1:55 Ascot
The first race we look at is a 5f handicap at Ascot.
The one for me is HAVANA HURRICANE, who will relish this speedy 5f test, where he will get a lovely toe-in. A previous winner of a listed contest over this track and trip, I’d expect him to go very close back here in a handicap. The stable is in fine form, and they can start today with a winner.
2:27 Ascot
Next up at Ascot is the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes.
I like MORE THUNDER in here after a fine second in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes last time out. After two runs this season, he should be at his best now. He holds Zeus Olympios on that form and back to down to Group 2 company, he can resume winning ways.
2:39 York
We head to York next for another trappy handicap, this time over the mile.
I still think COSI BELLO is better than his current mark and I’m happy to excuse his Royal Ascot effort. Before that, he made a successful reappearance at Haydock, and I think he was value for the small winning margin. This lightly raced 4-year-old can get back on the upward curve at a track that will suit him well.
2:52 Newmarket
The 2.52 from Newmarket is another mile handicap; this time it’s restricted to the 3-year-olds.
I think it’s hard to get away from MOONFALL after his impressive Royal Ascot last time out, where he finished ahead of a lot of his re-opposing rivals. He’s up 7lb but that looks justified, and he can continue on the up here.
3:12 York
It’s back to York for the 3:12 contest, the City Walls Stakes. It is a listed race over 5f.
I’d expect AMERICAN AFFAIR to be tough to beat if back to form at this level. He just ran far too keen last time out at Royal Ascot, and if he runs anywhere close to his 2025 form, he’d be bang there. He has shown enough on his start before Royal Ascot to suggest the ability is definitely still there, and hopefully, he can show that today at a track that suits.
3:25 Newmarket
The 3:25 from Newmarket is the highly competitive Bunbury Cup, a heritage handicap that is run over 7 furlongs.
I think AALTO can regain this after winning it in 2024 before finishing a fine second behind Group 1 performer More Thunder last year. He’s a 1lb lower and remains in decent form. This is his race, and he’s shown how well suited he is to this 7f Newmarket track. Tough to beat.
3:45 York
It’s another wide-open handicap at 3:45. This time it’s the John Smiths Cup at York over the extended 1m2f trip.
I think WARRANT HOLDER NB is the one to be with. An impressive winner here on seasonal return, he followed that up with a fine second-placed effort at Royal Ascot when chasing home Opportunity in the Duke of Edinburgh, where his stamina gave in close to home. Back down to 1m2f, he can regain the winning thread.
4:00 Newmarket
The 4:00 from Newmarket is the Superlative Stakes. A Group 2 race for 2-year-olds over 7f.
I think it is hard to get away from ABRAHAM LINCOLN in here. The son of Wootton Bassett was a well-backed winner for Coolmore at the Curragh over 6f on his racecourse debut in June. You have to take note when the yards win on debut, as even some of their very best ones can fall short before improving as they go on during their 2 year-old campaign. That says a lot about this lad, and the fact that he was well-backed tells us what they think of him. He’s bred to be really good, and he’ll relish this step up to 7f based on that breeding. The stable won this with Derby winner City of Troy, so they like to target a good one at it. Abraham Lincoln can justify that.
4:35 Newmarket
The feature comes up at 4:35. The Group 1 July Cup Stakes over 6f.
It is ALMERAQ NAP for me, who won the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot when we last saw him. That made it 4 wins from 6 completed starts, and he’s still unexposed. He was entitled to come on for his seasonal return victory, and he did just that at Ascot. I think he’ll come on again for it and I think that form line is stronger than the Commonwealth Cup. I think he’s an upcoming force in the sprinting division and I’m hopeful he can justify that strong opinion today.
Free Bets for Saturday
Henry covers both flat and National Hunt racing at thatsagoal.com. Producing a daily NAP, each-way bet and lucky 15 tip throughout the year.