Chris Day looks ahead to the competitive Saturday cards at York and Sandown and has three early bets.
Racing betting tips: Saturday June 17
1pt Baryshikov in 2.00 York at 10/1 (General)
1pt Katey Kontent in 2.50 Sandown at 16/1 (General)
1pt Rabaah in 3.40 York at 12/1 (William Hill)
Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook
The Saturday before Royal Ascot is traditionally a charity day at York with the big three-year-old handicap, the Oakmere Homes Supporting MacMillan Sprint Handicap, the main betting race on the card.
The first three home in a similar race here last month, Quinault, Washington Heights and Eminency, renew rivalry and not surprisingly have all been well found in the market and there’s little value in their respective prices unless you hold a firm view.
Of the three, Quinault, who also holds a Bunbury Cup entry, looks marginally the most progressive and is suited to this track while his trainer’s faith that he has the stamina for seven furlongs will stand him in good stead as he bids for his fifth victory on the bounce.
James Tate is another handler who does well and his Tough Enough, who won a competitive Windsor event from the outside draw last Monday, looks to hold a similar chance through Eminency, who also finished third in that race, wouldn’t be a surprise winner either.
The Showcasing gelding was strong at the finish there and any normal progression would surely see him involved at the finish if he gets any luck with the draw.
Rabaah the one for big York prize
With some big stables represented, this race always takes some winning but the one whose side I came down on was RABAAH, a son of Dubawi who won twice on the all-weather in the winter and is held in the highest regard by Charlie Hills.
He would know a thing or two about top class sprinters and has this horse earmarked for all the valuable sprints later in the season although he was a little disappointing at Newbury in a Listed contest last time out.
I’m prepared to give him another chance from a mark of 97 and with plenty of these holding multiple entries and this being his sole engagement, with Jim Crowley already jocked up, he looks the bet at this stage.
The opening race, the Queen Mother’s Cup, a mile-and-a-half handicap, sees recent wide-margin Thirsk winner Bollin Margaret looking to double up.
In any normal handicap, she would be well fancied to follow up but my main concern would be that she’ll be going from Class 6 to Class 3 company, a big step in anybody’s book.
Conversely, BARYSHNIKOV, who spends most of his time in a higher class races, may have been unlucky to be beaten in a competitive heat at Ripon last time and operates best off a strong pace which he should get here. He looks very good value at this stage.
The only doubt is the trip but he looks ready to return to winning ways.
Add in the booking of Alice Keighley, who has a very good strike rate for this in-form stable, and I really like his chances in what could be a well-run race.
Best bet for Sandown Saturday
Finally, at Sandown, the Listed Scurry Stakes sees Richard Fahey’s progressive Great State attempting a four-timer and Oisin Murphy, who was on board for victory at York last time, retains the ride. He looks to hold a favourite’s chance.
Backing anything in here will be greatly dependent on the draw so he’s 50-50 to be lucky with that and the one I’m interested in at the moment is Clive Cox’s KATEY CONTENT.
She won her first two races at two before finishing sixth in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, with some very good fillies behind, including Olivia Maranda, very impressive at Epsom last time and a possible for the Group One Coronation Stakes next week.
There were mitigating circumstances for her apparent below-par effort at Newbury in August and she’s fairly late to reappear, but Cox was very complimentary about her in his recent stable tour and his Havana Grey filly will hopefully start making up for lost time at the weekend.
Published at 1040 BST on 13/06/2023
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