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 [...]
Horse racing betting: No need for Quiet Reflection before backing Burke’s filly May 26, 2016 Trainer Hugo Palmer has had a terrific start to the campaign and his Gifted Master will be a warm order in Saturday’s Sandy Lane Stakes (3.45pm) at Haydock. The three-year-old son of Kodiac is already vying for favouritism for next month’s Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot having won his last five on the bounce. He [...]
Horse racing betting: Worth following Andrew Balding’s Secret Hint on the Roudee May 26, 2016 The dust has settled on the Roudee following Chester’s May meeting and on Saturday horses descend on the unique track for the second time this month. It’s tough to find winners on such a competitive card, at a course where you need plenty of luck in running, but Berkshire-based Andrew Balding has been a trainer to [...]
Investec Oaks is definitely the prize for O’Brien’s Minding May 24, 2016 Aidan O’Brien has confirmed the Investec Oaks will be the target for Minding as long as she recovers from a cut picked up in the stalls during last weekend’s Irish 1,000 Guineas. Minding finished second in the race behind Jet Setting after banging her head and doubts about her Epsom participation have since surfaced. However, [...]
Racing betting: Waady looks the safest option in Temple Stakes May 19, 2016 Trying to guess what the weather is going to do is the bane of my life. This time last week Newbury had been hit by over 50mm of rain in 24 hours and the ground for the Lockinge meeting was officially soft, heavy in places. Obviously I opted for horses with plenty of soft ground form, [...]
Racing betting: Awtaad can bridge 40-year Guineas gap for Prendergast May 19, 2016 Good things come to those who wait, the famous saying goes. Well, there is no denying that Kevin Prendergast will go down in racing history as one of Ireland’s finest trainers. His career has spanned generations, yet his one and only Irish 2,000 Guineas winner was Northern Treasure way back in 1976. The long wait [...]
Dreaming of Derby success: Bill Esdaile visits Newmarket ahead of this year’s Classic May 17, 2016 With this year’s Investec Derby just over two weeks away, Newmarket is a hive of activity as the world’s most prestigious flat race draws ever closer. While trainers finalise their preparations for Epsom, breeders in the same equine parish are plotting the creation of future contenders. Trainer John Gosden, who saddled last year’s winner Golden [...]
Horse racing betting: Time to follow the Bear now that rain has hit Newbury May 12, 2016 What a difference a week makes. Seven days ago we were all preparing for the hottest weekend of the year and the thought of anything other than lightning-fast ground for this Saturday's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (3.55pm) at Newbury was unthinkable. However, more than 50mm of rain has fallen on the Berkshire track since Tuesday [...]
Horse racing betting: Frankie Dettori all set for another Flying dismount May 12, 2016 Connections of last season’s St Leger runner-up Bondi Beach have opted to miss Friday’s Betway Yorkshire Cup (4.05pm) in favour of a tilt at Sunday’s Vintage Crop Stakes back home in Ireland. His absence has paved the way for in-form Frankie Dettori to potentially ride his fifth winner of the feature race on the final day of [...]
Racing betting: Take an Epsom punt on Port Douglas and Cloth Of Stars May 11, 2016 With the last of the major Investec Derby trials run at York on Thursday afternoon, I thought it an opportune moment to look at the ante-post market for next month’s Classic. Midterm currently heads the betting at 10/3 with Betway and that price is likely to contract further should he be successful in today’s Dante [...]