".... rolling the dice in the Saturday handicaps...."

Friday, 12th June 2026

“…. rolling the dice in the Saturday handicaps….”

>>>>> Get today’s pick at York….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in the handicaps on ITV on Saturday….

I’m on FORTIFICATION & CHICAGO POPE in the 3.35 at York – up at 17/2 & 12s….

…. I’m on BOBBY BENNU at 12s in the 2.25 at York….

…. and I’m on SHAFDAR at 12s & 11s in the 3.17 at Sandown….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

-----

…. the Churchill Tyres Supporting Macmillan – York – 3.35....

I’m two-against-the-field in this one….

I know some readers don’t like it – but it feels like the right option here….

I can’t split the last two on my shortlist and throwing two darts at the win in this big field of unexposed 3yos feels like a better route than backing one or the other each way….

First up – and the preferred option if you pushed me for one to back e/w – is FORTIFICATION at the 17/2….

The form of his win over 5f at this track back in May is working out well – producing a 1-2-3 in a big handicap at Epsom last weekend….

…. and his next time out 4/16 in a race against older horses in another 5f handicap at York – a proper good seasoning race – also looks like good form….

…. with the third Toca Madera logging a next time out win….

…. and Partisan Hero and Vintage Clarets both showing up well at Epsom last week…

Fortification’s been doing all his best work in the closing stages over the minimum trip….

…. and this step up to 6f looks ideal and likely to produce improvement…

He’s nicely handicapped on 85 and I like Joanna Mason as a booking to do the weight….

The other one I want to back is Johnny Murtagh’s CHICAGO POPE at the 12s….

He ran a cracker over just short of 6f at Naas last month….

…. showing a really good attitude from the front….

…. fighting back when headed in the final furlong….

…. and sticking on well to prevail a bit more comfortably than the margin of victory suggests….

He hit the line well and looks a surefire candidate to progress again off a revised mark of 89….

Connections clearly want to keep him racing against his own age group for the time being and his options are limited in Ireland – hence the trip across the Irish Sea to York….

…. but I can’t imagine this will be some passive run-him-and-see-how-it-goes assignment and I expect him to be readied for a proper crack at this….

-----

…. the Sky Bet Supporting Macmillan – York – 2.25....

I’m on Roger Varian’s BOBBY BENNU at the general 12s for this one….

He’s drawn out wide in stall 19 – which plenty of punters would register as a big negative….

…. but I’m not concerned because he’s going to want to drop in and come late anyway….

…. just as he did on seasonal return at Chester from a wide draw – flying down the outside and making up stacks of ground in the closing stages….

He improved markedly for a run in that same race on the Roodeye last term….

…. he’s been dropped a handy pound to 92 – his lowest career mark to date….

…. and if he does strip fitter for that first run of the campaign – as I expect him to – then then he’s a player at a nice price under Shane Foley….

-----

…. the Read Meg Nicholls' Blog – Sandown – 3.17....

SHAFDAR got no kind of run in a big handicap at Ascot last time….

…. looking like he had a run to make but just not getting a clean passage – at which point his jockey called time….

His performance at Epsom the time before….

…. when he gave 8lb and a 0.75 length beating to Sweet Reward….

…. is a much better barometer of both his ability and his potential….

Sweet Reward went on to win his next two at Lingfield – rising 12lb in the rankings to a mark of 88….

…. Shafdar gets to run off 89 tomorrow….

…. and the suggestion is that he’s going to prove himself a fair bit better than that mark….

The booking of Billy Loughnane for riding duties has to be taken as a positive….

…. and in this smaller field and lesser race than he contested last time at Ascot I reckon the 12s & 11s amounts to a bit of value….

-----

Now, just to recap….

-----

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back on Monday with picks for Day 1 (Tuesday) at Royal Ascot….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd