Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
After last week’s Super Saturday, this week’s follow-up seems pretty meagre fare with four races from Newbury, three from the jumps meeting at Market Rasen and the Irish Oaks from the Curragh where Emily Dickinson may be worth an e/w punt against the hot-pot.
Out of the four televised races at Newbury, three are stakes contests, one of which is a 2-year-old sales race, so not the most exciting card in the world. It seems strange to be featuring a jumps meeting in the middle of a July heatwave but as the Summer Plate is being run at Market Rasen this Saturday, ITV have decided to cover three races from the Lincolnshire track all of which are handicaps so they give us something to pick over.
So I have tried to find some value amongst what is on offer and here are my thoughts for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.41 Market Rasen. Galata Bridge
3.14 Market Rasen. Manofthemountain
2.56 Newbury. Happy Romance
3.30 Newbury. Maria Branwell
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Market Rasen with the Unibet 15 To Go Summer Handicap Hurdle where we have a couple of Irish raiders vying for favouritism. Gerald Quinn’s Cirque Royal comes here after a couple of wins in Scotland and he is sure to go close.
The other Irish runner is from Peter Fahey’s yard, Hisnameis Mrdevitt, who runs consistently but fails to get his head in front.
Brian Barr’s Toronto was a winner at Stratford in May but he steps up in class here.
Richard Newland’s Galata Bridge is fancied after his fine victory at Huntingdon in May and a bold run is expected with Sam Twiston-Davies booked to ride.
Alan King’s Caramalised is having his first run since last November so is probably best watched here after dropping back from Graded company, so I just side with Galata Bridge.
At 3.14 it is the Unibet Summer Plate Handicap Chase where Fergal O’Brien’s Mortlach is. Not surprisingly, a very warm favourite. He is a winner of all three of his contests this season but these were all novice chases and here he steps up into Graded company for the first time.
David Pipe’s Al Roc has been very busy this summer running no fewer than eight times and has won half of them. He is a previous Listed race winner in France and a bold run is expected.
La Domaniale trained by Jonjo O’Neill has won twice at Uttoxeter this term but steps up in class here.
Last year’s winner of this race returns to try and reclaim his crown, Peter Bowen’s Francky Du Berlais, who won at Uttoxeter in April but he has 15lbs more on his back than last year.
Emma Lavelle’s Manofthemountain looks the one to beat, he won a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham last year and on his only run this season was a fine second at Uttoxeter in May. That result was all the more remarkable as he lost a shoe. He has the ability to take this.
Moving back to the flat at Newbury and at 2.56, it is the bet365 Hackwood Stakes, a 6-furlong sprint. Clive Cox usually works wonders with his sprinters but things have not clicked with Dilligent Harry and he was well beaten last month at Ascot.
Charlie Appleby’s Man Of Promise was victorious twice at Meydan earlier in the year but so far has not shown that level of form back in the UK.
David Evans’s Rohaan was a winner at Ascot last month but this step up to Group company may prove tough.
Minzaal has proved disappointing for trainer Owen Burrows this term and he has been unable to produce his 2-year-old form.
I tipped up Richard Hannon’s Happy Romance last week at Newmarket but he had little chance after being drawn in the number 1 berth. He comes out very quickly after being given an easy race and won this race last year, he can go in again.
The Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes is at 3.30 and this is a 5f race for 2-year-olds that were bought in ‘specified sales’, hence the name Sales Races. Richard Hannon has four runners here the best of which could be Swift Asset who won at Windsor in June on his second outing.
David O’Meara’s Maria Branwell is highly fancied after victories at Thirsk and Sandown. However, she was beaten into third in Group company last month. She drops down in class here and looks the one to beat.
Rogue Spirit has been successful twice for trainer Tom Clover and should be in the mix.
Another O’Meara horse with a chance is Not For Profit who was last of six first time out at Yarmouth in May but got his act together last month at Hamilton where he made all, he looks interesting but it’s Maria Branwell for me.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.41 Market Rasen. Galata Bridge
3.14 Market Rasen. Manofthemountain
2.56 Newbury. Happy Romance
3.30 Newbury. Maria Branwell
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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