Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The Saturday before Royal Ascot always feels like the calm before the storm, and this year is certainly no exception, with ITV Racing sending their cameras to three separate locations to try and find some decent action.
Their main meeting is from York with four televised races, a Listed race and three handicaps, one of which is the popular Queen Mother’s Cup for Female Amateur Riders, and I can remember Princess Anne winning the inaugural running of it back in the 1980s.
There are two races featured from Sandown: a Listed race and a handicap. Finally, one contest around the turns of the Roodee at Chester, also a handicap, so seven races in all and here are my thoughts for value and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 York. Blue For You
3.35 York. Diligently
2.05 Sandown. Urban Lion
3.20 Chester. Jouncy
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at York with the 1.50 the Macmillan Handicap, this is a Class 3 race run over 7 furlongs. The top weight is Simon & Ed Crisford’s Telemark. He was last seen running at Chester at the end of May in a Class 2 race, where he finished fourth. He has plenty of weight.
John Gallagher’s Havana Pusey is in fine form, having won his last two, the latest of which was a Class 3 at Goodwood last month. This looks tougher.
Geoffrey Harker’s Dashing Darcy was a good second at Haydock last month but looks to have more to do here.
Irish trainer Anthony McCann runs Little Empire off a lightweight. He won a Class 5 in May at Ayr and may have improved to figure here.
Local trainer Richard Fahey has Our Havana in the lineup. He won a Class 2 at Musselburgh in April but disappointed at Thirsk in early May. He drops back in class here and is expected to hit the frame.
But my preference is for David O’Meara’s Blue For You, who has become something of a York specialist, having won here for the last three seasons. He has been disappointing so far this season, but showed good form in a Class 2 at Haydock in April.
York’s 3.35 is the big betting race of the day, the Macmillan Sprint Handicap is a Class 2 contest run over a sharp 6 furlongs for 3-year-olds. The current favourite is Charlie Hills Double Rush, who won a Class 2 at Newmarket in April following a win in a small contest at Wolverhampton the previous month.
Top weight is Michael Dods’ Northern Ticker, who is having his first run of the season after two wins last term. His weight is a problem.
Andrew Balding’s Marchogion won at Newmarket last month, beating several he meets once again here, but he has risen in the weights since that victory.
William Haggas’s Maelstrom has won three times already this season, but this is a major rise in class.
Tom Clover’s Sixtygeesbaby won a small race at Doncaster in April, then ran 4th behind Marchogion at Newmarket the following month.
Clive Cox has a fine record in sprints. He has three in this. The Dragon King won three times last season but ran poorly on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket last month. Fast Track Harry is upped in class here after winning at Doncaster in May. Diligently was a course and distance winner in a Class 2 last August, then ran a fair second at Chester first time out this term, and he gets my vote.
Moving south to Sandown and the 2.05 is the Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap. This Class 2 race is run over one mile. Eve Johnson Houghton’s Balmacarais, top weight, ran consistently well last season and won twice over 7f. This year, he was tried over 10 f on the all-weather but flopped badly. He drops back to a mile here.
Geoffrey Harker’s Dashing Darcy ran a fine second at Haydock last month after previously running badly at Doncaster in March.
Hugo Palmer’s Asteverdi won a Class 4 at Nottingham at the end of last season. She may need this run.
Charlie Johnson’s Urban Sprawl has been tremendously busy this season, having run 13 times. He has won twice at Lingfield but looks out of his depth here.
David O’Meara’s Theoryofeverything won twice last season, including a Class 2 at Ascot. He ran 4th at Haydock on his seasonal reappearance last month, and a bold run is expected.
I like the look of Jack Channon’s Urban Lion, who won on the all-weather at Chelmsford in February. His latest run was at Newbury in April, where he was only beaten a neck. He can gain recompense here.
Finally, we have the 3.20 at Chester, the Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap, a Class 2 race run over 7 1/2 furlongs, which is once around the RooDee.
The current favourite is Andrew Balding’s Jouncy, who was running last year in Group company without success. He has been somewhat disappointing in his two runs this season, but he is well drawn in Stall 3 and should go well.
Hugo Palmer’s Triple Double A has won three lowly contests already this year, but was found out when upped in class at Haydock last month. He has a poor draw in Stall 7.
Clive Cox’s Star Anthem was 3rd in a Group 3 last October but has run poorly in his two races this term, and he has plenty of weight here.
I like Jennie Candish’s Frankie’s Dream despite his indifferent draw in Stall 6. He has won no fewer than six times already this season, but this would be a big step up in class, and I find it difficult to think he can get the better of Jouncy.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 York. Blue For You
3.35 York. Diligently
2.05 Sandown. Urban Lion
3.20 Chester. Jouncy
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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