ITV Racing Tips: No downside to Emily Upjohn on Curragh consolation mission
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There is jump racing back on the TV for those missing the winter sport but the Flat remains the focus with another Classic to climax the schedule.
Emily Upjohn, who many thought an unlucky loser in the Oaks, heads to the Curragh for the Irish Oaks in which Frankie Dettori will want to go one better than he did at Epsom.
It’s the day’s feature race but the ITV coverage will be anchored from Newbury where the showpiece event is the Weatherbys Super Sprint, restricted to cheaply bought juveniles, which offers a big payout for a low layout.
It is one of four races from Newbury, which also features the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes. The jumping will come from Market Rasen where the Summer Plate is the best of three races.
With the Irish Oaks to complete the line-up there will be eight races shown by ITV from 13:25. We have previewed the three most significant races of the day in our ITV Racing Tips.
Rohaan ended a year’s drought to complete back-to-back victories in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ryan Moore enjoyed a dream run through on the sprinter who showed he was right back to his best.
Moore is not available this time but Hollie Doyle is not a bad substitute. The step up in grade should be no trouble for Rohaan, who has run well at Group 1 level.
He gets the nod over Godolphin’s Man Of Promise, no match for Nature Strip at Ascot, but a better performer over 6f than 5f.
Limited to two-year-olds bought at auction for £63,000 or less, there is a chance for the owners of the winner to turn a profit with first prize money of £98,000 on offer.
Every year attention naturally turns to the Hannon stable which has won it 11 times, including in the last two years.
Miami Girl and Swift Asset are highest in the betting but interestingly Sean Levey, who has ridden the last two winners, partners the maiden Armour Propre who must be an each-way candidate at 40/1.
Yet if the race is run to form they are all set to miss out with Maria Branwell, who went through the ring for €22,000, the pick on the evidence of a third place in the Albany Stakes, her only defeat in three starts.
It’s possible to deduce that the fall out between Frankie Dettori and John Gosden was sparked by the ride given to Emily Upjohn in the Oaks, where the race favourite missed the break and came round the field to narrowly lose out to Tuesday, who came the shorter route up the inside of the field.
The mood darkened after the defeats of Stradivarius and Saga at Royal Ascot. But after a brief break-up they made up last week, so Dettori gets another go on the filly.
Tuesday is not among Emily Upjohn’s opponents, but she does face Magical Lagoon, winner of the Ribblesdale last time out. She is certainly on the up but is likely to require another Dettori mishap to overcome Emily Upjohn.
ITV Racing Schedule, Saturday 16th July
13:50 Newbury – Steventon Stakes
14:06 Market Rasen – 2m7f Handicap Hurdle
14:21 Newbury – 2m Handicap
14:41 Market Rasen – Summer Handicap Hurdle
14:56 Newbury – Hackwood Stakes
15:14 Market Rasen – Summer Plate
15:30 Newbury – Super Sprint
15:40 Curragh – Irish Oaks
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
