Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
Two cracking meetings to look forward to this Saturday and the main action is from Scotland where Ayr stages its biggest day of the year with the Gold Cup being the highlight of the day.
ITV are covering five races from the Scottish track which include a couple of Class 1s along with three fine handicaps of which the Gold Cup is the obvious highlight but there is also a Silver Cup Consolation race for horses that don’t get in the big race itself.
The other meeting on offer is from Newbury which is not outshone by what is going on North of the Border. The card features a Group 2 and two Group 3s and a top class 10 furlong handicap.
So there are nine fine races for us to enjoy this week and here are my thoughts on the best value on offer for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.20 Ayr. Koy Koy
2.30 Ayr. Fortamour
3.40 Ayr. Popmaster
3.25 Newbury. Warren Point
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning with the meeting at Ayr and the first race on the card at 1.50 is the Virgin Bet Handicap run over a mile. The top weight is Richard Spencer’s course and distance winner Revich who won this race last year. He has been quite consistent this season but has 8lbs more to carry than last time.
Keith Dalgleish’s What’s The Story won here at Ayr over this distance at the beginning of August and that added to his good recent form gives him every chance, but he has plenty of weight.
Katie Scott’s Gweedore is an Ayr specialist having won here four times. His latest run was a good second at Musselburgh last month and he may be placed.
Charlie and Mark Johnston’s Dutch Decoy has had a very busy season and was successful at Newmarket last month and is another who will be there at the shake up.
A trainer who is having a great season is George Boughey and his runner Koy Koy is my selection. He won at Newmarket in July and his two runs since then have been in hot company but he has acquitted himself well.
At 2.30 it is the Virgin Bet Ayr Silver Cup Handicap run over the wide straight 6-furlong course. This race is for those horses who did not get into the Gold Cup and usually throw up a big-priced winner.
Iain Jardine’s Abolish will be fancied after a fine second at Haydock earlier this month but he has plenty of weight.
Roger Varian’s Dusky Lord has been highly tried this season but he ran poorly last time.
Emperor Spirit trained by Archie Watson has been running consistently well this season and despite having a big weight he can run into a place.
Tim Easterby’s Snash is a course and distance winner and he is another who has been running well all season but the handicapper seems to have his measure.
Keith Dalgleish’s Aberama Gold is another course and distance winner who has recently been tried on the all-weather he showed some fair form earlier in the season and can be placed here.
But I like a horse lower down the handicap and that is Ben Haslam’s Fortamour who was very successful earlier in the season. He is suited by this distance and if he captures his earlier form he can take this.
The big race of the day is the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap at 3.40. It is run over the same course as the Silver Cup.
Kevin Ryan’s Bielsa returns to defend the crown he won last year and he has only a pound more than he carried then but he has been unsuccessful since stepping up to Class 1 company. This race could reignite him. Commanche Falls is having a great season for Michael Dods capping it by winning the Stewards Cup at Goodwood but top weight here is a big ask.
David O’Meara’s Summerghand is a great servant to the yard winning Group races for them. He won a big pot at York last month and the 5lbs penalty for that win may hold him back.
Charlie Fellowes’ Vadream drops back from Listed company after running second at Newmarket last month, he can go well here.
William Haggas’s Khanjar latest victory at Haydock earlier this month was a fine effort but I think the penalty for that win will hold this young horse back.
Ed Walker is talking up the chances of his Popmaster who he expects to run a big race. He was second in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot but was unsuited by Goodwood in July. He has had a prep run at Ascot and I go along with Walker and expect him to go well. He is my selection.
I like to pick a big outsider in contests like this and I will go for Kevin Ryan’s Gis A Sub to hit the frame at a nice price. He has been highly tried and is respected by his trainer.
At Newbury, it is the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at 3.25 run over 1m 2f. The current favourite is Charlie Appleby’s Warren Point who has shown great form this summer. His only defeat has been in a three-runner contest which was run tactically. He has won three times over the distance he faces here and although he has moved up the handicap it is hard to oppose him here.
Saeed Bin Suroor’s Marching Army comes here after a victory at Yarmouth where he wore a visor for the first time. He could go well if fitted with the same headgear once again.
John and Thady Gosden run Special Envoy who has shown fair form this season winning twice at Windsor. However, when moving up in class at York last time, he was found wanting.
Sea The Casper also moves up in class here for Simon and Ed Crisford. His latest run was a winning one on the all-weather at Kempton but this is much tougher.
William Haggas is having a great season and runs Hamaki here. He has been winning Class 3 and 4 handicaps and has every right to step up in class. He can hit the frame.
Another for the frame at a big price is Ian Williams’s Oneforthegutter who ran well at York in a Class 2 last time showing an improvement in form, a continuation of that would see him go close.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.20 Ayr. Koy Koy
2.30 Ayr. Fortamour
3.40 Ayr. Popmaster
3.25 Newbury. Warren Point
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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