Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
After the pomp and circumstance of Royal Ascot last week, it is somewhat quieter fare this week, but don’t say that to the patrons of Newcastle and York, as the action switches to the north of England.
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The main meeting on ITV Racing is at Gosforth Park in Newcastle, where the highlight on the card is the Class 2 Northumberland Plate, aka the Pitman’s Derby. There are also three further Class 2s on the card along with a Group 3 sprint.
The other meeting being televised is from the Knavesmire in York, from where three races are being covered – a Group 3 and two handicaps. So it’s Look North this week, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 York. Fortification
1.40 Newcastle. Bobby Bennu
3.15 Newcastle. Synergism
3.45 Newcastle. Tuco Salamanca
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning with the 2.25 at York with the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap, a Class 2 run over a sharp 5 furlongs. David O’Meara has the top weight here with Manatee Mehmas, who won at Doncaster in April and, since then, has run in two Listed races without success. He drops back into handicap company, hoping for a change of fortune, but has plenty of weight.
Richard Hughes’s Our Cody finished a place in front of Manatee Mehmas at Sandown earlier this month in a Listed race and is 1lb better off here.
Katie Scott’s Naana’s Shadow has won twice this season, including last time out at Epsom at the beginning of this month. A bold run is expected.
Rotokura Belle has won twice for trainer Ivan Furtado, but both wins were in lowly contests. However, the latest was over this course and distance.
I prefer Brian Ellison’s Fortification, who won here at York in May, and both his subsequent runs have been at this same track. He ran a fine third a fortnight ago over 6 furlongs and drops down to his favoured distance here.
Moving to Newcastle for one of their big meetings of the year, and a fine card starts with the 1.40 the Education Network Handicap. This is a Class 2 race run over 7 furlongs. The obvious favourite here is Ian Williams’s Supido, who won at Chester at their May Meeting, then ran third there at the end of the month.
Harry Charlton’s Tremolo makes his seasonal reappearance after finishing third here last August. He will be suited by the track.
Michael Herrington’s Nikovo was second in that race last August, and he has won four times here at Newcastle, the latest being in March, but his wins have all come in lower classes than this.
Down at the bottom of the handicap lurks James Fanshawe’s Caviar Cowboy, who won at Lingfield in April, then ran a fine second in a Class 4 at Kempton the following month. He can go well off his low weight.
Roger Varian’s Bobby Bennu looks on a good handicap mark after finishing fourth in a hot handicap at Chester at the end of last month, and I take him to score here.
The big betting race of the day is at 3.15, the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Handicap. This Class 2 Heritage Handicap is run over 2m 1/2f. Known as the Pitman’s Derby, this distance handicap always attracts some top-class horses, remember Trueshan, and while there may not be entrants of that calibre, it is still a strong field.
The current favourite is Richard Hughes’s Circus Of Rome, who won here at Gosforth Park last August, then ran in Listed company. He has been running over shorter distances in preparation for this, and is sure to go close.
George Scott’s Prydwen ran second over this course and distance in April, then won at Ripon before going to Germany to finish 5th in a Group 2. His weight is a problem.
Andrew Balding won this last year with Spirit Mixer, who sprang a surprise at 25/1. He has 8lb more to carry this time, and a repeat looks unlikely.
Roger Varian’s Ride The Thunder ran third at Hamilton on his seasonal reappearance last month. He is up in trip here, and more is required.
I look to Sir Mark Prescott’s Synergism to take this after his fine win at Lingfield last month and his four wins last season. As an outsider, I also look to Moon Over Miami after his fine run at Goodwood last time, but it’s Synergism for me.
At 3.45, it is the JenningsBet Over200 Shops Nationwide Handbook. This is a Class 2 handicap run over 6 furlongs. The favourite here is William Haggas’s Power Fizz, who won over this course and distance in March. He is certain to go close. His nearest rival is Ollie Sangster’s Tuco Salamanca, who won here at Newcastle last August and won well at Kempton in March. His latest run was in a hot handicap at York last month. He can upset the Haggas applecart.
Robert Cowell’s Fahrenheit Seven won here in February, then went on to win at Southwell. This is tougher.
Lower down the handicap is another Sangster runner, Al Najashi, who rattled up a 5-timer earlier in the season, two of those wins came here at Newcastle, one of which was a Class 2. So he may be in the shakeup.
Also among the bottom weights is Richard Fahey’s Strike Red, who won at Leicester in April and has been racing in some top-class company since. He has a definite chance, but I go for Tuco Salamanca.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 York. Fortification
1.40 Newcastle. Bobby Bennu
3.15 Newcastle. Synergism
3.45 Newcastle. Tuco Salamanca
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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