French raider Calandagan to be crowned in the King George July 22, 2025 ASCOT is the main port of call this Saturday for a high-class card featuring the premier middle-distance race of mid-summer, the Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (4.10pm). Last year, the spoils were claimed by France’s Goliath, who ran out an impressive winner under Christophe Soumillon for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. I fancy [...]
Rhyme to hit right Royal tune and deny return of the Maq July 22, 2025 SATURDAY also sees action up north as York hosts a Group Two-headed card, where rain has finally arrived after a bone-dry period. The feature York Stakes (2.40pm) has attracted an interesting field and for the first time will be part of World Pool’s offering alongside eight races from Ascot. Almaqam heads the ante-post betting, and [...]
Fair chance Angellica will come good in the Hackwood July 15, 2025 OFTEN when assessing a race for an ante-post selection several horses catch the eye, but Saturday’s Hackwood Stakes (2.57pm) from Newbury strikes me as a contest where nothing looks to hold flawless claims. Regional is a standout on form, having finished third behind American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. He [...]
All aboard the Northern Express to pull away from Ascot rivals July 15, 2025 THERE is Classic action across the Irish Sea on Saturday as the Curragh hosts the Irish Oaks. It’s a race that oftens turns into a Ballydoyle benefit and this renewal looks the same, with Epsom heroine Minnie Hauk currently long odds-on. I don’t have a bet in mind for this yet, but it’d be worth [...]
No rain but More Thunder looks set to hit Newmarket July 8, 2025 AS WE head towards the weekend and an incoming heatwave, the ground is sure to be rattling quick come the Saturday of Newmarket’s three-day July Festival. Conditions will pose no worry to connections of leading Bunbury Cup (2.50pm) hope, MORE THUNDER, who flew home to miss out by the narrowest of margins in the Wokingham [...]
Go down the Fox and Hand to crack John Smith’s puzzle July 8, 2025 SATURDAY sees York stage the John Smith’s Cup (3.10pm) – one of the most valuable Flat handicaps run in Europe. Worth over £100,000 to the winner, it’s no surprise that entries for this extended mile-and-a-quarter event are full of progressive horses from top yards. William Haggas’ Archivist heads the betting at 6/1, but he isn’t [...]
No complaints if Delacroix downs Ombudsman in Classic Eclipse July 1, 2025 STARS will descend on Sandown this Saturday as the Esher track hosts its most important Flat card of the year, with the highlight being the Group One Coral-Eclipse (3.35pm). It’s a contest that sees the season’s first clash of the generations at Group One level, as the top middle-distance older horses take on the best [...]
Classy Kon Tiki ready to leave her Distaff rivals all at sea July 1, 2025 SATURDAY’S Coral-Eclipse undoubtedly takes centre-stage at Sandown, but there are some strong shoulder races worth assessing from an ante-post perspective too. The opening Group Three Coral Charge (1.50pm) has a wide-open look to it, with Jack Davison’s She’s Quality heading the betting after finishing ahead of Royal Ascot hero American Affair at Haydock last time [...]
Pock to make mockery of mark in Plate Day opener June 24, 2025 NEWCASTLE’S Northumberland Plate card begins on Saturday with a wide-open six-furlong handicap (1.40pm) where I’ve found another nice ante-post betting opportunity. Durham Castle heads the market for Simon and Ed Crisford at around 5/1 and there are a host of talented sprinters following him in the betting, including the Wokingham sixth Aramram. The one that [...]
Back Balding duo Glen and Mixer to serve up Plate victory June 24, 2025 AFTER the five-day extravaganza at Royal Ascot, we head north to Newcastle this weekend in search of some ante-post value. The North East track hosts its biggest raceday of the year on Saturday, with the highlight the Northumberland Plate (3.15pm) – known locally as the “Pitmen’s Derby” – on the all-weather. It’s a race that [...]
