Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
There are no fewer than 10 races from three courses being televised on ITV Racing this Saturday with the best of the day’s action from Ascot, Newmarket and Redcar. Ascot is the premier meeting, with five races on show, including two Group 3s, two Listed races, and a Class 2 Heritage Handicap for a mix of talent.
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However, it’s Newmarket where the top-class horses are headed for the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes for Fillies and Mares. This is backed up by a Class 2 Auction Stakes for 2-year-olds and a Class 2 handicap. The Ripon card features two Listed races, both of which are being televised.
So, although there are only two handicaps on the programme, there is still plenty of competitive racing, with horses running without penalties in Class 1s. I have looked through the cards for best value and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Ascot. Regional
3.00 Ascot. Hidden Force
3.35 Ascot. Moonfall
2.10 Newmarket. Ernst Blofeld
Bet this lucky 15 on Betfred
Beginning at Ascot with the 1.50, the BetMGM Rous Stakes is a Listed sprint over 5 furlongs. Geoff Oldroyd’s Air Force One was last seen winning a handicap at Doncaster in September, adding to a victory at York in August. He is upped in class here.
Clive Cox’s Shagraan was second in a Group 3 at Newbury last month. That form should see him go close.
Ollie Sangster’s Tuco Salamanca won a handicap here at Ascot in August, then ran second in the Ayr Gold Cup last month over 6 furlongs. He may find these too speedy.
I give Edward Bethell’s Regional a chance on his drop back to 5 furlongs after finishing 4th at York in early September. He is a proven winner at this level.
The 3.00 is the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes. This Group 3 is a 6-furlong contest. William Haggas’s Elmonjed won a Group 2 at York in May. His latest run was at Deauville in July when he finished 4th.
Clive Cox’s James’s Delight was 4th in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock in early September.
Haggas also runs Division, who has been running consistently and was second in a Group 1 at Deauville in August.
My idea of the winner is Charlie Appleby’s Hidden Force, who has not been seen since finishing third in a Group 3 at Newmarket in April.
The BetMGM Challenge Cup is at 3.35. This well-supported Class 2 Heritage Handicap is run over 7 furlongs. David O’Meara’s Pellitory won the Class 2 Ayr Gold Cup a fortnight ago, but he has a 6lbs penalty for that win.
William Haggas’s Thunder Call is the bookies’ choice after his victory here at Ascot in a Class 2 early last month. He has a big chance if replicating that run.
Saeed Bin Suroor’s Desert Shadow notched up a couple of wins in the summer, then ran second in a Class 3 at Sandown at the end of August. This is a step up in class.
Jamie Osbourne’s Hickory is an Ascot specialist, having won here four times, including in early September when he won a Class 2 over one mile. He can go close.
But my preference is for George Boughey’s Moonfall, who won here in June. He has run two good seconds on his last two outings at Doncaster and Ascot, and he can go one better here.
Finally, moving to Newmarket for the 2.10, the final leg is the Newmarket Handicap, a Class 2 race run over 1m 4f. Top weight is Charlie Johnson’s Evanesco, who won at Hamilton in August then finished 5th in a hot handicap at Leopardstown last month.
Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Primo Lara has won three times this season and ran third last month in a Class 2 handicap at Newbury.
Kevin de Foy’s Tycoon was last seen running 4th at Yarmouth in a Class 3, not quite up to this standard.
Hamad Al Jehani runs Ernst Blofeld, who was a fine second last month at Doncaster. He can go one better here.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Ascot. Regional
3.00 Ascot. Hidden Force
3.35 Ascot. Moonfall
2.10 Newmarket. Ernst Blofeld
Bet this lucky 15 on Betfred
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