Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
We have a wonderful day’s racing to look forward to on Saturday from the Knavesmire in York, and ITV Racing cameras are there to cover five races from the meeting. Currently, the going is about perfect after a little rain to give some cut in the ground, meaning no excuses for anyone involved in the action.
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The races being covered include the City Of York Stakes, a magnificent Group 1, a Group 3 and three Class 2 Heritage Handicaps, including the richest handicap in all of Europe, the Ebor. All this makes for an absolutely top-class day’s racing.
But ITV are not finished there as they are also covering a couple of races from the RooDee in Chester, a Listed race and a Class 2 handicap to make up their ITV7 competition. Here are my thoughts for the day’s action and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday York Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Into The Light
3.00 Notable Speech
3.35 Tarriance
4.10 Coul Angel
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
This Saturday’s selections are at York and begin with the 2.25, the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap. This Class 2 Heritage Handicap for 3-year-olds is run over 1m 6f of the Knavesmire. Top weight and well-fancied is Joseph O’Brien’s Limestone, who won a Group 2 at Royal Ascot. He disappointed in a Group 1 at Longchamp last month and drops back into handicap company after that defeat, but he has plenty of weight to carry.
William Haggas’s Infraad was successful at Goodwood last month in a top-rated handicap but has risen in the weights for that victory.
Andrew Balding’s Mythical Bay has won three times this season, including last time at Newmarket when he got home by a nose. He should not be discounted.
Galilean Quality has also won three times for trainer Karl Burke, but those wins came in lower-grade races than this contest.
Ralph Beckett’s Glory Road won a Class 4 at Newcastle last month and looks an improving horse. He may be placed at a decent price.
My preference is for Into The Light, trained by Charlie Appleby. He ran inexplicably badly at Royal Ascot but bounced back with a fine victory at Goodwood last month. He can get the better of Limestone, given that he is 9lbs better off.
The 3.00 is the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes, a Group 1 for 3-year-olds plus. This top-class contest is run over 7 furlongs. William Haggas’s Lake Forest won a Group 2 at Goodwood last month, then inexplicably, his connections decided to run him in a Group 1 the following day, and, unsurprisingly, he finished 7th. He comes here after a break this time to try and get a Group 1 under his belt.
Edward Bethell’s Paborus won a Group 3 on the all-weather at Newcastle in June. His team have had their eye on this race since then. He ran here in Group 3, finishing third and 4 lengths ahead of Lake Forest. Any rain would help his cause.
Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony deserves a whole column to himself. He won a Group 2 at Epsom and a Group 1 at Royal Ascot in June, then ran a fine 4th in a Group 1 at Goodwood having been hampered 2 furlongs out with Lake Forest and Zavateri behind him.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri won a Group 1 at the Curragh last year and has been highly tried this year without success.
Charlie Appleby’s Notable Speech is a triple Group 1 winner, including the 2000Gns last season and the Lockinge at Newbury this term. His run in the Queen Anne at Ascot was very disappointing when he finished 6th. He comes here to make amends.
My heart says Ten Bob Tony, who owes me nothing, but my head says Notable Speech, who also owes me nothing – but I must go with my head, it’s Notable Speech for me.
The big betting race of the day is at 3.35 the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap. This Class 2 Heritage Handicap is run over 1m 6f. The draw has been a great factor in the running of this race, with high numbers favoured. However, winners have come from Stalls 1 and 2 in the last seven years.
Willie Mullins has won two of the last three runnings of this race, and he has Mr Hollywood and Love Me Tender this year. The former ran third in a Class 2 handicap at Royal Ascot and last month won over hurdles at the Galway Festival.
Love Me Tender was bred in Germany and came to Mullins last November. He has won twice on the continent and comes here near the bottom of the handicap. He could be anything.
William Haggas has the top weight with Opportunity, who won handicaps at Carlisle in May and at Royal Ascot in June, then ran a fine second in a Group 3 at Goodwood this month. His weight may be a problem over this extra distance.
Alan King’s Daiquiri Bay has won two Class 2 handicaps this term, including one at Royal Ascot.
George Boughey’s Hopewell Rock won over this distance at Goodwood earlier this month, but he has a 4lb penalty for that win.
Another Haggas horse is Klassleader, who won here at York in May but disappointed at Newmarket last month.
Charlie Johnson’s Align The Stars won at Newcastle in June and is a massive price here. From a good draw, he can be placed.
But my idea of the winner is Andrew Balding’s Tarriance, who was a course and distance winner last season. He ran 5th in a Group 2 here in May and then was 4th, beaten 3 lengths by Hopewell Rock at Goodwood earlier this month. He is 4lbs better off with that horse here.
Finally, the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap is at 4.10. This is a Grade 2 contest run over 6 furlongs. Down near the bottom of the handicap is the well-fancied Tim Easterby trained Red Spells Danger, who won a Class 2 at Ascot earlier this month. Previously, he had run 5th here at York.
Air Force One won here at York on Wednesday for trainer Geoff Oldroyd, his third run of the season at this course.
David O’Meara’s Toca Madera ran third here at York in May. His last two runs have been at Goodwood, where he finished a fair 4th and 5th.
Hugo Palmer’s Stratusnine ran second to Evening Saigon earlier this month, and prior to that, he won here at York in a Class 2 race, beating Coul Angel into second place and Air Force One into third.
It is the second horse, Coul Angel, trained by Michael Appleby, who interests me. He is 7lbs better off with the winner now and is weighted to take this.
Saturday York Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Into The Light
3.00 Notable Speech
3.35 Tarriance
4.10 Coul Angel
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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