Happy Romance - leading hope this year
Happy Romance - leading hope this year

Simon Holt best bets for Newbury and York on Sunday


Our man Simon Holt was among the winners with 10/1 chance Make My Day on Saturday - now he has three best bets for Sunday.

Recommended bets

1pt win Happy Romance in 2.50 Newbury at 9/2

1pt win Breathtaking Look in 3.05 York at 13/2

1pt win Extra Elusive in 3.25 Newbury at 6/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record


BREATHTAKING LOOK, unplaced in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot, can take advantage of a drop in class in the Group Three William Hill Summer Fillies Stakes at York on Sunday.

The Stuart Williams-trained mare went off a 16-1 chance at Ascot and, predictably, was outclassed but any of the eight who finished in front of her there would have a clear chance on official ratings in this contest.

So too Breathtaking Look who was progressive last season (mainly over seven furlongs) and then made an eye-catching reappearance dropped to six furlongs at Newmarket in early June when chasing home the subsequent July Cup winner Oxted.

Obviously, the latter must have improved to win last week's big race but it was still an excellent run by the selection who finished nearly four lengths clear of the third. A fast pace looks assured and that should suit her well here.

At Newbury, the Weatherbys Super Sprint will provide some spectacle with a maximum field hurtling down the straight course over five furlongs but, as is often the case in sales-related races, there aren't too many leading contenders.

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The two who stand out are Get It, who finished fourth behind the smart Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, and HAPPY ROMANCE who took fifth in the Queen Mary behind Capannelle.

The form of both of those races looks strong but, at these weights, the latter just gets the vote with her Ascot run very well boosted since by Caroline Dale (third) and Sardinia Sunset (fourth). Moreover, trainer Richard Hannon always demands much respect in this race.

Later on, EXTRA ELUSIVE returns to the scene of his racecourse debut win in the bet365 Steventon Stakes.

Although that early victory came on soft ground, this ten-furlong specialist is probably better on a drier surface so his fifth behind Mountain Angel in last month's Wolferton Stakes (soft), splitting the re-opposing Prince Eiji and Fox Tal, was a decent effort.

Extra Elusive should improve for that first run since February and any repeat of his head defeat by Elarqam at Sandown this time last year would see him go very close.

Posted at 1625 BST on 18/07/2020

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