GC's Saturday Racing Tips: Newmarket and beyond

Newmarket July Festival / Graham Cunningham / 08 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Graham has selected three on one of the busiest Saturdays of the year

"Side Glance is on a roll and has more than earned this step up in grade."

Depending on your point of view, punters are either being served an irresistible choice or completely overfaced this Saturday. Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham has no huge appetite for the featured July Cup at Newmarket but is more than happy to cherry pick from the rest of the menu as he bids to end one of the most hectic weeks in the calendar on a winning note.

Everyone loves to back a winner in the biggest races and it will be no exception when an international field comes together for the July Cup at 15:35 this Saturday.

But if we know one thing about the current crop of sprinters in Europe it is that they tend to beat each other with bewildering regularity and I simply don't have a strong view about whose turn it will be this time.

Perhaps it will be Delegator, who is unexposed at this trip and showed a smart turn of foot to win the Duke of York, but he's priced accordingly at around [5.0] and I'm happy to let him run at that price.

Now to Monsieur Chevalier, Star Witness, Elzaam, Bated Breath and Amico Fritz, who played supporting roles behind Society Rock in Ascot's Golden Jubilee Stakes.

I don't fancy Monsieur Chevalier given that this will be a much sharper test than Ascot.

He cost me in the place market there and will do so again if he hits the three again, while Amico Fritz appeals as a likely longshot given that he finished close behind the Ascot principals despite being forced to race away from the main action.

As for the rest, Star Witness went like the best horse for a long way in the Golden Jubilee. He rates high on my short list despite the fact that top Aussie sprinters have tended to miss out in this after their Ascot exertions.

Dream Ahead's runaway Middle Park win makes him clear top-rated on Timeform figures.

However, he hasn't looked straightforward off the bridle in two runs since, so it's a case of pushing for Star Witness and Amico Fritz and against Monsieur Chevalier in the place market before moving onto some puzzles which look a little more soluble.

*

Ascot's featured Summer Mile at 15:45 could lose one of its main attractions overnight as Roger Charlton has been reporting on Twitter that rain is essential if the Queen Anne Stakes third Cityscape is to take his chance.

Dick Turpin is less beholden to ground conditions and is clearly a high-class miler when on song, but Side Glance appeals as the value option. Andrew Balding's gelding has several important points in his favour.

First, his stable are in great form after a treble on Eclipse day at Sandown last week; second, he has valuable Ascot form under his belt after an impressive win in the spring here; and third, Side Glance backed that up at Windsor last time with a decisive defeat of subsequent Group 3 winner The Cheka.

Assessing what price he will start isn't easy given the doubts over Cityscape, but Side Glance is on a roll and has more than earned this step up in grade.

A couple of smart sprinters complete the list of horses to keep an eye on during this packed Saturday, namely Mac's Power and Hamish McGonagall.

Mac's Power is bound to be popular in Ascot's 14:30 given how well he travelled and stayed on when eighth in the Wokingham over this course and distance last month.

James Fanshawe's gelding beat the rest of the group who raced on the stand side with authority and could still be very fairly treated having been given the chance to race off a mark of 100 again.

York will be packed for John Smith's Cup day but the featured handicap at 15:15 looks as tough as ever and there might be a little more value to be found in the opener at 14:05.

The hugely popular veteran Borderlescott is bound to command support, while Masamah didn't get the rub of the green at Epsom last time and looks a danger on a track which suits him well.

However, Hamish McGonagall boasts on even more convincing record on the Knavesmire and returns on top of his game after being worn down late in a Group 3 contest at the Curragh two weeks ago.

Hamish travelled like the best horse in the race that day only to be found out by the demanding finish. York's flatter track will suit very well indeed and this likeable gelding looks bound to go close.

Saturday recommendations
Back Mac's Power in the 14:30 @ Ascot
Back Side Glance in the 15:45 @ Ascot
Back Hamish McGonagall in the 14:05 @ York