Straight up - my take on the Saturday action....

Friday, 25th July 2025

Straight up - my take on the Saturday action….

Get the spadework for Goodwood….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in all the weekend’s biggest betting heats….

I’m two against the field in the 3.00 at Ascot – YORKSHIRE at the general 14s & BILLYJOH at the general 10s….

…. I’m on COSI BELLO at 9s in the 3.35 at Ascot….

…. I’m on ARCTIC THUNDER at 12s & 11s in the 2.00 at York….

…. and I’m on MESAAFI at 9s in the 5.15 at Ascot….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

-----

If you like good-quality big-field handicaps run up a straight….

…. the races that have faint-hearted punters quaking in their boots….

…. then this Saturday afternoon is an absolute belter….

…. with plenty of runners at Ascot & York….

…. in C2 handicaps run over at 5f, 6f, 7f & 8f….

Does it get any better? Probably not. At least that’s how I see it….

…. and tomorrow’s action represents the perfect aperitif ahead of next week’s action at Goodwood….

…. where I’ll be targeting up to ten big handicaps….

…. and looking to make a few quid at the game….

That’s enough chat – let’s dig in….

I’m two against the field in the 22-runner International at Ascot (3.00)….

First up is YORKSHIRE at the general 14s….

He ran a cracker for Edward Bethell in the Buckingham Palace at the Royal meeting – finishing 6/27….

…. despite having to be taken right to get a bit of daylight….

He was never going to come out on top on the day – the winner was well clear and won a G2 next time out….

…. but he could have been plenty closer with a clearer passage….

…. and – despite more money being on offer tomorrow – I wonder if this race is quite so competitive….

Whatever – the 5yo hasn’t been overused this term and I get the impression he’s been trained for this race since the Royal meeting….

The other one I want to be with is BILLYJOH at the general 10s….

He produced some big performances in good handicaps at 6f and 7f last term – without nailing the pot….

He’s not managed to hit quite the same heights this term….

…. but he showed signs at Doncaster in June and last time at Newmarket in the Bunbury Cup – where he finished off well – that he’s in good heart and poised to strike when it all falls right….

…. and you can draw a line through his run in the Buckingham Palace – he was on the wrong side that day….

For whatever reason he flopped in this race last term when sent off the 11/2 favourite…

…. he’d been second in the Buckingham Palace the time before off 93 and afterwards he hit the frame in two big handicaps within four days at the Goodwood festival off 95….

Perhaps last year was just an off-day – but it wasn’t his mark that got him beat….

He’s been the bridesmaid multiple times in big headline handicaps over the last 12 months – which must be frustrating for connections….

…. but sooner or later he is going to land one of these big pots off a mark in the low 90s – and tomorrow offers another very good opportunity….

COSI BELLO at the 9s is the pick for the Betfred Handicap at Ascot (3.35)….

The 3yo followed up on his novice win at Kempton with a narrow heads-up-heads-down defeat at Chester over 7f on handicap debut – having seen plenty of market support….

He steps up in class again tomorrow – taking on older horses for the first time, tackling a mile for the first time, and running on a straight for the first time….

He’s inexperienced, of course, and this might end up being an educative run in a contest where I can’t really argue with the favourite – Bullet Point….

…. but not too many opponents stand out on a bare reading of seasonal form – certainly not too many at a decent price….

…. and this one – trained by Charlie Fellowes – could still be very nicely rated on 95….

He’s progressed for each of his three runs to date and another similar step forward tomorrow will see him on the premises….

Over at York in the Dash (2.00) I’m backing ARCTIC THUNDER at the general 12s & 11s….

I liked his performance at Haydock in May – his second go since being gelded and joining Ed Walker and his first go at sprint trips….

I backed him next time out at Newcastle on the back of that and he finished down the field….

…. but you can draw a line through that run given that he met severe interference and basically got stopped in his tracks when winding-up with his run….

He was beaten too far to say that he would have won – but he was certainly full of running late-on – passing horses – and would have been a great deal closer….

The bottom line is that he’s unexposed as a sprinter….

…. he’s caught the eye on both goes at the shorter trips to date….

…. and he looks nicely handicapped to me on a mark of 89 – down a bonus pound for that defeat at Newcastle….

Only William Hill have gone up with early prices for the Whispering Angel Handicap – not shown on ITV – at Ascot (5.15)….

…. but I do like their 9s about MESAAFI, and I imagine the other firms will herd around that price – one point one way or the other – when they go up later in the day….

The step back to 5f at this track a fortnight back – when finishing a close 3rd to Alzahir – appeared to suit….

…. and I thought that was a very encouraging performance in a race that was by far the highest-quality assignment he’s been presented with to date….

This is a lesser contest – on paper – and he can gain compensation tomorrow if showing up in the same kind of form….

-----

Now, just to recap….

-----

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back on Monday – with picks for Day 1 at Goodwood….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd