Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
ITV are covering seven races from Newbury and Newmarket in the aftermath of the York Dante meeting, and there are some really tricky races on offer. Besides one of the most open Lockinge contests for years at Newbury, there are two 3-year-old races. One is a handicap and the other a Listed contest. Added to this, there is a Group 3 on the card making it tough to find winners.
Things are no easier at Newmarket with three handicaps on offer, two of which are just for 3-year-olds the other for 4yo+.
So on a difficult Saturday, here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
3.00 Newbury. Desert Hero
3.35 Newbury. Laurel
2.05 Newmarket. Acotango
2.40 Newmarket. Eminency
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
The 3.00 at Newbury is the BetVictor London Gold Cup Heritage Handicap run over 10 furlongs. Charlie Appleby has the top weight here with Bold Act who won on the all-weather at Chelmsford last month. More is needed particularly with the weight he has to carry.
Bertinelli comes over from Ireland and Aidan O’Brien’s charge disappointed on his latest run at Cork when he was the beaten favourite.
K R Burke’s Royal Rhyme won over the course and distance a fortnight ago. However, this is a step up in class and looks much tougher, he may be placed.
Richard Fahey has two in this. Old Smoke and Have Secret and the former may be the best of the pair. He won a small race at Thirsk last month and leaps up in class but may hit the frame at a big price.
The King’s horse, Desert Hero trained by William Haggas has his first run of the season after two wins last year. He can add to his tally.
The big race of the day is the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes run over the straight Newbury mile. The current favourite is Charlie Appleby’s Modern Games who won the Breeder’s Cup mile last year. He disappointed last month at Keeneland and is looking to bounce back in this Group 1. He has every chance.
Jadoomi was a triple winner last season for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, including a Group 2 at Leopardstown. He needs to show some improvement.
I like Richard Hannon’s Chindit who won a Listed race earlier this month at Ascot. He can be placed at a big price.
Charles Hills’ Mutasaabeq has to be respected after his two Group 2 wins at Newmarket but some horses who race well at HQ fail to transfer that form to other courses. In those races, he has had Light Infantry, Checkandchallenge and The Wizard Of Eye behind him and I expect him to confirm those placings without hitting the line first.
My idea of the winner is John and Thady Gosden’s Laurel. This lightly raced filly won at Newmarket last July and has won twice on the all-weather at Kempton. Her unlucky second in the Group 1 Sun Chariot at Newmarket last October should be mentioned to show she is up to this class.
Moving east to Newmarket, the 2.05 is the Aspall Cyder 1728 Handicap where John and Thady Gosden have the favourite with Ceanna all of whose runs to date have been on the all-weather one of which was a victory at Southwell where she won easily.
Andrew Balding’s Totnes is a dual winner on the all-weather this season and is not without a chance off a very low weight.
Clive Cox’s Just Bring It won on the all-weather at Kempton in March. However, his run at Nottingham last month was poor.
William Hagga’s Good Gracious could be anything on last year’s form when he ran consistently well and deserved his victory on his final outing at Newcastle. He can hit the frame.
But I just give the nod to Harry and Roger Charlton’s Acotango who ran a fine second in a Class 3 at Haydock last month. He drops down a notch here and if showing that form, he should have too much for these.
Finally, the 2.40 is the Aspall Suffolk Draught Cyder Handicap, a 6-furlong contest. There looks to be some hot sprinters in opposition here with Roger Varian’s Revenite the current favourite after winning twice last season but this is a step up in class.
Another bookie’s fancy is Clive Cox’s Eminency who did not get a clear run when finishing fourth on Kempton’s all-weather last month, he looks a class act.
Kevin de Foy runs Expert Agent who has won three small races on the all-weather. This is a major step up in class.
Similarly with Stuart Williams’s Quinault who has won a couple of lowly-rated contests. This is a major leap for him.
Kevin Ryan’s Washington Heights is worth a mention on the strength of his second here at Newmarket earlier this month. He can hit the frame but it’s Eminency for me.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
3.00 Newbury. Desert Hero
3.35 Newbury. Laurel
2.05 Newmarket. Acotango
2.40 Newmarket. Eminency
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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