A very attractive James Palace. I was very much a Barney Roy fan but he was beaten by Churchill in the 2000g. The race was run to suit Churchill and Barney Roy was comfortably outpointed. At the same time I felt Barney Roy behaved like a gangly teenager in his Greenham win. I was expecting a more grown-up Barney at Newmarket. It wasn't the case. So today I am sticking to Barney and feel he will win if he has grown up and if he gets a decent pace. Both far from certain assumptions but to my mind Churchill is beatable and barely gets the mile. If he's harried and pushed I think he's beatable. If it's run to suit him, well that's another story.
Hello, troops. Must admit I love Paddy Power’s Royal Ascot tagline – ‘For the winners not the Windsors’. A bit harsh on dear, dear Dame Barbara perhaps but must admit it made I chuckle!
Think you have to take on Ribchester in the first - blazing sunshine and hot - will be quicker than the going description. I like De Bryre Horse in the coventry. Could see US Navy Flag outrunning his 50-1 price. Churchill always seems to just do enough - im going for Churchill / Lancaster bomber r/f Think Lady A will burn everything off - she could be well clear at the 4 furlong pole and will be a case of whether theres enough time for anything to get to her. Dont fancy too much else unfortunately... powder dry for later in the week.
Mutakayyef Murillo Priceless Barney Roy / Rivet Star Rider Sound and Silence Through the card and a few nice prices
Chapman said he was surprised by the going. Definitely on the easy side of good to firm for him. For myself I feel the going should have naturally been nearer firm. Apparently they watered up to midday yesterday. I just hope the top doesn't come off.
A lot of love for a certain Lady here today, could be a popular winner. All my energy is directed towards the 606 competition, rather than betting, so I'm hoping for Ribchester and Churchill to deliver on their stellar form. The Chester May form has worked out well; I don't need to remind you of a certain horse that won at Epsom and made us 3 pilgrims very happy. So, I'm very interested to see how Deauville fairs in that opener, especially if there is a chink in the armour for 'Friendless Fahey' today. I'm always keen on the Godolphin horses being steered by William Buick, so 2 that jump out to me today are Aqabah in the 3.05 and Sound and Silence in the 5.35; both look to have potential at a very good price, so I may throw some pocket change their way, since I'm such an each way thief. I've been out for a 3 mile run in the glorious sunshine and now I'm melting in the office; thank goodness for a good 4G signal and the "Live" section of racingpost.com I hope it's an enjoyable and profitable afternoon for everyone. Cheers!
Afternoon all.Just one wager for moi and that's Thomas Hobson in 5.00. Is in great form this season and Willie has won two of the last five runnings of this race.6/1 could look a silly price!
With you re Thomas Hobson Ste If the sun reaches yesterday's temperatures here in the sunny south, there will soon be no "good" left in the going description. I too am all over Lady A - she did me proud last year, it would be insulting to abandon her now! I am opposing Rib with Mutkayyef. Going will suit and is one of the few not have been steam-rollered by the fav so far. Can't see anything beating Churchill, and am siding with Wes Ward's seeming second string in the last - Elizabeth Darcy. There - some to avoid then
That green the Queen is wearing is very close to the green spots on Rich Ricci's silks ....................... Another bike accident on the way to work this morning and the doctor has signed me off sick until the end of next week. I've only got cuts and bruises but pretty knocked about so taking it easy and watching the racing
Half day at work today so get to watch some of the racing and have a bet gone for the following: 2:30 - Lightning Spear 5/1 Win- First and foremost i think the favourite is too short a price, even now at odds against. The one i've gone for ran well last time out behind the favourite despite being off the track for a while. I'm chancing that it will feel the benefit of that run plus the better ground and can take Ribchester close or better. 3:05 - Zaman 25/1 EW - Not an easy race to find the winner (or place) in, Hannon has a couple of decent looking horses, Murillo for O'Brien is one to note also. My pick is more of a tentative one looking at those at bigger prices. It made a nice winning debut after being bought for a decent sum and although Buick seems to prefer Godolphins other horse James Doyle is no mug and i'm more than happy with him doing the steering. With 4 places on offer with paddys i'm hopeful of him sneaking one. 3:40 - Priceless 16/1 EW - This race looks a bit of a nightmare and could be one of them in hindsight you go, 'well of course, obviously that horse won'. Both Marsha and Lady Aurelia at the top of the market could easily be the 'hindsight' horse. However i simple can't ignore this horse at that sort of price. It looked very good when winning last time out and although in a different league today i can't believe its double figures let alone the price it is. Another race paying 4 places and will be very very disappointed if this horse isn't filling one of them. 4:20 - Thunder Snow 14/1 EW - I backed both this horse and Barney Roy last time out in their respective races but not wanting to back both today i've gone for the one at the much bigger price. There is no logical reason for me to think that the form will be reversed with Churchill unless something goes wrong but with 3 places on offer this should definitely be filling one of them. 5:00 - Magic Circle 9/1 Win - One of the two rides out of his 5 that i think SDS has a realistic chance on today, the other being in the last. Nothing much to say about this one really other than i thought its run last time was pretty good from a pretty poor draw. I think SDS will have a winner today given his current form and i'm sticking my neck out to say this is the one. Will admit to a small ew wager on Yorkidding also at 16/1, reverse forecast too. 5:35 - Nootka Sound 5/1 Win - From a good yard, good jockey up, won well last time, shortish price, tipped in a few places. That's all there is to the last one, i don't know too much about the horse so i'm being more of a sheep and following in on this one rather than making an educated choice. Small ew on Another Batt @ 14/1 for SDS, reverse forecast too. Hope everyone enjoys their (profitable) day.
How many times has Lightning Spear seen Ribchester's disappearing backside? Must be many people's cliff horse! Come on Mutakayyef