We preview Saturday’s Group-One Champion Stakes at Ascot, with a horse-by-horse analysis of the market principles. Jack Hobbs (5/4) A strong second to Golden Horn in the English Derby, John Gosden’s three-year-old enjoyed his day in the sun when running out an impressive winner in the Irish equivalent. He warmed up…
Author: Joel Roberts
1pt double Muhaarar, Covert Love @16/1, Ascot 17th October
Muhaarar is a worthy favourite for Saturday’s Champions Sprint Stakes. The form of his three Group One victories this season – not to mention his Greenham Stakes win in April – has been franked time and again, ranking the best in Europe. 9/4 is short, but a repeat of his course and…
1pt ew Steve Rogers @25/1, Newmarket 15:50
I’m yet to tip a handicapper to date, but there’s a first time for everything and I’m keen on the chances of Roger Varian’s Steve Rogers in the Cesarewich – one of the silliest races in the calendar. 34 runners – thirty four – over 18 furlongs at Newmarket. It always…
1pt ew Tiercel @20/1, Newmarket 14:35
Hugo Palmer’s Gifted Master makes a quick reappearance for this mile Group Three after routing a decent field at Newmarket last weekend. He broke like a bullet and didn’t slow down, winning by a handful of lengths. Whether that took anything out of him remains to be seen but it…
1pt win First Victory @5/1, Newmarket 14:05
Godolphin’s strong crop of two-year-olds might get better today with First Victory taken to land this fillies’ Group Three and improve on her impressive first victory over course and distance a fortnight ago. Raced just once, she had Sir Michael Stoute’s Aristocratic back in third on her maiden with a similar winning…
1pt win Promising Run @13/2, 1pt win Marenko @28/1, Newmarket 15:10
The Group-One Dubai Fillies’ Mile is one of the richest juvenile races in Europe and, with so many of these coming off the back of big performances, this year’s renewal looks a really tough nut to crack. Ryan Moore chooses Minding over the ambitiously-named Coolmore (Joseph O’Brien), which looks a…
1pt win Make Believe @6/1, Longchamp 16:50
One of my favourite races of the year, the Prix de la Foret is run over seven furlongs and often goes to a hold-up horse. The brilliant Moonlight Cloud’s 2013 success is the shining example, but this year’s quicker ground might change the race tactically. Track position will now be more important…
1pt ew Erupt @33/1, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp 14:55
It’s Arc weekend at Longchamp and it’s all about the unprecedented, hat-trick seeking Treve. Win or lose, she’s already up with the all-time greats and, in a cruel sporting irony quite unique to flat racing, it’s near-certain to be the last time she’s seen on track. Unusually for October, Longchamp has basked in sunshine…
1pt win Queen Of Ice @11/1, Ascot 14:35
Star Storm was an effortless winner at Yarmouth when just four ran, but it’d be easy to get carried away with such form and 4/1 is no sort of price to bank on him progressing past some classy performers. The favourite, Romsdal, from a punting perspective, is still burdened by his two…
1pt win Eastern Impact @5/1, 1pt win Justice Good @20/1, Ascot 15:10
Ascot hosts a couple of Group Threes tomorrow, with the six-furlong 15:10 looking wide open. Polybius shades favouritism at 4/1 after winning at Newmarket last time out. He gave four pounds to second-placed Naadir (9/2) on that occasion and, back to level weights, it’d be no surprise to see that form…