What's his face on Sportinglife sounds quite confident that Sparkling Portrait will run a big race in the 3.30 at Haydock so I'll nominate that bad boy to kick us off at 5/1. I'd usually go each way at that price but what the hey, I've gone win only. If Camelot loses the Derby I officially retire from all racing activities. I like Fitz Flyer in the Dash because The DandyHighwayman does well in this race and he only runs this one. 28/1 6.30 Stratford Ballycarney must have a good each way shout at 8/1.
After Today's result I will be lumping on St Nicholas abbey and Camelot !! I hate bragging but I did post a little rhyme for 2012 flat season on this post !! http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/129599-2012-Derby-Entries?p=2462743#post2462743
Firstly, well done to RV yesterday. Three main bets for me tomorrow: With Quel on Sparkling Portrait 5/1 in the 3:30 at Musselburgh. 2:05 Epsom - Euxton Hall 9/4. Backed him first time out when impressive. Feel will follow up here. 4:00 Epsom - Bonfire 5/1. Going with the Balding horse to beat Camelot and upset Aiden O'Brien. Tough task though! Good luck all.
Struggling for Epsom value but one I have liked all week is... 2.40 Epsom: BEATEN UP 4/1 I love St Nicholas Abbey, really charismatic flat horse and the one to beat. However, back to back Coronation Cups just doesnt seem right for me, especially given he was a slightly fortunate winner last year when not handling the track, as Midday did not quite see the mile and a half out. Beaten Up will relish every yard of the trip and I can see him galloping on too strongly as he looks really well balanced. Cannot see Camelot losing the Derby and I thnk value bets lie in him winning by more than 2L. Nothing will get that close IMO.
I'm up early getting ready to get the coach to Epsom , I'd like to thank RV for my day out his shout on Was is paying for my day
im up early too and am off to Epsom. I reckon the place will be packed today! Can't see any opposition to ST NICHOLAS ABBEY, but I think the Derby could be closer with BONFIRE running CAMELOT close. MICKDAAM at 33/1 could run into a place. I think GRANDEUR is a stand out bet in the first at Epsom. He was impressive as a 2 year old and could be even better this year. I also like the look of COMMUNICATOR in the 4.50.
Hello lads. Derby day but it doesn't quite have the same buzz for me with such a small field,an odds on shot and so few of the big operations represented.Still,it is the Derby. Decent card at Haydock today as well so time to get stuck into the form book and run the old VTR! GL all.
Treble for me today very unoriginal St Nic Abbey, Camelot and England! Bet Fred had a special on yesterday double Camleot SP if he wins by 4 lengths or more! Thoughts Gents!
Ladbrokes returning all bets up to £20 if Camelot bombs. Bets have to be struck between 9.00 and 9.30.
There is no such thing as a banker treble. I found that out on Thursday evening when Rainbow Gold broke down!
Very interested in John Dunlop's SPANISH DUKE (4.50) stepping back up to 12 furlongs at Epsom today. The Big Bad Bob gelding is a course winner at 10 furlongs, having taken last years City & Suburban in fine style off a mark of 95. He readily beat 2 true course specialists in Resurge and Ramona Chase that day and seemed well at home on this unique track, travelling powerfully off Tattenham Corner before delivering a withering run down the outside to win with plenty in hand. He was raised 10lbs by the handicapper for that victory which pretty much ruined the rest of the season for him in terms of handicaps, although in his final run last season, in a conditions race at Epsom in August, he managed to finish a respectable 6th behind Vesuve, beaten just under 2.5 lengths. He wasn't seen again until the beginning of May (not sure whether he has had a problem??) when he finished mid-division in a class 2 handicap off a mark of 100 but that felt like a pipe-opener. Today he runs off 97 which gives him a real chance, based on his City & Suburban run. He has run only once over today's 12 furlong trip, 2 years ago in a red-hot Edinburgh Cup won by Harris Tweed (now rated 115). I think Spanish Duke was a little unlucky in running up the home straight as he was pulled wide for a run and got checked a couple of times, losing valuable momentum. There was nothing that day to suggest he doesn't get 12 furlongs and, having already shown a liking for today's track and conditions, I think he looks a decent bet at around the 10/1 mark. Best of luck everyone
Is the poor turnout for the Blue Riband a result of the hype surrounding the favourite or simply evidence of the fact that there is a shortage of quality three-year-old colts at this stage of the season? At the time of writing, the 2012 three-year-olds look decidedly ordinary but as usual we will not know their true merits until they take on their elders. Both of the market leaders for the Derby have stamina doubts about them and the favourite’s odds reflect ante-post support rather than racecourse form. I would not be surprised to see the winner come from outside the ‘big two’; however, whatever wins will need to do so impressively to change my current perception that the older horses may dominate the big all-aged events this season. Aidan has won all three English Classics to date, but Joseph is just one from three. Perhaps Astrology is the answer. Remember 4/6 Tenby in 1993 when stablemate Commander In Chief won? Conclusion: No bet. Forget the rest of Epsom, go to Haydock where Roger Charlton’s Primevere may floor HM The Queen’s Set To Music in the 3:10 and Charlton may complete a double with Mince in the 4:40.
Morning all. Thank you Ollie very kind mate beatenbyashorthead - Have a good day mate doubt I will get that lucky again any time soon Don't like to say this but I think I agree with Topclass about Beaten Up. Nothing wrong with agreeing with Toppy of course but St Nicholas Abbey is my fav horse in training. I don't think he handled Epsom very well at all last season and he got lucky to reel in an idling Midday. He did show a lot of class to win as he couldn't get balanced. At 4/6 I can't have him today and have a feeling he will get turned over by Beaten Up who has been the subject of fantastic reports by his trainer. I refuse to back against SNA though and still hope he puts in a class performance.
Morning all. Been busy all week sorting out creating my own job spec!! In demand or what.... Anyway, I have gone for the obvious double - St Nic and Camelot - I think both are going to win and I actually think the prices are fair enough. However the better bets for me are Rhagori Aur and Captain Dunne. Rhagori Aur really impressed me on debut, winning in really good style. She didn't settle the best, running green throughout the early stages and seemed to want to go faster than Mr Eaves wanted her to, but she still picked up really well to take the lead inside the distance and pull away from the field in good style. She was weak in the betting and looked in need of the run, so to come out of the race in such taking style suggested to me that she is a very good horse. Today she should get a better pace to run at, and I fully expect her to produce another good performance here. Hopefully winning before going to Royal Ascot for the brilliant Bryan Smart yard. Captain Dunne won this race last year, with conditions really similar again this season I am taking him for a repeat performance. He won last year off 105, and this season he runs off 105, he has the same jockey, the same trip, similar ground and a similar draw. He impressed me with his early pace again this season and that is key to performing well in the sprints at Epsom and he is a bull of a horse who we know goes on the track, which makes him a really interesting runner at double figure prices.
Paddy Power limiting my bets have one good day punting and can't even have £20 on Mince ffs. What a bunch of tossers. Not that when they take all my losers - ****s. Ahh well will use my Stan James account.
1.35 Epsom - WROTHAM HEATH 7/1 (NAP) I really like the look of Wrotham Heath in the opener at Epsom today. Sir Henry Cecil's colt runs off a mark of 90 and I think this one has the potential to be a Group performer. He shaped with promise on his debut at 2 when finishing 7th behind Kinglet and Most Improved at Newmarket. He then followed that up with an impressive display on his only other juvenile appearance winning by 6 lengths at Nottingham. On his first start as a 3yo Wrotham Heath was sent off at 10/11 and despite pulling early on he travelled in to the race like a class act before finding little at the business end as Ektihaam swept past him for a decisive 5 lengths victory with the pair pulling 8 lengths clear of the third. That form was given a huge boost by Ektihaam who went on to finish 2nd to Bonfire in the Dante at York and will now run in the French Derby tomorrow. Although Wrotham Heath has run since and only managed to finish 6th of 10 he again travelled well but I don't think he stayed 1m4f. If he can settle better this afternoon I expect him to win this contest and for me 7/1 is a cracking price
Same happened to me yesterday RV. Times are tough for old Paddy. He'd have been a big winner yesterday as well.
Sooooo want Bonfire to win today, to the extent that I will actually watch the BBC coverage in the hope of seeing consumate professional journo Claire Balding blub like a baby. There's something very moving about watching stiff-upper-lip English people lose control of their emotions.
EW Lucky 15: 3:35 Beverley - Purple Affair 7:00 Stratford - Knight In Purple 7:45 Cartmel - Dollar Mick 9:20 Cartmel - So Bazaar Scoop 6 selections: Tominator Gabrials King Nasri Set To Music Jamesway Maastricht Also done ew Lucky 63 on these. Derby for me Camelot win, but ew on Mickdaam at 33s
