Ed Dunlop’s stable star among our picks for Saturday’s racing
Published:Glorious Goodwood has passed, Royal Ascot may be but a distant memory, and the Shergar Cup has delivered its annual marmite day of team racing.
With a great weeks racing at York to look forward to it is easy to get ahead of ourselves, but there’s competitive Saturday of racing to enjoy first.
And remember; pick out a winner at 4/1 or bigger on any race shown live on Channel 4 with Ladbrokes, and get a free bet up to £25!*
It looks a tricky weekend to find the winners, but here are our best bets on Saturday.
Ian Williams’ progressive sort looks a good bet to continue on his upwards curve against a field, one or two aside, which looks hopelessly out of sorts.
The six-year-old has only gone up 5lbs in the handicap for his win at Ascot at the end of July, all of which is offset by the claim of jockey George Downing.
With plenty of rain falling about around the UK at the moment, the ability to handle a bit of cut in the ground could be key. While connections of some others in this race will be praying for it to dry out, he will have no problems in coping with any conditions.
He will need to defy a career high to grab this, but looks more than capable of doing so.
While the Geoffrey Freer stakes is undoubtedly another warm up for a fourth crack at the Melbourne Cup, Ed Dunlop’s likeable globetrotter has a good chance of going one better than his second place finish here 12 months ago.
Likely favourite Pether’s Moon is a consistent sort, and could put in another bold run, but with all his wins coming on solid ground, he is worth taking on.
The selection has not delivered on his two runs this season, but can be excused both times with the firm ground in Kyoto and a trip short of ideal at Meydan not proving to his liking.
And while it has been 20 months since his last win, over £2.3m in prize money in the following period proves his ability. If he is at the top of his games, the eight-year-old will be tough to beat.
Ripon’s seasonal highlight the Great St Wilfrid Handicap takes some solving, but David O’Meara’s charge is nicely priced for a big effort.
Knowledge of the sharp track seems a prerequisite to land the race in recent years, with four of the last five winners having previously been successful over course and distance. Our pick has a record of 2312 when tackling the Yorkshire track’s 6f, so will certainly know her way around.
Last seen staying on strongly in a 5f handicap at Ascot, the step back up an extra furlong looks sure to suit, while the filly remains on a very workable mark.
She will be partnered by in form claimer Sam James who has been flying in with the winners for the Nawton-based trainer, the pair operating at a 42% strike rate in the month of August so far.
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All odds and markets correct as of the date of publishing
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