Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
It’s a massive Saturday of racing this week, with three meetings being televised and no fewer than eleven races being shown, including some hotly contested handicaps. The main meeting is at Newmarket, and the highlight is the Group 1 July Cup, where Kinross will appreciate any rain that falls.
Newmarket features four more races, a Group 2 and three handicaps, one of which is the Bunbury Cup, a Heritage Handicap, and I have reviewed that race below.
There are two races being shown from Ascot, a handicap and the Group 2 Summer Mile, while York features four races, which are a Group 3, a Listed race and two handicaps, including the John Smith’s Cup, where a low draw is a great advantage.
So strap yourselves in, settle down and enjoy a fabulous afternoon of top-class racing from the length of the country. Here are my thoughts on the big field handicaps.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.50 Newmarket. Qirat
4.00 Newmarket. Mostabshir
1.45 Ascot. Dream Composer
3.10 York. Enfjaar
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Starting a busy Saturday with the 2.50 at Newmarket the bet365 Mile Handicap a Class 2 contest run over a mile on the July course. The top weight is Karl Burke’s Arabic Legend who comes here on the back of a fine second at The Curragh a fortnight ago. His two previous runs this season have come in Listed company. He may have too much weight.
Charlie Appleby’s First Conquest won here over the Rowley mile in April but has been unsuccessful on his last two outings. The stable is under something of a cloud at present.
Kevin Ryan’s Volterra is another who won over the Rowley mile in May and ran well on the ‘wrong’ side of the track in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. He can go close.
Daarkom runs for William Haggas. He won a small race at Newcastle last November and had a prep run at Windsor last month, finishing third. A massive improvement would be required to feature here.
Down at the bottom of the handicap is Philip McBride’s Charming Whisper, who has won on his last two outings, but he steps up in class; however, he has a claimer booked who takes another 3lbs off his back. He could squeak a place at a big price.
But my idea of the winner is Ralph Beckett’s Quirat, who went off joint-favourite for the Britannia and finished sixth. He had previously won at Goodwood and looks a Group horse in the making.
The 4.00 is the bet365 Bunbury Cup, a 7 furlong Class 2 contest where there is a warm favourite, Michael Bell’s Carrytheone. The reason for his favouritism is his third-place run in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month despite not having a clear run. He had previously won over 7 furlongs on the Rowley course, and Ryan Moore is booked to ride.
The Buckingham Palace looks the answer here with several of these due to oppose once again.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s Awaal ran third in a Listed race at Redcar last October then a fortnight later was highly fancied over a mile at Ascot in a handicap but flopped badly. He has plenty of weight.
But back to the Buckingham Palace and those who finished close to Carrytheone. Charles Hills Divine Libra was sixth, just over two lengths behind Carrytheone. He had previously won at Chester in May, but form from that course is not always reliable.
John and Thady Gosden’s Mostabshir was fourth at Ascot and lost two places near the winning post. I am taking him to keep going to the line this time.
At Ascot the 1.45 is the A1R Services Heritage Handicap a Class 2 race run over the sharp 5 furlongs. I have tipped up Andrew Balding’s King’s Lynn on several occasions, and while he has run well and been placed, he has not won for two years despite showing better form recently, especially last time out when finishing second at Newcastle last month. This time, I will pass him over at my peril!
The top weight is David Evans’s Rohaan. He is an Ascot specialist, having won here five times but always over 6 furlongs. His weight is also a problem.
Archie Watson’s Albasheer won over 5 furlongs at Newcastle in March, but he has disappointed since.
George Baker’s Got It has won his last two at Epsom and Windsor but steps up in class here. More is required.
Rod Millman’s Woolhampton is a dual course and distance winner and won at Windsor last month. This is much tougher.
Michael Bell’s Brave Nation won at Doncaster last week and has been running well all season; he can go close.
But I like James Evans’s Dream Composer, who is a course and distance winner and won at Epsom at the beginning of June. He didn’t get to grips with the course at Sandown last time, so he will be better here.
Moving north to York and the 3.10 the John Smith’s Cup Handicap a Class 2 contest run over 1m 2 1/2f where the draw can be very important as the bend comes very quickly after the start and an inside draw is imperative to get to the front.
Roger Varian’s Botanical won over this course and distance in May, then disappointed in a Listed race at Ascot in June. He is drawn 6 of the 24 runners and has plenty of weight.
Karl Burke’s Liberty Lane won at Newmarket in May, then finished down the field after not getting a clear run at Epsom at the end of that month. He is drawn 23 in the car park.
William Haggas’s Remaadd is only a three-year-old but has shown flashes of good form, including when third at Sandown in April. The yard is to be respected, drawn 2.
Alan King’s Paradias has had just one run this season when he finished second or Epsom at the end of May. He is drawn 7 and can go well.
Michael Bell’s Tony Montana won twice earlier in the season, but when he stepped up to this grade, he was beaten out of sight. He should have learnt something from that run, drawn 10.
I side with Roger Varian’s Enfjaar, who has the perfect draw, 1. He won a Class 3 on the all-weather at Chelmsford last month in good style and looks fully able to step up in class here.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.50 Newmarket. Qirat
4.00 Newmarket. Mostabshir
1.45 Ascot. Dream Composer
3.10 York. Enfjaar
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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