Tag: Royal Hunt Cup

Royal Ascot Wednesday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

We had a couple of short-priced winners on the opening day but it should have been better. I was kicking myself for not including Sole Power with the sun beating down to give him his favoured fast ground. The second day is probably the best betting day of the week with plenty of runners and a fine mix of handicaps and group races.

I usually fancy something strongly in the Jersey Stakes as the seven-furlong trip is ideal for horses that don’t quite get home in the Guineas. Unusually, there is no 2000 Guineas “flop” in the field although there are horses from the French and Irish races. Richard Fahey’s Parbold has become expensive to follow and even his trainer admits to being puzzled by the colt. He did little wrong at Epsom last time when getting within a whisker of ending That Is The Spirit’s winning run. They are both set to go off at huge prices here so can carry each-way support.

I had convinced myself that Tiggy Wiggy would win the Queen Mary after she flew home in the National Stakes. That was until witnessing the American horse bolt up in the two-year-old event yesterday. I am now going to have to include Spanish Pipedream but at least Tiggy Wiggy will be an each-way price.

Treve should win the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes but there must be slight concerns over the shorter trip and quicker ground. I cannot support her at odds-on with the likes of Magician, Dank and The Fugue in opposition but I expect her to come through the test.

There does not seem to be the same stable confidence behind Sky Lantern as there was behind Toronado in the Queen Anne. The popular grey has the form to win on Wednesday having beaten Integral last season at Newmarket but it should be close between the pair.

The cavalry charge for the Royal Hunt Cup sees Abseil bidding to justify heavy ante-post support. Having collected on him at Yarmouth and Epsom, I feel obliged to follow him here but will also take some each-way about Stirring Ballad. Richard Hughes suffered a nightmare ride on her 12 months ago and David Probert now does the steering. She has not been on the racecourse since but stranger things have happened!

That Is The Spirit 2.30 Royal Ascot 14-1 Paddy Power

Parbold 2.30 Royal Ascot 18-1 Bet Victor

Spanish Pipedream 3.05 Royal Ascot 5-2 Bet365

Tiggy Wiggy 3.05 Royal Ascot 6-1 Paddy Power

Integral 3.45 Royal Ascot 3-1 Ladbrokes

Sky Lantern 3.45 Royal Ascot 4-1 Ladbrokes

Abseil 5.00 Royal Ascot 11-2 Coral

Stirring Ballad 5.00 Royal Ascot 23-1 Betfair

Royal Ascot Day 2 Preview – Wednesday 19th June

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Well, what a cracking start to the Royal meeting! Nearly 30 points up thanks to War Command. It was nearly so much better with Aljamaaheer tipped at 33-1 and Gregorian (51-1) just collared by Declaration Of War.

I was also happy to see Mars (12-1) and Mubaraza (12-1) sneak into the frame. Once again I thought Mars was unlucky and he has got Coral Eclipse written all over him. I don’t like trying to guess the running plans of Aidan O’Brien but I’m going to break my own rule and take the 20-1 about him for that race. The picture will become clearer after the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes but that was some trial.

I can’t even remember the last time I backed a two-year-old Royal Ascot winner for the following year’s classics. But what can we make of War Command? Would I be talking through my pocket if I thought the 10-1 for the 2000 Guineas was a good bet? Probably! Even so, it’s worth re-investing a fraction of the winnings as I can’t see that price lasting long. He’s already half that price with Coral.

Our ante-post bets for day 2 rest on Prince Of Johanne at 20-1 in the Hunt Cup and Beldale Memory at 5-1 in the Queen Mary. Dance And Dance didn’t make the cut but we get refunded on him.

The card opens with the Jersey Stakes and Richard Fahey’s Garswood is fancied to win this. I tipped him for the Free Handicap but felt that the 2000 Guineas was flying a bit high as well as doubting his ability to stay a mile. This looks much more his cup of tea and two seconds for Fahey on day 1 offer plenty of encouragement.

In the same race, I like Music Master at a good each-way price. He ran a stormer to split Dundonnell and Baltic Knight at Newmarket and Henry Candy thinks a lot of him.

There are some really tough fillies in the second race with Chigun carrying the hopes of Lady Cecil. Tiger Cliff ran a great race in the Ascot Stakes but I doubt he would have beaten the winner even if he had been kept closer to the pace. It’s impossible to knock Dank or Thistle Bird and the raiders Duntle and Sarkyla make it interesting. The front three are going to be tough nuts to crack but I’m having each-way on Thistle Bird and Sarkiyla.

I haven’t entered the fray on the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes but I think The Fugue and Maxios could give the big two plenty to do tomorrow. Both can be backed at around 6-1 in the hope of arriving fast and late.

Prince Of Johanne should give us a run for our money in the Hunt Cup at 20-1. I am going to throw in Fury in first time blinkers at 16-1 as he is handicapped to win on his best form. As usual you can make out a case for most of them and I expect Trade Commissioner to run well as Gosden had some near-misses on day 1.

Beldale Memory must go well in the Queen Mary and I’m surprised she is still available at 9-2. Clive Brittain’s Rizeena is clearly above average and it would be nice to see the old boy back in the winner’s enclosure at the Royal meeting. At 7-1 she can offer good support to our main hope.

The closing handicap could go the way of French Guineas fourth Zurigha. Both French Guineas races were like a complete shambles but she ran through courageously to finish fourth. There is nothing with form to compare to that, other than possibly Waterway Run who was just behind in sixth, and she looks overpriced at 12-1. I’ll be kicking myself if Waterway Run beats her so I’ll have a saver on her at 22-1.

2.30
Garswood 5-1 Coral
Music Master 16-1 Bet365

3.05
Thistle Bird 8-1 Paddy Power
Sarkiyla 9-1 Bet Victor

3.45
The Fugue 6-1 Paddy Power
Maxios 6-1 Sportingbet

4.25
Ante-Post Prince Of Johanne 20-1
Fury 16-1 Ladbrokes

5.00
Ante-Post Beldale Memory 5-1
Rizeena 7-1 Bet365

5.35
Zurigha 12-1 Paddy Power

Waterway Run 22-1 Coral

Ante-Post
Mars 20-1 Coral Eclipse Betfair
War Command 10-1 2014 2000 Guineas

Royal Ascot Outsiders

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

This title is potentially misleading. Below is a list of horses i feel are worth a second look for next weeks Ascot showpiece.

Shropshire 33/1 Ladbrokes – Wokingham

This horse is 1 from 1 at the course and this time last year, he finished a NECK behind Maarek, who’s since progressed on to win a group 2 & 3. Now, since winning at Ascot, Shropshire has run 9 times, placing 3 times in big field handicaps. I’m not saying he’s going to win the Wokingham, far from it. But i’m convinced he has a great shout at placing. He’s had many of the wokingham entries behind him on numerous occasions, and 33-1 each way now (top 4) is brilliant value. There could even be some firms who go each way top 5 on the day, which makes anything 25-1 or above really appealing. Two starts back he finished ahead of Hamza (won twice since), Hitchens (won next start), Yeeoow (won since), York Glory (won since), Duke Of Firenze (10th behind Shropshire, won since) and Harrison George (won since).

Those are some class animals he finished ahead of that day. If he turns up and puts his best foot forward, i think we could well get a juicy each way return. 33-1 now, i expect him to go off around 16-18-1.

Prince Of Johanne – 16-1 Ladbrokes – Royal Hunt Cup

Last years Royal Hunt Cup victor is back to have a crack at winning the race back to back. He went into that race brimming with confidence, after wins at Newmarket (in a 32 runner race) and a nose 2nd to Fury at York. This time his preparation is completely different, well down the field in 6 of his 7 races since would be a cause for concern, had he not finished 2nd to Navajo Chief last month at York. He showed the Prince Of Johanne of old to only be denied in the final furlong by the fast finishing Navajo Chief.

I think this could be as solid an each way bet can be in a big field handicap if he’s up for it.

Royal Ascot Ante-Post Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It may seem a bit early to be thinking about Royal Ascot but the bookmakers have already started pricing up many of the races. The perils of ante-post betting were illustrated this week when the ground at Haydock was considered too fast for my two leading fancies in the Silver Bowl. From my vantage point in Scotland I must admit that I had never even considered the prospect of firm ground! Hopefully there will be no such concerns for the Royal meeting next month.

My first dabble in the ante-post market is on the Ascot Gold Cup. There does not appear to be an outstanding stayer about at the moment. So far this season we have seen an impressive win for the Queen’s Estimate and a shock winner of the Yorkshire Cup. But the one to catch my eye is Irish raider Simenon.

Last year, Simenon notched two victories at the Royal meeting and is now ready to step up from handicap class to the stayers’ championship. He took his chance under 9st 10lb in the Chester Cup and endured a nightmare run under Johnny Murtagh. Held up towards the rear, he bowled around on the inside but could not get out in time to catch the leaders. He made up plenty of ground in the straight and flew home in fourth. It takes a good horse to lump that sort of weight around in the Chester Cup and, if he arrives at Ascot in the same form as 12 months ago, 16-1 could be good value.

My second selection is Chapter Seven in the Royal Hunt Cup. These mile handicaps can take a lot of sorting out and the draw often comes along to scupper the best laid plans. However, Chapter Seven is available at 20-1 and is worth a punt at those odds. He has caught the eye by staying on at the end of all three starts this season, notably when an unlucky third in the Newbury Spring Cup. He had previously been sixth in the Lincoln and deserves to pick up one of the big prizes.

My third selection is for the Wokingham Handicap. Admittedly a sharp pin on the day of the race is sometimes as good a way as any to solve this particular puzzle but I’m prepared to take a chance with Jeremy Noseda’s Nocturn. He was just denied at York last time out when he was caught by a horse flashing home on his outside. I felt that he was a little unlucky there and could still be improving.

Royal Ascot

Simenon Gold Cup 16-1 Coral
Chapter Seven Hunt Cup 20-1 Totesport
Nocturn Wokingham 25-1 Coral