Dave Massey casts his eye on the best Newmarket action for July 10th.
1:50 Newmarket – 1m2f Oddschecker Handicap
Only the six runners for this Heritage Handicap, which really is a poor turnout for a race worth 51k to the winner.
Princling has been installed as the early favourite after his fifth to Lost Boys in the Golden Gates Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out. It was certainly a good effort, coming from the back and having to challenge wide, but then again that’s a race that often suits those drawn wide and held up, so I’m not going overboard about it.
In fact, when you think about it, Evanesco, who was a length and three-quarters behind Princling at Ascot, that after doing a lot of the donkey work on the front end, might have a chance of reversing that form in this smaller field where he looks nailed-on to get an easy lead in front, and he’s four times the price today. He dotted up on the Rowley Course on his previous start to that, making all to pan Sahara King (well down the field in that Golden Gates) by three and three-quarter lengths, and that shows he’s dangerous when allowed an easy lead. He looks tremendous value.
3:00 Newmarket – 1m6f Betway Trophy
Chances are that the fast-improving Wine Dark Sea is going to win this and take his tally for the season to three from three, but I’m not here to tip up even money shots, you’ll find plenty of them elsewhere. Let’s look for something that’s a bit more value.
We don’t have to look very far, to be honest, as an each-way swing on Goblet Of Fire looks the very obvious alternative to the favourite. He showed some useful form last year, both on the Flat and over hurdles, and looked as good as ever when winning a Heritage Handicap at Newmarket last time out. He beat subsequent Northumberland Plate winner Align The Stars there, and a 7lb rise is entirely justified. Trip, track and ground all suit, and he really ought to go well.
4:45 Newmarket – 5f Debenhams Handicap
Rocking Ends finished third in this last year and can go two better under Oisin Murphy here.
He hit a rich vein of form around this time last year, winning three of four starts (including over C&D) and this season appears to have been all about preparing him for a summer campaign again. Two runs at Yarmouth this spring have seen him come down another four pounds and he’s back on a mark he can do some damage off. The only question is the removal of cheekpieces; he can go without them, as he did in this last year, but his wins came with them on. That stops him being a very strong bet, but he’s got plenty in his favour in any case.
2:10 York – 7f Handicap
Yanifer has form figures here of 17220, the 0 coming last time when he would have needed the run after a 252-day absence. In the circumstances, I thought he ran okay, given no peace on the front, he faded out of it late but wasn’t beaten that far at the death. Trainer Harriet Bethell is 2-2 in the last two weeks, and clearly has her string in good nick; he ought come on for that first run of the season and has to be on your shortlist.
By Dave Massey
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