Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The principal meeting this Saturday is at Newbury and ITV Racing are covering four races from the Berkshire course, with two sprints being the highlights of the day. These are backed up by a 2-mile handicap and a 10 furlong Listed race.
The second card is from Market Rasen, and it seems very strange to have a jumps meeting as a Premier Raceday at the height of summer. ITV are covering three handicaps from the Lincolnshire track, one of which is the Summer Plate, a £100,000 contest, which has attracted a quality field.
So, on what is a quiet Saturday afternoon’s racing, here are my thoughts for the best value from this week’s seven races and the Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Newbury. Prydwen
3.00 Newbury. Regional
2.40 Market Rasen. Chaos Control
3.15 Market Rasen. Mole Court
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Newbury with the 2.25 the Mettal UK Handicap, this is a Class 2 contest that runs over 2m and 1/2f. The current favourite here is William Haggas’s Naqeeb, who won twice last season. He started this year with two runs in Group 2 company but was unsuccessful, so a drop back to handicaps resulted, but he finished down the field after being denied a clear run at Royal Ascot. More is expected.
Harry Charlton’s Sleeping Lion’s two runs this season have been on the all-weather at Kempton. He has finished a well beaten second on both occasions. More is required.
Kyle Of Lochalsh won for trainer Hughie Morrison at Salisbury in May then ran a fine third in the Ascot Stakes the following month. He should go close here.
Muir & Grassick’s Shagpyle won at Ffos Las last month, but this is a major step up in class.
Ian Williams’s Dancing In Paris is on the upgrade, as shown by his victory at Ascot last week. He can feature off his low weight.
My preference is for George Scott’s top weight, Prydwen, who has won twice on all-weather tracks this season and then ran in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. He was eased when beaten at the 2-mile mark and should be better for this drop back in trip.
The Fidelity Energy Hackwood Stakes is at 3.00. This is a Group 3 race run over 6 furlongs. Last year’s winner Commanche Falls returns to defend his crown, Michael Dod’s superstar is looking for his first win of the season but came close at Haydock last month.
Clive Cox’s Dilligent Harry won twice on the all-weather in February but has been unable to transfer that form to turf.
Karl Burke’s Elite Status won a Listed race over this course and distance in May and is expected to go well here.
Clive Cox has another runner with James’s Delight, who is marching through the ranks this season. He won a Listed race at Deauville on his latest outing earlier this month. He should feature here.
James Fanshawe’s 3-year-old Kind Of Blue was impressive when finishing fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot but he meets his elders for the first time here.
I like Edward Bethell’s Regional, who has run second in two Group races this season, last time in the King Charles III Stakes, a Group 1 at Royal Ascot. He missed the sprint at Sandown last week in favour of this tough contest, and I share the trainer’s optimism.
Moving to Market Rasen and summer jumping the 2.40 is the Unibet Daily Industry Best Prices Summer Handicap Hurdle a Class 2 contest run over 2m 1/2f. Top weight is Jedd O’Keeffe’s Fringill Dike who won at Bangor-On-Dee in May they ran a fine second under top weight at Uttoxeter last month. His weight could be a problem here.
Kerry Lee’s Black Poppy is having his first run of the season. He won first time out last year and is expected to go well.
Adrian Keatley’s Kihavah won here at Market Rasen at the beginning of last month, but this trip may be a little on the sharp side for him.
Mel Rowley’s Maxcel has won two Class 4s this season, but this is a major step up for him.
Dan Skelton’s Mostly Sunny had a couple of wins under his belt this season then ran second to Maxcel at Uttoxeter last month. He also needs to show a major improvement.
David Pipe’s Manuelito won a Class 4 at Ffos Las in May. He is another being upped in class.
I like Stuart Edmunds’ Chaos Control, who was a course and distance winner last month. He loves this course, having also won here in 2023, and can do so again.
The Unibet Summer Plate Handicap Chase is at 3.15. This is a Class 1 Premier Handicap run over 2m 5 1/2f. This race finds that due to withdrawals, weights have risen by 21 lbs so, affecting the chances of those at the bottom of the handicap as they come into the weights proper.
Peter Bowen’s Francky Du Berlais won this race in 2021 and 2022 and comes here on back of two good place runs. He is now an 11-year-old but can hit the frame.
Bowen also runs Statuario who has won on his last two outings both at Perth. He seems to save his best for that course.
Top weight is Sam England’s Al Zaraqaan, who won at Cartmel in May but then made several mistakes at Uttoxeter and finished down the field.
Olly Murphy’s Sure Touch won his final three races last season. He has won here at Market Rasen previously and can go well once again.
Kieran Burke’s Soul Icon has continued to deliver after running up a five-timer in 2022, but his string of recent seconds leaves a question mark.
Dr Newland’s Yccs Portocervo won over this course and distance last month, adding to the previous victory at Newton Abbot. He can be placed despite the step up in class.
Dan Skelton’s Riskintheground is one who has benefited from the rise in weights, having won three times already this summer. I expect him to go very close.
Another who has benefited from the rise is Ben Pauling’s Mole Court, who ran a fine race when 4th at Uttoxeter last month. He would have been closer had he not hit the second last. He will be suited by the going, and he just gets the nod over Riskintheground.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Newbury. Prydwen
3.00 Newbury. Regional
2.40 Market Rasen. Chaos Control
3.15 Market Rasen. Mole Court
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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