@TheTippingTim’s weekend bets!
Published:It’s Shergar Cup day on Saturday and, to honour the great horse, Singapore champion jockey Joao Moreira has already gone missing. If a rider can’t find his way from Heathrow to Ascot then I fear for his chances of finding a path to the winning line, so I will be focussing on the jockeys that I have heard of at Ascot. At Haydock there are no such worries, with punters’ pal Silvestre De Sousa the only Brazilian on show (not including the Best-Dressed Lady competition entrants of course), and I will be heading North for the nap this week.
Both the regular readers of this blog will know that the admiration I feel for trainer David O’Meara knows no bounds, and the genius of Nawton has really turned on the after-burners in the last fortnight. This man could train Peppa Pig to win a small race at Catterick, so Chancery should have no problem stepping up in grade in the 2.20 on Saturday. The ex-bumper slow-boat has gagged up in poor handicaps the last twice, and I fancy him to more than hold his own against some classy rivals this weekend.
For the next best I will head to the Shergar Cup and side with Nine Realms in the mile handicap at 12.55. This colt was in my pathetic ante post portfolio when he knocked back his invitation to the Lincoln a few months ago but, having finally forgiven him for his laziness, I am prepared to give him another chance on Saturday. Trainer Willie Haggas is having winners all over the place, rider James Doyle is the best on the card, and Nine Realms himself showed enough on his return to suggest that he is primed to strike.
To complete the Trixie I will keep the faith with Ihtimal in the Solera Stakes at Newmarket. I fancied Godolphin’s filly at Royal Ascot, but the cards didn’t really fall for her and she could never get close enough to challenge impressive winner Berkshire. Class act Will Buick takes over on Saturday and, after three frustrating placed efforts, I fancy her to final get a win on the board this weekend.
Good luck with all your bets on Shergar Cup day!
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