Ashes 2015: Joe Root to stand tall for White Rose as his county colleagues wither July 7, 2015 England's preparation for the Investec Ashes series has seen them tap into the knowledge and experience of former players. Read more: Root is now a master of all trades This culminated on Sunday night with a team meeting led by Sir Ian Botham: a player whose Headingley heroics took place before any of [...]
Coral-Eclipse may prove to be a tough test for Golden Horn July 2, 2015 French Derby winner New Bay’s absence from tomorrow’s Coral-Eclipse (3.45pm) at Sandown means that Investec Derby winner Golden Horn is as short as 1/3 with Betway to see off his four rivals and land the 10 furlong Group One contest. Read more: Buick backs Jack Hobbs to gain Derby revenge on Golden Horn However, those [...]
Lancashire Oaks: Arabian Comet can be crowned Haydock Queen July 2, 2015 Bookmakers are struggling to find a clear favourite for tomorrow’s Lancashire Oaks (2.15pm) at Haydock with combinations of five of the 11 fillies and mares heading the market with different firms. Read more: Buick backs Jack Hobbs to gain Derby revenge on Golden Horn The obvious starting point has to be Denis Coakley’s hat-trick seeking [...]
Back Australia to retain the Ashes despite England resurgence July 2, 2015 Talk of England regaining the Ashes felt far-fetched a few weeks ago. Poised to take on New Zealand in this summer’s warm-up series, they’d recently returned from a disastrous World Cup and an underwhelming trip to the Caribbean. Read more: Ben Stokes – I won’t back down if Aussies target my short fuse at Ashes [...]
Ashes 2015: Betting preview July 2, 2015 Australia might be the Ashes holders although it is 14 years since the men from Down Under have won a series in England. Read more: Australia toil in final Ashes warm-up vs Essex They whitewashed their opponents on home soil last time out but their last three visits to these shores have all ended [...]
Fahey to be crowned Pitmen’s Derby king June 25, 2015 Tomorrow’s Northumberland Plate (3.45pm) looks the ideal race for owner Dr Marwan Koukash to unleash his team of ‘Gabrials’. Gabrial’s King, Gabrial’s Star and last year’s first two home Angel Gabrial and Suegioo make up a four-pronged attack on the £200,000 purse. ‘The Good Doctor’ will be confident of a bold showing from all of [...]
Irish Derby: Legatissimo to put Oaks nightmare behind her June 25, 2015 There is some fantastic racing in Ireland this weekend and the highlight is undoubtedly tomorrow evening’s 150th renewal of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (6.30pm). This race has been dominated by Aidan O’Brien over the past decade. He has won the race an astonishing eight times in the last nine years and 10 [...]
Royal Ascot 2015: Top hats off for Eagle and that man Frankie Dettori June 18, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS TOMORROW’S FINAL DAY OF ROYAL ASCOT Tomorrow's Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm) has all the ingredients to be a mouth-watering encounter. With all seven confirmed runners having triumphed in today’s Group Two company or better it is a race to savour. Telescope, who won this race last year by a scorching [...]
Huntsmans can go close for Charlton and Buick June 18, 2015 FOLLOWING on from the Diamond Jubilee is the Wokingham Handicap (5.00pm), one of the biggest betting races of the week. With 30 horses sprinting up Ascot’s home straight, you may think you’ve got a better chance of landing tonight’s EuroMillions than finding the winner. It’s an incredibly difficult race, for sure, and nobody really knows [...]
Brazen Aussies can rule in the Jubilee again June 18, 2015 CHOISIR changed the face of Royal Ascot forever when he landed an extraordinary Group One sprint double at the meeting in 2003. Paul Perry’s beast was an unfancied 25/1 shot for the King’s Stand on the opening day and returned just four days later to scoop the Golden Jubilee at 13/2. His unlikely feat showed [...]