We have another quality day of racing to enjoy on Saturday, a day where the July Cup headlines the schedule where there are meetings at both Newmarket and Ascot among others. Top class racing is everywhere we look throughout the day.
The Irish action on Saturday comes from Leopardstown and there are evening cards in the UK at Salisbury and Newcastle but after a look through all the cards our three bets come from the main two meetings, both of which can be seen on ITV Racing.
3.15 Ascot
Preview
This is a nice looking Group 2 Summer Mile with 11 going to post. Mohaather was a strong fancy of ours for the Queen Anne when getting a nightmare passage & could only manage a 7th place finish. With a clear run, he’d have placed for sure. His price is based on what could’ve been as opposed to what actually transpired & 2/1 is too short for me. He could be top drawer but the big concern is that I think he’s better over a straight mile.
Zaaki was only 3rd in the Group 3 Diomed and needs to find improvement to win here, but he did run well in this last year. Skardu hasn’t quite kicked on from his Craven win last year & is passed over.
Betting
Lord Glitters, an Ascot specialist, is the bet here. This is his first run of the year for David O’Meara’s horse but he’s a horse that goes well fresh, form reading 412223 after an absence of 60+ days. He’s now a 7yo and won the Group 1 Queen Anne here last year but his 4 runs since have been underwhelming.
He’s had excuses though. The Goodwood track doesn’t suit, the trip in the Juddmonte International was beyond him, heavy ground in the QEII put paid to his chances & the Breeders Cup, and the long trip, isn’t for everyone.
It’s interesting he’s dropped out of Group 1 company for the first time since 2018. His record for this yard outside of the very top company reads 212221, the last of those when winning the Group 3 Strensall Stakes. Since then, he’s run in 9 continuous Group 1s.
He loves this track, form here reading 2122618, the 6th when only 2 lengths behind the top class Roaring Lion & 8th when encountering very heavy ground. Provided he still retains ability, he should be the one to beat back on his favourite track & with his record fresh.
Tips
Back Lord Glitters (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 10.00 William Hill (1/5 odds 1-3)
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3.35 Newmarket
Preview
The big race of the day is the Group 1 July Cup over 6 furlongs which has attracted a field of 13. Of the older horses, Diamond Jubilee 1-3-4 Hello Youmzain, Sceptical & Khaadem are the 3 to concentrate on. Sceptical could reverse form with Hello Youmzain if Dettori holds on to him a bit longer & delays his challenge. Khaadem travelled best in that race but this keen going sort didn’t pick up & there’s still a question over his ability in G1 company.
This is a race dominated in recent times by 3 year olds with their 6lb weight for age allowance. Lord Of The Lodge & Southern Hills don’t look up to this but the Classic generation do have the favourite in Golden Horse. He won the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot and, as a juvenile, won the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood & was runner up in the Middle Park.
Betting
Threat has to reverse form with Golden Horde here but at the prices is the best value. He was tried over a mile in the St James Palace in his only start this year & travelled as well after pulling hard early. He just didn’t pick up but still wasn’t beaten far &, all things considered, it was a good run over a trip clearly too far.
As a 2 year old, he was 2nd to Arizona in the Coventry winning the race on his side of the track & was then 2nd to Golden Horde in the Richmond, only giving way late on. He then won a pair of Group 2s in the Gimcrack & Champagnes, earning himself a crack in Group 1 company. He was only 5th behind Earthlight in the Middle Park but was poorly positioned & stayed on well. Given a better ride, I think he can reverse form with the favourite and, with Oisin Murphy on board, he rates a good each way bet.
Tips
Back Threat (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Bet365 BOG (1/5 odds 1-4)
4.10 Newmarket
Preview
The Bunbury Cup is as fiercely competitive as ever, a 7 furlong handicap with 18 runners. The key race to focus on is the Buckingham Palace from Royal Ascot, a race won by Motakhayyel. He got the better of Jacks Point that day but had the best of a significant draw bias in stall 26. He’s now 7lbs higher.
Mutamaasik is the favourite today as he won his race down the centre of the track in that same heat, finishing 3rd from stall 16. He’s only up 2lbs & should be able to reverse the form.
Betting
From that race, I’m happy to take a chance on Blown By Wind. He was drawn in the coffin box of 1 that day & reared up badly from the stalls. He then had to use up a lot of energy to get back on terms & raced in a group of 4 on the far side. It was to his credit that he was only 9 lengths behind the winner & the only one of the other 3 in that group to run since finished a close 3rd in a Listed race in France.
The selection has run since, here at Newmarket, beaten a length by today’s rival Arigato but is 6lbs better off today & should have the beating of that rival if he gets a clear run, something he didn’t get last time. His form over this trip in handicaps reads 2901102 which, narrowed down to Newmarket, reads 212 (albeit 2 of those were on the Rowley track). From a yard in form & now dropped 1lb in mark, he should go really well here.
Tips
Back Blown By Wind (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 11.00 William Hill (1/5 odds 1-5)
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