Author: Joel Roberts

With heavy rain forecast, Addeybb looks a very solid bet in the York Stakes at – shock horror – York on Saturday. He absolutely bolted up on soft ground at Royal Ascot and should confirm the form with Elarqam, who re-opposes a little better off at the weights this time…

We could see record temperatures in the UK today so I’m having a hard time believing Sandown’s Thursday card will be raced on anything other than good-to-firm ground. The classiest race on the card is a 2yo Listed heat for fillies, featuring some nice pedigrees, but it’s WEST END GIRL…

7f  (July) bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2)  (Class 1) (2yo) There are plenty of live chances in this race but it’s WILD THUNDER who I’m siding with at the prices. He’s only raced once and trainer Richard Hannon is always keen to stress any horse of his that wins on debut is pretty smart.…

Newmarket’s July meeting kicks off on Thursday, building up to the Group One July Cup on Saturday. Here are Thursday’s best bets. 6f (July) Tattersalls July Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 1) (2yo) This looks a good each-way market as there’s eight runners and a once-raced favourite that’s easy enough to take…

1m2f  Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises International Stakes (Group 3)  (3yo+) Royal Ascot winner Addeybb is out again but will not get his favoured soft ground, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets withdrawn if it gets too quick. Blenheim Palace should relish these conditions if he’s anything like his…

Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group One) 6f Blue Point won the King’s Stand on Tuesday and is back again to complete a famous sprint double at Royal Ascot. He’s excellent over this 6f trip and is clearly the best horse in the race, but he simply has to be taken on…

Albany Stakes (Group 3) 6f Far too many (25) runners for a deep look into this race but I like everything about the chances of LIL GREY in the opener. The stand side horses have bossed the straight track this week and she’s in stall 25 on the rail, while…

Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) 10f Highland Reel never liked soft ground, nor did his little brother Idaho, and chances are the youngest sibling Cape Of Good Hope wants good ground too, so he’s fairly easy to dismiss – he hasn’t done too much to suggest he’s as good as…

Queen Mary Stakes (Group Two) 5f I can’t have the American raider at the prices given her dirt pedigree and the fact she’s never raced on soft ground, on a straight course or indeed on grass. I’m not sure why Aidan O’Brien’s chief hope TANGO is such a big price…

Royal Ascot starts with a bang on Tuesday, with three Group Ones and the Group Two Coventry Stakes on the opening card, followed by another four days of top-class flat racing through to Saturday. Queen Anne Stakes (Group One) 8f With no superstar miler emerging from any of the big…