Tag: Ascot

Racing Preview Oct 4th

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Charter (tipped at 11-2) and Telmeyd (2-1) got us off to a flying start at Ascot on Friday. Unfortunately Ryan Moore arrived a fraction late on Consign and the photograph also went against us with Marzocco.

Once again the race planners have given us an embarrassment of riches with Group race action at Ascot and Newmarket as well as day 1 of the Arc meeting. Having previewed the Arc separately, I am going to concentrate on the big races in the UK on Saturday starting with Ascot.

Muthmir has been a good friend to this column with victories at York and Doncaster this season. He has fully justified the belief that he is a potential Group class sprinter and moves up to Listed class in the opening race at 2.05. Predictably, the bookmakers are running scared after being hit by this horse in the past so he is no great value. However, rather like Tiggy Wiggy last week, there is no reason to desert him.

Prince’s Trust stands out in the big handicap and should provide a winner for Her Majesty The Queen. He hacked up at Yarmouth and his victims included Outback Traveller who won with similar ease here on Friday. The handicapper has given him a 12lb hike but Cam Hardie reduces that by 3lbs and Haggas looks to have saved him for this event.

I must also put in a word for my old friend Dungannon in the last race. He could never get to B Fifty One who flew out of stall 1 at Chester last time but this is Dungannon’s time of year. He is racing off 92, a mark that should see him back in the winner’s enclosure before the end of the season.

Over at Newmarket they are staging a couple of those big sales races. I can understand the concept to encourage people to buy at Tattersalls but the prize money dished out is quite obscene for the quality of the actual races. The first race wouldn’t be out of place at Nottingham on a Monday and yet there is £300,000 going begging.

I am going to take a chance with Invincible Gold in the 2.20 race. Strictly on the form book he shouldn’t beat some of these but I think he is a nice colt and the likes of Heartbreak Hero and Secret Brief could be over-rated. Ed Walker did us a favour with Dark Wave (tipped at 11-1 on Thursday) and he should give us a run for our money.

The same applies to Majestic Manner in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at 2.55. She caught my eye when running on well in a Windsor maiden and won nicely last time out after racing prominently. Her dam was useful and she could dent a few lofty reputations here.

Finally, I am going to go for Esoterique to win the Sun Chariot Stakes for France. Andre Fabre also runs Fintry and Guineas winner Miss France but I think Esoterique’s form is stronger.

Muthmir 2.05 Ascot @6-4 Bet365

Prince’s Trust 3.50 Ascot @11-2 BetVictor

Dungannon 5.00 Ascot @8-1 William Hill

Invincible Gold 2.20 Newmarket @12-1 Paddy Power

Majestic Manner 2.55 Newmarket @12-1 Coral

Esoterique 3.30 Newmarket @6-1 Sportingbet

Ascot Friday Preview

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Ascot stages a decent card on Friday to whet the appetite for a big racing weekend on the turf.

Michael Wigham does well with his small string and Charter can follow up his recent Newmarket victory in the opening race. He was given a patient ride by Jim Crowley and ran on late to win over six furlongs that day but has form over seven. A 4lb rise may not be sufficient to prevent a follow up Crowley can navigate his way through this large field.

Ryan Moore rode a perfect race on Consign to get up in the dying strides over a mile last time out and he teams up with Jeremy Noseda’s gelding in the 2.30 race. He has to give weight to all of his rivals here but won at the corresponding meeting last year. Moore will try to keep him covered up again here. Kempton winner Compton has claims, as does Secret Art who was second in a good handicap at the same venue but is not the most reliable horse in training.

Stefanie Hofer had a nightmare ride on Telmeyd on Shergar Cup day when he reared leaving the stalls, giving his rivals a six-lengths advantage. To his credit, the horse made up much of the ground before the effort took its toll and he finished fourth. He was behind Golden Steps that day but I would be surprised if he cannot turn the tables on Friday. Ryan Moore has a fine book of rides and this will be one of his most fancied.

The feature race is the Noel Murless Stakes over the St Leger distance. On form, Leger fifth Marzocco should win this for John Gosden and William Buick. He has run creditably all season including when an unlucky third in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. He holds Big Orange on that form but a bigger danger may come from Mizzou, trained by Luca Cumani. He looked to be going nowhere at Haydock last time but stayed on relentlessly to win off a mark of 89. He has a lot more to do here but could still be improving.

Above The Rest looks worth following in the fifth race after making all to win at Newbury. He is up 5lbs but had the field in trouble a furlong from home and does not look harshly treated with 8st 12lb. Ryan Moore will again be popular in the last race on Alan King’s Fire Fighter but I’m just siding with Jelly Fish and Amanda Perrett. He is not the quickest horse to carry the Abdullah silks by any means but was beaten by a rapidly improving horse in Moscato last time out.

Charter 2.00 @11-2 Coral

Consign 2.30 @8-1 Coral

Telmeyd 3.05 @2-1 Ladbrokes

Marzocco 3.40 @13-8 Coral

Above The Rest 4.15 @6-1 Ladbrokes

Jelly Fish 4.50 @7-2 Bet365

Racing Preview Sept 6th

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Triple Chocolate (6-1) ensured another profit on Friday for Betcirca followers. Mistrusting duly landed the odds but our treble hopes were dashed when Master Bond was just run out of it in the sprint.

Saturday’s UK racing action is one of those days when you are left wondering why we have an embarrassment of riches one week and next to nothing the next. Ascot, Haydock and Kempton all feature top quality racing and there is even a Scoop 6 expected to hit a £3.5million jackpot!

Starting at Ascot, Cornrow looks difficult to oppose in the opening race for the Gosden and Buick team. He won impressively at Haydock over a mile and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by dropping back in trip as he raced keenly in front that day. The danger could be Safety Check who was given too much to do at Goodwood last time and is a real seven-furlong specialist.

You could make a case for a dozen different horses in the Heritage Handicap at 3.30. Most of the top yards are represented and Second Step, Montaly and Battersea all have sound claims. I am going to go with Rainbow Rock, one of four runners from Mark Johnston’s stable. I liked the way he stayed on at Goodwood over a mile and a quarter and the 5lb claim of Cam Hardie gives him a winning weight.

Over at Haydock, Chancery has been unlucky in his last couple of outings and could be worth each-way support in the Old Borough Cup. Havana Cooler is a worthy favourite but he lacks a bit of acceleration and the handicapper keeps pushing him up for being placed. I think 9st 10lb will prove too much of a burden while the free-running Nautilus and York winner Glenard are others with chances. The going looks to have gone against bottom weight Epsom Hill who has romped to victories in soft ground and been clobbered by the handicapper here.

Sole Power looks set to try and win over six furlongs for the first time in his career in the big sprint. The going is drying out for him but it must be doubtful whether he is quite as effective over this trip. You could have thrown a large horse blanket over the first ten at York in the Nunthorpe but G Force and Cougar Mountain both looked unlucky. They represent good each-way value against the favourite.

There is also a good card at Kempton with two Group 3 races. Godolphin run three in the September Stakes, any one of which could win. As all three have been off the track for some time, it is anybody’s guess and it could pay to side with our old friend Dandino. He finished second in the American St Leger in his double bid last time out but handles this surface and deserves a victory.

Hugo Palmer has been winning races for fun lately and has a high opinion of Home Of The Brave. He was impressive at Newmarket last time out and should get the better of Maftool in the Sirenia Stakes at 4.10.

Cornrow 1.55 Ascot @9-2 PaddyPower

Rainbow Rock 3.30 Ascot @10-1 Bet365

Dandino 2.20 Kempton @6-1 Coral

Home Of The Brave 4.10 Kempton @5-2 Bet365

Chancery 3.15 Haydock @14-1 PaddyPower

G Force 3.50 Haydock @10-1 BetVictor

Cougar Mountain 3.50 Haydock @14-1 BetVictor

Shergar Cup 2014 Preview

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The Shergar Cup has survived a surprisingly long time. It was first contested in 1999 at Goodwood and move to Ascot the following year where it has remained. Whilst the idea of attracting jockeys from around the world may have had a novelty appeal back then, it is hardly a factor these days. That being said, it does fill a bit of a void in the racing calendar between Goodwood and York.

I’ve studied the form of the six races and come up with some selections that will hopefully bring us a return. On first glance, Olivier Peslier and Frankie Dettori seem to have benefitted most from the draw and should be among the winners. That should mean back-to-back victories for Europe if you’re contemplating betting on that particular market.

The opening “Dash” looks particularly tricky with Goldream the logical form choice. If the weather is the same down south as it is up here in Scotland, there should be some ease by tomorrow and that could change the complexion of the race. Peslier’s mount, Move In Time, handles softer ground and is my tentative selection.

The Frenchman is aboard Hassle in the Stayers race at 1.30 and this one ran well, although no match for Maid In Rio last time. He doesn’t find a lot off the bridle so could still be handicapped to go well and any overnight rain won’t bother him.

Dettori can claim the next aboard Grandorio who ran well at York, just going down in a three-way photo. He raced wide of his rivals and can be considered a little unlucky. Communicator should also run well for Europe but may find this trip on the sharp side.

Magic City ran a stormer in the Betfred Mile at Goodwood and would have won in another few strides. He is something of a Goodwood specialist but there seems no reason why he cannot perform well here and he is just preferred to Dark Emerald.

Dettori will fancy his chances on top weight Wrangler in the next. He was not quite as impressive as I’d expected at Haydock last time and he needs the rain to arrive. Trip To Paris won well here last time and I shall take a chance on his South African pilot doing the steering. The last race is Europe’s weakest link and I think this could go to the ROTW skipper Craig Williams aboard Remember. It’s a close call between that one and Golden Steps on Newmarket form.

Tips

Move In Time 12.55 at 11-2 Bet365

Hassle 1.30 at 5-1 Bet365

Grandorio 2.05 at 6-1 Coral

Magic City 2.40 at 4-1 Coral

Trip To Paris 3.15 at 6-1 Stan James

Remember 3.50 at 7-1 Ladbrokes

Specials

Europe to win @2-1 Betfair

Top jockey Olivier Peslier @6-1 BetVictor

Ascot Friday Preview

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A handy treble at Doncaster and Yarmouth on Thursday has kept us nicely in profit for the big Ascot meeting this weekend.

Hopefully Ascot are putting plenty of water on the course to prevent a glut of non-runners and it looks set for two excellent day’s sport. The opening race on Friday looks like an ideal opportunity for Mick Channon’s Malabar to get off the mark.

The filly was a little unlucky when second on her debut and Channon decided to let her take her chance in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was settled towards the rear and gradually weaved her way through the pack before flashing home in fourth place.

Fourth in any race at the Royal meeting is usually good enough to win a maiden and it will be disappointing if she cannot take the opener. Her main market rival will be Richard Hannon’s Crystal Malt but she has had three attempts to get off the mark and may have to wait a little longer.

The Brown Jack Stakes is one of my favourite staying events on the calendar and Mark Johnston runs two last-time-out winners in Sir Frank Morgan and Maid In Rio. Both won with plenty in hand last time and look well in at the weights but Maid In Rio’s Haydock win just reads better than the Catterick success of her stable companion.

She looks to have relished stepping up in distance and Silvestre De Sousa should feel confident about kicking for home early in the straight. With Elidor being a free-running sort, he is not certain to get the trip and Sir Frank Morgan is feared most.

For the treble we shall put our faith in the luckless Euro Charline who has met trouble in two of her last three races. She ran a blinder to finish third to Rizeena in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting last time after finishing fifth in the 1000 Guineas. That form puts her well ahead of some disappointing rivals, several of which have lost their way completely.

Kiyoshi has shown no sparkle at all this season while Gifted Girl does not seem to be the same filly that ran second to Dank in the Beverly D Stakes last season. Woodland Aria is another who has failed to show her best form in recent starts and this looks set up for the Botti filly.

Malabar 2.10 Ascot

Maid In Rio 3.20 Ascot @5-2 Paddy Power

Euro Charline 3.55 Ascot @6-4 William Hill

King George 2014 Preview

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A busy sporting weekend had its ups and downs for Betcirca followers. Tiggy Wiggy’s brilliant win at Newbury covered our expenses on the horses while Jim Furyk gave us a handsome each-way return at odds of 70-1 in the British Open.

The racing is poor this week before the big Ascot card on Saturday featuring the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. I take it that it is no longer sponsored by the Oppenheimer family as the “Diamond” seems to have been removed.

The favourite is Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope after slaughtering his rivals at Royal Ascot by seven lengths. There is a real sense of deja-vu about this horse as he is trying to repeat Harbinger’s victory in 2010 in the same colours. No sooner had Highclere believed that they had the best horse in the world than he was injured and packaged off to stud. There have been some strange King George’s in recent years and that was certainly one of them with Derby and Arc winner Workforce running a total stinker.

Telescope has been built up and knocked down a couple of times already in his short career. He was always struggling to make the Derby line-up last year and Stoute eventually gave up the ghost and then defended his charge after a shock defeat at Haydock. You would have thought that a nine length defeat at the hands of Noble Mission would have put paid to the “wonder horse” treatment but we are back here again after Ascot.

We will never know what John Gosden thought of Sheikh Hamdan’s decision to pull Taghrooda out of the Irish Oaks on Sunday but I’m guessing that he was not best pleased. JG now has three runners here if the supplemented Eagle Top and Derby third Romsdal take their places. All of the evidence suggests that Taghrooda would have won at the Curragh and she has a big chance here. Eagle Top needs to come out and prove that it was no fluke at Ascot while Romsdal looked more of a Leger horse at Epsom.

A more likely threat to the favourite is Mukhadram after his well-deserved Eclipse victory. This will be his first start over a mile and a half but he has every chance of getting it. He settled well at Sandown and there could well be pacemakers in here which will give him a good lead. You would just worry about the last furlong or so. The bookies aren’t giving much away with the front two so it may be worth going each-way Mukhadram at 12-1.

Mukhadram @12-1 BetVictor

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3