage Handicap is a Class 2 race run over 1m 2 1/2f. Low drawn horses have fared well over the last few years, but last year’s winner came from the outside stall, surprising everyone. It remains to be seen if this year’s protagonists use the same tactics.
The King’s horse Warrant Holder, trained by John and Thady Gosden, ran second at Royal Ascot after previously winning here at York in May, beating several opponents he meets once again. His weight may tell, drawn 9.
William Haggas’s Yabher won at Goodwood in May on his only outing this season. This could be a prep run as he heads there again for their ‘Glorious’ meeting at the end of this month. Another with plenty of weight, drawn 13.
Edward Bethell’s Danger Bay won at Redcar in May on his seasonal reappearance. This race has been his target since then, well drawn in stall 3.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s Will Scarlet won on the all-weather at Newcastle two weeks ago after winning at Meydan in March. He had a successful season last year in France, drawing 2.
Roger Varian’s Raammee has run two good races at Sandown in recent months, finishing fourth and second, but he is badly drawn in stall 14.
At the bottom of the handicap lurks Richard Hannon’s Pearl River, who won a Class 4 over this course and distance in May. He was only beaten a neck at Salisbury last month and could go well off his low weight from stall 5.
But my preference is for Harry Charlton’s Hand Of God, who is beautifully drawn in stall 1. He won going away at Newbury in May and is on a good handicap mark to be successful here.
Finally, it is the 3.25 at HQ, Newmarket, the Betway Bunbury Cup. This is also a Class 2 Heritage Handicap run over 7 furlongs on the July course. The current favourite is Ian Williams’s Aalto, who won this race two years ago. He has 2 lbs less to carry this year and ran a fine second over this course and distance last month. Sure to go close.
I was impressed with Ian Williams’s Supido when he won at Chester in May, but he has not followed up that victory. He is on a good mark here and may be placed.
Charles Hills’ Elarak ran a fine race at Royal Ascot, beaten by only a neck. Another bold run is expected.
In third place, a neck behind Elarak, was Eve Johnson Houghton’s Great Acclaim, who has been closely placed in his last three outings. He may have the beating of Elarak here.
Another who has been running the judge close is James Fanshawe’s Back In Black. He ran second on the all-weather at Newcastle last month in preparation for this, but between the two, I go with Great Acclaim.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.55 Ascot. Toca Madera
2.39 York. Cerulean Bay
3.45 York. Hand Of God
3.25 Newmarket. Great Acclaim
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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