Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
There are races from three venues being televised this week, covering nine races. The principal meeting is at Haydock Park, with five contests shown on ITV Racing. Two Group 2s, a Listed race, and two Class 2 Handicaps.
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There is action from Goodwood, where a Listed race and Class 2 Handicap are on offer, then the action swings to the other end of the country, where York features a Group 2 and another Class 2 Handicap.
So plenty of top-class racing to look forward to this week, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.20 Haydock. Laureate Crown
3.30 Haydock. Asfoora
4.05 Haydock. Pole Star
2.40 York. Air Force One / Squealer ew
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Haydock is the main meeting of the day, with some very competitive racing to look forward to. So, beginning with the 2.20, the William Hill Silver Bowl, this is a Class 2 Handicap for 3-year-olds run over a distance of one mile. Top weight is Andrew Balding’s Sir Albert, who ran up a hat-trick of wins last season. He ran in a Listed race at Lingfield in February and was only beaten 1 1/4 lengths. His weight is a problem here.
Also high in the weights but with more chance is Hugo Palmer’s Laureate Crown, who has won both his starts this season, latterly at Sandown in April in a Class 2. A bold run is expected.
William Haggas’s Princling won a small contest at Wetherby in April when a short-priced favourite, and he can be placed.
Clive Cox’s Langstone has won at Kempton and Doncaster this season, but those races were both Class 4s, and this is a step up in class.
Jack Channon’s Crest Of Fire won a small race at Southwell by 10 lengths in March. It’s hard to judge what he beat, but that was an excellent run, and a repeat gives him a chance here.
I like John and Thady Gosden’s Lightning Thunder, who, after a couple of seconds, finally got his head in front at Nottingham earlier this month. He can hit the frame, but I just prefer Laureate Crown.
At 3.30, it is the William Hill Temple Stakes, a Group 2 contest run over the sharp 5 furlongs. It’s wonderful to see Lemos de Souza’s Asfoora contesting this Group 2. She is a multiple Group 1 winner and won the Nunthorpe and Prix de l’Abbaye last season, and is probably headed to the King Charles III at Royal Ascot, a race she won in 2024. Her latest run was at Newmarket earlier this month, where she finished down the field. Hopefully, that outing has blown the cobwebs away, and this race will show the real Asfoora.
Last year’s winner of this race, Ed Walker’s Mgheera, returns to defend her crown, but her form petered off after that victory. Her latest run was at Longchamp this month in a Group 3, where she ran disappointingly, but she may come on for that run and hit the frame.
Jim Goldie’s American Affair won a Group 1 at Royal Ascot last year but ran poorly at York’s recent Dante meeting over 6 furlongs. The drop back in the trip may help.
Robert Cowell’s Jakajaro has won two decent handicaps already this season, but he is moving on to a different plain here against proven Group horses.
Karl Burke’s Night Raider was given a soft lead in a Group 3 at Newmarket earlier this month and was able to emerge victorious. I don’t think he will get away with those tactics here.
Clive Cox’s Shagraan won a couple of Listed races last season and is a past course and distance winner. I’m expecting a bold run from a stable that excels with its sprinters.
At 4.05, it is the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap, a Class 2 race run over 2 miles. The top weight here is George Scott’s Prydwen, who won at Ripon in April, then ran 5th in a Group 2 in Germany earlier this month. He has every chance of taking this, but his weight is a worry.
Alan King’s Blazeon Five ran second at Newbury in April, beating Charlie Johnson’s Pole Star, who ran 4th. Since then, Pole Star has run third at Newmarket in a hot Class 2. He can reverse those placings at a track he won twice last season, where he will have his supporters.
Jim Goldie’s Humble Spark is off a very low weight with a claimer on his back. He has finished second on his last two outings, both at Hamilton, but is upped in trip here.
Trainer Gary Hanmer has two in this Zinc White and Venezuelan. The former has won on his seasonal reappearance on a couple of occasions, and Venezuelan was very consistent last season. However, this distance is new to him. I am keen on both of these and will watch the betting. However, Pole Star will take all the beating.
For the final leg, I move north to York, and the 2.40 is the William Hill Extra Places Races Daily Handicap, a Class 2 sprint run over 5 furlongs. David and Nicola Barron have the top weight here with Pilgrim, who won at Musselburgh in April and then finished 3rd here at York this month. He is a past York winner and is sure to go well.
Stuart Williams’s King Of Light ran a good second at Goodwood on his seasonal reappearance at the beginning of this month. He can come on for that run.
Kevin Ryan’s Vantheman won at Hamilton last week, but this is much tougher.
Brian Ellison’s Fortification was a winner here at York last week in a Class 3 at a big price. He is upped in class here.
As a big outsider, I give Squealer a squeak. He is a past winner here at York on two occasions in 2022 and 2025. He is worth a small e/ investment.
But my idea of the winner is Geoff Oldroyd’s Air Force One. He can be forgiven his run at the Dante meeting, where he dwelt at the start. Prior to that run, he had won at Beverley in April and can do so again.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.20 Haydock. Laureate Crown
3.30 Haydock. Asfoora
4.05 Haydock. Pole Star
2.40 York. Air Force One / Squealer ew
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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