Author: Joel Roberts

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…

We’re looking four our fourth consecutive winning tip in the Epsom Derby, after 11/1 Harzand, 40/1 Wings Of Eages and 20/1 Masar last year. Here’s my thoughts on all the runners as well as my best bets. Line Of Duty Stall one virtually guarantees poor track position, while quick ground…

Although Meydan form can be a little unreliable, OLD PERSIAN has looked a significantly improved horse out there this year with his form reaching a new level in the Dubai Sheema Classic. His beating of two Japanese raiders doesn’t read like top-class form, but he did it so easily and…

With virtually the entire field rated within a few lbs of each other, Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes looks an ideal betting race. Against very exposed horses all around a similar level, I’m looking for something at a big price that’s on a progressive arc and comes into this race off the…

Too Darn Hot missed the 2,000 Guineas after a setback so trainer John Gosden has elected to start the champion two-year-old of 2018 in the 10f Dante Stakes, suggesting a u-turn on his view that he’s not a middle distance horse. Surely victory here would confirm his place in the…

Aidan O’Brien is in ridiculous form this season and has won virtually every single Derby trial so far, but I’ve serious doubts his Anthony Van Dyck is a good thing at close enough to even money for Lingfield’s Listed trial on Saturday. Make no mistake, he’s favourite for good reason…

Derby hopefuls go on trial at Chester in the Vase on Wednesday, with a really good race in prospect. It’s a perfect betting market as eight run, meaning three each-way places, and all have chances with the favourite looking ripe to be taken on on his seasonal reappearance. Norway wasn’t…

This weekend sees Classic action return to Britain as Newmarket hosts the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas Stakes, on Saturday and Sunday respectively, over the Rowley Mile. The ante-post market for the 2,000 Guineas has received several blows in recent months as favourites Too Darn Hot, Calyx and Quorto have all…