Dave Massey casts his eye on the best Saturday action for July 18th.
3:15 Ripon – 1m4f Bell-Ringer Handicap
I gave Per Contra a mention for the John Smith’s Cup at York last week as I thought the race might be run to suit him, for all he had a hard task, but a slow start put him on the back foot and he could simply never get into the race. Ho hum, that’s racing eh? Anyway, I fancy him to bounce straight back in the Bell-Ringer, a race in which he was second to the long odds-on and well-handicapped The Reverend last year, and he’s a couple of pounds lower thai time around. He doesn’t win enough to be confident about, but this does not look the toughest of contests to win, and at a double-figure price I can definitely chance him returning to form.
3:37 Newbury – 5f Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes
Holi Scarlett is going to be a big price here, but I’ve long suspected she might be the type for this, as a flat-out five furlongs is surely going to suit her. She was absolutely clueless on her first two starts, green as grass when well held at Newmarket but there were signs on that second start she was starting to get the hang of things. Sure enough, she found an opening at Nottingham two starts back when coming home strongly to win a nursery by half a length (third home Undercover Affair a winner next time to give the form a bit of substance) and although only third at Yarmouth last time, she did best of those held up in a race where it paid to be on the pace.
Stall 17 looks a good draw to work from and Jack Doughty, who won on her at Nottingham, is back on board, which is no bad thing. 50-1 and bigger with extra places is worth a small each-way wager.
2:10 Market Rasen – 2m½f Summer Handicap Hurdle
2m1½f with the rail movements, just about.
The one that catches the eye here is High Fibre, formerly with Harry Fry but now in the care of James Owen, who has won this race twice in the last three years. Before he ran at York on the Flat last week, I did wonder whether this race might be the plan, and so it appears. Sean Bowen was booked on Monday for the ride too, which has to be a positive, as is the rise in the weights with Tripoli Flyer not going, and the York run, third to the thrown-in Green Sky, signified a return to form. He looks fairly treated here off a mark of 112 and as a Kempton winner over hurdles for his former yard, going right-handed isn’t an issue. He has proven himself after a quick turnaround too. The 20s with Ladbrokes looks more than fair; I’m think he goes off a lot shorter than that.
2:45 Market Rasen – 2m5½f Summer Plate
Stan’s The Man is going to be a massive price as he’s fully exposed, but he stays well and is in good form at present. The more they have watered the happier he’ll be, he doesn’t want it rattling fast, and with temperatures coming down a bit this week, that looks unlikely. At 33s and with extra places on offer, he could be the one at a big price.
By Dave Massey
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