Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
After last week’s Super Saturday, racing appears to be taking a breather this week with four races from Newbury, which include a Group 3, a Listed race and two Class 2s. There is action from Ripon with just one race from the North Yorkshire track, a Class 3 handicap.
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So ITV Racing have turned to Summer Jump Racing for their third meeting to bulk out the programme with a couple of races from Market Rasen, a Class 2 hurdle and a Class 1 chase, the Summer Plate, which they have categorised as a Premier handicap. So that’s it for this week’s offerings.
I’ve looked through the cards for value, and here are my thoughts along with this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.10 Market Rasen. Moon Chime
2.45 Market Rasen. Baltic Bird
2.25 Newbury. Shrimp Shady
3.37 Newbury. Bint Archange
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning with the jumps at Market Rasen and at 2.10 it is the Betway Summer Handicap Hurdle, this Class 2 contest is run over 2m 1/2f. Dan Skelton has the warm favourite here with Louis Veron, who will take all the beating. He won twice last month at Stratford and Warwick. However, those were lowly Class 4 races, but he won easily on both occasions and looks set for better things.
The Killahena & McPherson-trained Moon Chime won the 16-runner Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May, a Grade 3 race. He has since won on the all-weather at Kempton- what’s not to like?
Adrian Keatley’s Newtown Rambler has won three chases already this season, including a Class 2 at Uttoxeter last month, but reverts to hurdling. This must be down to the distance. He can be a threat.
Ben Pauling’s Mojito Des Mottes ran a fine second at Ascot at the end of last season in a Class 2, one for the frame. But I go for Moon Chime to beat the hot-pot, Louis Veron.
The 2.45 is the Betway Summer Plate Handicap Chase, which is a Class 1 Premier Handicap run over 2m 5 1/2f. Dan Skelton is sweeping all before him this summer in his pursuit of another trainer’s title, and he has the favourite here with Kingston Narcissus. He won at Hexham in early May, then ran second in a 3-runner Class 3 at Worcester. His latest run was last month at Uttoxeter, where he again finished second in a 2-mile Class 2. This looks tougher.
Top weight is Dylan Cunha’s Masons Glory, who won over this course and distance last month in a rehearsal for this. His weight is a problem, but he is sure to run well.
Kieron Burke’s Soul Icon was brought down over the National fences at Aintree in April, but he is a class act on his day.
Mickey Bowen’s Queensbury Boy walked over at Hereford in May and has run twice at Uttoxeter since, finishing 2nd and 6th. This is tougher.
My preference is for an Irish runner, William Durkan’s Baltic Bird, who was outclassed at Cheltenham last October but ran a fair 6th in a Listed race at Ballinrobe in May.
I will also mention Mike Sowerby’s Gunsight Ridge, who, although now an 11-year-old, put up a good performance to finish 3rd at Uttoxeter in May. He may be placed at a big price, but it’s Baltic Bird for me.
Moving to Newbury for the 2.25 Pertemps Handicap, this is a Class 2 race run over 2m 1/2f. Top weight is Richard Hughes’s Duraji, who flopped last month at Royal Ascot. He has not won since 2024.
Roger Varian’s Ride The Thunder was placed at Hamilton in May but then ran only 6th at Newcastle last month.
Charlie Johnson’s Bailey’s Khelstar won a Class 4 at Kempton earlier this month and in June won a similar class race here at Newbury. He may be placed.
Faye Bramley’s Almuhit won this race last year and has 3lbs more to carry this time around. He had a prep run here last month and finished second to Bailey’s Khelstar.
I side with Andrew Balding’s Shrimp Shady, who won at Chester in May, then ran a fair sixth in the Northumberland Vase last month. He can bounce back here.
The Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes is at 3.37. This Class 2 for 2-year-olds is run over Newbury’s sharp 5 furlongs. It’s very difficult to judge some of these as their form can be anything, but here we go.
Clive Cox’s Sky Secret won a Class 5 at Leicester in May. The stable does well in races like this.
Archie Watson’s Vollering won a Class 5 at Redcar in April. However, she has been unsuccessful in three runs since joining the Group company. This is an easier task for her to show her capacity, and she has a good chance of a place.
Richard Hannon’s Rollthedicebaby won over 6 furlongs at Goodwood last month in a Class 4. She may find she gets run off her feet over this shorter distance.
Richard Spencer’s Etienne was only beaten a short head at Newmarket last month in a Class 4. He will come on for that effort.
Henry Candy’s Angel Lane is one-from-one after winning at Chepstow last month. She is upped in class here.
Karl Burke’s Kodi Bear Light won a Class 4 at Thirsk in May, then ran disappointingly in a Class 2 at Beverley later in the month when going off favourite.
I take a chance with Richard Hughes’s Bint Archange, who won at Ascot in May, then finished last of 27 at the Royal Meeting. She bounced back by winning a Listed race at Sandown earlier this month. William Buick’s booking is noted, and she gets the nod over Vollering.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.10 Market Rasen. Moon Chime
2.45 Market Rasen. Baltic Bird
2.25 Newbury. Shrimp Shady
3.37 Newbury. Bint Archange
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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