Tag: Dance And Dance

Royal Ascot Ante-Post Betting Round Up

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Royal Ascot is only a few days away now and it’s time to check our ante-post portfolio. Of the 12 horses backed, only one has been withdrawn and all of the remainder are now trading at shorter prices.

Chapter Seven is the one to blot my copybook. I had not reckoned on him being used as a pacemaker for Dunedin after two highly encouraging runs in competitive handicaps. As yet, the bookmakers are not offering NR/No Bet but it must be imminent. Until that happens, it is best to side only with declared runners.

My Hunt Cup hopes currently rest with Prince Of Johanne but I’m going to include Dance And Dance after getting confirmation from Ed Vaughan that he is on target for the race. His ups and downs have been well documented but basically he was second here in 2011, ran his heart out in Listed races in various countries and is only now returning to his best. As his trainer says, he is better off at the weights but he is two years older. There’s still a little each-way value at 14-1 with Ladbrokes.

The opening race of the meeting has developed into a one-horse book with Animal Kingdom all the rage. There will be some long faces if he doesn’t win but I am more interested in the value in the place market. Having secured 33’s for Aljamaaheer and 51 for Gregorian I am going to take 16-1 about Sovereign Debt. I think the Lockinge form will hold up here and that will give me three excellent place chances even if the favourite does bolt up.

Having pinned my colours firmly to the Temple Stakes form in the King’s Stand, I am also going to snap up the last of the 7-1 about Reckless Abandon. I do feel that six furlongs will ultimately prove his trip but he still has a major chance and hopefully the Cowell-trained pair can grab some place money.

I am going to stick with Society Rock at 9-2 in the Diamond Jubilee. I’m on the veteran Hawkeyethenoo at 16-1 for the same race but Society Rock seems to be in his element here.

Finally, there’s a bit of 5-1 about Beldale Memory in the Queen Mary at Betfair at the moment. I thought she would be nearer 3-1 and, as she is the only two-year-old that I’ve been impressed by this season, I’m happy to add her to my portfolio.

St James’s Palace Stakes: Magician 7-4

King’s Stand: Spirit Quartz 27-1, Kingsgate Native 14-1, Reckless Abandon 7-1 Coral

Diamond Jubilee: 16-1 Hawkeyethenoo, Society Rock 9-2 William Hill

Hunt Cup: Prince Of Johanne 20-1, Chapter Seven 20-1, Dance And Dance 14-1 Ladbrokes

Gold Cup: Estimate 10-1 Simenon 16-1

Wokingham: Duke Of Firenze 10-1 Nocturn 25-1

Queen Anne: Aljamaaheer 33-1, Gregorian 51-1, Sovereign Debt 16-1 Bet Victor

Queen Mary: Beldale Memory 5-1 Betfair

Royal Ascot Ante-Post Update

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Epsom Derby meeting does not usually provide many clues to Royal Ascot. In fact, it is often best to avoid the horses that run in the classics and then seek compensation at the Royal meeting. However, one of the handicaps could have provided an exception to the rule.

The Epsom Dash produced a bizarre finish when Sir Michael Stoute’s Duke Of Firenze burst through to grab an unlikely victory. With about a furlong and a half to run it looked as though he would struggle to make the frame but he suddenly took off once Ryan Moore switched him inside. Matching his run from the rear was Smoothtalkinrascal and the pair of them scythed through the field in eye-catching style.

It was possibly as much to do with the leaders slowing up as the first and second accelerating but both horses look sure-fire future winners. Duke Of Firenze looks set to run in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot off a 5lbs higher mark. The stable also has Enrol entered but that horse is languishing at number 80 in the handicap and is unlikely to get a run. Predictably the bookmakers have installed him as favourite but the 10-1 with Ladbrokes is worth adding to our Ascot portfolio.

Stoute will probably have a strong hand in the handicaps at the meeting this year but the one race he would really like to win is the Ascot Gold Cup. Amazingly he has not won the race since Shangamuzo in 1978 but has decent prospects this year with the Queen’s Estimate. The race she won at Sandown was a muddling affair but she quickened past them well enough and will be primed to run a big race. I’ve taken 16-1 about Simenon (now best-priced at 12-1) and I think the addition of Estimate at 10-1 will double my chances in a less-than-vintage Gold Cup.

Having backed Chapter Seven for the Royal Hunt Cup I was less than pleased to see him given a pacemaking role for Dunaden in the Coronation Cup. That race is over half a mile further than his optimum trip so it was hardly the ideal prep for Ascot. Another horse I like for the Hunt Cup is last year’s winner Prince Of Johanne. The grey ran a storming trial at York last month and must have a chance off virtually the same mark as 12 months ago. He is presently 20-1 with many punters believing that Dance And Dance, eighth at York, is the one to be on for Ascot. He was runner-up in 2011 and also has to be respected.

Royal Hunt Cup
Prince Of Johanne 20-1 Paddy Power

Wokingham
Duke Of Firenze 10-1 Ladbrokes

Gold Cup
Estimate 10-1 Ladbrokes