Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
Saturday’s televised racing visits three different venues this week with the cameras at Ascot, Newmarket and Redcar.
The Ascot card features five races, two Group 3s, two Listed races and a Class 2 handicap. While HQ, Newmarket, has four televised races, including the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes, a Class 2 two-year-old Auction Stakes and two Class 2 Fillies Handicaps.
ITV Racing are also taking a trip up to Redcar for a two-year-old Listed contest. So plenty to look forward to with no fewer than ten races on offer. I have trawled through the cards looking for value bets, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Ascot. Cajole
3.35 Ascot. Two Tribes
2.05 Newmarket. Starlight Time
3.20 Redcar. Hollywood Treasure
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Ascot with the 1.15, the McGee Group British EBF October Stakes is a Listed race for fillies and mares run over 7 furlongs. Karl Burke’s Bright Thunder carries a 3lb penalty for winning a Listed race at Deauville in July. On her latest run earlier this month at Doncaster, she was only beaten a short head and is expected to go close here.
However, 3-year-olds have a good record in this race, and it’s from this group I think the winner will come from.
Circios, trained by Ralph Beckett, won a small race at Redcar in July after finishing runner-up on her previous two occasions. This is tougher.
Ollie Sangster’s Flight disappointed at Sandown in August after winning her maiden at the same course last year.
William Haggas has a good record in this, and his entry Nardra was a well-beaten second at Leicester in July. A major improvement is required.
I like John and Thady Gosden’s Cajole, who was 4th in a Group 3 at Sandown last month, finishing in front of Bright Thunder and Flight.
Ascot’s 3.35 is the BetMGM Challenge Cup Handicap, a Class 2 contest run over 7 furlongs. Top weight is the Irish-trained Rahmi, the charge of JP Murtagh, who won at Leopardstown last month.
10 stone may be a problem.
Karl Burke’s Native Warrior has won two top-class handicaps this season and has risen in the weights accordingly, but he has the ability to go very close.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Great Acclaim won at Chepstow and Goodwood in the summer and has been runner-up on his last two outings. He is another who can go well despite his weight.
Tony Coyle and Kaine Wood run Thunder Roar who turns out quickly after winning at Ayr a fortnight ago. He looks more of a miler these days.
Ed Walker’s Hafeet Alain has not been seen since winning at Sandown in May. He is another who prefers to run over a mile.
Jamie Osbourne’s Hickory loves it here at Ascot and won here in May and last month. Another bold run is expected.
But I go for one of the class horses in the race, Richard Spencer’s Two Tribes, who was a course and distance winner in July, then came out and won at Goodwood in August. He just lost second in the final strides at York later that month, then dwelt in the stalls in the Ayr Gold Cup. I put that last race behind him and take him to get back to winning ways.
The 2.05 at Newmarket is the £150,000 Tatterstall’s October Auction Stakes, a 7 furlongs Class 2 race for 2-year-olds with no fewer than 26 runners. William Knight’s True Test is the current favourite after two victories already this season and finishing a fine second at Newbury earlier this month. A bold run is expected.
Marco Botti’s Colori Forever won at Yarmouth in August and is expected to run well.
James Owen’s Wetsand has won two highly rated races at Doncaster and Goodwood, and she finished a good second also at Goodwood last week.
Jane Chappell-Hyam’s Harlequin Angel won over this course and distance after being placed on her two previous starts, but she will find this tougher.
Richard Spencer’s You Sexy Thing won at Sandown in August, and the booking of William Buick should be noted.
But I go for Roger Varian’s Starlight Time, who easily won his maiden at Epsom in July. He has been held back for this since and is highly fancied.
Finally, I will move north to Redcar for the final leg of the Lucky Fifteen. The 3:20 is the William Hill Two-Year-Old Trophy, a Listed race run over 6 furlongs. Clive Cox’s Song Of The Clyde is the current favourite after wins at Chester and York. He ran a fine second on his latest outing at Doncaster last month and is expected to go well again.
Kevin Ryan’s Isle Of Fernandez won a small race at Carlisle last month, then she ran third at Ayr 11 days later. This is tougher.
Tim Easterby’s Storm Esme won on the all-weather at Newcastle last month, but this is a higher-class contest.
Ardisia, trained by Hugo Palmer, has had a busy season winning on three occasions, including his last outing at Ayr last month. He can hit the frame once again.
Kevin de Foy’s Hollywood Treasure won a Listed race at Newbury in August, then finished down the field in a Group 3 at Longchamp at the end of that month. I expect her to go well as the class horse in the race and take this.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Ascot. Cajole
3.35 Ascot. Two Tribes
2.05 Newmarket. Starlight Time
3.20 Redcar. Hollywood Treasure
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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