SWINGALONG and Clifford Lee win for trainer Karl Burke HEALY RACING© Photo Healy Racing
An exciting weekend of action features Inisherin, the standout three-year-old sprinter, who will face older rivals for the first time in Saturday’s July Cup. This will be the biggest test to date for Kevin Ryan’s star, as he contends with a number of seasoned and classy older sprinters.
Adding to the excitement, highly rated peers River Tiber and Vandeek will also compete, making for a fascinating July Cup. On the same card last year, we witnessed one of the best-ever two-year-old performances when City Of Troy won the Superlative Stakes last year. Although none of this year's two-year-olds come with that same superstar profile, the Coventry Stakes-placed Columnist is interesting trying a step up in trip, while Godolphin’s Ancient Truth aims to make it three wins from three at Newmarket.
With a cracking weekend of racing ahead our team have selected three tips across Saturday’s cards in both the UK and Ireland
Sonny Liston, 2.20 Ascot Summer Mile Group 2. 1m
Ralph Beckett has trained a remarkable 8 winners in the last 14 days at a 20pc strike rate, and his useful performer Sonny Liston was huge eyecatcher behind Wild Tiger in the Hunt Cup at the Royal meeting (missed the break and saw no daylight as the leaders quickened clear on the near side). He needs the ground to be on the softer side of good, and a wet week in Berkshire should allow underfoot conditions to be in his favour (just on the easy side of good).
Explorers Way, 16:45 Navan, Adventure Centre Apprentice Handicap. 1m. 2f.
Pat Martin only has Explorers Way a short time, but feels he is now getting to understand how to get the best out of the gelding and following a solid effort over this course and distance in early June (race working out well) he clicked next time at Down Royal with a smooth success. He has improved with each run since joining his new yard and up just 4lbs for the Down Royal victory could easily go in again here.
Inisherin and Swingalong (forecast), 4.35 Newmarket My Pension Expert July Cup Stakes. 6f
Inisherin is difficult to fault and should be able to prove himself against older rivals. After a disappointing performance in the Guineas, he has excelled for a drop in trip, establishing himself as the top sprinter of his generation.. He is extremely ground versatile, having won on both soft to heavy at Haydock and good to firm at Royal Ascot, so changeable conditions at Newmarket aren’t a worry. Swingalong is an obvious pace angle and can outrun her odds of 25/1 after a good display at Royal Ascot. She might be a good forecast bet along with Inisherin.
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