Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Newmarket, York and Chester on Saturday. View selections below.
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IF the bookies are to be believed Caravaggio has an air of invincibility about him going into the Darley July Cup at Newmarket but LIMATO (4.35) is the each-way alternative at odds of around 5-1 in places.
So impressive when scooping this Group 1 prize 12 months ago, Limato has yet to hit the heights this season, running third in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot, but Henry Candy’s sprinter is fancied to turn the tables on The Tin Man and Tasleet.
Limato is drawn in stall one and is berthed alongside Adian O’Brien’s unbeaten powerhouse Caravaggio, such an authoritative winner of the Commonwealth Cup, so he should be in the thick of the action as the race unfolds.
Tasleet is emerging as a serious Group 1 sprinter and any rain would help as he fairly bolted up in the mud at York.
Harry Angel is another exceptional speedster and hasn’t much to find with Caravaggio on their Commonwealth Cup running.
MUTAWATHEA (3.25) finished an excellent third in last year’s Bet365 Bunbury Cup and has clearly had this big handicap as his main midsummer target.
Simon Crisford’s six-year-old is 1lb lower here and top northern apprentice Lewis Edmunds takes off 5lb. Mutawathea arrives on the back of a second spot behind Viscount Barfield in an 18-runner York handicap.
Godolphin’s Steady Pace has done much of his racing in Dubai but returned from a 121-day absence at Royal Ascot when chasing home Out Do in the Wokingham Handicap.
Tashweeq posted a fine third in the Royal Hunt Cup and John Gosden’s four-year-old is another for the shortlist along with Gossiping, winner of four of his last five outings.
The big race at York is the John Smith’s Cup and BALLET CONCERTO (3.05) is the sole Sir Michael Stoute representative from four entries.
After winning the Spring Mile at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting, Ballet Concerto rather lost his way at Epsom and Newmarket.
Stoute returned his gelding to flatter terrain in the Royal Hunt Cup and Ballet Concerto bounced back with an excellent fourth from a poor draw. It’s worth taking a chance that he will stay this extended 1m 2f trip on fast ground.
Snoano caused an upset in the Wolferton Handicap at Ascot but there seemed no fluke about it. He is up 5lb and will find it difficult confirming placings with top weight Scarlet Dragon, Tumbago and Central Square.
Preference would be for the William Haggas-trained Victory Bond, sixth in last year’s Dante Stakes and more recently third to Here Comes When on the Knavesmire over a trip probably short of his best.
Punters will feel like kids in a sweetie shop with big races coming fast and furious, and JUNGLE CAT (3.00) should not be missed in the Sportingbet City Plate at Chester.
The Godolphin five-year-old was stepped up to 7f at Newmarket last time and gave Home Of The Brave a scare in the Group 2 Criterion Stakes. Jungle Cat wouldn’t have been ideally suited by the good to soft ground and will appreciate a faster surface.
Blinkers replace cheek-pieces and Franny Norton can take up a nice stalking position from stall five.
This Listed event could be run at a furious pace with lightning quick Salateen likely to be gunned out of the stalls from his coffin box in stall 10.
Jallota drops in grade and must rate the most serious opponent.
HERE AND NOW (3.35) looks a solid bet in the 1m 6f Class 3 handicap having edged out subsequent Queen’s Vase winner Stradivarious after a titanic struggle here at the May fixture.
Mark Johnston’s middle-distance three-year-olds are a typically strong bunch and course winner Hochfeld left the impression he would improve again when stepped up in trip.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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