As the horse racing world begins to think about Royal Ascot in 10 days there is still some decent action to be had on Saturday which includes the Sprint Cup up at Musselburgh. There are a few other stand out races elsewhere too. We’ve had a look at the big race as well as one from HQ.
2.30 Musselburgh
Preview
Yet another top quality 5 furlong sprint to get stuck to & this time it comes with a prize fund of £100K. 16 runners line up & whilst a high draw has been preferred in the past, there’s an awful lot of pace low & I’m not sure the draw will play that big a part. Luck in running could be a factor &, at this track, I’m going to stay with ones who likes to race up with the pace.
Favourites
Paul Midgley runs 3 & his Line Of Reason & Move In Time are both well fancied at single figure odds. The latter is now a 10 year old & although he hacked up last time out, I’m not sure he’s ready to defy a 7lb higher mark. Line Of Reason won this race last year & is now 7lb higher than 12 months ago. He’s not shown much since but ran ok last time behind El Astronaute, today’s favourite, at York He is 5lb better off with that rival but has 4 lengths to make up.
El Astronaute has been in excellent form this year, winning at York off 98 and then being defied by a head in a race won by Mr Lupton at the same track 2 weeks ago off a 3lb higher mark. Racing off the same mark today, he looks sure to run a big race.
Betting
However, I’m backing Major Jumbo who was behind El Astronaute in both of those York races. In the first of those, he was half a length back in 3rd but was drawn on the wrong side of the track & was 2lbs worse off than he is today. In the Mr Lupton race, he was just under a length behind in 4th off level weights. Again, he didn’t have the best of the draw. In a 19 runner event, he was drawn in 10 & the first 7 were drawn 16-17-15-10-12-18-14.
He’s been knocking at the door, has a decent apprentice booked who has a good record on board, is drawn fine in 10 & will appreciate this speedier track. With the favourite at 5/1, I think the 9’s available on the selection is rather generous.
Tips
PLACED – Back Major Jumbo (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.50 Betfred BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
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3.40 Newmarket
Preview
1 mile 6 furlongs for this Class 2 handicap, now racing over the July course having been exclusively on the Rowley Mile so far this year. It’s 5/1 the field & to me, all the favourites have questions to answer.
Favourites
Addicted To You in up in grade, back in trip, switches to turf & encounters fast ground. Whilst he won impressively last time, he still has it all to prove. Quloob is another that is improving having gone up 2 stones in 4 runs but he was 2nd last time & is up another 4lbs.
Betting
The one I like is Golden Wolf from a stable in terrific form. He’s only once in 10 career starts but has been runner up on a further 6. That’s not normally the ideal profile to back a winner but let’s just say he’s bumped into some extremely progressive rivals & I don’t see a similar sort in this field.
This year, he’s run twice, both times at Epsom. He was 2nd behind Royal Line in the Great Metropolitan but pulled almost 4 lengths clear from the likes of Shabeeb who won next time out. Last week, on Derby Day, he was 6 lengths behind Dash Of Spice but let’s be clear, that horse is a Group horse in the making. Again, he was at least 2 lengths in front of his other 15 rivals.
Likely to be suited by the step up in trip & the slightly faster ground, I expect him to go close despite a 2lb higher mark.
Tips
PLACED – Back Golden Wolf (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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