Hi all,
A good day yesterday but today is going to be much harder. It’s “Super Saturday”. You either love it or hate it. I have decided to embrace it. It’s wall to wall racing with ITV covering a mammoth 11 races from Newmarket, York and Ascot this afternoon. I’m just concentrating on the races that I have selections in.
Where else can I stat but Newmarket? It’s the final day of the July Meeting with the feature race being a high-class renewal of the Group 1 Darley July Cup (4:25).
Newmarket July Meeting – Day 3
The weather forecast is predicting a mainly cloudy day with light showers. Hopefully the showers will be light and the going stays on the quick side of good.
3:50 – bet365 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 7f
Ametist comes into the race having won all three starts this season. The latter of them came when getting up in the final strides over C&D 16-days ago. Has a 6lb penalty to carry but is progressive.
Perotto has won his last two. Last time he overcame a tardy start to weave his way through the field and quickened up a furlong out to win the Britannia Handicap (1m) at Royal Ascot. Has a 6lb penalty to carry but the drop back to 7f shouldn’t be a problem provided he gets a good pace to chase.
Fundamental has been running in Listed/Group 3 company this season. Put in a career best when a 3 ½ length 5th of 18 in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Jumaira Bay ran no sort of race when well fancied for the Victoria Cup but bounced back to form when putting a career best effort when winning at Chelmsford 24-days ago. Back on turf but very much respected.
Karibana bounced back to his best when winning at Chelmsford two starts back, off 4lb lower, never got in to the race in the Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap at Royal Ascot. A C&D winner last season he’s better judged on his Chelmsford run and has each way claims if reproducing it.
Kimfive is a useful handicapper who normally gives his running in these big field handicaps. He finished 6th in this race in 2018 and was an unlucky 6th in it 12 months ago. He didn’t get any sort of run two furlongs out but finished full of running. Beaten just a head in last season’s Goodwood Stewards Cup. Was a 1 ¼ length 5th behind Ametist over C&D last time. The 6-year-old is nicely handicapped on the best of his form but hasn’t won for over 2-years.
Symbolize runner-up to Double or Bubble on the other course on his seasonal reappearance. Didn’t get the best of passages when down the field in the Victoria Cup but ran better when drawn on the wrong side in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Respected on his third in last seasons Jersey Stakes. Can go well albeit there are potentially some well handicapped runners in the field.
Verdict: Of those at the front end of the market who are in theory well in, I like Perotto the most. However, he needs them to go a really strong pace if he’s to gain the hat trick. Symbolize looks set for big run and Kimfive who is another who needs all the cards to fall right has each way claims.
1pt win – Symbolize – 12/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
1pt each way – Kimifive – 18/1 @ Coral (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
4:25 – Darley July Cup Stakes (Group 1) – 6f
Not only does the race brim with quality but its also attracted a big field of 19 runners.
Oxted won last year’s renewal and bounced back to his best when dropping back to 5f to win the King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Suited by a sound surface and won’t be far away.
Rohaan has been the most improved horses of 2021. Winning the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, beating Dragon Symbol, before putting up a great weight carrying performance to win the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot.
Starman a progressive sprinter in 2020 hewon the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes at York on his seasonal reappearance. Missed the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot due to soft ground and better can be expected on a sound surface.
Dragon Symbol was first past the post in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup but was relegated to second by the stewards. Given his age his improvement may not have finished. Provided a hard race at Ascot hasn’t take its toll he won’t be far away.
Glen Shiel ran right up to his best when a length second to Dream Of Dreams in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes. This track should suit and he can’t be totally dismissed although stablemate Dragon Symbol could be open to more progress.
Art Power was a ¾ length behind Glen Shiel in third in the Diamond Jubilee. Should be competitive again but ground faster than good would be an unknown. Silvestre De Sousa opts for the 4-year-old instead of Chil Chil.
Chil Chil showed she remains a sprinter on the up when making the step up to pattern company a winning one in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle. Needs to improve again to win this but will like the quick ground.
Creative Force a progressive sprinter maintained his improvement when stepping up to 7f to win the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. The gelding deserves his place in Group 1 company and should go well.
Supremacy won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes last season. Last of 8 to Rohaan in a Group 3 at Ascot on his reappearance in May. Well suited to a sound surface and gets the first-time blinkers here. Questions to answer after his Ascot run but if the headgear has the desired effect he can’t be ruled out.
Method finished last in the Middle Park but that run can be forgiven as his saddle slipped. Finished 2 ¼ lengths behind Rohaan & Dragon Symbol at Haydock on his seasonal reappearance. Lacked race fitness that day and should be sharper here. Suited by good ground and has each way claims.
Miss Amulet was a top-class juvenile sprinter last year. Winning the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York and running Alcohol Free to ½ length in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes. Well beaten in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on her seasonal return. It was heavy that day and she probably didn’t stay the mile. Not given a hard race at the Curragh and is more interesting back at 6f. Another who get into the money at big odds.
Verdict: The strongest field for a July Cup in recent years. Oxted’s claims are clear for all to see. There could be more to come from Dragon Symbol on a quicker surface. There looks to be plenty of pace drawn high which will suit Rohaan. At a big price you couldn’t rule out the speedy Miss Amulet returning to her juvenile best.
1pt win – Dragon Symbol – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Ascot
3:35 – Betfred Heritage Handicap (Class 2) – 5f
Just a 20-runner puzzle to solve here.
Significantly won a big field C&D at the Royal Meeting last time. It was heavy that day but he’s only up 4lb and won’t be far away if reproducing his last run today.
Makanah a smart sprint handicapper at his best. The 6-year-old ran much better than on his Chester seasonal reappearance when a 1 ¼ length 4th of 12 at York 49-days ago. First time cheekpieces are applied and he he’s a got a good chance here although you would like the yard to be in better form.
Mondammej is clearly talented enough to win a big pot but he can be a tricky ride. Fourth in the Epsom Dash and was 2nd of 14 in the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle last time. Needs a strong pace and for all the cards to fall right but if they do, he can win a race like this.
Boundless Power has improved on all four of his starts since joining the Mick Appleby yard. Both this seasons’ wins have come in small field handicaps on soft ground at Nottingham. Big field here but shapes like he could be suited by it. Only up 3lb for his latest success and likely capable of winning of his present mark but is up a couple of notches in class.
Hurricane Ivor dead heated at Sandown last Saturday on his second start since joining the William Haggas yard. Now 5lb higher but is a sprinter in form and could be capable of more improvement.
Verdict: Makanah is capable on his day and the first time cheekpieces could do the trick. Mondammej can win a race like this if the cards fall right and the progressive Boundless Power could defy a rise in the weights.
1pt each way – Makanah – 14/1 @ Paddy Power (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
York
Plenty of big fields for punters to get stuck into on Johns Smiths Cup Day.
1:45 – John Smith’s Racing Handicap (Class 2) – 1m
Ajyaall progressed on his three starts as 3-year-old winning on good ground and the tapeta at Wolverhampton. Ran below market expectations on his return to action when only 4th of 7 here over 7f back in May. Remains capable of better especially on a sound surface.
Jump The Gun put in a career best effort on RPR’s when coming from the rear to win at Hamilton last month. Up 8lb in a deeper race but shouldn’t be far away.
Chichester won the Carlisle Bell 17-days ago. The first time cheekpieces and the drop back to a strongly run mile suited the 4-year-old last time. Up 3lb and may prefer better ground but he may not have reached his class ceiling just yet.
Eagleway finished ½ length 2nd of 27 to Rivwr Nymph in the Victoria Cup on his first start in the UK and ran just a well stepped back up to mile when a ¾ length 3rd of 6 at Newcastle 16-days ago. Goes well with ease in the ground and Jim Crowley (1-2 for the yard) is any eyecatching jockey booking.
Verdict: Ajyaall is likely better than he was able to show on his return here, Eagleway has run well on his last two starts and Jim Crowley looks a good jockey booking. Chichester might be a capable of better if he handles today’s easier surface.
1pt win – Eagleway – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Ajyaall – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:05 – John Smith’s Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
It doesn’t get any easier with a maximum field off 22 set to go to post for this historic handicap.
Astro King was no matchfor an easy winner when 2nd of 30 in the Royal Hunt Cup. It was still an excellent effort in defeat and a career best effort from the 4-year-old. Can race off the same mark here and the one to beat although soft ground would be an unknown for the likely favourite.
Surrey Pride was an impressive winner over C&D on his seasonal reappearance. He’s been raised 6lb which isn’t too harsh. Ideally suited by good or at worst good to soft ground and likely to go close here.
Lucander is 2-2 at the track and finished 2nd of 27 in last seasons Cambridgeshire but was well beaten in the Royal Hunt Cup last time, may not have liked the quick ground at Ascot, any ease in the ground will suit and Laura Pearson takes off a handy 5lb.
Strait of Hormuz is just 3lb higher than when winning a Class 2 handicap at Doncaster. The 4-year-old made a respectable return to action when 7th of 15 here (1m 4f) in May. Sent off 5/1 for 1m 2f handicap at Epsom on Oaks Day but ran below expectations when only 6th of 9. Trainer said he was unsuited by good to soft ground that day so his chance likely depends on the showers staying away.
Verdict: Astro King has solid claims but softish ground is a bit of an unknown. Strait Of Hormuz has claims but is another who may prefer a sounder surface. Lucander’s course form entitles him to respect and any ease in the ground won’t worry him. Surrey Pride is high on the shortlist.
1pt win – Surrey Pride – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
Cheers
John