Horse racing betting: Awtaad to be crowned champion for King Kev at Ascot June 13, 2016 Races at Royal Ascot simply don’t get any better than this year’s Group One St James’s Palace Stakes (Tuesday 4.20pm). Although only eight horses are set to line up, among them are the winners of this year’s English, Irish and French 2000 Guineas. It’s a mouth-watering contest. Aidan O’Brien has won this race a record [...]
Horse racing betting: King’s Stand beckons for this speedy Angel June 13, 2016 Anyone got a sense of déjà vu? Regular readers of this column may recognise this exact headline from 12 months ago when I fancied MECCA’S ANGEL to land the King’s Stand (3.40pm) on the opening day at Royal Ascot. However, the five-year-old daughter of Dark Angel was never able to prove her quality that day [...]
Horse racing betting: Esoterique to strike a blow for the fairer sex in Royal Ascot opener June 13, 2016 There hasn't been a more open renewal of Tuesday afternoon's Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm) for many a year, with three horses from all over the world battling for favouritism. Last year's Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Tepin has travelled across the Atlantic for the first time for the biggest test of her career. The outstanding American [...]
Horse racing betting: Jennies looks Jewel of a bet in Ascot slog June 13, 2016 Many of the 20 runners in Tuesday afternoon’s Ascot Stakes (5.00pm) are tackling two and a half miles on the flat for the first time, with the recent rain putting even more emphasis on stamina. National Hunt trainers have dominated this prize in recent years, having won eight of the last 10 renewals, and are again [...]
Horse racing betting: Hannon and Dettori set to plunder the Coventry with Mehmas June 13, 2016 Plenty of smart two-year-old colts have won the Coventry Stakes (3.05pm) in recent years and the most obvious starting point in looking to find the winner is trainer Aidan O’Brien. The Ballydoyle maestro saddles the unbeaten Caravaggio in his attempt to land the six-furlong prize for a record eighth time and it is clear to [...]
Minding proves she’s a class above in the Investec Oaks June 3, 2016 After a far from ideal preparation, and a far from ideal passage around the home bend, Minding scorched clear of her rivals to win the Investec Oaks for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. The daughter of Galileo became the first 1000 Guineas winner to follow-up in the Oaks since Kazzia in 2002, marking herself down [...]
Betting: Master Of Finance the best of Johnston’s treble investment June 2, 2016 Just like last year, Middleham trainer Mark Johnston throws three darts at Friday’s Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap (2.35pm) at Epsom. In fact, it’s the exact same trio of Fire Fighting, MASTER OF FINANCE and Sennockian Star that tried their luck last year. Fire Fighting performed best of the three to finish runner-up 12 months [...]
Betting: Stablemates are the biggest danger to Minding’s Oaks bid June 2, 2016 A field of nine go to post for Friday’s Group One Investec Oaks at Epsom (4.30pm) and if the bookmakers are right about Minding the other eight shouldn’t even bother turning up. Aidan O’Brien’s filly is a best-priced 10/11 with Betway to claim victory on the Downs, but there are just too many negatives to [...]
Betting: Stick with Cloth Of Stars and Port Douglas in Investec Derby June 2, 2016 Trainer Aidan O’Brien will saddle five of the 16 declared runners for Saturday’s Investec Derby (4.30pm) in his attempt to win the world’s most famous flat race for a sixth time. Ryan Moore has chosen to ride US Army Ranger in what looks to be the most open looking renewal for many a year. A [...]
The Punter: “I can still smell those Derby Day barbeques!” June 2, 2016 Bill Esdaile talks to former jockey Hayley Turner ahead of tomorrow’s Investec Derby and previews the famous race Widely considered Britain’s most successful female jockey ever, Hayley Turner will attend Epsom Downs this weekend as an ambassador having hung up her riding boots a little over six months ago with over 750 winners to her [...]