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13:45 York
A tricky opener for punters however as always we will do our best to find a profitable bet. Starting at the head of the market we have Isla Kai who ran a cracker when sixth in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last month and arrives here having been dropped 2lbs for that effort. With the stable amongst the winners in recent weeks a bold bid can be expected, however all career victories have come on good to soft or soft ground so he is passed over today.
Eilean Dubh has won three times over trips of around a mile since moving to Karl Burke, with one of those victories coming here at York. He will appreciate the step back up in trip having struggled over a sprint trip at Pontefract when last seen however is another who may prefer slightly slower conditions.
One who won’t mind the fast ground is Challet. Michael Dods’ runner is a prior course and distance winner who has made the frame in all five prior runs on the Knavesmire and gets a very handy 5lbs thanks to the booking of Harry Davies for the ride. He needs to bounce back from a lesser effort last time out but the step back up in trip should help and he looks to be a solid each way option.
CHALLET (E/W)
written by Dean Kilbryde
14:05 Newmarket
A select field of eight fillies for this 7-furlong handicap on likely rattling quick ground. Kidwah is the likely market leader and also the likely winner, she comes here to put her unbeaten record on the line. This Kodiac filly made her debut in November at Doncaster and although the ground was soft that day, she coped with to comfortably score. Her reappearance wasn’t until last month and she merely had to turn up to win, her mark could prove to be very lenient and after today she could move onto bigger things. Truly Acclaimed is the solid proven performer in this and John Quinn’s filly will make the favourite work as she arrives here looking to complete a hat-trick after wins at Ayr and York. Top rated Miss Carol Ann is setting down from Stakes level and will find this easier on her handicap debut but she is perhaps in need of a few pounds back from the handicapper.
KIDWAH (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor 14:20 York
A small but select field of three contest the John Smith's Silver Cup and any of the trio could easily land the spoils. Simon Crisford’s Without A Fight is the highest rated in the field following a snug listed win over course and distance last month. He’s never won above listed level but was just touched off in a Group 2 at Meydan earlier in the year. That’s amongst the best form on offer and must go close.
Former Dante winner Thunderous hasn’t won in over 700 days and and the application of a first time visor didn’t exactly work in the Henry II Stakes when last seen. He’s got undoubted ability but may be vulnerable in what might be a very tactical event. The well-bred and unexposed John Leeper looks well held by Thunderous on their meeting in the Henry II Stakes and there’s nothing to suggest he can reverse the form.
WITHOUT A FIGHT (WIN) written by Peter Keogh
14:40 Newmarket
Bay Of Honour comes into this race looking for his hat-trick on the back of narrow wins at Kempton and last month at Thirsk. His opening handicap mark of 94 doesn’t look generous though and I am tempted to look elsewhere here.
In that novice race at Thirsk he beat Positive Impact by a short head and that rival now receives an extra lb than he had that day and the son of Shamardal can go very well here with a low weight to carry.
The selection here though will be Laasudood. He scored very nicely last month at Doncaster and gave the impression that he will be better than handicap company in time. He is taken to defy a 7lb rise in the weights with Christophe Soumillon in the saddle today.
LAASUDOOD (WIN)
written by Tom Bates
15:00 Ascot
With a bumper field of around twenty set to line up here, this looks as difficult a race to break down as there has been all year although one thing is for sure, plenty of luck will likely be required in the run. Briefly looking at the recent trends, betting favourites have a fair recent record and have plundered this prize on four different occasions over the last decade, draw trends are a little more difficult to make sense of though those drawn middle to have fared best over the same time-frame.
Bond Chairman was a fair type at two and he made a very pleasing start to his three-year-old campaign when fourth in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes at Royal Ascot. Proven at this track and likely to strip fitter today, there is every chance he will go close if getting the gaps and Bryan Smart's lightly raced type is taken to at least make the frame at fair odds.
Tabdeed was badly hampered last time and that run is readily dismissed, prior to that he had finished an excellent third at Listed level behind an ultra progressive type at Haydock and a repeat of that may well prove good enough today. Trained by Archie Watson and ridden by Hollie Doyle, one can easily see why the punters have been piling onto him all week and off this mark of one hundred, he is very hard to leave out of the equation.
Burning Cash arrives here in rude health after winning twice at Doncaster, this represents a much stiffer task up four pounds but discounting in-form sprinters often proves foolish and respect is afforded.
Lovely Mana is another to arrive here in flying form and she has twice bolted up recently, from a yard going well and clearly unexposed, she could be anything although she will have to be a good deal better than we have seen to land this.
Zarzyni has crept up to a career high mark after winning at Newmarket last time, he has plenty of form to be recommended here and the likely strong pace will suit him down to the ground. Stone Of Destiny has become disappointing and arrives here with serious questions to answer, however, he is now very well handicapped and he could cause an upset if he decides to give it a go. Mountain Peak, Equality and Danzeno are selected others with claims but a chance will be taken on the attractively handicapped Tabdeed getting back to winning ways with Bond Chairman also selected at bigger odds.
TABDEED (WIN)
BOND CHAIRMAN (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly
15:15 Newmarket
The Superlative Stakes will see a couple of colts that may well have classic aspirations for next season. The first of those being the Dubawi Colt Victory Dance who scored over C&D on debut in a battling performance but perhaps he was expected to do it more impressively given his odd-on starting price. A lot of noise has been made around Lion Of War as he is by the ill-fated Roaring Lion. Although he is two from two, I have a question mark over the strength of the form of both races regardless how impressive he was at Newcastle.
Isaac Shelby is the one I will side with as he stamped his authority on a decent sized field on debut and Brian Meehan horses tend to need their first races. This step up to 7-furlongs today also looks sure to suit as he was only getting better as the race went on at Newbury.
ISAAC SHELBY (WIN) written by Michael Taylor 15:35 Ascot
The favourite has won the last nine renewals of this race and although there is just 1lbs difference on official ratings between Chindit and My Oberon it is the former who heads the market and is our selection here. A convincing winner of a Listed contest on seasonal re-appearance, he has since had to contend with the likes of Baaeed at both Newbury and Ascot and without a rival of that calibre here today he should be capable of returning to the winners’ enclosure.
Just a nose separated My Oberon and Modern News at Windsor when they met last month, with Perotto less than a length back in third, and there will likely be little between the trio again here, with Mutasaabeq also more than capable of getting involved, for all his career wins to date have come over shorter trips.
CHINDIT (WIN) written by Dean Kilbryde 15:50 Newmarket
The Bunbury Cup is a ferociously competitive seven furlong handicap, and this year’s renewal is no different.
Montassib is just one of many that have obvious chances, and he’s highly likely to head the market. He ran on well to finish fifth in the Buckingham Palace last time, coming from an uncompromising position. He’s been left on the same mark, and a fast run seven should be ideal, however he may just be better with some give.
Rhoscolyn finished ahead of Montassib last time. He ran really well considering he was arguably drawn on the wrong side at Ascot. He has an excellent chance of getting in the frame at least.
Star Of Orion runs consistently well in big handicaps, and will pop up one day. There could be a chance he’s drawn on the wrong side here (20) as it would appear that the bulk of the horses with big chances are drawn low. He may be isolated.
Jumby and The Attorney have a squeak, but both maybe vulnerable at the finish if this is run at a breakneck pace.
A chance is taken with Titan Rock each way. A four year old who has showed more than a glimmer of ability so far in his career. His penultimate run was certainly eye catching when a running on fourth behind the ultra consistent Lion Tower. He was disappointing on his latest start when potentially getting bogged down at Haydock. He has had wind surgery, so hopefully back on a sound surface will help. He’s also drawn 1 against the stands rail, which looks a good place to be.
TITAN ROCK (E/W)
written by Matt Poley
16:05 York
The £200,000 John Smith's Cup is unsurprisingly competitive and Andrew Balding’s runners look an obvious starting point given that he’s won two of the last three renewals. The Kingsclere trainer has a brace of runners this year with Achelois and Good Birthday leading the charge. The former finished third over course and distance last season but she’s now six-pounds higer and that performance came in a fillies handicap so she’ll need to improve. The latter is back down to his last winning mark and has won off five pounds higher in the past. He was beaten less than six lengths in this race last season off a pound higher and might outrun his odds.
The ultra-consistent Jewel In My Crown deservedly got her head in front for the first time this season at Windsor last month. She looked quite impressive on that occasion and off a featherweight 8-10 with good course form, she must be in the mix. Willian Haggas is operating at a 25% strike-rate and he’s responsible for the current favourite Mahrajaan. The Kitten's Joy gelding has yet to be out of the money in six racecourse appearances but it’s worth noting he’s been a beaten favourite on the last two occasions and may just lack experience for a big-field handicap like this.
I’ll side with Rogue Bear who’s only had eight racecourse starts to date and was narrowly denied over course and distance back in May. This will undoubtedly have been the plan since that defeat and off a featherweight 8-10 there could be alot more improvement to come for Tom Clovers charge.
ROGUE BEAR (E/W)
written by Peter Keogh
16:25 Newmarket
This years edition of the July Cup is set to be an exciting affair. In a race that has been won by the older horses for the past two years, it is the 3yo’s who dominate the betting this time around.
Aussie raider Artorius has stayed over for this event having been denied at Royal Ascot last month. Jamie Spencer retains the ride here however, he is now starting to look a little hard to win with though and for win purposes, I am going to look elsewhere today.
Perfect Power showed his class in the Commonwealth Cup last month and he seems to be getting better and better with each run and it is very hard to oppose the favourite from Musley Bank today, especially with the weight he recieves from some of his main rivals. It is a decade since Richard Fahey last won this race with Mayson but he can do so again here.
Flaming Rib re-opposes him again today but it is hard to see him reversing the form from their meetings thus far and he is set for a place finish at best again today.
At the prices, the horse that makes most appeal each way is Happy Romance. He was staying on quite eye-catchingly at Ascot last time under Sean Levey and though he finished behind Artorius that day, I am taking him to reverse that line of form with that rival and he could go very well with that run behind him.
PERFECT POWER (WIN)
HAPPY ROMANCE (E/W)
written by Tom Bates
16:40 York
Winter Power won last season's Nunthorpe here and has and has won twice from three visits to this course. Clearly the best horse in the race and unquestionably the one to beat, she would probably trounce the rest if rediscovering her very best but she arrives here on the back of two heavy defeats and advising her at short odds looks something of a thankless task.
Korker lost all chance when badly missing the break at Ascot last time, despite that, he ran a quite remarkable race to be only beaten a couple of lengths and he was very impressive when winning here the time before. Hailing from an in-form yard and likely to be well suited by the strong pace, he looks as good a shout as any for the places but he can ill afford to blow the start against these.
Royal Aclaim is two from two and she could be anything at this point, currently trading as second favourite here, she is clearly well thought of and respect is afforded despite the fact that she is taken on.
Caturra didn't get the gaps when third at Sandown last time, quite whether he would have won had they appeared is open to interpretation but he ought to enjoy the likely strong pace here. Twice a winner in Pattern company at two and with further progress likely to come, he makes plenty of appeal today.
Makanah has become disappointing and usually finds at least one too good, he could run on into the places late on but the vote is handed to Caturra, who ought to run into a place and who looks the likeliest winner should Winter Power once more fluff her lines.
CATURRA (E/W) written by Chris Connolly