Breathe a sigh of Relief for Haggas’ Rally at Newbury September 17, 2024 NEWBURY’s Saturday card features the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes (3.15pm), named after the star racehorse of the early 1970s, and it looks an intriguing contest but not one I’m willing to have a bet in. Instead, in the opening World Trophy Stakes (1.30pm), Newbury regular RELIEF RALLY looks a smart pick. Last time out, [...]
Fall on Forest to make Park Stakes a successful Affair September 10, 2024 DONCASTER hosts the final Classic of the Flat season this Saturday as the St Leger Stakes (3.40pm) takes centre stage. It’s a chance for horses with strong reserves of stamina to slog it out down the long home straight on Town Moor, and is a race where Aidan O’Brien often has a leading contender. This [...]
Keep the faith with Believing in Bradsell rematch September 10, 2024 IRISH Champions Festival action moves across to the Curragh on Sunday for another fantastic card. The Flying Five (3.00pm) is the first of four Group Ones on the day and features Bradsell at the head of the market. Archie Watson’s colt is seeking back-to-back top-level wins after last month’s Nunthorpe victory but has never fired [...]
Chris Barnett (27/8/1959 – 26/8/2024) August 28, 2024 THAT dreaded telephone call came on Monday morning. The one I knew would come one day, but had hoped wouldn’t. Chris Barnett, host of the City AM Punter podcast, and a man who has defied medical science for so long, finally lost his battle with illness over the Bank Holiday weekend. He was only 64. [...]
Camille Pissarro creates the best impression in open Gimcrack August 22, 2024 THERE aren’t many big races that Aidan O’Brien hasn’t won in 23 years, but the Gimcrack Stakes (3.00pm) is one of them. In truth, it’s not a race the master of Ballydoyle has really targeted with his best stock, but this year I think he’s lined up one of his better juvenile colts for the [...]
Content to open Heavens Gate on the Knavesmire August 21, 2024 HOW Leovanni was allowed to go off at such a big price at Royal Ascot still amazes me. She had such a strong reputation going into the Queen Mary and duly obliged impressively despite a marked market drift on the day of the race. At the time of writing, however, she remains a well-fancied and [...]
Time for Heel to step up August 21, 2024 THURSDAY’s Listed Galtres Stakes has attracted a field of 11 fillies and mares, and looks a contest full of potential, to what looks a competitive race in which the Classic generation catch my eye. One of the four three-year-olds in the field to note here is NAKHEEL. Owen Burrows’ filly was a nice winner at [...]
Friendly to fire on the Knavesmire in Juddmonte International August 20, 2024 YORK’S Juddmonte International (3.35pm) looks a mouth-watering renewal and it’s no surprise to see City Of Troy as the near even-money shot heading the market. Aidan O’Brien’s colt left his lacklustre Guineas run behind with a sparkling win in the Derby, and while he wasn’t as visually impressive in the Eclipse next time, he showed [...]
Jungle can be Quinn of the Swinger August 20, 2024 A FULL field of 22 runners makes the opening contest of the York Ebor Festival – the Symphony Group Handicap (1.50pm) over five-and-a-half furlongs – an enticing encounter. One of the many runners looking to break a winless streak here is JM JUNGLE. The hardy four-year-old hasn’t hit the frame yet this season but is [...]
Deira to go the extra Mile in Great Voltigeur August 20, 2024 DESPITE only attracting a field of six runners, Wednesday’s Group Two Great Voltigeur (3.00pm) certainly doesn’t lack quality. Irish Derby winner Los Angeles is the favourite after showing plenty of guts to land the Irish Classic at the Curragh, where he reversed Epsom Derby placings with Ambiente Friendly. Ballydoyle had plenty of pacemakers in the [...]
