Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
There are eight races from three different courses being covered by ITV Racing this Saturday as they search for the best quality racing from around the country.
Sandown is the principal meeting from where four races are being televised. They consist of two Group 3s and two handicaps, a Class 2 and a Class 3.
From Chester, they are showing a Listed race and a Class 2 handicap around the twists and turns of the RooDee. They have also managed to fit in their annual pilgrimage to Beverley for two races, a Class 4 handicap and the Listed Beverley Bullet- the track’s 5-furlong yearly sprint.
So it’s racing from three unique courses, each with its own quirks, making it quite challenging to find much value in this week’s contests, but here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Kodi Lion
2.25 Sandown. American Gal
3.00 Sandown. Saddadd
2.05 Beverley. Adrestia
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Sandown with the 1.50, the Download The BetMGM App Handicap, a Class 3 contest run over 7 furlongs. Top weight here is Charles Hills’ Galeron, who made no impression when running at Royal Ascot in June, then ran down the field here at Sandown the following month. Later that month, he was last of 21 at Ascot and was reported to have an irregular heartbeat. He drops in class here, hoping for better.
Tom Clover’s God Of War has been just out of the places on his last two outings. An improvement is required.
Richard Hannon’s Angel Hunter is having his first run of the season. He won a Class 4 last year but is probably best watched here as he begins his Autumn campaign.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Walson’s Law has won two lowly contests at Newbury and Windsor this summer, but this is tougher.
Ed Walker’s Woroodd has won her last two races, both Class 4s. She has been waiting for some ease in the ground and has a good chance.
But my preference is for Michael Appleby’s Kodi Lion, who won a Class 3 at Haydock back in May. In his latest run at the same Merseyside track, he was unlucky not to get a clear run but ran on for second in the final furlong. He can go one better here.
Sandown’s 2.25 is the BetMGM Atalanta Stakes, a Group 3 contest for fillies and mares run over a mile. John and Thady Gosden have two of the principals here with Spiritual and Cajole.
Spiritual runs with a 3lb penalty after winning a Group 3 at Epsom in June. Her latest run was at Deauville in a Group 1 earlier this month, where she trailed in last of 13.
Cajole won a lowly maiden in May and then was runner-up on three occasions. Her latest run at Ascot saw her finish 5th two lengths behind the winner.
William Haggas’s Alobayyeh is having only her second run of her career after winning a Class 4 at Yarmouth last October. This is a huge step up in class, but Haggas thinks a lot of her.
Andrew Balding’s Blue Bolt is the obvious favourite after three victories. However, two of those wins came in Class 2 contests, and the latest was in a Listed race here at Sandown in July, where she beat Cajole. This is tougher, but the stable has had a fine summer.
I prefer Ed Walker’s American Gal, who won a Listed race at Chantilly in May. Since then, she was outclassed but not disgraced in a Group 1 at the same course. I was very impressed with her latest run at Ascot last month, where she was only beaten a neck. Walker considers her more than capable of winning a Group 3.
The Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap is a 1m 2f Class 2 race. Hugo Palmer’s Grey Cuban has top weight. He won at the third time of asking at Chester in July, then later in the month went to Goodwood but ran a shocker and was beaten by over 30 lengths.
James Tate’s Flying Frontier recorded his second victory here at Sandown last month, and a good run is expected.
William Haggas’s Castle Cove won a Class 3 at Chester in June but was beaten 5 lengths at Goodwood in a Class 2 last month.
John and Thady Gosden run Dangerman, who has won two Class 4 races here at Sandown in the last 5 weeks. This is a big step up in class for this young horse.
Jack Morland’s Gaassee comes here on the back of a Haydock victory three weeks ago, but this is tougher.
Roger Varian’s Saddadd looks the answer here. He ran into a classy individual when finishing second at Newbury in April, but then went on to dominate at the same course the following month. He goes well fresh and can take this.
Moving north to Beverley and the 2.05 is the William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes. This is a Listed race run over the sharp 5 Furlongs. The current favourite is Edward Bethell’s Regional, who is a past Group 1 winner at Haydock. He has been placed in three Group races this term and was unlucky at Deauville earlier this month when his noseband displaced and covered his eyes. He has every chance here.
Clive Cox’s Kerdos won a Group 2 at Haydock last year but has not shown that sort of form this term. I prefer Cox’s other runner, Redorange, who was a good 4th at Ascot in July, then ran a fine 3rd at Goodwood later in the month. He went off favourite at Deauville earlier this month but was beaten over the last 100 yards. More is required.
TJ Kent’s Habooba has won a couple of handicaps this year, but she’s playing with the grown-ups here.
I take a chance with Simon and Ed Crisford’s Adrestia, who can win or lose this in the first 10 yards. She is drawn in Stall 1 and needs to burst out of the stalls and give the others something to catch. She won a 3-year-old race at Royal Ascot, then ran a fine 4th in a Group 3 at Sandown last month. Later, she was beaten by a nose in a 20-runner field at Goodwood, later in the month. Regional is the one to beat. It all depends on the start.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Kodi Lion
2.25 Sandown. American Gal
3.00 Sandown. Saddadd
2.05 Beverley. Adrestia
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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