Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
With the Royal Ascot beginning next Tuesday, this weekend’s racing is pretty ordinary, with ITV Racing travelling all over the country to try to find some decent contests. They are covering action from three meetings, with York being the Premier Raceday on Saturday, with four races being covered, including the Queen Mother’s Cup Handicap, two further handicaps and a Listed race.
Confusingly, Sandown is also delegated as a Premier Raceday with a handicap and a Listed race on offer. Finally, one handicap is shown from Chester, giving us a total of seven races on the day.
So, before I dust off my top hat in preparation for next week, I have looked through Saturday’s cards for value, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 York. Woven
3.35 York. Elmonjed
2.05 Sandown. Bill Silvers
3.20 Chester. Teraabb
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at York with the 2.25 the Sky Bet Proud To Support MacMillan Handicap, this is a 7 furlong Class 3 contest. Top weight is Michael Dods’ Bear Force One, who is having his first run of the season. He won twice last season, and both victories were over a mile. Although he is dropping down in class and given his weight, he may find these too speedy for him over 7 furlongs.
David O’Meara’s New Image won at Musselburgh earlier this month to add to his wins on the all-weather earlier this year. He is upped in class and has risen 4lb for that Scottish win. He may be placed.
The second of Michael Dods’ three runners is Diamondonthehill, who won at Thirsk last month in a race where New Image was fourth, beaten just a length. H is another for the frame.
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Dods’ third runner, Woven, is the one that interests me most after his latest run here at York when he ran fourth in a Class 2 race over 6 furlongs. He is uppped in trip after that fine run and can take this.
I will mention Richard Fahey’s Our Havana, who won at Newmarket in April, and this young horse can hit the frame.
The 3.35 is the Churchill Tyres Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap, a Class 2 race run over 6 furlongs. Clive Cox has the top weight with James’s Delight, a fine winner at Newmarket in May. He then disappointed in a Listed race at Newbury later in the month with the trainer stating he prefers a slower surface. So Cox will be praying for rain.
Tom Ward’s Woodhay Wonder has won his last four, all at Newmarket, and can be expected to go well.
Geoff Oldroyd’s Pocklington won twice on the all-weather at Newcastle and was then sent to Newbury last month, where he ran a good fifth in a Listed race.
Richard Fahey’s Garfield Shadow won at Chester in May, then ran fourth behind Woodhay Wonder at Newmarket. I expect those placings to be confirmed.
Julie Camacho sends Cover Point out for his seasonal reappearance. He won at Sandown last September but this is a much tougher task.
The Coffee Pod was a winner here at York last September for trainer Richard Hannon. On his latest run at Epsom, he suffered interference leaving the stalls. Better is expected.
I prefer William Haggas’s Elmonjed, who ran here last month and went off as a short-priced favourite but, from a wide draw, was unable to get into contention. He will have learned from that and can gain recompense.
At Sandown the 2.05 is Listen To BetMGM On TalkSPORT Handicap a Class 2 one mile contest. William Knight’s Dual Identity is near the top of the handicap, and this Sandown specialist will be well-fancied. He won over this course and distance last month but moves up in class here with a 4lbs penalty.
Roger Teal’s Dancing Magic has shown better form this season, with a second at Chester last month. But he may have to settle for a place once again.
Jonathan Portman’s Two Tempting has won three of his last four, including a Group 2 at Epsom last month (Derby day). But he is up 5lbs for that win.
Dr Richard Newland’s Farasi Lane and David Simcock’s Mascapone faced each other on the all-weather at Newcastle and finished third and fifth, respectively. That was pretty uninspiring in a Class 3 race, and I discount the pair.
I take a chance with Harry Eustace’s Bill Silvers, who will want some give in the ground. He has run prominently in his races this season and then faded. Bold tactics may suit Sandown.
Finally, I move to Chester for the final leg of my Lucky Fifteen; the Horseradish Catering And Events Handicap is at 3.20. This is a Class 2 contest run over 7 1/2f, which is once around the RooDee. Top weight is Tom Clover’s Witness Stand, who ran a fine second here at the May meeting, but his weight is a problem.
David Evans’s Blue Prince contested a Group 3 on Mayday at Ascot but was a well beaten 8th. His latest run was at Goodwood in a Class 2 handicap, where he ran a good 3rd. He can be placed again.
Karl Burke’s Princess Alex has won a couple of lowly contests already this season and ran this month at Musselburgh in a Listed race, finishing down the field. She returns to handicap company.
Charlie Fellowes’s Teraabb won a good race at Newbury in April, then disappointed at Ascot last month, but he’s well drawn here and can take this from Stall 1.
Another who is well drawn is William Haggas’s Monfrid, who won at Catterick in May and then ran 5th at Goodwood behind Blue Prince. I believe this race to be between these three, with Teraabb just getting the nod
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 York. Woven
3.35 York. Elmonjed
2.05 Sandown. Bill Silvers
3.20 Chester. Teraabb
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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