Saturday 5th July 2025
Saturday’s Best Bets
1.50: Sandown (Coral Charge)
KERDOS – 7/2 (Win)
My first selection of the afternoon comes within the 1.50 at Sandown and this is the Group 3 Coral Charge, which is contested over five furlongs. Kerdos stands out for me here for Clive Cox who renews his partnership with Christophe Soumillon. He ran an almighty race at Royal Ascot, when finishing fifth in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes and just two lengths behind eventual winner American Affair. That run also came from a tough draw, and he should be a lot more at home here. He was a Group 2 winner at Haydock last term, and if he runs to the level of either that run of the Ascot effort, that could be enough to take this.
2.25: Sandown (Coral Challenge)
GREEK ORDER – 3/1 (Win)
Next up on Saturday for me comes in the 2.25 at Sandown, and this is the Class 2 Coral Challenge Handicap over a mile. I think that the Michael Bell trained Greek Order has a fantastic chance here under Ryan Moore. He ran a massive race on his stable debut at Royal Ascot in the ultra-competitive Royal Hunt Cup, finishing fourth of thirty, and just a length and a half behind the progressive My Cloud. He’s only been nudged up a couple of pounds for that effort, and if he turns up in the same form again here, he has to be considered as a very significant player.
3.00: Sandown (Coral Distaff)
BLUE BOLT – 2/1 (Win) (NB)
Staying at Sandown, and the 3.00 which is the Listed Coral Distaff for fillies over a mile. Andrew Balding’s Blue Bolt has looked an exciting filly in her short career to date, winning a couple of novice events impressively in her latest two starts, with her most recent success coming at Newbury last month in a Class 2 event over a mile. She looked almost certain to be a pattern-class filly on that occasion, and it remains to be seen how far she can actually go, but I suspect she’s still got a way to go before she reaches her ceiling. She showed a high cruising speed at Newbury, which her main market rival Consecrated couldn’t handle, and another bold showing here would be no surprise.
3.15: Haydock (Old Newton Cup)
PLAGE DE HAVRE – 6/1 (Each-Way) (5 places)
One of the most competitive contests of the afternoon is the Old Newton Cup, which takes place at 3.15 at Haydock over a mile and four furlongs. It could pay to side with Plage De Havre here for Andrew Balding and P J McDonald. He bounced back from a disappointing showing at Newcastle at York last time out in May where he finishing third of twelve and two and half lengths behind winner Almosh’her. He didn’t get a clear run on that occasion, and he arguably could’ve been closer to the winner if getting more luck. He’ll contest this off the same mark as that York effort, and he’s still progressive.
3.35: Sandown (Coral-Eclipse)
OMBUDSMAN – 11/10 (Win) (NAP)
My fifth and final selection of the afternoon on Saturday comes within the big one at 3.35, which is the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse over a mile and two furlongs. The highly-exciting Ombudsman should be able to give the weight away to his younger rivals here and I think he’s a better horse than Sosie, who’ll probably prefer slower ground. He was impressive winner of the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, getting the better of more expereinced Group 1 performers in the process. The sky is the limit for him, and I think he’s got every chance of being another one out of the top drawer for the Gosden team. Another big performance is highly likely.
