Author: Joel Roberts

The ‘Ascot Derby’ or King Edward VIII Stakes looks a good competitive renewal with Derby sixth Delano Roosevelt trading favourite. I’m not convinced he truly wants a mile-and-a-half and I’m not sure Ryan Moore partnering him is as big a tip as it might seem. Aidan O’Brien is firing three…

We’re treated to a tasty renewal of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday as three Guineas winners and the leading juvenile filly of 2017 clash in a race that should clarify the pecking order. I’ll start with Clemmie, who trades second favourite, as vibes have not been good…

The Norfolk Stakes over five furlongs opens Royal Ascot’s Thursday card, and I can’t really work out why Kochek is favourite after not winning last time out in a bunched finish, which usually suggests the runners were closely matched. Hardly stand-out form, then, and I’m not too excited by Wesley…

Big Orange is absent to defend his Ascot Gold Cup crown, but the 2018 renewal looks very classy nonetheless with 2016 winner Order Of St George, rising star Stradivarius and leading French stayer Vazirabad among a field of nine. Most of the pre-race talk has been of Stradivarius progressing from…

Wednesday’s Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot now closes, rather than opens, the card and it looks a typically competitive renewal. John Gosden’s horses are flying as he and Frankie Dettori combined with three winners on Tuesday, so it’s little surprise to see Emaraaty installed as 5/1 co-favourite, stepping out of…

Royal Ascot kicks off on Tuesday with a large field in the Queen Anne Stakes, where Lockinge winner Rhododendron heads the betting from Dubai Turf and last year’s Hampton Court Stakes winner Benbatl. It’s a competitive race with 15 runners and not too much towards the top of the market…

We’ve been in rare form the last few weeks to firmly banish the memory of a frustrating end to the jumps season, and a huge Derby day double at Epsom yesterday, courtesy of 20/1 Masar in the Derby and 7/2 Century Dream earlier on the card, meant we finished the…

The Curragh hosts Ireland’s first Classic of the 2018 flat season with the 2000 Guineas over a mile taking centre stage, where English Guineas fourth and sixth, Elarqam and Gustav Klimt re-oppose. The market has been topsy turvy in the last week as Ryan Moore has opted to ride champion…

The race of the day this Saturday might be the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock for three-year-old sprinters, a trial for next month’s Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. It’s a tough task picking between the top four in the betting, as they’re all much of a muchness and…