15:00 York, John Smith’s Cup

This is an unbelievably tough race, and as far as I can see there is a fair amount of questions to be answered by some of the fancied horses. I’m going to go with an outsider with a small chance in King’s Warrior . He was a very decent handicapper in France on softer ground and although York has survived much of the rain it is still good-soft ground and this should get him back to his first 2 runs over here this year when he was a good 2nd on both starts. A couple of poorer runs on ground too firm followed but he is in here of what looks a half decent mark with a low weight and possibly still a bit of improvement in his judging by the way he has finished both those runs earlier this year. He hasn’t the best of draws here but looks worth a small min risk for value at a huge price on Betfair

½ Point win Betfair 55 ½ point place 7.4

14:25 York, John Smith’s Silver Cup

Tepmokea looks an interesting candidate judging by his very good run last week in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock. He was perfectly positioned all the way and rallied gamely in the end again to keep 3rd. Even though he is effectively 4lbs worse of today he looks to be back to form and in general he has been better on Good ground so could easily improve today for the step up in trip. Im surprised he is one of the outsider’s here and given that he has a few times in the past ran well after a quick turnaround he looks worth a small bet at a decent looking 30 on Betfair. The place price of 6.4 looks very enticing as well given that Betfair has 4 places on this.

1 Point win 1Point place Betfair 30/6.4

15:20 Newmarket, Darley July Cup

This has all the hallmarks of a surprise result with the state of the ground, and Im again going with Genki. He ran an eye-catching race last time out at Ascot when he possibly made his move too early and tired in the finish, but if he can time his run better here in a vastly inferior race he’ll stand a decent chance. Society Rock possibly looks value even as favourite at 3/1 as he really should win this given his run in that same race and his liking for soft ground. Genki’s odds of placing here are considerably better that the 9.4 on Betfair and that’s worth a bet.

½ Point win 42 Betfair 1 Point place 9.4

14:40 Newmarket, 32Red Bunbury Cup

King Of Jazz is an interesting runner here, and although he was poor enough when well supported for his last 2 runs over 6 Furlongs it’s his 3rd at Ascot on Soft Ground over 7 that gets the eye here. He travelled well and finished superbly for his best run in a long time and is 1lb lower today. Im hoping that today is his target after that run and looks well worth a bet at 24 on Betfair at the moment. He has a similar profile this year as the Favourite Bonnie Brea who was 2nd in that race and he is now 5lbs better off with him and 4 times the price.

1Point win 1 Point Place Betfair 24/5