Tag: Ryan Moore

PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Championship Preview

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As the practice opportunities ahead of the June 15 US Open diminish, PGA Tour pros will be looking to take every available opportunity to tinker with their games before they have to take on the notoriously difficult tournament (this year at Chambers Bay).  With that in mind, the Wells Fargo Championship has attracted a strong field, with all of them keen to snap up the 500 FedEx Cup points, as well as some confidence ahead of the year’s second major.

The Course

Quail Hollow Club is well known amongst the golfing fraternity.  After ten years of hosting the Kemper Open, the club gained familiarity in 2003 when it first hosted the Wells Fargo.  Ever since the 7,562 yard, par 72 has been a popular stop for the pros.  Much like last weeks difficult closing, The final three holes here are considered to be some of the toughest closers on tour.  Dubbed the “Green Mile” it’s a difficult stretch, and presumably one of the reasons Quail has been given  2017 PGA Championship and 2021 Presidents Cup.

The Sound Bites

“It’s one of those stretches in your career where you know you’re playing well, you’re hot so you better keep playing and do it as long as you can, hopefully it will last the rest of the year.” – Kevin Kisner spoke of his good stretch of form (he’s listed below in our predicted contenders).

“I think I’ve experimented a lot this year with equipment, which isn’t usually what I do.  I think the consistency will start to show in my results as I become more accustomed to where I’m at” – World number 11 Adam Scott spoke of his new equipment struggles.  He’s 108 in the FedExCup and at $29.00 to win this week.

The Defending Champion

J.B. Holmes won this event last year in a compelling story of triumph against the odds.  It was the bug Kentucky man’s first win since brain surgery and started a run of form that’s continued to this day.  He beat Jim Furyk by a shot after finishing with a one-under 71.

He’s paying $34.00 to repeat last year’s feat.

The Contenders*

Rory McIlroy – Won two weeks ago and has won here previously too.  Shares the course record here and was decent last week in tying for 8th.  The number one player in the World, first in the Race to Dubai, 17th in the FedEx Cup standings.  Need any more reasons? – $4.00

Henrik Stenson – The sinewy Swede is one of the best ball strikers in the game, however a bout of illness has seen him lose several points and length off his driver.  He’s still been there or there about all season without a win.  T17th last week thanks to a solid final round 68 means he’s a chance at Quail – $17.00

Jim Furyk – The all-time money leader at the event and coming off a second place here last year.  A winner this year on tour (RBC Heritage) and having just celebrated his 45th birthday two days ago could be looking to cash in – $19.00

Bill Haas – Has two top 5 finishes at Quail Hollow and grew up nearby making it somewhat of a home venue for him.  Was effective last week at TPC Sawgrass, just missing the playoff.  Will be looking to make a Presidents Cup move and catch the captains eye (his dad Jay Haas) – $29.00

Kevin Kisner – It’s only a matter of time before the South Carolina product triumphs so why not this week.  After a disappointing 73 first up at the Players bounced back superbly to make the playoff.  Played all four holes well but missed chances on 18 and 17 to win / continue.  Tied for 6th last year – $34.00

*Players Championship odds available at Luxbet.

The Winner

We hate to sound like a broken record, but, Rory.

York Preview – Wednesday 13th May

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The York Dante meeting will surely clarify the picture for this year’s Epsom Derby. I can’t remember ever having a handicap winner at the head of the Derby market going into the York meeting but Jack Hobbs has some serious rivals including Elm Park and John F Kennedy. The big race is on Thursday but there is some cracking entertainment on the opening day including the Musidora Stakes.

Together Forever was expected to line up in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket but she missed the race, along with stable companion Found. That horse was beaten at odds-on when she did finally appear and Together Forever shoulders a 4lbs Group 1 penalty on Wednesday. Her main rival is Star Of Seville who was a comfortable winner at Newbury for John Gosden. She beat Ooty Hill and the disappointing Winters Moon so it is easy to pick holes in the form.

The day’s feature race is the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes with some very promising sprinters in action. I am reluctant to pass over Naadirr, having tipped him ahead of his impressive win at Doncaster. However, I followed Muthmir religiously last season and he ended the season in fine style by winning the Portland Handicap. Lightning Moon is another worthy of respect and is unbeaten in three starts. It certainly looks a cracking renewal and should provide a good guide to the top sprints this season.

Mahsoob also gave us a winner when beating a big field at Newbury. I was concerned about his high draw that day and he has not fared any better here with stall 18. Field Of Fame was third that day and also ran a terrific race for such an inexperienced horse. We’ll keep faith with Mahsoob who has some very ambitious entries this summer including the Eclipse at Sandown.

The sprint handicap at 2.40 looks wide open and a good case can be made for Pipers Note and Polybius. I’m going to take a chance on Algar Lad who didn’t see much daylight up the far rail last time but was only beaten a little over a length at the line. He looks worth each-way support at around 16-1.

It could be a great day for William Haggas who follows Muthmir with two live chances in handicap races. Foreign Diplomat won with his head in his chest last time out and Graham Lee will be looking to deliver him late on in the 4.20. Ryan Moore gets the leg up on the unbeaten Osaruveetil in the final race. He looks to have been let in lightly off a mark of 81 after winning well at Kempton. Frankie Dettori can steer home Dheban for Richard Hannon in receipt of 10lbs from Ravenhoe in the two-year-old race.

Mahsoob 2.10 @7-2 William Hill

Algar Lad 2.40 @16-1 Paddy Power (each-way)

Muthmir 3.15 @5-1 Paddy Power

Together Forever 3.45 @7-4 Paddy Power

Foreign Diplomat 4.20 @7-1 Betfair

Dheban 4.50 @Evens Bet365

Osaruveetil 5.20 @11-2 Betfair

Windsor Preview – Monday 11th May

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Windsor on a Monday night is always popular with punters and there is a typically competitive card this evening. The feature race is the Royal Windsor Stakes at 7.20 with Shifting Power expected to start a short-priced favourite.

This race is something of a conundrum with none of the seven runners ideally suited by the good to fast ground. Shifting Power certainly has the best form on his Irish 2000 Guineas run behind Kingman in soft ground and he was fourth in the Newmarket classic on good ground. He produced his best run in very testing ground in France and he did seem to carry his head awkwardly at Sandown last time.

Clon Brulee really needs a mile and a quarter while Baltic Knight is fitted with blinkers for the first time. I like Intransigent but he’s never won over a mile or at this time of year. By process of elimination, I’m going for Complicit who has been running well on the all-weather. Tom Queally tried to steal a march on Tryster in the all-weather championships but was just run out of it in the final stages.

The two-year-old picture takes a while to settle down and experience counts for a lot in these early races. Alaskan Phantom ran well over course and distance on his debut for Daniel Kubler and could be worth a bet at around 9-2. The obvious dangers are the unraced Bournemouth Belle and Tears In My Eyes, from the yards of Richard Hannon and Jeremy Noseda respectively.

Ryan Moore seldom leaves Windsor without a winner and he should score on Genres in the 6.20. He made a very pleasing debut when just beaten by Exosphere having headed that horse inside the final furlong. John Gosden’s colt only needs to find normal improvement to get off the mark here. The main threat could come from Andrew Balding’s Scarlet Minstrel.

The 6.50 is a trappy handicap with only five remaining runners. You can make a case for each of them but I just prefer the claims of top weight Subcontinent. He put up a gutsy display to win at Doncaster last time out and has only been raised 3lbs. Shadow Rock ran well for a long way at Salisbury and could pose a bigger threat than the favourite Quick Defence.

Alaskan Phantom 5.50 @9-2 William Hill

Genres 6.20 @5-6 Ladbrokes

Subcontinent 6.50 @3-1 Boylesports

Complicit 7.20 @5-1 Bet365

French 2000 Guineas Preview

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Aidan O’Brien saddled Gleneagles to win the English 2000 Guineas and attempts to add the French equivalent on Sunday at Longchamp with Highland Reel.

Highland Reel was a late switch to Paris having been as short as 8-1 in the ante-post betting at Newmarket. He won his maiden by 12 lengths at Gowran Park to earn a tilt at the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. Joseph O’Brien was in the saddle that day and he beat Tupi convincingly despite pulling hard in the early stages of the race. Ryan Moore takes over on Sunday and looks sure to play a leading role from stall 7.

Stable companion War Envoy would not be out of it if he can reproduce his fine run in the Grand Criterium in October. He was only a length behind Gleneagles that day in fifth place and the race also included Guineas runner-up Territories. However, he has not shown that level of form since and was soundly beaten behind Kool Kompany in a modest looking renewal of the Craven Stakes.

Charles Hills will have been left frustrated after Greenham Stakes winner Muhaarar was drawn in stall 18. He beat subsequent Guineas flop Estidhkaar at Newbury, although third home Ivawood ran creditably to sneak into the frame in the colts’ classic.

Frankie Dettori partners Karar in the colours of Al Shaqab racing, a six lengths maiden winner before finishing second to Territories here last month. That form has been boosted by the winner’s subsequent run at Newmarket and Karar has plenty of scope for improvement.

Andre Fabre is responsible for Territories and he saddles Make Believe and New Bay here. The latter is lightly raced but looks to have been given a tough task from stall 16.  Make Believe is by 2000 Guineas winner Mafki out of a mare by Suave Dancer and ran a sound race on his reappearance in the Prix Djebel.

He travelled comfortably just behind the lead for most of the race and was just beaten on the nod by Ride Like The Wind. That horse disappointed at Newmarket but Make Believe left the clear impression that he would come on a lot for the race. Olivier Peslier is ideally situated in stall four and should be able to get a nice lead before going for home at the furlong pole.

Make Believe @9-2 Betfair

Lingfield Saturday Preview

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The Derby and Oaks trials are coming thick and fast at present and Lingfield is the venue for tomorrow’s classic pointers.

The Derby Trial at 2.55 has attracted just five runners with John Gosden’s Christophermarlowe odds-on favourite. The son of Tapit won the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom by four lengths from Future Empire but that horse was left trailing at Chester this week. He was more workmanlike than scintillating that day and Frankie Dettori is likely to make a long run for home on this long striding colt.

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore won the Chester Vase with Hans Holbein and are represented here by Kilimanjaro, a colt by High Chaparral out of a Dalakhani mare. He looked very ordinary on his first two starts at Gowran but was an easy winner at Dundalk in April. He was fitted with a hood for the first time there and the grey is currently 50-1 for Epsom. Christophermarlowe is well ahead on official ratings and can provide Dettori with another big race winner.

Whatever the fate of Kilimanjaro, O’Brien and Moore will probably collect in the Oaks Trial at 2.20 with Wedding Vow. She has been beaten by smart fillies in her last two races. She failed by half a length to hold Zannda at Leopardstown and was then second to subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo at Gowran Park. She is a beautifully-bred daughter of Galileo and nothing in this field has comparable form.

There are some more classy fillies on show in the Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes at 4.05, a Group 3 race over seven furlongs. Lightning Thunder was runner-up in both the English and Irish Guineas last season for Olly Stevens but was a beaten favourite at Royal Ascot and Haydock. It is hard to explain her poor performances there but a lengthy break may have sweetened her up.

Kiyoshi is very smart on her day and Oisin Murphy rides her for Charles Hills while Al Thakhira is another with top class form in the book. The race will also provide some clues as to where the three-year-olds stand against their elders. New Providence ran a cracking race when just touched off in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket and has Ryan Moore in the saddle on Saturday.

Wedding Vow 2.20 @5-6 Paddy Power

Christophermarlowe 2.55 @4-7 Bet365

Lightning Thunder 4.05 @7-2 Betfair

Chester Preview – Wednesday 6th May

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Chester races gets under way on Wednesday with a seven-race card starting at 2.10 with the Lily Agnes Stakes. This race usually sets the tone for the rest of the week with the winner invariably coming from a low draw and I fancy Mark Johnston’s Rah Rah to do exactly that.

She is a speedy daughter of Lonhro and I liked the way she strode clear of Anwar at Kempton on her debut. Silver Wings has the inside berth and is likely to make a race of it while Astley Hall did everything wrong on his debut but still managed to win.

The going has eased with the midweek rain and that could benefit Michael Bell’s filly Banzari in the Cheshire Oaks. She was pulled out of the Pretty Polly Stakes on Sunday due to the fast ground and the move could pay off here. I was impressed with Victoria Pollard’s debut win at Newbury for Andrew Balding but they finished in a bit of a heap so she still has something to prove.

We have previewed the Chester Cup separately and expect a big run from Quick Jack under Richard Hughes. The rain has arrived in time so my biggest concern is whether Hughes will be able to navigate his way through this big field. The horse has run well in a County Hurdle and a Cesarewitch so is battle-hardened and just needs a bit of luck in running.

B Fifty Two will be a popular fancy to make all under Frankie Dettori in the sprint at 3.45. I just felt that he didn’t quite do enough last time out to suggest that he was at his peak and prefer the claims of Blithe Spirit. She is a course winner and ran a fine race against Spinatrix at Nottingham.

Sir Isaac Newton is difficult to oppose in the maiden at 4.20 having been edged out by Derby hope Zawraq on his debut. He is still entered in the Derby and a host of other top races so will need to win this if he is in that class.

Robert Cowell has his usual impressive team of sprinters and he saddles Duke Of Firenze and Normal Equilibrium on the 4.55. The former won the Epsom Dash when trained by Sir Michael Stoute but has been largely frustrating since and I’m siding with the proven recent form of Normal Equilibrium. He’s won around here before and has drawn stall one.

The final race of the card is a fascinating mile and a half handicap for three-year-olds. These races are all about potential at this stage of the season and Not Never has bags of that. He battled on gamely to win his maiden for Hugo Palmer and the stable are in excellent form at present.

Rah Rah 2.10 @4.50 Betfair

Banzari 2.40 @9-1 Boylesports

Quick Jack 3.10 @6-1 Stan James

Blithe Spirit 3.45 @5-1 Paddy Power

Sir Isaac Newton 4.20 @2-5 Betfair

Normal Equilibrium 4.55 @11-4 Betfair

Not Never 5.25 @7-1 Bet365