3 minute read
With eight meetings across the UK and Ireland, there’s certainly no shortage of action to get stuck into and Sam King returns with four selections on this super Saturday.
Racing returns to the Rowley Mile in HQ and as so often is the case Charlie Appleby looks to have several decent chances across the card. Shining Jewel has to be of interest on her handicap bow in the Turners Fillies' Handicap at 2.15 but at the prices, Canoodled looks a cracking each-way bet.
Ed Walker's filly does have a tendency to be slowly away and that certainly didn't help her chances when third at Haydock last time. However, it was still a rock-solid effort in defeat, and she looks to hold every chance going back up to a mile at her favoured venue.
With form figures at HQ reading 124131, she clearly relishes the Newmarket venue and produced a fine effort to score readily over seven furlongs on the July course last month. That performance came on ground described officially as 'good' and she looks sure to get conditions to suit this afternoon.
Furthermore, Ed Walker has really hit top stride over the last 14 days with six winners from 22 runners (27%) and I'm hoping this consistent five-year-old mare can add another to his impressive recent tally.
Selection: Canoodled – General 5/1
Testing conditions have seen plenty of non-runners across the card at Newbury but one who certainly won't mind conditions is Mustazeed in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at 2.40.
Nothing went to plan for Harry Eustace's gelding at Sandown last-time-out and he ultimately never looked like getting involved in a steadily run affair after a slow start.
However, things look like being run more to suit at Newbury this afternoon and he's surely better judged on his narrow success over today's course and distance prior.
It looks likely to be really testing conditions at Newbury this afternoon and not many of Mustazeed's rivals have proven form on ground described as heavy. A career-high mark of 88 may look tough on the face of things, but Kaiya Fraser claims a valuable 5lb and that puts him back on his last winning mark of 83.
Selection: Mustazeed – General 5/1
Elsewhere at Newbury, Spanish Star will relish conditions and it's easy to see why he's shortened in the market in the Conundrum Consulting Handicap (4.25).
A confirmed hold-up horse, things haven't been in his favour in recent outings, and it was pleasing to see him run so well when third in a small field handicap at Goodwood last time.
As so often is the case, he tanked his way into contention but struggled for racing room in the closing stages and is ideally suited by a bigger field with a stronger gallop. He certainly gets a bigger field here with eleven currently going to post and with a number of confirmed front-runners, this contest should be run at a decent tempo.
A mark of 92 is only 2lb above his last winning rating and with the heavier the ground the better for Patrick Chamings' eight-year-old, this previous course and distance scorer looks to hold strong claims of getting back to winning ways.
Selection: Spanish Star – General 5/1
We head to Ayr for our final wager. The likeable veteran Summerghand would be my selection in the Ayr Gold Cup (3.35), but he just missed out on the shortlist in favour of one running in the consolation Silver Cup earlier on the card (2.25).
With up to seven places on offer in the Virgin Bet Ayr Silver Cup Handicap, there has to be a decent each-way bet and I'd be disappointed if Jump The Gun wasn't thereabouts at the business end.
Iain Jardine's runner has some patchy recent form figures but bounced to something like his best when runner-up on soft ground at Doncaster last time.
That was certainly a return to form for the gelded six-year-old, who had fallen 16lb since starting off his season in Listed company at Wolverhampton back in March.
He was a massive eye-catcher in this contest last year, finishing fifth having suffered a troubled passage from towards the rear of the field. That effort came off a mark of 90 and it's hard to believe he's running off 80 today (due to go up 3lb). Furthermore, William Pyle takes off a valuable 5lb.
Stall twelve should prove ideal in this big field sprint and I'm hopeful this well-handicapped gelding can run a huge race with ground conditions no issue.
Selection: Jump The Gun – General 10/1
