This is one of those Saturdays where the racing never stops. Eight meetings, thirty-four picks, and the quality runs right through from the Ascot afternoon to the last at Hamilton. It is a short-priced day on the whole, with twenty-three of ours going off at 4/1 or less, but there are a few bigger prices in there worth a second look too.
The afternoon splits three ways. At Ascot, More Thunder is the shortest on our card and carries three points, with Divine Knight backing him up an hour later. Newmarket gives us four, headed by True Test and Wechaad in back-to-back races early on. York is where we are taking the swings. Tabletalk is a solid three-point play in the 4:55, but either side of three o’clock we have Redorange and Respond, both at 15.0, both small each way money. If one of those two runs into the frame it makes the day.
The horse we like most of all runs at Limerick this evening. Deluca Chop in the 8:00 looks the strongest handicapper in that field by some way. He has won his last two, his times keep getting quicker, and the latest was a career best. A three week turnaround tells you the yard is pressing on while he is in this mood.
Two more to mention. Copper Craft at Navan in the 5:15 is all about the track. Gary Carroll and the Oliver yard both go well there, stall three helps, and you can forgive the last two runs because his earlier placed efforts are enough to make 10.0 each way appealing. Then Ingleby Archie at Hamilton in the 6:50, who completed his climb with a win last time and has seen the form of his earlier runs work out since. Nothing in against him is on the same upward curve. Hamilton is our busiest evening card overall, with six on the ticket including Dunkeld Dreamer and Port Darwin.
Friday gave us plenty to smile about. Two winners from five, with Heraldry landing it at 6.0 and Blue Bolt following up at 3.75, while Berkshire Boom and King Of War both placed. That is four of five in the money.
With this much racing on, the sensible approach is to keep stakes steady and let the volume work. Saturdays like this are what the summer is for.