Episode 94: Northumberland Plate, Irish Derby and Marco Botti interview Sport After a busy week at Royal Ascot, Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile are straight back to it. Tom catches up with Marco Botti following Giavellotto’s victory in the Hardwicke Stakes, before looking ahead to a busy weekend’s action, featuring the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle and it’s supporting card, classic action across the weekend at the [...]
Circus can be a Star attraction in the Plate Sport AFTER five days of Royal Ascot last week, you might be forgiven for needing a breather from racing, but as always in this game the next big meeting is here in a flash. This Saturday we look north for Newcastle’s headline Flat meeting of the year, which features the Northumberland Plate (3.15pm). This competitive staying [...]
Back Braddock to deliver knockout blow in Irish Derby Sport ACROSS the water, there’s Classic action as the Irish Derby (4.35pm) takes centre stage at the Curragh on Sunday. The field has narrowed to just 11 runners following the confirmation stage, but it still looks a deep renewal with several of the protagonists from the Epsom equivalent backing up. One of those is Benvenuto Cellini, [...]
Commander and Peace have Mighty chances June 23, 2026 RACING in Hong Kong resumes at Happy Valley today with a nine-race programme, featuring the six-furlong Racing World 50th Anniversary Cup (1.40pm). With just three of the remaining seven fixtures taking place at the city track before the season ends, it is safe to say leading trainer Caspar Fownes will once again be crowned King [...]
Rochester looks ready to reward punters at the Valley June 23, 2026 BETTORS at the Valley need to keep a careful eye on the local odds board when the action commences at 11.40am. With the end of the season fast closing in, and many gallopers in need of earning their corn before the long summer break, expect plenty of gambles to materialize before the gates open in [...]
Cruz galloper set for a Winning Ovation in Premier Cup June 20, 2026 RACING in Hong Kong is back in action at Sha Tin on Sunday, with an 11-race programme featuring a couple of Group Three contests. Umbrellas’ have once again been to the fore in the city, with both 70 millimetres of rain falling in the Sha Tin area during the week and over 3000 lightning strikes [...]
Box can provide you with a Boom at Sha Tin June 20, 2026 THERE is no doubt the 10-furlong Class Three Lapis Lazuli Handicap (12.40pm) is the most difficult puzzle on the card, but nevertheless finding the winner should pay rich dividends. The likes of ultra-consistent Enthusium for Andrea Atzeni and last start winner Family Jewel who represents the Caspar Fownes and Joao Moreira combination are both likely [...]
Be Brave with Comanche and Sajir in QEII sprint June 19, 2026 THIS YEAR’S Royal Ascot meeting comes to a close with Saturday’s seven-race card, where the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.40pm) is the feature contest. Australia are doubly represented here with Joliestar and Overpass, the latter backing up from his valiant third in the King Charles III on Tuesday. I respect these two, [...]
Expect a Goliath performance from French raider in Hardwicke June 19, 2026 SATURDAY’s Royal Ascot card signifies the end of a brilliant five days of action, but there’s still loads of top-class action to get stuck into on the final day. The Group Two Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm) is always a competitive heat for the older middle-distance horses, and it’s no different with six Group One winners involved [...]
Time for a Berkshire Sundance in the Ascot finale June 19, 2026 ROYAL Ascot 2026 comes to a close with the longest race of the week, the Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10pm), run over two-miles-five-and-a-half furlongs. It goes without saying that you need a stamina laden contender to have a chance in this so it’s perhaps not surprising that this race has been dominated by jumps trainers in [...]