Tuesday's Meetings Royal Ascot Flat 7 Races 2:30-6:10p.m. Thirsk Flat 8 Races 1:05-5:10p.m. Stratford N/H 6 Races 1:20-4:05p.m. Sligo(E) Flat 8 Races 4:10-8:00p.m. Beverley(E) Flat 7 Races 5:30-8:40p.m. Brighton(E) Flat 7 Races 5:45-8:50p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Place a bet in the Virtual Betting shop here Good Luck
Royal Ascot 15,05 The Organiser 22/1 e/w four places with WH, 20/1 six places with Sky, others five and four. 15,40 Winter Power 9/2 16,20 Chindit 9/1 e/w five places with WH, others four. 17,00 Lostwithiel 14/1 e/w seven places with Sky, six with WH, others five. 18,10 Global Storm 5/1 Good luck all.
The Queen Anne is surely all about who will be second. Palace Pier is top rated on 125 and I think he has more in hand than the 5 lbs the official ratings would have you believe. Order Of Australia is rated 120 but that looks bollocks to me. He went into the Breeders Cup rated 107 and in winning by a neck from Circus Maximus he went up 13 lbs. Call me a sceptic but that race, which was 2 days after Guy Fawkes' Night, on concrete ground at a greyhound track means I don't trust the form. Lope Y Fernandez is next in the betting but he's a hard horse to catch in a going mood. He ran a shocker behind Palace Pier last time and overall he's been a tricky sort to pigeonhole at a particular trip. Top Rank was third to Palace Pier in the Lockinge and with 2nd placed Lady Bowthorpe heading elsewhere, could he be the one to follow Palace Pier home albeit at a fair distance in arrears? The ground was on the soft side then and it is very different now. The Tate stable are 0/16 this past fortnight and I thought the trainer had a very disappointing 2020. Sir Busker started last season rated 92 and by the end of it he was on 110. That was a big improvement and although he was below par last time, it was very soft that day and he is a course and distance winner. In the end I decided to play as a forecast because I can't see Palace Pier beaten today. The horse I took to follow him home is Regal Reality. The Stoute horse wasn't quite as good as I thought he might turn out but he's kept some good company in the past and is smart in his own right. He ran a decent race behind Kameko when last seen and interesting that he stays in training as a 6YO. I have also backed him in the "Without Palace Pier" market at 15/2 2.30 Ascot Palace Pier/Regal Reality SF W/O Palace Pier Regal Reality 15/2
Sir Busker 25/1 ew with my Paddy Power free bet in the 2:30. Highland Avenue 8/1 win with my bet365 free bet in the 4:20. And my NAP of the day Gisburn 11/2 in the 3:05. Win bet. Haven't yet decided if I'll be backing Frankie like the rest of the country but its highly likely that I'll chuck a couple of quid at him.
My nap of the day- PATRICK SARSFIELD in the wolferton only slight worry is if the ground gets to fast, but am hoping they have watered it enough to make it just good racing ground. Has good form last year when second to skaletti over in France Escapes a penalty for his win in a group 3 last year and his run last time suggests that was a prep run for this at 4/1 he takes all the beating
Double and singles with SALDIER who could be a whole load Better than this lot and off his current mark he’s 3lb well in on his Irish mark after his win the other week And of course willie is a master so he must have a huge chance!
Stratford 1.50 Billy's Angel Off the mark for current stable in a jumpers bumper at Kempton in February. Has collected minor money in handicap hurdles/chases after this several times. On a dangerous mark now and I think this prominent racer will be suited by this sharp track. Stable amongst the winners recently on the flat and conditional Charlie Todd had a nice winner at Aintree last week. Should run well for each way purposes at least. Good luck everyone whatever you back today.Great to see Royal Ascot is back
The one big flat meeting of the season, and the one I enjoy. Palace Pier should get the meeting off to a good start for the favourite backers, however I was very taken by how well the old boy Lord Glitters stayed on last time in the softer ground. His course form is very good and whilst I would like more pace in the race, I think he is one to be interested in for each way purposes (albeit only with a free bet from Paddy Power) The Coventry is a race I enjoy, and this years race looks very interesting. I study this race by looking for horses who have only had one run (and a win) and that win being over 6 furlongs. As such the list shortens nicely - The Organiser for me is very overpriced. He really impressed on his racecourse debut and seems to be priced on trainer names, rather than what he has shown. He is a bet for me. The one query you could have with him is the ground, having won on ground with cut in it, I have taken this on trust. Tolstoy is the other one I like, having been quite weak in the market on debut, he showed plenty of ability and it is very interesting to see Gosden run two in this race (a race he doesn't normally target). He is by Kingman like the yards previous winner of this race Calyx. King's Stand is a race of interest, it is full of burn up merchants and the top class Battaash. As such I have taken a swing at something at prices with Stone Of Destiny, who needs to find tonnes on form, but he has always caught my eye as one of those horses who has the ability but needs races to work out for him. He is drawn close to Battaash so hopefully can follow the pace and pick up some of the pieces in the final furlong. I think the jockey is a massive positive here on a horse who delivers late in the day. St James Palace is a fascinating race, I have dutched Poetic Flare and Lucky Vega.
I’ve had a bit each way on Vintage Clarets in the Coventry. He’s had a nice break since his last run and with 3 runs, 2 wins under his belt he has more experience than most of the field. The horse he beat into second on his last run, Love de Vega, came out and won a decent novice at Nottingham last week by 3l. By Ardad, the surprise package in the first season sire ranks with 11 winners to date, who was a Royal Ascot winning 2yo himself. I think he’s over priced at 20/1 (can get 25s in places though I’m stake restricted with the bookies offering that price ) Also stuck some funds on Mostahdaf in the St James’s Palace because, y’know, Frankel!
Thirsk 1.40 Water Of Leith Will take a small each way on this one. Cost £62,000 as a 2yo and looked really useful in novices when trained by Jim Goldie (reached a rating of 91). Owners took the horse to Rebecca Menzies where Water Of Leith obviously didn't lived up to expectations so far. On a career-low mark in a race lacking strength today. Interesting to see that there is some money going down for the horse at the moment. Wouldn't be totally surprised if the horse shows an improved display today.
A very speculative ew Lucky 15 for me at Ascot. 3.05 Ebro River 3.40 King’s Lynn 4.20 Highland Avenue 5.00 Reshoun Have a good day all, all the best with yours
I think Solo Saxophone who had a very succesfull season last year is an interesting contender in the 5.00 at Ascot upped in trip. Stayed on over shorter on comeback after a break at Newbury last time out. There could be more to come over this distance for a shrewed stable.
Morning Away from the big meeting... 3.30 Stratford-Orsino Each Way @ 15-2 [Bet 365] Stable are flying this summer
My goodness, Royal Ascot is to enjoy for me, as at the moment looks too difficult. Will keep looking, however! So, have gone for 3 at Thirsk, all ridden by David Allan for Tim Easterby yard. Prices all at time of writing: Thirsk 13:40 Strongbowe (11/4 in 2 or 3 places) 15:55 Cassy O (4/1 General) 17:10 Albegone (5/1 General) I wish you all a successful day, enjoying Royal Ascot in particular! Good luck!
In the Coventry Wesley Ward sends his filly Kaufymaker in against the colts. The trainer stated that she is his best chance this week and that if she doesn't perform the stable could struggle. She is a typical speed machine having won easily over four and a half furlongs on dirt and she has been reported to have taken to turf really well. The question is whether she can conserve her energy for the six furlongs? The punters don't seem to want her though. Having been 3/1 in the build up, she is available at 7/1 now. Perhaps surprisingly Dhabab is favourite for the Gosdens. He made an eye-catching debut when slowly away but quickening well to win impressively at Leicester. Hard to weigh up the form for now but I felt at the time that he looked smart. There has also been money for Gosden's Tolstoy, whom I put up on debut and he didn;t let me down but he was much less impressive visually than Dhabab and although he should improve, I would make him the lesser of the stable's chances, despite Frankie being on board. Dhabab caught my eye when he was 12/1 but at 5/1 I could not be backing him in such an open heat. I know of someone who backed The Acropolis for next year's 2000 Guineas at 66/1 based on holding the same entries as some of Aidan's Guineas winners of past seasons. The son of Churchill was not hard pushed when 4th on debut and he went in at the second time of asking, turning the form around with the second from his previous race quite comprehensively. Hard to weigh up the strength of that second race but The Acropolis is likely to come forward again and the trainer has a terrific record in this race. The question is how much he can have improved in the nine days since his last race? Richard Hannon's Gisburn has an identical 41 profile and built on his debut effort in no uncertain terms when storming home by more than 6 lengths next time. He made all that day and the further they went the further he went away from them. A son of Ribchester, his all the way style may be harder to pull off with the Ward speedster not likely to be hanging around. He does look likely to progress further here though. Ebro River did me a good turn last time and I suggested that the Norfolk might be his next race. He turns up here though, over a furlong further and that has to be a question mark. He has also won on soft thus far, so that is another issue. He's not popular in the betting considering that he is highest on RPR and Timeform ratings but perhaps the thinking is that he lacks scope. Mentally, I thought he had room for improvement still and he did finish strongly despite hanging last time but there are plenty here who could improve and be smart. Masseto was favourite last time in the Marble Hill won by Castle Star, who was the early favourite for the Coventry before being rerouted to the Railway Stakes. Masseto was a bit short of room in the closing stages that day but stayed on for second in promising fashion. I thought the winner travelled well that day though and Castle Star came from further back than Masseto before coming through to score with plenty in hand. If Masseto can win today, Castle Star will be regarded the best 2YO of the season thus far. Berkshire Shadow is a decent price today, considering that he was the winner of Gisburn's debut race. The Balding trained colt was slowly away that day but finished really well to win in nice style, promising more for the future. Up to 6F this time, the extra furlong should suit and he is double the odds of the Hannon colt today. Oddly, the Racing Post blurb states that Berkshire Shadow's race has not worked out well but hey, Gisburn bolted up next time and is damn near favourite today. A son of Dark Angel, Berkshire Shadow is entitled to improve quite a bit but the stable are only 3/45 this past fortnight and that 7% strike is only half of the 12 month average for the stable. The Organiser was an impressive winner at York on debut but it isn't a race that has worked out since. He could have more to come but he needs it and my worry is that it was soft when he won and this is a very different surface he meets today. In the "Could be anything" category, his sire Coach House was runner up to No Nay Never in the Norfolk in his own 2YO season. Conclusion:- Dhabab simply looks too short here but the betting is shouting that he is the one from the Gosdens yard. The Acropolis has a lot to find in just nine days. Gisburn looked the part last time but his odds are thin enough. Berkshire Shadow was supposed to have another run before coming here but the stable apparently changed their minds and come here fresh. Kaufymaker is a backable price now but will 6F suit? Ebro River is trying a new trip and different ground but looked talented, if a bit wayward last time. In the end I went with Gisburn. He hung across last time but still ran on very strongly to come away from his field. He looked as if there was still more to come from him and he may prove strongest at the finish today. 3.05 Ascot Gisburn 11/2 For the crack Gisburn/Berkshire Shadow R/F
The St James Palace looks very open. The most shocking news is that Aidan O'Brien has Aids. Don't worry, it's not that Aids but instead aids to help horses run better. Battleground gets a first time tongue tie, Ontario is equipped with first time blinkers, while Wembley also gets a tongue tie for the first time. Ontario is likely to be a pacemaker her and with Wembley flopping both times this season, Ryan looks to be on their best chance, not that that has meant anything this year. Battleground was a surprising favourite in the Newmarket Guineas but he stank the place out. Perhaps a line can be drawn through that run and he is not fully exposed yet but the balance of his form leaves him a bit to prove for me. Poetic Flare won that Guineas but was disappointing in France before a gallant attempt to reel in Mac Swiney on the latter's beloved soft ground at the Curragh. The question is whether his busy season to date had taken a toll but he looks likely to run a good race again. Mostahdaf is an unbeaten son of Frankel, he beat the reopposing Highland Avenue on soft last time but I think both colts need a bit more today. John Gosden has said that his current 3YO crop are the poorest he can remember having and that has to temper enthusiasm. I'll be surprised if he is up to this and it seems that the trainer will also be mildly shocked himself. Chindit and Lucky Vega were 5th and 3rd in the Newmarket Guineas. Lucky Vega did not shine in the Irish version but the ground was bad that day. Chindit has a bit too much ground to make up from the Guineas in my opinion but Lucky Vega is interesting back on a sound surface. Thunder Moon was disappointing physically at Newmarket and ran like a colt who had not trained on. At 8/1 he seems a joke price today. Conclusion:- I feel that Poetic Flare and Lucky Vega are the two with the best credentials. I felt that the Harrington colt ran a cracker at Newmarket and Poetic Flare had the benefit of a previous run that day. Back on a sound surface, I feel Lucky Vega can reverse the half length margin he was behind the Bolger colt on May 1st. 4.20 Ascot Lucky Vega 6/1
The Wolferton is competitive and I think every pound will count. With that in mind I went for Patrick Sarsfield, who gets 3-5 lbs from some of his main opponents. He's just about the pick at the weights on official ratings and was only beaten a head when trying to give 16lbs to a younger rival last time out. He should come on for that run and surely has a chance. Solid Stone was impressive over a mile last time but did race on his own down the rail that day and I just wonder if that helped him? Up in trip today he is respected but at the odds I felt the Joey O'Brien runner held a better chance at a similar price. 5.35 Ascot Patrick Sarsfield 4/1 In the Kings Stand I felt Winter Power had a chance. She fairly sluiced up last time and the runner up won the Scurry Stakes at the weekend. These 5F sprints can be a minefield but Winter Power really looked the part last time and can hopefully confirm the promise of that effort here. 3.40 Ascot Winter Power 11/2 I've done an each-way acca on all Ascot selections today. Good luck at this tough meeting! As Mick Channon once said, "It's F***ing hard getting a winner here"
In the finale I went with Global Storm. He was third at the meeting last year when staying on in a 10F race. Upped to today's distance last time he put up a career best and I feel sure he will run well today. Charlie Appleby is red hot on 40%, albeit quite a few of those are well bred newcomers but his running to form stats for his horses is currently an amazing 82% and that inspires confidence. 6.10 Ascot Global Storm 5/1 That should pass the afternoon nicely.
