The Weekend Wager: Three bets for an interesting weekend

Joe Tuffin takes the reigns for this week's Weekend Wager, picking out three selection's across Goodwood and Newmarket...

15:35 Goodwood - Celebration Mile

The Celebration Mile is the headline race of the Weekend so it’s only right we feature it in The Weekend Wager! The big eye-catcher when opening your race card will be the return of Benbatl, who is back after 337 days away from the course - last seen finishing third behind Kameko in the Joel Stakes. A high class, Group 1 winning performer on his day, it’ll be fascinating to see the seven-year-old back in a race which is very much his sort of level, but he’s surely vulnerable as the current favourite at his age with that long lay off to factor it, and my eye drifts to Happy Power at a much more appealing price of 10/1 at the time of writing.

King Power Racing are having a fine season and bagged their second Group 1 in the Nunthorpe last week, and I can see them celebrating more success on the Sussex Downs tomorrow. Last seen finishing a half-length third to Kinross in the Lennox Stakes, he rediscovered his consistent form after a disappointing last in the Summer Mile to show he’s well capable of landing a blow at this level - with Space Blues in behind him proving that. Though he’s only won once at one-mile in the Listed Ganton Stakes and most of his form comes at 7f, he seems well suited to the Goodwood underlations and has form of 4313, with the win being in a Group 3, the third’s being at Group 2 level, and the 4th in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. 

In what looks a fairly average renewal of the Celebration Mile, featuring a favourite with plenty of  question marks, a pretty underwhelming Chindit and the likes of Mustasaabeq and Perotto who have plenty to prove at this level, it has to be worth siding with Happy Power at a double-figure price with proven course and Group level form to prevail.

15:55 Newmarket - Close Brothers Asset Management Handicap

The 15:55 looks a fascinating event at Newmarket and there looks to be a good bet available in the form of Dancing Harry for Andrea Atzeni. Last see landing a brace of wins after success over course & distance last time out, Roger Charlton’s gelding has shown real improvement of late and has now on a career high mark of 85, up 5lb for his latest success. Though by the manner in which he won that race, 5lb looks fairly lenient. Making all on the good ground, he was sent for home at the 3f marker and responded brilliantly to win by five-lengths, showing guts, stamina and speed to land a brilliant success.

Returning to the scene of that success is an obvious plus for him, and that form, beating the likes of Lucky Deal who he reopposes here, is very eye-catching - though so is the favourite Live Your Dream. Another to win over Course and Distance last time out, the Godolphin runner is yet to finish outside the top three in all of his seven starts and looks a model of consistency, but his win here last time out - a three-and-a-quarter-length success over Global Storm - has seen him raised 6lb to a very lofty mark of 101, making Dancing Harry’s race weight of 8st 8lb far more appealing than the favourite’s 9st 10lb. Live Your Dream’s win may have come in a hotter race than this, but when you factor in the manner of Dancing Harry’s win and the huge weight difference, it’s hard not to side with the second-favourite.

16:45 Goodwood - Access Tomorrows Placepots Early At tote.co.uk Handicap

The final bet of The Weekend Wager comes in the final race of the day at Goodwood and is an interesting each-way selection in the form of Manucci - a 16/1 chance at the time of writing.

The five-year-old has had an interesting career to date to say the least, winning three times from 10 races, including success on both the Flat and over hurdles. Starting his career on the level, he scored his first win on his fourth start at Bath, before being sent over hurdles where he recorded a respectable second on debut, the horse beating him that day being a certain Goshen. A win soon followed and he was then seen at Ascot, again taking on Goshen and Nordano - finishing behind both to take third. He followed that up with a second at Warwick before returning to the flat, this time on the All-Weather, to win at Chelmsford.

He’s only had one run since then (Pulled up over hurdles) but this interestingly campaigned challenger may be worth a play at a price owing to the fact that his last three runs on the Flat read 211, rising from 70 to 78 in the handicap in the process. He is however partnered by 7lb claimer Aidan Keely, meaning his true weight puts him down to 71 - a mark he has proven he can smash through. 

He does have a bit to prove after 231 days off the track, but the race doesn’t scream strength and his featherweight makes him a fearful contender, who should surely be in the frame if returning to anywhere near his best form.