Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
We have three meetings to look forward to on ITV Racing this Saturday with Ascot, Newmarket and Redcar being featured. There are four races being televised from Ascot with two Group 3s, a Listed race and the ultra-competitive Howden Challenge Cup which I’ve featured below.
Newmarket features a Fillies Handicap, a 2-year-old Auction race and the Group 1 Sun Chariot which is an all-aged Fillies Mile on the Rowley course.
Finally, there is the Two Year Old Trophy from Redcar, a Listed contest where Clive Cox’s Dragon Leader is a short-priced favourite but Hugo Palmer’s Golden Trick owned by the Bronte Collection would be a popular winner at the North Yorkshire course.
There is a dearth of handicaps this week but here are my thoughts for value at this week’s meetings for the Lucky Fifteen, good luck everyone.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.30 Newmarket. Morning Poem
1.50 Ascot. Nymphadora
3.00 Ascot. Pink Crystal
3.35 Ascot. Fresh
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Newmarket with the 1.30 the British EBF Premier Fillies Handicap run over 1m 2f on the Rowley course where Charlie Appleby’s Whispering Words looks the probable favourite after having Ryan Moore booked to ride. She won here on the July course in August. Since then, she has run second on the all-weather at Kempton last month both of which were Class 4 races. This is a big step up in class.
Roger Varian’s Red Danielle was second in a hot contest at Newbury in July then won a poor race at Yarmouth at long odds-on in August. A lot more is required here.
Prenup has won three times this season for trainer Jane Chappell-Hyam but this is a step up for the filly. Similarly with Ralph Beckett’s Lady Boba who won a Class 5 at Ffos Las in July.
John and Thady Gosden have two runners, Queen Regent and Morning Poem, and despite Oisin Murphy choosing the former it’s Morning Poem that interests me. She won at both two and three then was deemed good enough to run in a Listed contest at Salisbury 14 months ago where she finished fifth.
She has only run once this season and that was last month at Yarmouth where she came home in 8th place in another Listed race. This drop back to handicap company gives her the chance to get her head in front.
Moving to Ascot and the 1.50 is the Blue Eagle Rous Stakes a 5 furlong Listed contest. I saw Emeraaty Ana win the Sprint Cup in 2021 and am surprised he hasn’t won since. Trainer Kevin Ryan has kept him in Class 1 races without success but he is after all a Group 1 winner and I was surprised he didn’t come back to Haydock last month.
So he turns up in Listed company here and is a short price to win this and although he has shown some decent form on his last two outings I am willing to take him on.
The obvious candidate is Karl Burke’s Korker who gained a fine victory at Beverley in September but is stepping up to Listed company for the first time.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby has been beaten by both the aforementioned horses recently and a major improvement is required to feature.
John Butler’s Designer won at York in August then ran fourth in a Group 3 at Newbury last month.
Andrew Balding’s Nymphadora was second in that Newbury race beaten only a neck in heavy going, she won twice earlier in the season and may add to her tally here.
The John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes is at 3.00, this Class 3 contest is run over 6 furlongs and features some of our top sprinters, one of which is Commanche Falls.
Michael Dods’s star has won three of his last four latterly at York and he should take all the beating. That said, he has never won at Ascot!
Charles Hills’ Garrus won at Newmarket back in April but has been unsuccessful since. That said, he has been highly tried and ran 8th in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last time.
Michael Appleby’s Annaf was 7th in the Sprint Cup then won carrying top weight in a handicap at Doncaster last month.
Appleby’s other runner Juan Les Pins has run well without success after a fine season in handicaps last year.
Ed Walker is upbeat about Dark Trooper after four handicap wins saying his charge is in flying form and is progressive. He would be pleased with a place.
William Haggas’s Pink Crystal won at Ayr last month and swerves the Rous Stakes to take on this Class 3. She has previously run a fine fourth at York. Her continued improvement can see her take this.
The big handicap of the day is at 3.35 the Howden Challenge Cup, a Class 2 handicap run over 7 furlongs. Top weight here is Ed Walker’s Popmaster who scorched home to win a Listed race at Newbury last month so he finds himself with a 6lbs penalty, that may hold him back.
Another who is high in the weights is George Boughey’s Baradar who was a course and distance winner in July. From there, he went on to win at Doncaster last month and comes here on a hat-trick but again his weight is a factor.
Quinault has been a winning machine this season for trainer Stuart Williams with seven victories, including here at Ascot last month, but I think the handicapper has caught up with him.
David O’Meara’s Rhoscolyn has won three times at Goodwood this season and finds himself with a 6lb penalty.
James Fanshawe’s Fresh loves Ascot and always runs well here having won three times at the course and he is my selection. I will give a mention to last year’s winner Escobar, David O’Meara will have him spot on and he can be placed at a nice price, but it’s Fresh for me.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.30 Newmarket. Morning Poem
1.50 Ascot. Nymphadora
3.00 Ascot. Pink Crystal
3.35 Ascot. Fresh
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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