We’re spoilt for choice with this hot renewal of the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock, which looks well up to Group-One class. Overnight rain has forced the withdrawal of several big names, such as multiple-Group One winners Sole Power and Goldream, but it’s given the Nunthorpe winner Mecca’s Angel a…
Author: Joel Roberts
1pt win Besharah @14/1, 14:15 Deauville, Sunday
At 14/1, William Haggis’s BESHARAH has to be backed in the French 1000 Guineas at Deauville. She was a high-class two-year-old and wasn’t at all disgraced on her seasonal reappearance behind Marenko at Chelmsford – a race only run on the all-weather due to Newbury having to abandon their Guineas Trials…
1pt win Foundation @7/1, 0.5pt win Choreographer @20/1, 15:15 York, Thursday
The Dante Stakes at York is probably the best trial for next month’s Derby at Epsom. Last year it produced the eventual winner in Golden Horn and, with the middle-distance three-year-olds division so far failing to sparkle, we hope this year’s renewal of the Dante can put forward another. Top of…
0.75pt each-way Dick Whittington @16/1, 15:15 York, Wednesday
Haydock Sprint Cup winner Twilight Son is arguably the class horse in this six-furlong Group Two at York. That Group One success saddles him with a 5lb penalty which, also considering this is his first run of the season, is asking an awful lot. The favourite is therefore Magical Memory,…
1pt win Ch'tibello @5/1, 14:10 Haydock, Saturday
We backed CH’TIBELLO for his 8/1 Scottish Champion Hurdle success last month and I’ve no interest in abandoning him in this two-mile Haydock handicap hurdle. His success at Ayr came after a winter break, so he might have been lacking in match fitness and I reckon he can improve for the run.…
1pt win Usherette @7/1, 14:25 Newmarket, Sunday
A really strong renewal of the Group Two Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, with Group One winners Amazing Maria and Arabian Queen making their seasonal debuts. Neither are favourite though – that accolade goes to John Gosden’s Jazzi Top, who looks ridiculously short in the betting considering she’s not had a…
1pt win Lumiere @6/1, 15:40 Newmarket, Sunday
Aiden O’Brien’s Minding sets the clear form standard for this year’s 1000 Guineas – the female equivalent of the 2000 Guineas over the same mile trip at Newmarket. Yesterday his heavily-backed Air Force Blue got turned over as an odds-on favourite and Minding fits a very similar profile. They were…
1pt each-way Massaat @14/1, 15:45 Newmarket, Saturday
On the same day Punchestown rounds off a stellar jumps season, Newmarket kicks off the flat season proper with the first Classic and first Group One, the 2000 Guineas. In case you don’t know, it’s the mile version of the Derby and open only to three-year-olds, the Classic generation. Horses only…
1pt win My Tent Or Yours @2/1, 17:30 Punchestown
The highlight of Friday’s Punchestown Festival card is the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Hurdle, where six go to post in an interesting renewal. Due to injury and fatigue, there’s no Faugheen or Annie Power, who have dominated the division the past two seasons, so Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins have rerouted…
0.75pt each-way Baden @16/1, 16:20 Punchestown, Wednesday
Zabana continued our fine recent form when scoring at 5/1 on Tuesday’s Punchestown card to go along with recent winners Ch’tibello (8/1), Wolf Of Windlesham (9/1) and Up For Review (9/2). The theme of Tuesday was short-priced Willie Mullins favourites getting turned over, with the unbeaten Yorkhill not even placing,…