Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
Sandown takes pride of place this Saturday with the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse the highlight of a fine day’s racing. The Gosden’s Ombudsman is a very short-priced favourite for this after his fine victory at Royal Ascot. However, he failed to cope with the stiff uphill finish here at Sandown in May. And if that is the case, once again, he may be susceptible to the strong finish of Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix, who failed to cope with the switchback nature of Epsom in this year’s Derby.
The rest of the Sandown card features a Group 3, a Listed race and a Class 2 handicap. The Sandown card is backed up by three good races from Haydock, which include the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks and two very competitive Class 2 handicaps.
So we have a fine afternoon’s racing to look forward to this weekend on ITV Racing with seven very competitive contests, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Adrestia
2.25 Sandown. Treasure Time
2.05 Haydock. Way Of Stars
3.15 Haydock. My Dream World
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Sandown with the 1.50, the Coral Charge is a Group 3 race run over the minimum distance of 5 furlongs. There’s an Irish raider at the head of the market with Jack Davison’s She’s Quality, who has had two runs in the UK this term, finishing second at Haydock and Newmarket last month in Group company.
Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar beat She’s Quality at Newmarket but disappointed at Royal Ascot and has a penalty for the Newmarket win.
Clive Cox’s Kerdos ran a fine 5th in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot at a huge price, but more is required on previous form.
Saratoga Special won a Listed contest at Ayr a fortnight ago for trainer Mrs John Harrington. This is much tougher.
I like the look of Simon & Ed Crisford’s Adrestia, who steps up to Group company after a fine win at Royal Ascot. She gets the full weight and sex allowance, plus she is well drawn.
The 2.25 is the Coral Challenge Handicap, a Class 2 contest run over one mile. Due to the booking of Ryan Moore to ride, Greek Order, trained by Michael Bell, is one of the current favourites. He was last seen finishing 4th at Royal Ascot, beating several horses he meets once again here. A bold run is expected.
George Boughey’s Classic Encounter was a fine winner at York last month but takes a big hike up in class here.
Richard Hannon’s Classic ran second here at Sandown last month after a bold run at Newbury the previous month. He lurks menacingly near the bottom of the handicap.
David O’Meara’s Mirsky has won twice already this year but disappointed at Royal Ascot. The handicapper seems to have his measure.
My preference is for William Haggas’s Treasure Time, who won at York last August, then found himself short of room when going off favourite at Doncaster the following month. This is his seasonal reappearance, but Haggas is a master at winning these types of races.
Moving north to Haydock and the 2.05 is the bet365 Handicap, and this Class 2 for 3-year-olds is run over 1m 6f. The favourite here is William Haggas’s Valiancy, who easily won a Class 5 at Hamilton last month. He had previously run second here at Haydock at the end of May.
The winner of that Haydock race was Charlie Johnson’s Pole Star, who then ran disappointingly at Doncaster at the beginning of June.
Sir Mark Prescott loves to win at his home course of Haydock and runs the bottom weight Deep Water Bay, who won at Wolverhampton in early June, then ran a creditable second at Nottingham nine days later. He can go well off his flyweight.
Jim Boyle’s Many Men was a fine winner at Doncaster last month, beating Novelista, Way Of Stars and Pole Star and is expected to run well once again. However, he is not unbeatable.
So, I go for Andre Balding’s Way Of Stars, who comes from a stable in top form. In that Doncaster race, he was beaten just 2 lengths and is 2lbs better off here. I expect another close race, but he gets my vote.
The bet365 Old Newton Cup Handicap is at 3.15, and this 1m 4f Class 2 contest is a popular feature at the Merseyside track. Top weight is Ian Williams’s Enemy, who ran in a Group 1 at last season’s Royal Ascot. He was last seen in a Listed race at Chester last August but is probably best watched here on his seasonal reappearance.
David O’Meara’s Stressfree won here at Haydock at the end of May but ran disappointingly at Royal Ascot and is reputed to need a softer surface.
Ed Walker’s Sir Lowry’s Pass is another who likes to get his toe in. He won at Goodwood in May, then ran a creditable third later in the month. He can hit the frame once more.
David Menuisier’s City Of Light has won twice this season at Doncaster and Epsom to add to the four-timer he ran up last season, but this is tougher.
BF Brookhouse’s My Dream World was first past the post at York last month but lost the race in the Steward’s Room due to misuse of the whip. Can he gain recompense here?
The ultimate winner of the race was Edward Bethell’s Chillingham, who is expected to go well, but I take My Dream World to get his revenge.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Adrestia
2.25 Sandown. Treasure Time
2.05 Haydock. Way Of Stars
3.15 Haydock. My Dream World
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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