Saturday's guide to ITV's Pick 7
Dave Smith takes a look at Saturday's ITV7 races and he makes Cracksman his best bet on the day.
ANGEL'S HIDEAWAY ran a cracker the last day on Newmarket's July course in behind runaway winner Pretty Pollyana and ran very creditably in the Albany at Royal Ascot. On paper that's the best form on offer here and the stable seem very sweet on her. She hung to her right somewhat last time and that would be a slight concern but she still ran way ahead of the remainder of the field. An opening mark of 100 is a fair reflection of her ability and she should run very well again. Royal Intervention was mightily impressive despite missing the break and being shoved along at Newmarket last time out. She ran on very well at the finish to push clear and that would be a serious concern to the selection, though this is a slight step up from that grade and she is meeting a rival taking a step down. Scintillating ran on very well in a novice race at Newbury on her only start and it's noticeable she's pitched in here for her second start. Clearly connections think highly of her and her smooth travelling style could be helpful on this galloping track. Of the outsiders Chapelli makes most appeal for the winning trainer of this race last year. James Doyle is in flying form and he takes the ride and no doubt it'll be another front-running effort.
GET KNOTTED comes in to this bang in form and with a good chance from a handicapping perspective after a very creditable run in behind Wadilsafa last time out. He ran clear of third place Bless Him that day, he's won this race in the last two seasons and his current mark shouldn't be a huge burden if the ground stays on top. If more rain appears and the ground is on the slow side then it may be an even more tempting prospect as a lot of these seem to prefer a quicker surface. The jockey booking for Culturati is somewhat telling as Brett Doyle picks up the ride and there's no sign of Buick or Doyle's usual replacements. Godolphin's gelding is a temperamental sort and that hasn't been fully factored into his price. The break didn't seem to do another Godolphin runner (Emotionless) any harm last week and that could be a telling factor. Wahash's best form is on the AW at Lingfield and over a slightly longer trip. The move back to 7f with a 4lb penalty could be his undoing but he has run creditably at that distance before and got no luck in running the last day at Haydock.
Another huge field for a Saturday handicap and no fewer than 15 line up for this Class 2 race over the mile. As it is there is only 16lb separating 15 runners so picking a winner is very tricky. The aforementioned form jockey James Doyle takes the ride on CORROSIVE and the Hugo Palmer runner comes into this in rude health with only one run seeing him out of the frame this season. He was far from disgraced in the Britannia and a repeat of his runs this season should see him bang in the mix. He's a course and distance winner who appears to have a progressive profile and is only 2lb above his very good run at Royal Ascot. Escalator is running off another 10lb here but seemed to have plenty in hand when landing a facile victory at Newmarket and prior to that at Doncaster. Both were on quick ground and he appears to appreciate the faster surface. Crack On Crack On ran behind the selection at Royal Ascot and for my money the market hasn't quite appreciated the fact that Clive Cox's charge missed the break and then was hampered giving away all chance of winning. He was punted into favouritism and nothing in the race suggested an ability issue was to blame for the defeat. Of the outsiders Petrus could be of some interest with William Buick taking the ride for Brian Meehan.
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When there are so many runners at York the draw is key. In general the higher the draw, the better and on this basis the first to consider is Summerghand for Philip Makin and David O'Meara. The trainer has a good record around the Knavesmire and this horse has a cracking draw in stall 18. He'll need a step up in performance but has won 50% of his races this season and though beaten off this mark twice in June he's surely an each-way prospect. GROWL is another one with a cracking draw, running off a very attractive handicap mark and whose desire for rain has been granted. With more forecast showers all day he will be in his element and though he hasn't won for two years his form this time last year is certainly of interest. Harome's chances appear to have been dashed somewhat by the rain and that is a concern despite a favourable draw and a good season. The in-form Ben Sanderson takes the ride and he's up 8lb for his latest success. This all tempers enthusiasm and despite the good draw it may be a step too far.
If the other races were a complete puzzle then this is the 1,0000 piece picture of The Garden of Earthly Delights. Quite where to start on an 8/1 bar the field, 29-runner handicap is even difficult. As at York, the higher draw seems to be most favourable and we will pin our hopes on that coming through here. Makzeem was put up here two weeks ago and ran extremely well at Newmarket in a hot contest won by Burnt Sugar who re-opposes here. He ran well for a long way and just didn't quite have the speed to see it out. Burnt Sugar was backed off the boards in that Bunbury Cup and took the money with a late burst. He can run off only 1lb higher here and at 16/1 has to be an each-way proposition. Shady McCoy seems to have come into better form this year and the champion jockey takes the ride of an ever appealing handicap mark. CARDSHARP also ran well in that Bunbury Cup and with a 4lb lower mark in this race he has to be of some interest. He's ran in better company than this (notably disappointingly at Goodwood last year). However, he's on attractive mark and could break from the stalls sharply and run the field out of this.
The ground won't be against warm order ELARQAM here and if he can bounce back he can win this off a light weight with Jim Crowley taking the ride. The two runs this season were in top quality contests with the English and Irish Guineas showing the horse run very well at Newmarket but a touch disappointingly at the Curragh. Smart Call heads the dangers and there was a very encouraging victory last time in a Group Three to support that theory. Before that the horse had run very creditably at York in behind Coronet. Forest Ranger continues to battle away at a good level and his last place in the Coral-Eclipse should have no bearing here as he has won Group Two and Group Three races before. Ideally the selection can bounce out and make all as he is clear on the ratings from his rivals here.
The King George brings up eight fascinating runners and some big question marks over CRACKSMAN after his huge disappointment in losing to Poet's Word. Rab Havlin takes the ride this time as Frankie Dettori is suspended and any rain would be a huge help to this monster of a horse. He scraped home at Epsom and defeat last time tempers enthusiasm but if he runs I feel he'll have a huge chance. William Buick has been given the ride aboard Crystal Ocean and it's a cracking one to get. Versatile with the ground and undefeated this term, he steps up in class but if his St Leger run is anything to go by he'll be bang in contention. Poet's Word beat the selection last time in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and a repeat of that would be a concern. It is felt that it was more to do with Cracksman's poor running than it was to do with Sir Michael Stoute's son of Poet's Voice. If all three don't run to their potential then perhaps Cracksman's stablemate Coronet may be able to run a place.
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