Manx the Man to beat the Jumps boys and scale Ascot heights June 16, 2025 JUMPS trainers targeting Royal Ascot handicaps with their classier types has become a regular theme at the meeting and this year looks no different. Willie Mullins is, if we’re honest, not just a Jumps trainer, but it’s fair to say that most punters know him as the all-conquering king of Cheltenham and the reigning Grand [...]
Don’t be surprised if Dock’s Lake on the scene June 16, 2025 IT’S A Lockinge rematch to kick off Royal Ascot on Tuesday, with the first four home from that Newbury contest all lining up for the curtain-raising Group One Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm). The winner from Newbury, Lead Artist, will get his favoured fast ground again and it would be no surprise to see him pull [...]
Affair and Andab can Raid Ascot on Day One June 16, 2025 ROYAL Ascot has come round in a flash, and there’s certainly plenty of speed on show on the opening day, with the Group One King Charles III Stakes (3.40pm) featuring some of the fastest horses on the planet. I put up AMERICAN AFFAIR in this column ahead of his run in the Temple Stakes at [...]
French Master poised to triumph in the Copper Horse June 16, 2025 TUESDAY’S finale, the Copper Horse Stakes (6.10pm) has thrown up a couple of big-price winners in the past five years, but I think the market leader FRENCH MASTER holds extremely sound claims and looks the likely winner. Those donning the blue and gold silks of Wathnan Racing have increasingly become ones to watch, and John [...]
Robot and Joy can Spring Wong into the winners’ circle June 13, 2025 BEWARE of the weather which is going to play an important part in proceedings when racing gets underway at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Saturday with an 11-race card including two races on the all-weather surface. The forecast is dreadful, with heavy showers throughout the day and likely thunderstorms during the action. Young seven-pound [...]
Lightweight Energia to reach the Stars under Teetan June 13, 2025 WITH so many imponderables to weigh up due to rain, surface conditions, and likely track bias – suiting gallopers up with the early pace or finishing strongly – and there is going to be plenty of head-scratching from Hong Kong form students. Maybe ‘patience’ is the key word and to wait for the finale when [...]
The Punter Podcast Episode 34: Chris Barnett Memorial Handicap at Sandown, a couple at York, ante post Royal Ascot and Happy Valley June 11, 2025 Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile pick out their best bets for the weekend ahead, look forward to paying tribute to the show’s former host, Chris Barnett, at Sandown on Friday, and give a couple of early selections for Royal Ascot. Plus, Wally Pyrah is on hand for the lowdown on Happy Valley in Hong Kong. [...]
Dig up some Royal Ascot Gold with Big Mojo and Flora June 10, 2025 ROYAL Ascot is less than a week away and anticipation is building ahead of the five biggest days in the Flat racing calendar. There’s still plenty of ante-post value to be had in many of the big race markets and the purpose of this column is to put up a few at prices which are [...]
Northern Ticks plenty of boxes with rain set to fall at York June 10, 2025 YORK’s meeting this Saturday could see a major change in the going, with the heavens set to open later this week and up to 20 millimetres of rain expected to hit the track on Friday. This makes ante-post betting slightly more challenging, but there are a few I’ve got my eye on that could shine [...]
Atzeni ready to stay one Step Ahead of his rivals June 10, 2025 WITH just over a month before the Hong Kong racing season ends, expect a big crowd to descend on city track Happy Valley for an exciting midweek nine-race programme, featuring the Class Two Cheung Sha Handicap (2.10pm). There is little doubt that regular bettors in the territory will be in need of a large dose [...]