Don’t be Koy and make sure you back Awaal in the lucky last June 19, 2024 ASCOT handicaps on the straight course are never easy puzzles to solve and that is certainly the case with today’s closing seven-furlong Buckingham Palace Stakes (6.15pm). Ed Walker’s English Oak is certain to go off favourite after an impressive last time out win over seven furlongs at Haydock. I have no doubt that the son [...]
Bless and Gain look Besht bets in the Hunt Cup June 18, 2024 CASH-SPLASHING owners Wathnan Racing look to hold a strong hand in today’s ultimate cavalry charge, the Royal Hunt Cup (5.05pm). Eight of the last 10 renewals have been won by progressive four-year-olds, so the Qatari powerhouse’s upcoming aces look cut out for this. REAL GAIN, who has raced just once this season, runs off a [...]
Mighty Miss Rascal will Make them work for Queen Mary crown June 18, 2024 OPENING today’s card is the lightning quick Group Two Queen Mary Stakes (2.30pm), where MISS RASCAL will be a filly triggering notifications in a lot of trackers. The eye-catching late ground she made up on debut at Newmarket was quite astonishing, so it was no surprise to see her bolt up by three lengths under [...]
There won’t be Ascot Witch Hunt if there’s a shock in the opener June 17, 2024 ROYAL Ascot is widely regarded as the greatest horse racing meeting anywhere in the world. Over £10 million in prize money; 35 races; royalty; pageantry; fashion; glamour…there simply is nothing else like it. World Pool, the globe’s largest commingled horse racing pools developed and run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will return to Royal [...]
Intinso and Alsakib look golden bets in the Copper Horse June 17, 2024 IF YOU haven’t backed a winner come the Copper Horse Handicap (6.15pm), then it may be best to head to the car park early. That said, trainer Willie Mullins got punters out of trouble in the last 12 months ago with the well-backed Vauban, and he could easily repeat the trick with Belloccio. The six-year-old [...]
Stick with last year’s leading contenders in lucky last May 31, 2024 THERE wouldn’t be a better example of a horses for courses track than Epsom. Its unique configuration, with all the undulations, Tattenham Corner and the camber up the home straight means only a few horses enjoy the demanding test. I’m hoping that’s the case in the closing JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap (5.50pm) over six [...]
Lessons from the trading floor helping to drive World Pool May 2, 2024 RAIN is lashing down and the skies are gloomy, sound familiar? Well, this interview isn’t taking place in London, but almost 6000 miles away in Hong Kong ahead of FWD Champions Day, one of two major international horse racing fixtures in the territory. Oh yes, and it’s also nearly 30 degrees. I am here to [...]
Warrior continues Romantic affair with QEII Cup April 28, 2024 HISTORY was made at Sha Tin on Sunday when the brilliant Romantic Warrior became the first horse to win three editions of the FWD QEII Cup. Danny Shum’s six-year-old, who claimed the Cox Plate in October, scooped a huge £1.5 million despite concerns about his ability to handle the rain-softened ground. Even though the son [...]
Seeing is Believing for Boughey and Bentley April 26, 2024 NO BRITISH-trained horse has ever won the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Sunday, 7.50am), but that isn’t stopping trainer George Boughey and owners Highclere having a crack at the £2.2 million pot with four-year-old filly Believing. The daughter of Mehmas finished a close third in the Haydock Sprint Cup last September following a Group Three [...]
Haggas hoping to get Hong Kong monkey off his back with Dubai Honour April 26, 2024 WILLIAM Haggas has had great success overseas, but he is yet to have a winner in Hong Kong. “That really irks me,” said the 63-year-old Newmarket-based trainer. “We’ve had a bit of luck abroad in other places but not in Hong Kong, so I’d like to get that monkey off my back so to speak.” [...]
