Morning all,
It’s “Super Saturday”. It’s not popular with everyone given the wall to wall racing during the afternoon with no time to draw breath. ITV viewers can watch a bumper programme of action with broadcaster covering no less than 11 races live this afternoon.
The race of the day is Newmarket’s Darley July Cup (4.25), one of the world’s most prestigious sprint race. Up at York, it’s John Smith’s Cup Day. The feature handicap which has £200,000 in guaranteed prize money goes off at 4:05. Down at Ascot there’s Group action with the highlights of a seven-race card being the Group 2 Summer Miles Stakes (3.35) and the valuable 5f Betfred Heritage Handicap (3:00).
It’s a Saturday that you either love or hate. We’ll I’m in the former camp. That said, it doesn’t make writing today’s column easy.
I don’t have the time to preview all the ITV races there are just too many of them. I will concentrate ones where I have selections and I have plenty of them. As ever today’s selections and betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
Newmarket
Besides the July Cup and the Bunbury Cup. I also have another selection from Newmarket. However, let’s begin with the day’s big race the July Cup.
4:25 – Darley July Cup Stakes (Group 1) – 6f
Ante post favourite Perfect Power has started to ease in the betting, and he could well be 7/2 in a place before post time. At that sort of price, he becomes of interest from a betting perspective.
William Buick stays loyal to Creative Force but on good to firm ground I don’t see any reason why stablemate Naval Crown can’t uphold their Platinum Jubilee form with Creative Force and the rest of those who finished behind him that day. There seems to be plenty of confidence Australian raider Artorius can reverse placings with the two that finished in front of him at Royal Ascot. He looks sure to be bang there but looks like one who places more than he wins
Ryan Moore heads to Belmont to ride a couple for Aidan O’Brien which means he’s not on Cadamosto who improved to finish a 2 ¼ length 4th of 20 to Perfect Power in the Commonwealth Cup. He was briefly stopped inside the final furlong otherwise would probably have finished a clear second. He has got each way claims with Aidan O’Brien bidding for a fourth win in the race.
Romantic Proposal couldn’t take up her intended assignment in the King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot due to a dirty scope. We haven’t seen her since she won a Listed race at Naas in April, but she will be fit enough to do herself justice. Trainer Edward Lynam won this in 2014 with Slade Power so knows what required to win the race. I don’t think we have seen the best of the 6-year-old yet and she should get the perfect tow into the race from stall 7.
3:50 – bet365 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 7f
A maximum field of 20 have been declared for the race which is as competitive as ever. You can make a case for plenty as is the case with three big handicaps at Newmarket, York, and Ascot.
Montassib lost his unbeaten record when a 1 ¼ lengths 5th of 29 to Inver Park in Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) at Royal Ascot last time. He didn’t have the pace of those finished in front of him that day and might need a mile now. The form of that race looks strong though. Ropey Guest finished a 1 length runner-up. He isn’t the easiest to win with, but this is his trip, and another big run is expected. Albeit he does go well at Ascot. Rhoscolyn was a short head back in third. He looks fairly treated on that effort but although he handled the quick going last time I wonder if he would be better with a bit more ease.
The Gosden yard saddle Samburu & Al Rufaa. The first named has obvious claims. He’s a well-bred, unexposed, and progressive 3-year-old who posted a career best when a 3 length 6th of 15 in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. He gets an 8lb age allowance from most of his rivals and is probably capable of better. He looks set for a big run. Al Rufaa looks the yard’s second string, but he has a decent chance if reproducing his very best form. The 5-year-old was well down the field in the Buckingham Palace Stakes on his return from a break is 2-2 over C&D, and he’s at his best on quick ground. A strongly run 7f is his optimum and I think he can go well.
Jumby can often lose his race at the start, but he broke on level terms when a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 26 in Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot last time. He’s just as effective over 7f, goes well on quick ground and Christophe Soumillon has been booked.
Star Of Orion was well backedbut was only a 5 length 13th of 29 in the Buckingham Palace Handicap last time. However, he didn’t get a clear run 2f out and could never get into the race after. One from one over C&D and both career wins have come on good to firm so he could get closer to those who finished in front of him at Ascot.
2:40 – Just the eight for this 1m handicap but is a race with plenty of interesting inform 3-year-old’s.
Bay Of Honour, a Kempton (7f) winner on his second juvenile start in October. Did well to come from off the pace to win at Thirsk on his seasonal return last month. Looks capable of better now going handicapping for the first time off what looks a workable mark. Trained by that man Charlie Appleby who had another handicap winner at the meeting here yesterday.
Laasudood was another to win a Kempton maiden last autumn. The War Front colt wasn’t disgraced when a 1 ¾ length 2nd of 12 on his seasonal return only beaten by Secret State who went onto win the King George V Stakes (Handicap) at Royal Ascot. A comfortable winner on his Doncaster handicap debut. Up 7lb for his Doncaster win but there should be more to come from him with Christophe Soumillon a good jockey booking.
Jimi Hendrix, a Doncaster maiden (7f) winner last autumn. He returned to winning ways on his handicap debut two starts back and progressed further when a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 30 to Thesis in Britannia Stakes (Handicap) at Royal Ascot last time. Up 5lb but capable of another big performance here. Lawful Command was a 2 length 5th of 30 in the Britannia Handicap. Prior to that the gelding had returned to action with two Goodwood handicap wins. Should give his running again but he’s probably vulnerable to less exposed types like Bay Of Honour and Laasudood.
York
Two races at York with selections starting with York’s feature the John Smith’s Cup.
4:05 – John Smith’s Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
A maximum field of 22 for this handicap which is the longest running commercial sponsorship in British horse racing. There should be a very good pace which seems likely to swing the advantage towards the more patiently ridden horses.
It looks like an ultra-competitive handicap and indeed I have eight of the 22 runners on my shortlist.
Ante post favourite Mahrajaan made a pleasing return to action when a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 11 at Haydock (1m 4f) in May. The drop back to a strongly run 1m 2f shouldn’t inconvenience the 4-year-old. That said I’m happy to take him on.
Brilliant Light followed a Ripon handicap success with a cracking effort when a 7 ½ lengths 4th of 18 to Candleford in Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot. No issues with the ground and the drop back to 1m 2f shouldn’t be a concern. He and First View give trainer Saeed Bin Suroor a strong hand in the race.
Just Fine was 3 lengths behind Brilliant Light at Royal Ascot that’s the second time he hasn’t fired at Ascot and he’s probably better judged on his 3 length 3rd of 11 to Gaassee here (1m 4f) on his seasonal reappearance. He had looked like he needed a stamina test but maybe a drop back to strongly run 1m 2f is what he really needs.
Anmaat makes his seasonal return, an improving handicapper last season who ended his 3-year-old campaign with a ¾-length 2nd of 26 in the Cambridgeshire Handicap, Going and distance are fine and if he ready to roll first time is respected.
La Trinidad has run plenty of good races here at York, albeit over shorter. The 5-year-old put in a seasonal best when 3 ¼ length 4th of 15 at Epsom last month. As strongly run race suits but he must prove his stamina for 1m 2f
Achelois a solid 1 length 3rd of 12 over C&D last August and was only beaten a neck by Soto Sizzler at Epsom on her reappearance at Epsom in April. For whatever reason didn’t give her running when 5th of 8 to My Astra in an Ayr Listed race last time. She’s better judged on last year’s C&D form and her Epsom run. May find one or two stronger stayers at the finish but Andrew Balding has saddled the winner of this race twice since 2019 and Harry Davies takes off 5lb.
Intellogent was an excellent ½-length 2nd of 29 to Dark Shift in Royal Hunt Cup (1m) last time. On RPR’s this was as good as his high-class form in 2018 when he won a Group 1 at Deauville and finished a close-up 4th in the French Derby. Big player on his first start beyond a mile since joining Jane Chapple-Hyam.
Rouge Bear is a progressive 4-year-old handicapper whose form figures are 13411-332. He’s had this race in mind since finishing a head 2nd of 10 over C&D in May. I thought he was too far back off a slow pace that day and had to make his effort a long way out. Had to be respected off 2lb higher.
York
1:45 – Isla Kai won four times last year and has added to his win tally so far this season but has run respectably and was a 4 length 6th of 29 to Dark Shift in Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last time Dropped 2lb since so a definite chance but maybe this ground will be a shade to quick for the 4-year-old.
Blue For You a winner last summer in Ireland when trained by Dermot Weld much better effort than on stable debut when a neck 3rd of 7 in a 1m handicap at Sandown last time. The first time visor replaces the cheekpieces for the drop back to 7f.
Challet a dual course winner and has finished third in two C&D handicap this season. Last of nine at Musselburgh 10-days ago but he wasn’t ridden from the front that day. Harry Davies takes off 5lb and he could easily bounce back to his best returned to York and more prominent tactics.
Garden Oasis another C&D winner but he’s not been anywhere near to his best so far this season and needs to bounce back big time today to win this.
Ascot
3:00 – Betfred Heritage Handicap (Class 2) – 5f
Five catch my eye in what looks another tricky handicap with a maximum field of 20 set to meet the starter.
Stone Of Destiny is on a losing run that goes back to the 2020 Portland Handicap. The 7-year-old hasn’t really built on the promise of his Newmarket reappearance but has dropped 8lb for three below par runs. Has run some good races here and is previous C&D winner and can’t be discounted from a declining mark.
Unlike Stone Of Destiny there are no well-being concerns about Burning Cash who bids for the hat trick after two wins at Doncaster over 5f. He’s improving and although he’s up 4lb in a better race Ryan Sexton takes off a handy 5lb which keeps the 4-year-old on a good mark. Looks to have a favourites chance.
Mountain Peak is 2-6, 3 places over C&D and bounced back to form when an excellent head 2nd of 20 in ‘Dash’ at Epsom last time. That was a career best on RPR’s from the 7-year-old. He’s been raised 4lb for that effort which makes life difficult and is now on a career high mark. Ground suits though and he’s very much a contender.
Bond Chairman is a 3-year-old, and that age group are 1-14, 2 places since 2010. Mind you Significantly was successful last year as a 3-year-old. He finished 4th of 27 in last season’s Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over C&D and finished a 1 length 4th of 27 on his seasonal return in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap) at the Royal meeting last time. If he builds on that performance he shouldn’t be far away off just 2lb higher.
Alligator Alley is well treated on his juvenile form for Joseph O’Brien and the 5-year-old bounced back from a below par effort at York when a 2 ¼ length 4th of 14 to Mr Wagyu at Epsom (6f) two starts back. He looked the most likely winner when coming to challenge 1f out that day before just fading out in the final half furlong. However, he failed to build on that when only 10th of 18 at the Curragh 13-days ago. Mind the ground was soft last time which probably doesn’t really suit him. There’s a decent pot in him off his present mark over 5f this season when he’s on a going day.
Betting Advice:
Newmarket
2:40 – 1pt win – Bay Of Honour – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:50 – 1pt win – Jumby -15/2 @ Ladbrokes, 1pt win – Star Of Orion – 12/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Al Rufaa – 20/1 @ Bet365
4:25 – 1pt win – Naval Crown – 13/2 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Romantic Proposal – 10/1 @ Ladbrokes & Coral.
York
1:45 – 1pt win – Challet – 10/1 @ Bet365
4:05 – 1pt win – Intellogent – 9/1 @ Bet365, 1pt win – Just Fine – 12/1 @ Bet365 & Coral and 1pt each way – Achelois – 20/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Ascot
3:00 – 1pt win – Burning Cash – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Bond Chairman – 12/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook.
Cheers
John