The horse racing broadcaster offers up his six picks for Saturday's racing at York, Ascot and the Newmarket July Festival.
Saturday is a relentless assault on the sporting senses. Starting from early morning with Rugby’s Nations Championship, culminating in England’s World Cup Quarter Final against Norway via 12 races on ITV4 from three top class venues in Newmarket, Ascot and York.
The feature race on Saturday is the Group 1 July Cup where SATONO REVE 7/2 (16:35 Newmarket) looks the solid option to give Japan a second success in the race, 26 years on from Agnes World’s ground breaking victory in 2000. Satono Reve possesses what few have in this division and that is consistency. Twice narrowly beaten at Royal Ascot, he also chased home the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising in April at Sha Tin and there is no query about his ability to handle fast ground. This division has thrown up a string of one hit wonders and until he can prove consistency at this level, Satono Reve’s Ascot conqueror Almeraq could be the same. He became the ninth horse priced 25-1 or over to have won a Group 1 sprint in the UK in the last five seasons, that includes No Half Measures win at 66-1 in this race 12 months ago, and of those only Khaadem went on to win another Group 1.
Newmarket’s feature handicap is the Betway Bunbury Cup where the two Ian Williams runners, AALTO 100/30 (15:25 Newmarket) and Supido are the pair to focus on. I have already invested in Supido, straight after calling his eye-catching run at Newcastle, because at that stage it looked doubtful whether regular in the race, Aalto, would get a run. They race in the same ownership and with the ground ensuring a smaller field than usual, both have been allowed to take their chances. At the current prices, Aalto is the more appealing proposition as this will undoubtedly have been his season long target, whilst Supido may just have been the super sub. Winner of the race two years ago off a mark of 88, it took no less a horse than More Thunder to narrowly deny Aalto last year when sent off at 40-1. That run was off 92 and today he lines up off 87 having had to show his hand slightly last time out over course and distance when, as mentioned above, falling any further in the ratings looked at the time as if it may have meant him missing the cut.
Over at York, their big handicap is the John Smith’s Cup where given events later on in the evening, HAND OF GOD 8/1 (15:45 York) could prove an appropriately named winner. Harry Charlton’s horse has not always stood his racing that well, so the fact he is already having his third run of the season suggests they are having a clearer run at things this time. He won smoothly enough at Newbury last time and has drawn well in stall 1 in a race where a wide draw can be a major negative. Hand Of God disappointed in the race last year but given the long subsequent absence, it suggests all was not well that day and connections have clearly not been disheartened about having another go.
Elsewhere at York, MISS ATTITUDE 12/1 (15:12 York) finished second to Washington Heights in this race last season and has often put up eye-catching runs having set herself tasks by jumping slowly from the stalls. Her fifth in the Palace House stakes earlier on in the season is an example of this and she was far from disgraced at a huge price in the Group 1 King Charles III at Royal Ascot. Due to her stalls issues she is never one to back at a short price but is always worth considering at double figure prices as she gives the impression that one day all will fall into place and she will deliver the complete performance.
In calmer waters MOUNT ATLAS 6/4 (16:55 York) can turn around recent course from with Tabletalk in the Group 3 Silver Cup. He has made up into a decent stayer who split Jan Breughel and Illinois at Chester, and with Tabletalk on a long losing sequence he gets the nod. Whilst at Ascot, DUBAI BLING 13/2 (13:55 Ascot) never really got the chance to show what he could do in the Wokingham and this should set up far better. He is reunited with David Probert who rode him to victory last season and he can repeat the feat here.
Visit Betway’s horse racing betting page.
