Nick Luck’s Blog: Don’t Lose Your Wad at Newmarket, York or Ascot

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck looks over a super Saturday of racing action from Newmarket, York and Ascot, offering up several value selections on all three cards.

Newmarket, Saturday

LOSE YOUR WAD is a sporting start to the Newmarket TV action (2.50pm) at 18/1. Thought good enough to contest a Classic Trial, he has acquitted himself reasonably in high class events at Ascot and Epsom subsequently, seeming to find ten furlongs stretching him last time. A drop back to a mile with a little cut in the ground might well suit and he has each-way claims.

CITY OF TROY, currently favourite at 11/8, is impossible to oppose in the Superlative (3.25pm) judged on what we witnessed at the Curragh, where everything he did oozed quality. I loved the way he finished off his race in a smart time and galloped out to the line, and I’m hoping this is a stepping stone to a Group One.

GORAK might catch a few by surprise in the Bunbury Cup (4.00pm) at 18/1. He went up a crazy amount for finishing fourth in a Group Three at Haydock, but you could argue the handicapper could have been even harsher, and he certainly ran very well on the wrong side at Ascot. If he brings his usual enthusiasm to the party, he’ll go well again, and he seems to go on any ground.

LITTLE BIG BEAR might be able to really turn on the style for the first time this season in the July Cup (4.35pm) at 9/2, provided he gets the green light. This is working on the theory that Coolmore place great importance on this race as a stallion maker, and this course should be ideally suited to his forward going style. In this unusually small field, he could look to dominate from a long way out.

York, Saturday

RHOSCOLYN is not without hope in the first TV race at York (2.00pm) at 12/1. He’s horribly out of form, but I am convinced that he is really resenting fast ground nowadays and isn’t letting himself down. There is no doubt he is exceptionally well handicapped, and with rain around, and from a ground saving draw, I can see him getting his mojo back.

KERDOS get the nod in the City Walls (2.35pm) at 17/2. He travelled beautifully at Royal Ascot, looking every inch the sort of rapid animal that this track really suits. The rider judges pace to a nicety on the sprint track here, and the stable has hit a nice bit of form.

MILLEBOSC is the selection in the John Smith’s Cup (3.10pm) at 9/1. A serious horse when trained in France – Classic placed at his best – he still looked to have plenty of upside when having a sighter on his first start for William Haggas last autumn. His mark is obviously attractive, but a gelding operation may yet prove of even more significance. The draw is rough, but there’s enough pace on to negate that disadvantage somewhat.

TASHKHAN might be able to give Hamish more of a race than the market suggests (3.45pm) at 4/1. They both love really soft ground, but the selection is really an extremist in that regard if it hoses down as is promised. He’s run some of his best races here, and doesn’t give in.

Ascot, Saturday

EQUILATERAL must have strong claims in the sprint handicap at Ascot (1.45pm) at 10/1. He has only ever contested two sprint handicaps, both in Dubai and both of which he has won, including off a higher mark. He comes here off a superb effort behind Bradsell in the King’s Stand, and must go very well in this grade.

JIMI HENDRIX is going the other way – handicap into Group company in the Summer Mile (2.20pm). There are a few reluctant heroes in here, and this guy has serious talent when he’s out on his own, as he showed in the Hunt Cup. A reproduction of that makes him very competitive at 9/2.