Author: Joel Roberts

I can’t help but think the five-year-old BLOND ME has been underestimated in Sunday’s Arc trial, the Prix Vermeille. Raced over the Arc course and distance of 12 furlongs at Chantilly, this is a step into unknown territory for Andrew Balding’s mare. Similar comments applied last time out when she…

Japan’s big hope for October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Satono Diamond, runs in Sunday’s trial at Chantilly, and the skinny odds-on quotes are tempting to take on. This of course is just a stepping stone to the big one and he’s totally unproven against both European opposition and ground…

There’s more top-class racing on Sunday’s Curragh card as the best two-year-old fillies clash in the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs. This looks an excellent renewal and, as per usual, Aidan O’Brien holds all the aces from his strong-looking juvenile crop. We backed Clemmie at Royal Ascot to no…

Last year’s winner Almanzor has been retired so there’ll be no defence of his Irish Champions Stakes today at Leopardstown, and Aidan O’Brien’s dual-Guineas winner Churchill is the clear favourite to inherit his crown. Beaten potentially by extremely fast ground at Royal Ascot and some serious class in the shape…

A massive weekend of racing lies ahead with day one of Leopardstown’s Irish Champions Weekend being Saturday’s highlight. We tipped the winner of both Group Ones last year with 6/1 Alice Springs in the Matron Stakes and 13/2 Almanzor, now sadly retired, landing a vintage renewal of the Irish Champion…

There are Group races galore this coming weekend with Haydock’s Sprint Cup, Leopardstown’s Irish Champion Stakes meet and Chantilly’s Arc Trials card, so expect plenty of selections in the days ahead. We’ll kick off early with a nibble on TASLEET in the Sprint Cup’s ante-post market. 6/1 looks tempting for a horse…

In a wide-open race, Clive Cox’s CONNECT looks a good bet at 6/1 in Sandown’s Group Three Solario Stakes for two-year-olds. He was an impressive all-the-way winner over course and distance last time out, his second start, and a liking for Sandown gives him an excellent chance in this. By Irish Guineas…

Enable is the undisputed star of the European flat season so far, having landed the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks as well as the King George – all Group One races. She’s proven against colts, proven on all ground conditions and proven against older horses, so her participation in Europe’s…

MONDIALISTE is the clear class horse in Saturday’s Group Three opener at York, having landed Group One races and generally performed above this level in the past. He’d been somewhat out of sorts of late before a return to form last time out in Group Two company behind Success Days…

After a dire week at Goodwood we’re pleased to turn our attention elsewhere to Northern French track Deauville, where the 6.5-furlong Prix Maurice De Gheest is the feature race on Sunday’s card. Commonwealth Cup winner Caravaggio is the star name and trades odds-on despite meeting his first defeat last time…