Morning all,

It’s “Super Saturday”. It’s not popular with everyone, given the wall to wall racing during the afternoon with no time to draw breath. ITV viewers can watch a bumper programme of action with broadcaster covering no less than 11 races live this afternoon.

The race of the day is Newmarket's Darley July Cup (4.25), one of the world's most prestigious sprint race. Up at York, it’s John Smith's Cup Day. The feature handicap which has £200,000 in guaranteed prize money goes off at 4:05. Down at Ascot there’s Group action with the highlights of a seven-race card being the Group 2 Summer Miles Stakes (3.35) and the valuable 5f Betfred Heritage Handicap (3:00).

It’s a day that you either love or hate. We’ll I’m in the former camp. That said, it doesn’t make writing today’s column easy.  I don’t have the time to preview all the ITV races there are just too many of them.

I have plenty of fancies today and Super Saturday is one of those day’s during the summer when you can have a good swing.

Inside today’s main piece. I have looked at the big races at Newmarket & York. Plus. There’s a second Saturday Lucky 15.

Newmarket

4:25 – Darley July Cup Stakes (Group 1) – 6f

Ante post favourite Perfect Power has started to ease in the betting, and he could well be 7/2 in a place before post time. At that sort of price, he becomes of interest from a betting perspective.

William Buick stays loyal to Creative Force but on good to firm ground I don’t see any reason why stablemate Naval Crown can’t uphold their Platinum Jubilee form with Creative Force and the rest of those who finished behind him that day. There seems to be plenty of confidence Australian raider Artorius can reverse placings with the two that finished in front of him at Royal Ascot. He looks sure to be bang there but looks like one who places more than he wins

Ryan Moore heads to Belmont to ride a couple for Aidan O’Brien which means he’s not on Cadamosto who improved to finish a 2 ¼ length 4th of 20 to Perfect Power in the Commonwealth Cup. He was briefly stopped inside the final furlong otherwise would probably have finished a clear second.  He has got each way claims with Aidan O’Brien bidding for a fourth win in the race.

Romantic Proposal couldn’t take up her intended assignment in the King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot due to a dirty scope. We haven’t seen her since she won a Listed race at Naas in April, but she will be fit enough to do herself justice. Trainer Edward Lynam won this in 2014 with Slade Power so knows what required to win the race. I don’t think we have seen the best of the 6-year-old yet and she should get the perfect tow into the race from stall 7.

York

4:05 – John Smith's Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2 ½ f

A maximum field of 22 for this handicap which is the longest running commercial sponsorship in British horse racing. There should be a very good pace which seems likely to swing the advantage towards the more patiently ridden horses.

It's a race I love and is as ultra-competitive as ever. I have eight of the 22 runners on my shortlist, and I still might not have the winner among them.

Contenders….

Ante post favourite Mahrajaan made a pleasing return to action when a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 11 at Haydock (1m 4f) in May. The drop back to a strongly run 1m 2f shouldn’t inconvenience the 4-year-old. That said I’m happy to take him on.

Brilliant Light followed a Ripon handicap success with a cracking effort when a 7 ½ lengths 4th of 18 to Candleford in Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot. No issues with the ground and the drop back to 1m 2f shouldn’t be a concern.  He and First View give trainer Saeed Bin Suroor a strong hand in the race.

Just Fine was 3 lengths behind Brilliant Light at Royal Ascot that’s the second time he hasn’t fired at Ascot and he’s probably better judged on his 3 length 3rd of 11 to Gaassee here (1m 4f) on his seasonal reappearance. He had looked like he needed a stamina test but maybe a drop back to strongly run 1m 2f is what he really needs.

Anmaat makes his seasonal return. An improving handicapper last season. He ended his 3-year-old campaign with a ¾-length 2nd of 26 in the Cambridgeshire Handicap, Going and distance are fine and if he ready to roll first time is respected.

La Trinidad has run plenty of good races here at York, albeit over shorter. The 5-year-old put in a seasonal best when 3 ¼ length 4th of 15 at Epsom last month. As strongly run race suits but he must prove his stamina for 1m 2f.

And there’s more

Achelois a solid 1 length 3^rd of 12 over C&D last August. She was only beaten a neck by Soto Sizzler at Epsom on her reappearance at Epsom in April. For whatever reason didn’t give her running when 5^th of 8 to My Astra in an Ayr Listed race last time. She’s better judged on last year’s C&D form and her Epsom run. May find one or two stronger stayers at the finish but Andrew Balding has saddled the winner of this race twice since 2019 and Harry Davies takes off 5lb.

Intellogent was an excellent ½-length 2^nd of 29 to Dark Shift in Royal Hunt Cup (1m) last time. On RPR’s this was as good as his high-class form in 2018 when he won a Group 1 at Deauville and finished a close-up 4^th in the French Derby. Big player on his first start beyond a mile since joining Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Rouge Bear is a progressive 4-year-old handicapper whose form figures are 13411-332. He’s had this race in mind since finishing a head 2nd of 10 over C&D in May. I thought he was too far back off a slow pace that day and had to make his effort a long way out. Merits respect off 2lb higher for a yard who had a winner at Newmarket yesterday.

I have put up three for Victor Value subscribers, which you can find here. One of whom I think is great each way value at 20/1.

Saturday Lucky 15

York

4:40 – Winter Power – Won this race 12 months ago. Before going onto win the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes here last August. Has run poorly on both starts this season but this is her time of year and this her track. She’s 5lb clear of her rivals on official ratings and the one they all must catch.

5:15 – Dancinginthewoods – Has dropped down the handicap to a good mark and has been running well. The 5-year-old hasn’t had the best of luck in the run on all three starts this season including when 4^th of 11, having met trouble repeatedly between the final two furlongs at Haydock last time. One to be interested in on his first start since switching from Dean Ivory to Amy Murphy.

Newmarket

3:50 – Jumby – Can often lose his race at the start, but he broke on level terms when a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 26 in Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot last time. He’s just as effective over 7f, goes well on quick ground and Christophe Soumillon has been booked. Plenty to like about his chance in an open looking Bunbury Cup.

4:25 – Romantic Proposal – You must respect Perfect Power and the Charlie Appleby pair of Naval Crown & Creative Force. However, I’m going with the strong travelling Irish mare who was forced to miss Royal Ascot but comes into the race a bit under the radar although here backers started to arrive on Friday afternoon.

Good luck with your Saturday bets.

John