Author: Joel Roberts

1m6f  Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Group 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) (Grande Course) (Turf)  (3yo+) As races go, this is wide open. I wouldn’t want to put you off backing Manuela De Vega or Pista but it’s difficult to argue either should be any shorter in the betting as heavy ground is…

6f (Row) Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) (Colts) (Class 1) (2yo) Another good betting heat with first-season sire Mehmas represented by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th favourites who have all shown raw speed this season. It’s hard to pick between them but I think Method has the weakest form so doesn’t deserve to…

6f (Row) Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) (Class 1) (2yo) A good renewal with plenty of chances and no stand-out performer. Miss Amulet was good at York where she beat Sacred well. That could very well be the best form line on offer but both are on the short side, given Sacred…

7f  Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group 1)  (2yo) This is an absolute corker of a race with so many horses holding strong claims. Lucky Vega looks really good and is the right favourite but he’s got serious opposition here. He was beaten by a 66/1 shot LAWS OF INDICES before emphatically…

7f  Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) (Breeders’ Cup Challenge Race)  (2yo) The market is very strong towards Simply Gorgeous being better than Donnacha O’Brien’s SHALE but I think they’re very closely matched. It’s 1-1 between them this season and Simply Gorgeous’s win last time was crucially on soft ground. Shale reminds…

1m4f  Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Group 1) (3yo Colts & Fillies) (Grande Course) (Turf)  (3yo) An interesting race as shock Derby winner Serpentine makes his reappearance with so many doubting the value of his big win given the way he stole a massive advantage mid-race. Aidan O’Brien has his classic ‘he’s…

1m4f  Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) (Grande Course) (Turf)  (3yo+) The bet in this race is obvious. VALIA is a horse I’ve had a few quid on for the Arc at fancy prices after she bolted up in a Listed race back in July, and she got beat…

1m  (Str) bet365 May Hill Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies)  (Class 1) (2yo) LILAC ROAD looks a big price in this after breaking the course and distance track record for two-year-olds last time out. She only received a rating of 86 for that all-the-way success and I suspect that significantly underestimates her ability. The horse…

6f  Darley Prix Morny – Finale des Darley Series (Group 1) (2yo Colts & Fillies) (Str Course) (Turf)  (2yo) The market is getting carried away with John Dance’s Rhythm Dancer, backing him into 3/1 from 5/1 overnight after a very impressive debut. It’s easy to get carried away with such performances, though…

Our fine run hit a bump in the road at York, returning zero winners despite a profitable Saturday, but there’s plenty of good racing at Sandown today worth getting stuck into. I like ONASSIS in the fillies’ Group Three at a big price. She won a Royal Ascot handicap off…