Midak can prove poignant Derby winner June 3, 2025 BUOYANT after tipping four Sandown winners from four selections in last week’s column, all eyes turn to Saturday’s Derby (3.30pm) as I hope our luck can continue. This year’s renewal of the Epsom Classic looks wide open, certainly more so than the betting suggests. Delacroix is the 11/4 favourite and, credit where it’s due, Aidan [...]
Hurricane will have to show Defiance on Ladies’ Day June 3, 2025 BEFORE we take aim at the Oaks in Thursday’s paper, there look to be a couple of others worth shouting about on Epsom’s Friday card. The first I like is Eve Johnson Houghton’s HAVANA HURRICANE in the Woodcote Stakes (2.05pm), fairly priced at around 11/2. This two-year-old colt was a taking winner on debut at [...]
Trust in Joy to Spring back into winners’ circle June 3, 2025 UMBRELLAS are likely to be at the fore when racegoers arrive at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Wednesday for a nine-race programme, featuring a couple of red-hot Class Three sprint contests. Rain didn’t materialise during the action last week when the forecast suggested otherwise, but the city track will be lucky to get away [...]
Purton is right Rider to put Storm ahead of rivals June 3, 2025 BETTORS face a big question in the fiercely competitive Stanley Gap Handicap (2.10pm) over six furlongs. Will the blinkers, equipped on STORM RIDER for the first time, derive the necessary improvement needed for the four-year-old to score his first success in the territory? Three consecutive runner-up spots in the last couple of months suggest the [...]
Johannes Brahms can take Express route to victory for Ng May 30, 2025 LOCAL racing enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to when they arrive at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Saturday with an 11-race programme, featuring two Group Three contests, the Lion Rock Trophy (8.00am) over a mile, and the Sha Tin Vase (9.05am) over six furlongs. The John Size-trained Red Lion brings the best form [...]
Luck can score again for Flying Fownes yard May 30, 2025 FAMOUS last words, especially after plenty of shock results in Hong Kong over the past month or so, but favourite backers look set for a profitable day at Sha Tin. The likes of top-weights Dazzling Fit in the Tin Sam Handicap (7.30am) over seven furlongs, and Masterofmyuniverse in the Tai Wai Handicap (8.35am) over six [...]
Almaqam can Star in Brigadier Gerard May 28, 2025 Thursday’s Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Evening from Sandown is Britain’s richest evening race meeting and visitors to the Esher track look set to be treated to some top-quality racing. After the action kicks off at 6.05pm, racing fans will enjoy the Star Sports National Stakes (6.35pm), which is a fascinating juvenile contest. Richard Hannon’s First [...]
Trawler’s the Man for winnable Henry II at Sandown May 28, 2025 DESPITE being a recognised trial for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, the Star Sports Henry II Stakes (7.05pm) at Sandown doesn’t tend to attract the biggest of fields this close to the Royal meeting, but some do prefer to get in a run before and blow away the cobwebs. Trainers John & Thady Gosden [...]
The Punter Podcast Episode 32: Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Evening at Sandown May 28, 2025 Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile preview Thursday’s Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Evening at Sandown alongside Ed Dark from the meeting’s new sponsor. Plus, Wally Pyrah looks back on Voyage Bubble’s Triple Crown heroics at Sha Tin on Sunday, as well as giving a few fancies for Wednesday’s action at Happy Valley. The Punter ‘The Punter’ [...]
Sky’s the limit for Fownes’ consistent Vino May 27, 2025 THE RECENT strong form of the David Hayes stable, with half a dozen winners in the last couple of weeks, has added some spice to the trainers’ title race. Having looked a foregone conclusion for trainer John Size to claim his 13th championship title at the beginning of the month, the gap has now closed [...]