ITV Racing Selections – Saturday 30th July
Another exciting day of action for punters to look forward to on Saturday on ITV as the Qatar Goodwood Festival continues, as well as two live races from Newmarket. Racing Tips have provided insight into all six scheduled races, with a selection to follow in each. Check those out below, alongside today’s best bets – which are free to view on-site now.
Hunkpapa (13:05 Goodwood)
Richard Hannon’s Classic currently heads the betting after shaping with plenty of encouragement on his debut at Newbury just fifteen days ago. The son of Dubawi stayed on strongly over six furlongs that day and will certainly improve for the step up in trip here. However, Classic is a short price as things stand and at a much bigger price, it would pay to take a chance on Brian Meehan’s HUNKPAPA, who attracted support on his debut earlier this month and the yards runners often improve plenty following their first start.
Sent off 11/2 over six furlongs at Newbury, the son of Sioux Nation showed plenty of pace leaving the stalls and soon found himself towards the head of the ten-runner field. Still in contention entering the final two furlongs, Brian Meehan’s newcomer was ultimately unable to quicken up at a crucial stage but stuck to his task under hands and heels riding to finish fifth.
With jockey Sean Levey maintaining the partnership on Saturday afternoon, Hunkpapa will be expected to take a sizeable step forward following his pleasing debut effort and it would be no surprise to see him get his head in front now tackling seven furlongs for the first time.
Lethal Levi (13:40 Goodwood)
A narrow winner of a Class 4 handicap at Haydock back in May, it’s safe to say Karl Burke’s sprinter LETHAL LEVI has reached new heights in his subsequent starts this season and the three-year-old appears to have another solid opportunity to land the spoils this weekend.
Not beaten far behind future Listed winner Harry Three at York last month, Karl Burke’s charge regained the winning thread with a somewhat surprising victory at Newmarket’s July meeting. Sent off at odds of 16/1 on that occasion, Lethal Levi never looked to be in any danger under jockey Jimmy Quinn, making most of the running to run out a comfortable winner of the valuable bet365 handicap off a mark of 85. Up 7lb as a result of his stylish success, Lethal Levi returned over course and distance just sixteen days later and defied his rise in the weights in some style, readily pulling clear of his nearest pursuers inside the closing stages to win impressively by two lengths.
If turning up in similar form on Saturday afternoon, Karl Burke’s three-year-old sprinter will be extremely difficult to overhaul racing from a 1lb lower mark this weekend and he can land another valuable prize.
Fox Degree (13:55 Newmarket)
Frankie Dettori and Ralph Beckett have teamed up for success recently with Group 3 winner Lezoo and both jockey and trainer will be hoping for further success together as FOX DEGREE bids to follow up her recent victory at Ffos Las this weekend.
After showing plenty of promise in her opening starts in maiden and novice company, Ralph Beckett’s filly was allocated an opening mark of 69 for her nursery debut at the Welsh venue last time out. Facing just four rivals over the five-furlong trip, the daughter of Invincible Spirit made smooth headway towards the wide outside and soon put daylight between herself and her rivals entering the final furlong, keeping up the gallop and staying on strongly on the run to the line to win by two lengths.
With the third franking the form earlier this week at Chelmsford, a 6lb rise certainly doesn’t look insurmountable on that recent evidence and with the step up to six furlongs promising to suit, it would be no surprise to see Fox Degree follow up on Saturday afternoon.
Cemhaan (14:10 Goodwood)
There are plenty of runners to consider in this wide-open handicap with several holding claims in some shape or form. Charlie & Mark Johnston have won two of the last three renewals so it would be no surprise to see a bold bid from the hat-trick seeking Soapy Stevens in this, however, the vote on this occasion goes to the George Baker-trained CEMHAAN who has been in sensational form himself this season and was perhaps unlucky not to finish closer than seventh on his latest start at Royal Ascot.
Off the mark at Salisbury over 1m6f last September, George Baker’s five-year-old picked up where he left off when making a winning seasonal reappearance at that track back in April. Dropped back to twelve furlongs on that occasion, Cemhaan comfortably drew clear of three subsequent winners that day, including Andrew Balding’s Spirit Mixer who went on to finish runner-up in the Northumberland Plate behind Trueshan.
Well supported in the market on his penultimate start at Newmarket in May, Cemhaan made light work of a 5lb penalty and comfortably picked up his third career victory, staying on strongly in the closing stages over the 1m6f trip to defeat eight rivals including Soapy Stevens and Valley Forge. Although George Baker’s charge was unable to land the hat-trick in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes off a mark of 92 last time out, Cemhaan certainly went down as an eye-catcher in defeat after hitting the line strongly despite meeting significant interference down the home straight.
Cemhaan still looks feasibly treated based on his latest effort at Royal Ascot and with his form appearing to be rock solid, it’s difficult to get away from George Baker’s five-year-old on Saturday afternoon and he rates a confident selection.
Star Fortress (14:25 Newmarket)
Mark Johnston’s mare Rose Of Kildare sets a tall standard here but is priced up accordingly and at a much bigger price, it could pay to take a chance on Ralph Beckett’s STAR FORTRESS, who has only had two starts so far but is smartly bred and created a taking impression last time out.
The daughter of Sea The Stars made a pleasing debut over ten furlongs at Windsor just last month when splitting a pair of talented rivals. Second on that occasion, she was ultimately unable to reel in John & Thady Gosden’s progressive Frankel colt Special Envoy in the closing stages but did manage to finish well clear of a subsequent winner that day in the shape of William Haggas’ three-year-old, Wilkins.
Following that encouraging introduction, Star Fortress went one place better when switched to the all-weather at Chelmsford on her second racecourse appearance. Sent off the even-money favourite, Ralph Beckett’s filly never looked to be in any danger after travelling powerfully throughout and soon stayed on strongly inside the closing stages to win by one and a half lengths.
Connections have wasted little time in stepping her up markedly in class and while she tackles some useful rivals on Saturday afternoon, Star Fortress appears to be a highly-talented filly in her own right even at this early stage and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her follow up in Listed company this weekend.
Emily Dickinson (14:45 Goodwood)
The Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes can go the way of EMILY DICKINSON, who has shown a decent level of form in Pattern company on her recent outings on track and receives a hefty weight for age allowance on Saturday afternoon.
Evidently held in the highest regard, the daughter of Dubawi was pitched straight into Listed company following her maiden victory at Naas when lining up in Lingfield’s Oaks Trial back in May. Disappointing on that occasion, Aidan O’Brien’s filly was soon back on track following a short break. Contesting the Group 3 Stanerra Stakes at Leopardstown over 1m6f earlier this month, Emily Dickinson left that Lingfield run firmly behind her when finishing a narrow second to Paddy Twomey’s progressive four-year-old Rosscarbery. Unsuited by the drop back to twelve furlongs last time out, Emily Dickinson still ran an encouraging race in defeat when finishing just under four lengths behind Ribblesdale Stakes winner Magical Lagoon in the Group 1 Irish Oaks.
With her sights slightly lowered on Saturday afternoon, Aidan O’Brien’s filly will be expected to bounce back to winning ways now back at her ideal trip and in receipt of plenty of weight from her rivals, Emily Dickinson is difficult to oppose.
Regional (15:20 Goodwood)
Plenty to consider in another cracking renewal of the Stewards’ Cup and of the twenty-eight runners, the one who appeals most is Ed Bethell’s REGIONAL, who was only purchased for 3,500gns at the Tattersalls July Sale last year but has quickly developed into a useful sprinter for connections.
Highly tried in Listed company as a juvenile for former trainer Richard Fahey, the Territories gelding didn’t take long to get off the mark for new connections, comfortably scoring on his handicap/stable debut at Haydock off a mark of 94 back in September. Following a string of creditable efforts in defeat over the winter months, connections decided to send Regional over to Doha to contest the Group 3 Dukhan Sprint in February where the four-year-old again ran a solid race, finishing second and ultimately picking up £45,000 in prize money for his efforts.
Following his excellent performance over in Qatar, Ed Bethell’s sprinter returned to British soil in a valuable handicap at Epsom just last month off a mark of 101. Well supported in the market beforehand, the four-year-old didn’t look entirely at home on Epsom’s cambers but still managed to stick to his task towards the inside rail and wasn’t beaten far at the line in sixth, in a race that ultimately developed away from him – the first three home that day all coming widest of all.
Second at Doncaster back over five furlongs last time out, Regional again shaped well and went down as a real eye-catcher in defeat on Town Moor, staying on powerfully inside the closing stages to finish a neck second behind Paul Midgley’s in-form four-year-old Burning Cash. Connections clearly have high hopes for Regional this weekend and have interestingly enlisted the services of Ryan Moore for the first time and the progressive sprinter looks well up to winning a big handicap at some stage.
Spirit Of Nguru (15:55 Goodwood)
Trainer William Haggas continues to be in flying form at the moment and there is every chance the Newmarket handler can register another recent winner courtesy of SPIRIT OF NGURU, who should strip fitter following his promising seasonal return at Haydock last time out and is certainly capable of further improvement this season.
The Invincible Spirit gelding enjoyed a productive juvenile campaign last year for top connections, finishing fourth on debut at Redcar in November before going on to land back-to-back novice events at Kempton over seven furlongs before the end of the year. Allocated an opening mark of 89, Spirit Of Nguru returned to action following 199 days off the track at Haydock earlier this month. Beaten just a head on that occasion by the progressive Zero Carbon, William Haggas’ three-year-old ran extremely well despite the lack of a recent run and travelled into that contest as if he was potentially ahead of his mark.
Rated 91, Spirit Of Nguru will be expected to turn the tables on Richard Hughes’ in-form three-year-old on slightly better terms this weekend and William Haggas’ charge can get back to winning ways here.