Check out Richard Fahey's guide to his weekend team
Richard Fahey guide to his Saturday runners in the UK and Ireland
By Richard Fahey
17:06 · SAT July 20, 2019
Our star columnist has high hopes of winning the Weatherbys Super Sprint for the fourth time on Saturday. Check out his horse-by-horse guide to the full team.
15:40 Newbury - Ventura Rebel
We run four in the Weatherbys Super Sprint and it's a race we've been lucky enough to win three times before. Ventura Rebel would be one of the classiest horses I’ve ever run in it. He ran a cracker at Royal Ascot when second in the Norfolk Stakes and has been in good form since. I just hope he goes there, runs a big race, and wins.
15:40 Newbury - Mighty Spirit
She's a good super-sub if you want to call her that. People say she was disappointing at Beverley last time but I thought the winner, Living In The Past, looked very smart there and they were well clear of the rest. Take her out and we’ve trotted up and this is a very tough and genuine filly. If there are any chinks in Ventura Rebel’s armour she’ll find them.
15:40 Newbury - Show Me Show Me
I’ve been a fraction disappointed with him since he won the Brocklesby and he was naughty on his last intended start at Royal Ascot. Win or lose he's heading for an operation as he’s just getting a bit above himself. It's too big a pot to pass up so we’ll run here first – and he has a chance of being in the money – but he’ll be gelded soon afterwards.
15:40 Newbury - Baileys In Bloom
She’s very tough and very genuine and has done nothing wrong. She has no weight on her back and it’s well worth having a punt at this with her.
14:20 Ripon - Cloudea
She ran a good race on debut at Pontefract when finishing fourth to Soffika and she's sure to have come on for the experience. She could easily progress and win a novice stakes and it would be nice if it was this one.
14:55 Ripon - Delph Crescent
He’s been disappointing as he’s in really great form at home but just not finishing off his races and we don’t know why. He might be a confidence horse as he was similar last year then something clicked and he won three times in a short space of time. I hope he bounces back soon again and he's down in grade here.
16:05 Ripon - Gallipoli
He's only run in two 0-85s in his career and has won them both so we're hoping he can make it three-from-three. He's a hard horse to win with but he's down in grade and it will be interesting to see how he goes.
16:05 Ripon - Zip
He gets in at the bottom of the weights and has run well on his last two starts at Haydock. He just seems better on slower ground and any rain would be in his favour here.
17:15 Ripon - Jungle Secret
She's a hot little thing that just needs a bit of managing but she ran very well when second at Musselburgh on her handicap debut last time. If she's in that form again she'd go close as we know she can gallop.
15:25 Curragh - Gabrial The Saint
Six-and-a-half on decent ground here could be a really nice spot for him. You can forget his last run at Ascot as five furlongs there was too sharp for him. Any rain in Ireland would increase confidence of a bold show.
16:35 Curragh - Mr Lupton
I’ve been mulling over whether to run here or on Sunday but I think we'll try him over seven. He won the big sales race over six-and-a-half at Doncaster as a two-year-old and likes the course here so it’s worth a go. You can forget his run in the Chipchase last time – the track was deep and they went no gallop and it just didn’t suit him. He’s run badly in both races on the all-weather and we don’t have to try that again.
Mr Lupton is in control of the Greenlands Stakes earlier in the season
17:35 Newmarket - Right Action
He's in good form and is another runner who would appreciated any rain. We'll see what happens but he'd have a chance.
18:15 Doncaster - Fraternity
She ran quite nicely at Haydock on debut, finishing second to West End Girl. She’s a nice prospect and probably a horse for next year but she’ll win her race this season. There are a couple of interesting newcomers in against her here and it will be interesting to see how warm this is.
18:45 Doncaster - Oti Ma Boati
She's progressing really well and I think the handicapper has given her a chance, which isn't something you usually hear a trainer say. We thought we were going to down the Listed route but he allocated her 79 so we’re running here. I hope I’m right and he’s wrong - although they rarely are - as she's a filly we really like.
19:15 Doncaster - Embolden
He’ll be better for the run and on paper this looks a useful maiden. This is a good, hardy horse who will be nice in time but the experience won’t be lost on him.
19:15 Doncaster - Kuwait Shield
He’s another we like but wouldn’t want the ground too quick. I think he’s better than he showed at Ayr on debut and is a potential improver on his second start
19:45 Doncaster - Ventura Ocean
We stepped him up into a couple of top handicaps at York and he couldn’t cope but down in grade, ran well at Pontefract last time. Going up to seven furlongs will suit him here and he could be competitive again.
20:45 Doncaster - Menin Gate
He’s been a disappointing horse. He had a few problems, nothing serious, and on some of his early work is very well handicapped now. He just hasn’t quite been firing on the track although he didn’t run too badly at Pontefract last time.
18:30 Haydock - You’re My Rock
He ran a good, solid, race to finish third on debut at Newcastle and is entitled to improve for that. We don’t know what we’re in against here but he’s a horse who is going the right away and another who’ll pick up a novice stakes somewhere.
19:00 Haydock - Indomeneo
He’s become disappointing. We’re happy with him at home and he’s dropped down to a winning mark but just looks to have lost his way. If he was to bounce back to anything like his best he’d run very well.