Dave Nevison, Martin Dixon, Page Fuller, Andy Stephens and Johnny Ward share their best bets across Newmarket, York and Limerick on Saturday, all live on Racing TV! For more selections visit racingtv.com/tips.
2.07 Limerick: Akeela
Best odds: 6-1.
Tipster: Johnny Ward.
Johnny Ward: This Is My Best Bet At Limerick
2.12 Newmarket: Royal Velvet (each-way)
Best odds: 7-1.
Tipster: Martin Dixon.
My first fancy on Saturday is Royal Velvet each-way in the Trustatrader 20th Anniversary Fillies' Handicap.
She's just a very consistent, likeable filly, and her form this season has been steadily progressive. William Buick is also a positive jockey booking, especially with how well he has been riding at
Newmarket this week.
This is the first time Buick will have ridden Royal Velvet who was beaten in a tight finish over course and distance last time out. I live her draw in stall one, and I wouldn't be surprised if she came towards the stands' side. I certainly don't think that is a negative place to be on this track, and she's a solid contender with conditions to suit.
2.35 York: J M Jungle
Best odds: 4-1.
Tipster: Page Fuller.
Newmarket’s July Cup takes centre stage on Saturday, but there is action up and down the country, and it’s a couple of five-furlong sprinters that the data is highlighting to me.
He may be a five-year-old butJ M Jungle would not be the first sprinter to only really find his peak at a relatively late stage of his career.
Having knocked about in Class 2 handicaps for the majority of his career, his form since returning from his winter break in April has stepped up to a completely different standard.
He is yet to finish out of the frame this season and his first two defeats of the campaign came at the hands of American Affair, who went on to land the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.
It’s not just his form that highlights his chances, the data is pretty positive as well. York is a short, fast track, so there is a big emphasis on breaking well from the stalls, going fast and maintaining that speed to the line.
He will be fast from the gates, given that he has been one of the first three quickest to break in each of his starts so far this season. He also has a very high cruising speed, as he demonstrated when winning at Epsom two starts ago.
That day, he hit a whopping Top Speed of 45.28 mph, and clocked 9.99secs for the second furlong. Those speeds are pretty electric, and he still maintained it impressively to the line with a Finishing Speed Percentage of 98.31%.
The City Walls Stakes at York looks the perfect opportunity for a crack at Listed company whilst he remains in this form.
2.50 Newmarket: More Thunder
Best odds: 13-8.
Tipster: Dave Nevison.
This prestigious 7f handicap is the obvious next step for More Thunder, who was narrowly beaten in the Wokingham last time.
His many supporters suffered heartbreak at Ascot, as he got going just a fraction too late, hit traffic and Tom Marquand to have an issue with his reins. He was still only beat a short head and should have won a length.
It has definitely been a masterstroke of Haggas’ to drop this gelding down to 6f this season but he has looked in all three of his runs for the yard that in fact 7f is his trip.
There looks likely to be significant improvement coming and in a smaller field than usual he looks the only unexposed runner. Marquand will be absolutely on his mettle this Saturday, I am sure.
4.35 Newmarket: Spy Chief
Best odds: 22-1.
Tipster: Andy Stephens.
July Cup: This 22-1 Chance Appeals
Like Notable Speech, Godolphin supplemented Spy Chief on Monday.
The decision to add him to the party got a lot less fanfare, but this enthusiastic front-runner, who made his debut little more than two months ago and has had only four runs, is a most interesting challenger.
He made a bold bid from the front in the Jersey Stakes last time - as a gelding he could not run in the Commonwealth Cup - with only Noble Champion able to overhaul him.
The winner was showing vastly improved from, but for once did not fluff the start.
Spy Chief was fastest of the field in each of the first three furlongs, hinting the return to 6f would be no problem. He had previously romped home over the trip at Yarmouth, with his final furlong of 11.52sec catching the eye.
The time of the Jersey was slick (RaceiQ awarded it a Time Index score of 9 out of 10) and the form also looks strong. Comanche Brave, the favourite, beaten six lengths into third, had previously been beaten less than that behind Field Of Gold in the Irish 2000 Guineas; the fourth was unbeaten; and the fifth had been beaten a lesser distance in the 2000 Guineas.
Spy Chief's draw in stall 13 could also be favourable given that four of the past six winners (including the last three) have been drawn widest/highest of all. If the son of Kingman can relax a bit better than he did at Ascot in the first half of the race, then he could be in business.
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