Saturday's Horse Racing Preview & Tips- 19th August 2023

Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.

There are three meetings being televised this week with the main one being at Newbury which features two Group races and a pair of classy handicaps. ITV are also taking their yearly trip to Ripon from where they will show two handicaps including the Class 2 Great St Wilfrid run over 6 furlongs on the undulating course.

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Finally, they head to Newmarket for “The Grey Horse” handicap. This is always a fine spectacle to see these greys race on the July course.

So plenty of handicaps to look forward to this Saturday and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.

Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.05 Newmarket. Star Of Lady M
3.00 Newbury. Lethal Nymph
2.40 Ripon. Fortamour
3.15 Ripon. It Just Takes Time
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365

Beginning at Newmarket with the 2.05 JenningsBet Grey Horse Handicap, a 6-furlong contest on the July course. This race always makes a thrilling spectacle to see these greys thundering down the track in the summer sunshine and last year’s winner returns to try and regain his crown. That horse is Johnathan Portman’s Strike who registered the only win of his career that day and his form this season has shown some promise, especially his second last time. He has 2 lbs more to carry than last year. Andrew Balding’s Celtic Champion won on the all-weather at Lingfield last February. He has since been gelded and could go well.

Ivan Furtado’s Magical Max won here in June over 7 furlongs but he may find this trip a little on the sharp side. Top weight Silver Samurai trained by Marco Botti should be close here. He ran here at the end of last month finishing fifth and drops down in class.

David O’Meara’s stable is in fine form and he runs Star Of Lady M. She has been running consistently well this season and is sure to go close off her current mark.

The 3.00 at Newbury is the Heart Bingo Summer Sizzler Handicap, a Class 2 contest run over 7 furlongs. Top weight here is David Simcock’s Bless Him who has been running in some top class handicaps recently but his latest run at Ascot was disappointing. This looks easier but his weight is a worry.

Ed Walker runs Popmaster who won at Ascot in July but has disappointed since and is probably best watched.

Saeed Bin Suroor’s Open Mind won in Dubai in January but has not been able to replicate that form since returning to the UK. However, the booking of Oisin Murphy should be noted.

Richard Hannon has a couple of runners with the best probably being Classic who won last month at Sandown. He moves up in class here and can be placed.

But my preference is for Clive Cox’s Lethal Nymph who while not showing the form of last season has been running in top class company. He comes here on a good mark.

Moving north to Ripon and the William Hill Silver Trophy Handicap is at 2.40. This is a 6-furlong Class 4 contest. Top weight here is Ruth Carr’s American Star whose latest run was at Newbury in June where he finished a fair fourth.

Joseph Parr’s Prince Of Bel Lir won at Salisbury last month and if he replicates that form will go close.

Katie Scott’s Thaki was a winner at Ayr last week and turns out quickly in the hope of a double but this is much tougher.

Thornaby Pearl was a course and distance winner last month for trainer Adrian Nicholls but was unable to follow up on heavy going at Nottingham earlier this month.

Ben Haslam’s Fortamour has been busy this season running eight times without success. However, his last three wins have come at this track and he ran a fine second here a fortnight ago. He is fancied to add to his tally.

The big handicap of the day is at 3.15 the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap a 6 furlong Class 2 contest. The draw here is a major factor with 4 of the last 5 runners drawn 15 or higher. The other winner was drawn 6 but there were only 14 runners that year.

Top weight is Philip Kirby’s Anthem National who ran an excellent second in a Listed race at the Curragh last month but his weight is a major factor.

The current favourite is David O’Meara’s superstar Summerghand, a Group winner, who ran a fine fourth at York last month but he is drawn in Stall 7.

Tim Easterby’s Hyperfocus who has won twice here at Ripon, is well drawn in Stall 19 but whose recent form has been poor.

Julie Camacho Raatea won at Haydock in June but never got to terms with the all-weather track at Newcastle last month. He is well drawn (Stall 20) but is unused to the undulations of Ripon.

The best of the lightweights could be Kevin de Foy’s Cairn Gorm who won at York last month but this is a step up in class.

I like Mark Walford’s It Just Takes Time who was a course and distance winner in June. He ran a good second at Pontefract in July then ran ninth when drawn on the ‘wrong’ side at York later in the month. He is well drawn in Stall 18 and is taken to follow up his June victory here.

Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.05 Newmarket. Star Of Lady M
3.00 Newbury. Lethal Nymph
2.40 Ripon. Fortamour
3.15 Ripon. It Just Takes Time
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365

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