Hi all,
After the last weeks nice profit, it was bang down to earth this week with a small loss. It’s likely to be a busier week on the betting front with the three-day Newmarket July Festival starting on Thursday. York is also back for the first time this season on Thursday with the feature races being the Dante & Musidora Stakes which this year are big races in their own right rather than being seen as trials for the Derby & Oaks.
There’s a big handicap chase at Uttoxeter with the Bet365 Summer Cup the feature race. I have selections from that race and one at Windsor this evening.
Uttoxeter
3:30 – Twelve have been declared for this year’s Summer Cup and it looks a competitive renewal of the race. The two that catch my eye most are Minellacelebration and Anteros.
Minellacelebration wins his fair share of races, including two last May/June at Aintree and here. Looked all over the winner after jumping the last at Doncaster in February but got collared in the shadow of the post Up 3lb, but he goes well on the ground, has a decent enough record fresh and given he’s 2 from 2 at Uttoxeter there’s a good chance of him going close, if he sees out 3m 2f.
Anteros gained a hat trick of wins on good or quicker ground between August & October last year. Not so good on his last four starts on soft going and his jumping let him down at Kelso when still going well in the Borders National at Kelso in December. This is a tough race for him but he’s got each-way claims and it’s encouraging that the son trainer’s son told the Racing Post “This has been the plan for a long time, ever since he hit form last summer”.
1pt win – Minellacelebration – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
0.5pts each way – Anteros – 20/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook (both paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Windsor
5:15 – Spoof, trained by Charlie Hills, has won three times in his career but the last of those wins was in May 2018. Struggled last season but ran several races that would give him a good chance here including when beaten ¾ length into third at Leicester last Autumn. Pulled to hard when beaten favourite at Bath 11-days ago but prior to that had shaped with promise on his return from a 155 day lay off at Kempton. Needs to settle better than he has done both this season’s starts but is handicapped to win a race if he does.
1pt win – Spoof – 15/2 @ Bet365
Cheers
John