Premier venues such as York, Ascot and Newmarket all stage highly-competitive cards on Saturday, and those punters out there who love nothing more than unravelling a devilishly difficult handicap are well catered for.
Having mentioned competitive handicaps dominating the racing landscape this weekend, it is worth pointing out that the feature race at York is the Group 2 York Stakes, a ten-furlong contest won last year by the admirable and classy veteran Twice Over. This year's renewal looks to be a remarkably open affair, with Planteur, successful in a Group 1 last year, narrowly topping the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings. He is sure to face stiff competition from the globe-trotting Wigmore Hall as well as recent Sandown scorer Afsare. Punters have found it difficult to separate Planteur and Afsare at the head of the ante-post market, and an exciting finish looks to be in prospect.
The York Dash, a twenty-runner cavalry charge down the Knavesmire, is the chief supporting race on the card. Supporters of Head Space won't rest easy until he is well past the post, given his past tendency of trying to jump the winning line, but he brings solid form to the contest and looks one of the more likely winners. Matt Gardner outlines his chances, and you can read it here.
There is also a fillies' handicap earlier on the card in which a number of unexposed types line-up. Saaed Bin Suroor's Anjaz is sure to be popular, entering the contest having won on both occasions last year. She remains open to progress, having had just the two starts to date and is an exciting prospect. She won't have things her own way though, as she faces a combination of hardened handicappers and unexposed improvers.
Over at Ascot, the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes is the main attraction, and Richard Hannon's Maureen tops the Timeform ratings by virtue of her unlucky defeat at Newmarket last time. Whilst she was trapped in a pocket travelling well, the winner had grabbed first run, building up what would prove an unassailable advantage. Maureen is likely to be a short-priced favourite to atone for that unlucky defeat. Hoyam, who came second at Royal Ascot, looks to be the main danger, whilst there are unsurprisingly a few unexposed sorts who could also launch a challenge.
Waffle, who has finished runner-up in the Wokingham for the past two seasons, drops back to 5f to attempt to register a long-overdue victory in the 14:55 at Ascot. There are any number of possible contenders in what looks to be a fiercely-competitive handicap, with Barnet Fair and Bosun Breeze just two who should be capable of going well.
Diala could prove to be an interesting runner later on the card. She came into this season fancied in some quarters to gain classic honours, but both her starts this season have been underwhelming. It is far too early to give up on this promising sort and she could well prove to be a cut above her rivals as she enters handicap company in the 16:30 at Ascot.
A three-year-old handicap is the feature of Newmarket's card (16:00) and it has unsurprisingly attracted a host of improving performers. Rex Imperator is just one of a number of horses who could prove to be ahead of their mark and he will attempt to back up his impressive Windsor victory, carrying top-weight here.
Elsewhere on the Newmarket card, Ultrasonic, who won in fine style at the track last time, returns to the scene of her triumph in the preceding handicap. She looks sure to go well, despite being burdened with a 9lb rise for the ease of her recent success.
Sunday sees Pontefract, Carlisle and Stratford stage meetings. Pontefract host a listed event where Set The Trend makes his second start for David O'Meara, having ran respectably in the Summer Mile at Ascot last week. He tops the Timeform figures and looks likely to give a good account.
