Author: Joel Roberts

1m4f  Longines Hong Kong Vase (Group 1) (3yo+) (Course A) (Turf)  (3yo+) I’m backing LUCKY LILAC in the early hours of Sunday morning over in Hong Kong. Trained in Japan and sired by 2012 and 2013 Arc-second Orfevre, she looked a chip off the old block when landing a Group One in…

2m4f  (2m3f173y) Elmbridge Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Qualifier)  (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-130) I’m backing CROSSGALESFAMEGAME on his handicap debut. There’s plenty of exposed opponents in opposition and his initial mark of 125 is a bit of a guess from the handicapper. Interestingly, he won well last time out on heavy ground…

2m½f  (2m69y) Ladbrokes “Where The Nation Plays” Intermediate Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (Listed Race)  (Class 1) (4yo+ 0-155) I like two in this race. Dan Skelton’s Antunes looks progressive and should outrun her mark, but Nicky Henderson’s ELUSIVE BELLE could be very generously treated off a mark of 134. She split the 150-rated Reserve…

2m½f  (2m87y) (Old) Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)  (Class 1) (4yo+) This looks a typically competitive renewal but HARAMBE screams a bet at 16/1. Soft ground will inconvenience many but it should be no issue on pedigree. He pulled way too hard over a 3f longer trip on his reappearance at Chepstow, but was…

The jumps season is very much back and we have three selections from a saturated Cheltenham. 2m5f  (Old) Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Hyde Novices’ Hurdle)  (Class 1) (4yo+) Thyme Hill clearly has the best form in this, having placed in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Festival and opened…

5f Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) (3yo+) This looks a fun race and it could feasibly go to any of the runners. The drop in trip to 5f from previous years is absolutely crucial to unlocking this race as it won’t be won by stamina – this will be…

1m  Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore (Grade 1) (2yo Colts, Geldings & Ridglings) (Turf)  (2yo) This looks an ideal betting market as hot favourite Arizona is drawn out in stall 12 and trying a mile for the first time. He’s a very skinny price for those reasons and I’m going…

Last season we tipped 28/1, 8/1 and 8/1 winners on Ascot’s Champions Day – and while expecting a repeat of that is fanciful, the very soft ground courtesy of this very wet autumn is likely to mean some big prices go in across the six races. 6f  Qipco British Champions Sprint…

1m  (Row) Dubai Autumn Stakes (Group 3)  (Class 1) (2yo) I’m a big fan of Night Of Thunder as a sire, but I can’t see why his son Molatham is such a short price for this. Soft ground shouldn’t be an issue but this is a very competitive race and 2/1 is very tight.…

We finished this year’s Arc meeting up a modest 2pts after two winners, and now attentions turn to Newmarket’s Future Champions meeting where the Fillies’ Mile headlines a strong Friday card. 1m (Row) bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Group 1) (Class 1) (2yo) My first comment is I suspect the market has this fairly spot-on when…