Saturday’s UK racing tips come your way from meetings at Ascot and York on 29 July 2023.
ASCOT
Race 2 – PRETTY CRYSTAL 3/1
PRETTY CRYSTAL outran her 33/1 odds at the Royal meeting and should put up another bold show in the Bateaux London Princess Margaret Stakes.
She won at Ripon on her debut but took a leap forward in finishing fifth in the Albany Stakes, beaten three and a half lengths as she just lacked a bit of toe in the final furlong.
The form has worked out well since, with runner-up Matrika and fourth-placed Persian Dreamer both winning Group prizes and while she has a bit to find with third-placed Soprano – if she runs – Pretty Crystal looks a filly on the up.
Race 3- CADEAU BELLE 5/2
CADEAU BELLE has been on a swift upward trajectory with the Longines Valiant Stakes looking a logical next step for the Irish raider.
She has won each of her two career starts, landing a Gowran maiden in May before tackling a Listed contest at Navan last month.
Johnny Murtagh’s charge made short work of some older rivals that day, going away at the finish to win by a length and a quarter with the second, Cigamia, giving the form a boost when subsequently second in a Group Three contest.
Tried at that same level here, this trip of just short of a mile on ground with some cut looks ideal.
Race 4 – VAFORTINO 8/1
VAFORTINO can put up another good showing for Kevin Philippart de Foy in the Moet & Chandon International Stakes.
This consistent five-year-old is a course-and-distance winner having landed last year’s Victoria Cup and ran another cracker at York last time out, when beaten just a short head by the reopposing Northern Express.
Kaiya Fraser takes the ride this time, providing a handy 5lb claim, with cut in the Ascot ground a positive for Vafortino.
Race 5 – HUKUM 11/2
It appears to be a truly top-class renewal of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot, with HUKUM backed to emerge victorious in a proper battle of the generations.
With the Derby one-two, Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel, both in contention, not to mention defending champion Pyledriver and top-class filly Emily Upjohn, the 12-furlong contest really looks to be one of the highlights of the summer.
A strong case could be made for any of those four rivals, but preference is just for Hukum, who will have conditions in his favour in Berkshire.
The six-year-old’s crowning moment came in the Coronation Cup last term, when he beat Pyledriver by just over four lengths, unfortunately suffering a season-ending injury in the process.
Nursed back to health by owner Shadwell and trainer Owen Burrows, Hukum looked up against it dropping back to 10 furlongs in the Brigadier Gerard on his return to action in May, but he showed improved form to claim the notable scalp of 2022 Derby hero Desert Crown by half a length.
Hukum then sidestepped Royal Ascot due to unsuitable ground – a decision which could pay rich dividends here with rain having arrived over the last week.
This full brother to Baaeed will have to raise his game again to take home the prize, but the fact he sits on his highest ever mark perhaps best demonstrates how his star has continued to rise.
YORK
Race 2 – INTERNATIONAL GIRL 20/1
INTERNATIONAL GIRL will be a decent price for the Sky Bet Dash Handicap and is worth at least an each-way nibble.
The five-year-old turned in a decent effort when fourth in a pretty hot fillies’ handicap at York last month, with third-placed Pink Crystal subsequently running well in a Group Three assignment.
Race 3- MY PROSPERO 83/100
MY PROSPERO drops to Group Two level in the Sky Bet York Stakes on the Knavesmire after a couple of luckless runs at the highest level.
A winner in this grade in France last term before just being touched off in the Champion Stakes, My Prospero ran well enough over an inadequate mile to be fourth in the Lockinge on his return but could not improve on that in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He was a well-held fourth that day and William Haggas is eager to give his charge a confidence boost, with easy ground at York posing few issues and My Prospero holding an advantage on the ratings.
