There’s a bumper day of racing to look forward to on Saturday and we have picked out four bets across the UK and Ireland in a Lucky 15.
A bumper Saturday with the six Flat meetings in Britain accompanied two from Ireland, the highlight being the conclusion of Newmarket’s July Festival and the Group 1 July Cup over 6f, a race first run in 1876.
The John Smith’s Cup, the most valuable handicap run in Europe, is the feature of a high quality seven-race card at York and there is some strong supporting action from Ascot, prior to three evening meetings at Chester, Hamilton and Salisbury. Here are our best horse racing betting tips to fill out your Lucky 15.
Saturday Lucky15 racing tips
14:12 Newmarket – Miss Nightfall @ 9/4
14:50 Newmarket – More Thunder @ 6/4
16:00 Newmarket – Italy @ 8/13
17:25 York – Juan Les Pins @ SP
14:12 Newmarket – Miss Nightfall @ 9/4
Miss Nightfall ran a cracker in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot last time despite only finishing sixth in that 25-runner contest.
She was held up by Oisin Murphy, occupying last spot for much of the race, and came up the centre of the course to challenge and eventually lead home the group, but the principals were fighting out the real prize on the stands side rail.
Her previous Goodwood second over 7f was a fine effort in defeat too after meeting trouble in the run and, from just 1lb higher in the ratings and with a trio of rivals likely to ensure an honest gallop, this race could be play out in optimal fashion for the three-year-old under Saffie Osborne for trainer James Fanshawe.
14:50 Newmarket – More Thunder @ 6/4
The William Haggas-trained More Thunder finished really strongly when snatching an unlikely win on the Newmarket Rowley Mile Course in May and he very nearly did the very same in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, the four-year-old eating up the ground late on and going down by only a head to George Baker’s Get It, who was supplementing his success in last season’s Stewards’ Cup.
The Night Of Thunder colt had looked to be playing for minor honours at best entering the final furlong, but the turbo soon kicked in and he was in front just a stride after the line under Tom Marquand.
Initially campaigned over middle distances by Sir Michael Stoute last year, Haggas has done wonders with him as a sprinter, but his future surely lies over this trip of 7f and he should improve enough for this extra furlong not to be inconvenienced by his latest 3lb rise.
16:00 Newmarket – Italy @ 8/13
Aidan O’Brien has won the Group 2 Superlative Stakes on four occasions, most recently in 2023 with the brilliant City Of Troy, and he holds a strong hand in this renewal courtesy of Leopardstown maiden winner, Italy.
A son of sire of the moment, Wootton Bassett, he was all the rage in the betting on his debut over this distance of 7f in May and got the job done with a bit more in hand the bare margin of three-quarters-of-a-length suggests.
The form, although not bulletproof, looks solid with the runner-up, Thesecretadversary, going on to finish second in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and, given O’Brien’s dominance in the juvenile division this season, he’s hard to oppose.
Charlie Appleby has an even more impressive record in this race, winning it five times since 2016 and that statistic alone, means both Saba Desert and Wild Desert deserve respect.
17:25 York – Juan Les Pins @ SP
Mick Appleby’s Juan Les Pins hasn’t won in over two years, but he did remarkably well to finish as close as he did at Haydock last weekend and warrants respect in what is a typically competitive sprint handicap for the track.
The son of Invincible Spirit has won seven times in a 55-race career and has some notable form to his name, having been placed three times in Listed company and finished in the frame in a Group 3 at Ascot.
Whilst he’s not quite the same force these days, he retains a fair chunk of that ability and would surely have gone close at Haydock a week ago but for being badly baulked and almost knocked over in two major pieces of interference inside the final 2f.
Last successful off a mark of 91 in June 2023, he’s now down to 80 and should go well under Allister Rawlinson. The eight-year-old finished second behind Commanche Falls in the Listed Garrowby Stakes on his only previous visit to this venue.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: https://blog.betway.com/horse-racing/saturdays-lucky-15-racing-tips/
