Tuesday's Meetings Stratford N/H 6 Races 2:10-5:10p.m. Thirsk Flat 7 Races 2:20-5:50p.m. Royal Ascot Flat 6 Races 2:30-5:35p.m. Brighton (E) Flat 7 Races 6:00-9:00p.m. Beverley (E) Flat 6 Races 6:15-8:45p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
****er bet in the Ascot Stakes 5pm Ray Ward 13/2 - 20 points Lycidas 10/1 - 2.5 points Broxbourne 14/1 -2 points Boite 16/1 - 2 points
I am quite interested by Handazan in the Ascot Stakes. Purchased from the McNeil family by Ben Case at the Doncaster sales, this former Alan King inmate has settled well into his new home and could be one of those horses who really improves for the change of routine and scenary. Last seen running on the flat in the 2013 Sagaro stakes (led 2F out but then got swamped) he gets in here off 94, the extra distance will suit and with Hanagan on board, 33/1 looks a nice e/w price.
14.30 Cougar Mountain - 1 point ew 40/1 15.05 Round Two - 2 points win at SP 15.40 Muthmir - 2 points win at SP 16.20 Make Believe - 2 points win at SP, Latharnach - 0.5 points ew 50/1 17.00 See ****er Bet 17.35 Soapy Aitken - 2 points in 13/2, Areen 1 point win at 20/1
STRATFORD 355- Absolutelyfantastic 510- Miss Lucarno ASCOT 230- Able Friend 305-Air Force Blue 340- Meccas Angela 420- GlenEagles 500- Ray Ward 535- Orvar
Royal Ascot looks to be a no bet day for me tomorrow. 4 absolute lotteries and the Queen Anne and St James's Palace were always no bet races for me anyway. Gun to my head and forced to pick one horse tomorrow it would be Air Force Blue in the Coventry, take the chance that he'd have the necessary improvement in him to take it against the fancied Round Two. Good Luck to everyone having a punt.
Another Wise Kid looks primed to go well at beverley 8 15 @ 7/1 -in form Paul Midgeley knows his onions! Balinroab 3 20 at stratford--for the outstanding bradstock operation , they often have them ready first time , 12/1 good luck those playing at ascot, very competitve as you would expect , the shorties are just too short, no racing certanties either ,so like Fab Fabio , i'm ooot !
A double for me tomorrow: 3.40 Shamal Wind 7/1 - think this will go close with Ryan Moore on board in what should be a fantastic race 5.00 Ray Ward 6/1 - Backed this one last year and I think compensation awaits this time Cheers Trevez
Not betting on the flat is shelved for the next 5 days. Muthmir in the Kings Stand to lower Sole Power's colours though I've backed a few to do similar in previous years without success. Shwaiman @ 20s in the Ascot Stakes. This one was a rank outsider in the Gold Cup last year and ran as well as could be expected given his rating. This looks more feasible and 9lb lower this time. The forum's least favourite Italian is doing the steering and rates an ew poke for me. Good luck all.
Even a diehard jumps fan like me quite enjoys the first day of Royal Ascot, especially the first 4 firecrackers of races. Could well be a case of Irish eyes smiling with huge chances in the big races in the shape of Gleneagles, Round Two and that rarest of creatures a flat horse with a huge public following the incomparable, the legendary SOLE POWER! From a betting perspective however my money will mainly burden ROUND TWO. I think he's the bet of the week, obviously the American horse could be anything but he'll have to be dam good to beat this lad. Personally I don't think they'll live with Jim Bolger's colt. Could even be next year's Guineas winner... Good luck and don't spunk your betting bank in the first day
2.30 NIGHT OF THUNDER 5/1 e.w With 8 set to run, a horse who has only been out of the first 3 when tried at 10f at Sandown in a Coral Eclipse, last years 2000 Guineas winner can go very close to toppling his international rivals. He ses out a mile really well and it looks his optimum distance and ground. The favourite is a potential star but until he answers the questions tomorrow (e.g did he beat a peak Grey Gatsby in Dubai? Is he better at 10f?) he has to prove it, so Night Of Thunder to run to a true Group1 level and ask questions of the other two. Able Friend for me may find the straight mile and stiff track quite a surprise. 3.05 AIR FORCE BLUE 7/1 I think the form of his maiden looks really, really solid and although a little green under pressure, there was a great cruising speed and a lovely turn of foot at the 2f pole to go clear and just see it out from a ready next time out winner. (Rockaway Valley beat a seemingly very nicely regarded Weld filly called JULIETTE FAIR-she shaped beautifully by the way, and the 3rd has also won nicely since) I think if he steps forward even further (allowed to go off at 4/1 on debut), he might seriously take some pegging back. The favourite for me has formlines that don't really back up Jim Bolgers bullish words, but he is a man who doesn't talk nonsense and therefore I respect his chances. 3.40 G FORCE 9/1 David O'Meara is surely going to become a familiar name in big events over the next few years and he thinks G Force is showing the speed this year to be truly competitive in top class 5f races. If you have a look close enough last year, he was a desperately unlucky 5th behind todays favourite Sole Power when hampered and rattling home like a train. He then went on to taste Group1 success over 6f at Haydock. He was almost brought down on reappearance so can be forgiven, and can land this with a late old rattle if the gaps appear. 4.20 CONSORT 11/2 This looks by far Gleneagles toughest field as I think the 2000 Guineas looked below standard and was missing some key market rivals. He had a hard race last time out in Ireland and had to be very brave. It is a smaller field here and whilst he is the rightful favourite, Consort looked a top level miler from the second he debuted last season and to miss the Guineas but then win a Sandown listed race despite histting all sorts of trouble and being unfancied, the step forward fitness wise and his ability to go from the front if required puts him in with a chance of making this favourite work. Make Believe was drawn perfectly in his French Guineas and other than the 2nd, who looked the unlucky loser that day, I don't think the opposition was upto much.
Poor Kings Stand Stakes, another weak Group 1. Would really like the charming Lucy Wadham to have a good run from her Ascot Stakes runner. Gleneagles to prove he's the best at 8f before stepping up in trip.
2.30 Night Of Thunder @ 9/2 3.05 Air Force Blue @ 11/2 3.40 Jack Dexter @ 20/1 5.00 Asbury Boss @ 14/1
Anyone who can finish ahead at Royal Ascot can either declare themselves a horse racing genius or a lucky sod. Either way, you need to be blessed by the gods, and they hate hubris, so lumping on the favourite in the first race is probably asking for trouble. Nonetheless, I'm counting on Solow to come home all alone. After that I'll throw a few shekels at the Hannon pair Age Of Empire and Eltezam in the Coventry. And Opal Tiara in the Windsor Castle. Good luck anyone doing battle with the bookies today.
