Newmarket's July meeting draws to a close on Saturday and Robbie Wilders from the Racing Post eyes up three wagers at the bet365-sponsored meeting.
4.00 Newmarket - Streets Of Gold @ 8/1
4.35 Newmarket - Kinross @ 9/2
5.10 Newmarket - Davideo @ 10/1
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
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Three-year-olds have a reasonable record in the Bunbury Cup from a relatively small sample size and STREETS OF GOLD is the one I'm looking at after a career-best third in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out.
Streets Of Gold was a prolific juvenile for Eve Johnson Houghton last season and is ultra consistent, running just one bad race in his career in the Greenham.
The ground at Newbury that day was dreadful and it didn't suit a proper seven-furlong specialist like Streets Of Gold on his return, and there has been plenty to like about his recent efforts at a higher level.
While a mark of 105 is no gimme on his handicap debut, he receives 8lb in weight for age and is 4lb well in after his Jersey effort. Johnson Houghton has seen fit to enter him in a pair of Group 2s in the coming weeks and this could be the last time we see him in a handicap for a while.
Streets Of Gold @ 8/1 - 1pt each-way
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Shaquille is the right favourite for the July Cup, but cannot afford to do at Newmarket what he did at Royal Ascot when winning the Commonwealth Cup.
He badly missed the kick but, with hindsight, that might have helped him as they went hard and Ascot often favours hold-up performers. If he is up to his old tricks he could find himself with too much to do at a course which can play to the strengths of prominent racers.
The horse I am playing against him is KINROSS, last season's dominant sprinter who only reappeared himself at the royal meeting. That was by design and Kinross ran a fair race there considering the ground was so quick.
He handles quick going perfectly well over longer trips but over sprint distances it finds him out. I'm expecting him to be better for the outing anyway, but with slower ground sure to be on offer at Newmarket, conditions are going to be more to his taste.
This July Cup also looks weaker than the Group 1 sprint he contested last time, and I'd be shocked if he failed to make the frame for Ralph Beckett.
Beckett also trains DAVIDEO, who contests the 1m4f handicap that concludes the meeting.
While this horse finished last of 19 in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot last time and failed to justify odds of 7/1, he forced a ridiculously strong gallop from his wide draw and threw away any realistic chance of winning in the first few furlongs.
I reckon it is worth putting a line through that and, if you do, he has a right chance on the strength of his impressive Rowley Mile maiden success on his seasonal return.
That indicated he has a big engine (three subsequent easy winners finished in behind) and Rob Hornby does not have to complicate matters in the same way Rossa Ryan did last time.
There appears to be every chance of Davideo picking up an easy lead here given the pace dynamic, and he might just be at a tactical advantage in this weaker handicap.
4.00 Newmarket - Streets Of Gold @ 8/1
4.35 Newmarket - Kinross @ 9/2
5.10 Newmarket - Davideo @ 10/1
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
View the latest Horse Racing Odds
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