Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Newmarket, York & Ascot Tips
ASCOT, NEWMARKET & YORK RACING TIPS
Ascot 2.27 – Summer Mile Stakes
In the Summer Mile I’m backing More Thunder (11/8 fav), who continues to run well at the very top level over the mile.
There’s a different task ahead of him with the bend this time round but his form looks pretty scary at the moment, flying home at Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne last time.
It will be interesting to see how he handles the bend – he’s drawn one but tends to be held up so that shouldn’t be an issue and hopefully there’s enough pace on for him to finish well.
Cieren Fallon is on board for the first time but More Thunder has his own way of going and deserves to be getting his head back in front.
Megan’s Tip: More Thunder WIN
Newmarket 3.25 – Bunbury Cup
I’ve got two selections here.
Great Acclaim (6/1) has been drawn a bit higher and he’s been very consistent.
The visor has helped him and he was arguably unlucky at Royal Ascot when he was running on quite well; he got checked at a crucial point but he’s been in solid form.
My other one here, drawn low, is Back In Black (9/2).
Day 1 of the July Festival showed that being up towards the stand-side rail was no harm, so a low draw could be key.
I’ve gone for an option on each side here, both seem sensible prices.
Seven furlongs is, in my opinion, Back In Black’s best trip. He didn’t quite stay over the stiff mile at Newcastle last time but he keeps running into places, keeps running well and he has proven that he is competitive at this grade.
Megan’s Tip: Back In Black WIN
York 3.45 – Heritage Handicap
I’ve gone for Raammee (9/2) here, for Roger Varian with Ray Dawson on board.
He is a lightly raced horse who was too fresh on his season reappearance but ran very well behind Beagle Bay in the Read Meg Nicholls' Blog At BetMGM.co.uk Handicap at Sandown, staying on well.
Stepping up in trip could well be the making of this horse and there could well be more to come.
He is drawn a little bit wide but, to be honest with you, in recent seasons that hasn’t been too much of an issue.
The key thing is that he gets into a rhythm early and relaxes.
He’s nicely weighted and Roger and Ray have teamed up with good success throughout this season.
Megan’s Tip: Raammee WIN
Newmarket 4.35 – July Cup Stakes
In the July Cup I’ve gone with Almeraq (5/1), who is drawn on that lower side which I like.
I think that it is really hard for the three-year-olds up against the four-year-olds and he obviously has that extra year.
He stayed on really well to win the Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and, for a lightly raced sprinter, he’s still improving.
Almeraq looks like he could have been the sort of sprinter that we’ve been missing in recent seasons; maybe he’s going to be able to keep progressing and potentially dominate this division.
Interesting that Tom Marquand has gone for Almeraq over More Thunder in the Summer Mile at Ascot, having had the choice of the two.
I think he has a solid chance and I think this is a race for the old horses – but it’s always an interesting clash when the two age divisions come together.
Megan’s Tip: Almeraq WIN
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
