It is so-called ‘Super Saturday’ tomorrow with high-class racing at Newmarket, York and Ascot, and that’s good news for some of the lesser-known jockeys as it means they get an opportunity to ride fancied horses in some of the biggest races. That’s because the likes of Ryan Moore, Oisin Murphy, William Buick, Tom Marquand and Billy Loughnane can only be at one meeting at any one time.
Rob Hornby is a hugely talented jockey but he often has to play understudy to Oisin Murphy when it comes to riding trainer Andrew Balding’s best horses. I am hoping Hornby can ride a winner tomorrow when he is reunited with MISS ATTITUDE in the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (York, 3.12 p.m.).
The duo were second in this race a year ago and, although tomorrow’s race looks tougher, Miss Attitude has upped her game over the past 12 months. Last time out, this six-year-old mare was eighth beaten just over two lengths to Mission Central in the Grade 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot despite missing the break.
Down in class for this listed race and with her favoured fast ground, she can win for the first time this season. Back Miss Attitude 1 point each way at 11-1 with Sky Bet, paying five places. She is 12-1 with other bookies paying less places.
However, I also want to back an outsider in the same race because trainer Robert Cowell’s LEXINGTON BLITZ deserves a chance in this listed company after some top runs in sprint handicaps this season. He will be ridden by Lewis Edmunds who is another excellent jockey but who well might well not have got the ride if more fashionable pilots had been available.
Rain-softened ground blunted Lexington Blitz’s speed at Epsom in the Betfred ‘Dash’ last time out when he was only third to Arklow Lad but this four-year-old gelding is better than that on quick ground. Back him 1 point each way at 22-1 with Paddy Power, paying five places. He is 25-1 with other bookies paying less places.
In tomorrow’s John Smith’s Cup (York, 3.45 p.m.), I have already put up Danger Bay each way at 16-1 and I am really happy with that bet as he is now 6-1 with most bookies. His trainer Ed Bethell is in red-hot form coming into this meeting too.
The best handicapped horse in the race is the royal runner Warrant Holder and he is 6 lbs ‘well in’ for this early-closing race after his second at Royal Ascot when he lost ground from his wide draw. However, he is the likely favourite and at odds of around 9-2 I am happy to let him run unbacked.
Two other horses that are ‘well in’ on their recent runs are CASTLE STUART and Raammee and, at the odds, I am going to suggest an each-way bet on the former who is ridden by Barry McHugh, yet another jockey to get some more fancied rides tomorrow at York that he might usually have.
Castle Stuart’s run over course and distance last month, when he was runner-up beaten just a head, can be marked up given that Sportingsilvermine, who was two lengths back in third that day, went on to land the Betway Old Newton Cup Handicap at Newmarket last Saturday.
Back Castle Stuart for tomorrow’s contest, 1 point each way at 16-1 with bet365 or Unibet, both paying six places.
Aalto is well handicapped in tomorrow’s Betway Bunbury Cup (Newmarket, 3.25 p.m.) but he has proved an expensive horse to follow, with no wins from eight runs since he was second in this contest a year ago.
He might well win tomorrow because he has shown his best form at Newmarket but I would rather be on the ultra-consistent GREAT ACCLAIM who has put in top runs in handicap company on his last three outings, all with Charles Bishop in the saddle.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s five-year-old gelding is on a career-high mark of 102 as a result of his fine recent form but he seems still to be improving and, with Bishop taking the ride again, back him 1 point each at 7-1 with Paddy Power, paying five places.
There is more good racing a Newmarket, including the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes (4.25 p.m.) and top racing at Ascot too, including the Group 2 Juddmonte Summer Mile (2.27 p.m.) but I will leave it at just the four new bets for tomorrow. With Danger Bay from last month too, that’s five horses running for the column on ‘Super Saturday’.
Pending:
1 point each way Miss Attitude at 11-1 for the City Walls Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Lexington Blitz at 22-1 for the City Walls Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5places.
1 point each way Great Acclaim at 7-1 for the Bunbury Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Danger Bay at 16-1 for the John Smith’s Cup, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Castle Stuart at 16-1 for the John Smith’s Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Cerulean Bay at 16-1 for the Golden Mile, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
Last weekend: – 5.4 points
1 point each way Getreadytorumble at 10-1 for the Coral Charge, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Classic at 12-1 for the Coral Challenge, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Paddy The Squire at 8-1 for the Old Borough Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 2nd. + 0.6 points.
1 point each way Gethin at 9-1 for the Coral-Eclipse, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2026 flat season running total: + 6.825 points.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points on all tips.
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for seven full seasons of tipping: + 68.215 points on all tips.
Comments