The horse racing broadcaster offers up his five selections for Saturday's racing at Newbury and Market Rasen.
After the multitude of riches last weekend, things are a lot more low key domestically on Saturday with the seven races on ITV4 being an eclectic mix of Newbury, Market Rasen and Ripon.
The biggest field of the day by some margin is the Weatherbys Super Sprint, which gives the opportunity of a big pay day to a cheaply bought horse as the weights depend on how much the horses made when going through the sales ring. As a commentator, this is one of the messiest races in the calendar as there is very little shape to it and the runners usually have little time or inclination to assemble into groups. This usually leads to just rather frantic name calling, but every now and again a horse glides through the race and trepidation turns to an immense feeling of relief. That was the case when Richard Hughes made all on Tiggy Wiggy back in 2014 and he can add a success as a trainer to the two Super Sprints he won in the saddle, courtesy of BINT ARCHANGE 7/2 (15:37 Newbury). Her only below par run came at Ascot in the Queen Mary, but she swiftly put that behind her when beating A Bear Affair (runs on Friday at Newbury) in a Listed race at Sandown. That form looks good enough to see her play a major part here and she has the physique to prove more than just an early season two-year-old.
Godolphin announced the retirement of their stable stalwart Rebel’s Romance this week and he had been part of a much better showing from the Appleby horses during the July meeting. AL ZANATI 5/1 (13:55 Newbury) could therefore leave his last run behind as that occurred at a time when the yard was really struggling. Prior to that run, he had won a Group 3 in France and twice placed in similar contests at Newmarket and at Sandown, so this Listed race should hold no fears. The older horses look quite exposed and the pick of them, favourite Persica has not performed to his best on both previous visits to the track.
With Almuhit and Duraji in the field for Pertemps Handicap over 2m, the pace may set up better for TEAM PLAYER 11/2 (14:25 Newbury) than it did in the Chester Cup or the Northumberland Plate. In the former, Duraji got an excellent front running ride from Finlay Marsh and nearly pinched the race whilst Team Player stayed on from a near impossible position at the back. The Plate was not dissimilar, and he is likely better than either of those runs suggest.
Market Rasen stages one of the biggest meetings in the Summer Jumps season with valuable prizes on offer for both the Summer Hurdle and Summer Plate. SQUEEZEBOX 13/2 (14:10 Market Rasen) can land the former for trainer Tom Lacey having taken really well to hurdles, winning three of his four races to date. The last of those was his handicap debut at Southwell where he looked well ahead of his mark and an 8lb rise may not be enough to stop him. He had plenty of racing on the Flat so should be streetwise enough to handle this larger field, and he has form on fast ground which should also stand him in good stead.
The Bowen family have always targeted the Summer Plate and this looks to have been the case again with QUEENSBURY BOY 11/2 (14:45 Market Rasen). Purchased from the David Maxwell dispersal, he made an early error at Uttoxeter last time and 3m also looked to stretch him. I am not sure of the family pecking order in determining jockeys with Sean riding another live chance for the yard with Pour Les Filles. But Queensbury Boy had a touch of class about him as a young horse and it would be no surprise if he really springs back into life here.
Visit Betway’s horse racing betting page.
