Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The racing this week is from two of the country’s major courses, Newmarket and Newbury, and ITV Racing are covering seven races from the two tracks.
👉 Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets for Today's Sporting Action - SIGN UP HERE
Newbury takes centre stage with one of its biggest cards of the year, with five races being covered, a Class 2 Handicap, two Listed races, a Group 3 and the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes.
Meanwhile, at Newmarket, two handicaps are being televised: a Class 3 and a Class 4. I have looked through these contests for value, and here are my thoughts along with this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.35 Newbury. Notable Speech
3.35 Newbury. My Love Is King
1.42 Newmarket. Mr Baloo
2.50 Newmarket. Bobby Bennu
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Starting with the big race of the day, the Boylesports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury is off at 2.35. This Group 1 is run over the straight mile of the Berkshire course. This is a top-class renewal of this great race with Europe’s top milers taking each other on. John and Thady Gosden’s Damysus won a Group 3 at Newmarket last month, adding to the Group 3 he won at the same course last October. Those wins were over 9 furlongs. He may find this on the sharp side.
Andrew Balding’s Jonquil won here at Newbury a year ago, showing he likes the course. His latest run was a victory at Ascot earlier this month in a Listed race. Sure to go well.
William Haggas’s More Thunder won a Group 2 here last August over 7 furlongs. The extra furlong may cause him problems against proven milers.
F-H Graffard’s Sahlan won a Group 1 at Longchamp last September, beating The Lion In Winter.
Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter reversed those placings at Del Mar last November. He won a Listed race at Leopardstown last month in preparation for this, but he has not shown he is up to this class.
Karl Burke’s Zeus Olympios won a Group 2 in resounding fashion at Newmarket last September. He has been described as a Group 1 winner-in-waiting, but he didn’t show that sort of form in his seasonal reappearance at Sandown last month in a Group 2, finishing third.
That leaves me with Charlie Appleby’s Notable Speech, who won two Grade 1s last season at Goodwood and Newmarket. He then went to America and won Grade 1s at Del Mar and Woodbine. His run at Keeneland last month can be excused as he had no clear run and was hampered a furlong out. Class will tell, and he has that in spades.
The 3.45 is the Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap, which is a Class 2 Heritage Handicap run over 1m 2f. Aidan O’Brien has a runner in this, Port Of Spain, who won his maiden at Punchestown last September. He has done little since and has plenty of weight.
Richard Hannon’s Sahara King won at Wolverhampton at the end of last season and ran a good second at Newmarket earlier this month.
Roger Varian’s Al Azd has done most of his running on the all-weather this season and after 3 seconds won at Southwell in April, then came out on the turf at Doncaster later in the month and romped home in a Class 4. This is tougher, but he is on the upgrade and sure to go well.
David Menuisier’s Lost Boys finished off last season by winning at Haydock, then on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown last month. He got home by a short head, another for the shortlist off his low weight.
But my preference is for John and Thady Gosden’s My Love Is King, who won a small race at Newcastle last November, then, last month, ran second here at Newbury, followed by another second in a Listed race at Newmarket earlier this month. He can go one better here.
Moving to Newmarket, and the 1.42 is the Daily Profit Boosts At BetMGM Handicap. This is a Class 4 race run over one mile. The top weight here is Ed Dunlop’s Sterling Knight, who won once last year in 14 attempts and has raced 4 times this year without success. His best days are behind him.
Oliver Cole’s Twisting Physics is the current favourite. He won at Newbury last June and was not seen until racing at Newbury last month, finishing 6th on his seasonal reappearance.
Chris Dwyer’s Jimmy Speaking has won twice already this season at Southwell and Doncaster, a hat-trick is not beyond the realms of impossibility despite the rise in the handicap.
Kevin Frost’s Phone Tag won a small race here at Newmarket towards the end of last season and comes here off a low weight. He can be placed.
I go for an outsider here with Mr Baloo, trained by Richard Hannon. He won at Lingfield last month, then ran poorly twice at Epsom and Kempton. He can bounce back here.
The 2.50 is the Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At BetMGM.co.uk Handicap, this is a Class 3 contest run over 7 furlongs. Last year’s winner Dark Tornado returns to defend his crown.
Michael Wigham’s grey gelding makes his seasonal reappearance after two victories last term. However, top weight may be a problem.
Andrew Balding’s Golden Redemption is the current favourite after finishing second in a Class 2 here at Newmarket earlier this month. He is sure to go well off his low weight.
Tim Easterby’s Son has been runner-up on both his starts this term and may have to settle for a place once again.
George Scott’s Forty Years On had a great season last year, winning on three occasions. He can put up a bold show on his first run of the year.
James Owen’s Goldmoyne has been banging them in on the all-weather this term with four victories, but found the going tougher when upped in class on turf.
I like Roger Varian’s Bobby Bennu who drops down in class after an unsuccessful season in Class 2 races last year. He can get off to a winning start.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.35 Newbury. Notable Speech
3.35 Newbury. My Love Is King
1.42 Newmarket. Mr Baloo
2.50 Newmarket. Bobby Bennu
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Related Reading
