Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
We have Group 1 action to look forward to this Saturday when last year’s top crop of milers take on their elder counterparts in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
The French star Big Rock will be looking to add to the QEII he won at Ascot last October. He will face the Gosden’s Inspiral who defeated him at Deauville in August and who then went on to victory in the Breeders Cup.
ITV Racing backs up that big race with a Group 3, a Listed race and a top-rated handicap, the London Gold Cup, which I have reviewed below.
The day’s second meeting is from HQ, Newmarket, with three televised races, all of which are handicaps, and it’s from here I will be concentrating my efforts for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
So here are my thoughts for the best value for this week’s bets and the reviews of this week’s races.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Newbury. Salt Bay
3.00 Newbury. Fighter Command
2.40 Newmarket. Koy Koy
3.15 Newmarket. Hopeful
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning with the 1.50 at Newbury the Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes a Group 3 contest run over 1m 4f. The favourite here is William Haggas’s Desert Hero, which runs in the King’s colours. He was third in last year’s St Leger, then was only beaten a head at Sandown last month over a shorter trip than he faces here. He is well-fancied and is expected to go close.
Dominic Davies’s Maxi King has won his last three but moves into Group company for the first time.
John and Thady Gosden move Middle Earth up in class after winning a Listed race at Ascot last time, dropping back in trip won’t help him.
Charlie Appleby’s King Of Conquest drops down in class after running 5th in a Group 2 at Newmarket earlier this month. He can go well.
Ralph Beckett’s Salt Bay ran third over this course and distance last month in a Group 3. He can improve on that to be successful here.
The 3.00 at Newbury is the Trade Nation London Gold Cup, a Class 2 race run over 1m 2f. This Heritage Handicap is renowned for being very competitive, and this year is certainly no exception.
Top weight is Paul and Oliver Cole’s Black Run who was a winner at Newmarket in early May. He is upped in class and has plenty of weight.
Favouritism goes to the Aidan O’Brien runner Chantilly who won on heavy ground at Leopardstown in April. He may need plenty of juice in the ground.
David Menuisier’s Goodwood Odyssey was a fine winner at Sandown in April beating Alan King’s Brioni and Michael Bell’s Prepschool. I expect him to confirm those results and improve his own performance. He can be placed here.
Spirit Of Acklam’s two wins have come in Class 5 races for Michael and David Easterby. More would be required here.
Similarly with Ed Walker’s Into Battle, whose best performance was winning a Class 4 at Epsom in May, despite his trainer talking up his chances. A big improvement is required.
I like John and Thady Gosden’s Fighter Command, which made all at Windsor in April and held on despite being lit up early on. If he can be calmed, he has shown he has the ability to take this.
Moving across the country to Newmarket and the 2.40, which is the trustatrader.com Handicap, a 7 furlong Class 2 contest.
Charles Hills’ Divine Libra won at Chester last week and his previous victory was at the same course last July. I tend to be suspicious about Chester’s form and discount him over the wide open spaces of HQ.
Stuart Williams’s Quinault was a star for the stable last year but looks in the grip of the handicapper currently.
Andrew Balding’s Desert Cop won here earlier this month and moves up in trip for the first time.
David O’Meara’s old favourite Summerghand was 6th behind Desert Cop previously, but he has never won over 7f, and I don’t see him starting here.
Top weight Saint Lawrence ran in Group company last month but was well beaten. He reverted to handicaps last time here at Newmarket a fortnight ago and was beaten 5 lengths. He has plenty of weight.
I take a chance with George Boughey’s Koy Koy, who was whisked off to Dubai for the winter after winning at Wolverhampton last year. Although he was unsuccessful, he ran creditably, and I give him a chance.
The JenningsBet Britain’s Leading Independent Bookmakers Handicap is at 3.15. This is a Class 3 race run over 1 mile.
William Stone’s Dashing Roger finished last season winning at Nottingham and here at Newmarket. This season, he has been upped in class, but without success, he drops back to Class 3 Handicaps but has plenty of weight.
Ian Williams’s Aalto ran second on his seasonal reappearance a fortnight ago here at Newmarket. He is expected to go well but has also risen in the weights.
Richard Hannon’s Signcastle City won at Bath earlier this month and is trying to move up in class.
The Newland & Insole Partnership run Great Blasket who won two small races in April and he is another trying for an up in grade. He may be placed.
My preference is for Andrew Balding’s Hopeful, who, after a couple of runs on the all-weather, went to Redcar earlier this month and was desperately unlucky to finish second after racing prominently, he can gain recompense here.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Newbury. Salt Bay
3.00 Newbury. Fighter Command
2.40 Newmarket. Koy Koy
3.15 Newmarket. Hopeful
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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