Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
We are thrice blessed this Saturday on ITV Racing with probably the top three courses in England being highlighted. There are no fewer than eleven races being televised during the afternoon with five from HQ, Newmarket, another four from York and they have managed to squeeze in a couple from Ascot as well!
The highlight of the day is the July Cup at Newmarket with the Bunbury Cup getting second billing while at York the John Smith’s Cup is their premier attraction even with a pair of Class 1’s on the card.
At Ascot, there is a Heritage Handicap and a one-mile Group 2 where Modern News seeks revenge over My Oberon after being defeated at Windsor recently. If they take each other on Chindit could trump the pair of them. So hang on to your hats it’s going to be a busy day. There are some tremendous handicaps with great betting opportunities and here are my thoughts for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
3.00 Ascot. Tone The Barone
3.50 Newmarket. Star Of Orion
4.25 Newmarket. Happy Romance
4.05 York. Brilliant Light
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
I will begin with the 3.00 at Ascot, the Betfred Heritage Handicap, a 5-furlong sprint which is one of the most open betting heats of the day. The top weight is David and Nicola Barron’s Zarzyni who has been pretty consistent this term with a trio of seconds followed by a win at Musselburgh before finishing a good fourth at Newmarket in a Group 3 contest but the weight is a factor for this classy individual.
George Boughey brings Corazon here for his first run of the year. He was victorious at Longchamp last September in a Group race but is probably best watched here. Boughey also runs Lovely Mana who won at Sandown last week and burst home to finish well clear of the rest of the field. She was following up on a win on Newcastle’s all-weather and should go close.
There are several course and distance winners involved, including David O’Meara’s Mountain Peak who was a big-priced second in the Dash at Epsom on Derby Day but he looks high enough in the handicap.
Another c and d winner is Stuart Williams’s Tone, The Barone, who has shown his best form on the all-weather but he seems to love Ascot winning twice here in his career. He was beaten into fifth 3 lengths behind Lovely Mana last time but he is 9lbs better off here and that may enable him to turn the tables and be successful.
Moving north to Newmarket the big handicap of the day is at 3.50 the bet365 Bunbury Cup run over 7 furlongs. William Haggas is having a tremendous season and he runs Montassib here who was successful at Goodwood in May but then disappointed when only finishing fifth after going off a favourite at Royal Ascot. Haggas will be hoping for improvement.
John and Thady Gosden have Samburu in the lineup who won at Salisbury and York this year and he was another who failed at Ascot in a Group race. He drops back in class here.
Il Bandito steps up in class after a couple of victories in April and May. He can be placed for trainer James Horton if he handles the undulations of HQ.
David O’Meara’s Rhoscolyn has been plying his trade in Class 1 company but when he dropped back to a handicap race last time, the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot he finished an excellent third.
I have a preference for Ralph Beckett’s Star Of Orion whose two career victories have both come here at Newmarket. He was baulked on a couple of occasions in the Buckingham Palace when going easily and can gain recompense here.
The Darley July Cup Stakes is at 4.25. Here, we will see the best sprinters in the country and beyond racing down the July course. The current favourite is Richard Fahey’s Perfect Power who was successful at Royal Ascot winning his third Group 1 and the 3-year-old meets his elder opponents for the first time here.
Charlie Appleby’s Naval Crown won the Platinum Jubilee at Ascot last month beating several of the horses he meets here, he will go very close.
But the horse who was second to him that day beaten only a neck was Charlie Appleby’s Creative Force and he will be out for revenge, he may get it here.
The Australian entrant is interesting, Sam and Anthony Freedman’s Artorius, he did well to finish third in the Platinum Jubilee after not getting a clear run but will he handle the Newmarket undulations?
I have always liked Richard Hannon’s Happy Romance but he disappointed at Ascot and his last win was on the all-weather at Chelmsford last year. However, he ran well in the Middle East in the Spring finishing in front of the prominent opponents he faces here. If he can bring that form to this contest, he may score the victory he deserves.
Moving further north to York at 4.05 it is the John Smith’s Cup Handicap run at just over 1m 2f. One of the favourites here is William Haggas’s Mahrajaan who was a triple winner last year, on his seasonal reappearance he finished third at Haydock in May when he was a warm favourite perhaps he needs to drop in the weights.
Tom Clover’s Rogue Bear was a good second here at York in May and he once again has place claims.
Jane Chappell- Hyam’s Intellogent has shown good form this season, especially at Royal Ascot where he finished a close second but he steps up in trip here.
Saeed Bin Suroor has a very interesting pair of runners, Brilliant Light and First View. The former won at Ripon in May then went to Royal Ascot and found himself a little short of room but still finished a fine fourth in an 18-runner field.
First View kept on strongly to win at Leicester in June but he has a 5lb penalty for that victory which may anchor him, so of the pair, I will side with Brilliant Light to take this.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
3.00 Ascot. Tone The Barone
3.50 Newmarket. Star Of Orion
4.25 Newmarket. Happy Romance
4.05 York. Brilliant Light
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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