Author: Paul Davidson

2m½f (Old) JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Registered As The Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1) (3yo) This may not be the deepest Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle you will ever find, but it’s an intriguing contest all the same. The current favourite, Blueking D’Oroux, a French import for Paul…

2m Lexus Melbourne Cup (Group 1 Handicap) (3yo+) The ‘Race That Stops A Nation’ offers, what on paper, looks like one of the weakest renewals for some time. The International raiders haven’t arrived in force despite a relaxation of the stringent vet requirements that kept them away last year. Nevertheless…

7f Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1) (2yo Colts & Fillies) (New Course) (Turf) (2yo) It doesn’t look like the strongest renewal of this Group 1 and only one horse really has notable form on ground worse than soft, Pivotal Trigger. It is in intriguing that he has…

5f Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Group 1) (2yo+) The draw is often such a massive deciding factor of the winner it what is probably one of the least aesthetically pleasing Group 1 sprints to watch in the flat calendar year. In truth, the Prix De L’Abbaye is probably…

6f Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) We have seen back-to-back winners of the Wokingham and the Stewards’ Cup this season, Bielsa bids to follow suit here having won off 1lb lower. Favourite Khanjar has to be feared, but he remains very inexperienced and these handicaps can catch those sorts of…

5f Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes (Group 1) (3yo+) The bookies have finally copped-on to just how good Highfield Princess is having let her go off at massive prices throughout this season. This massively progressive mare may be the best sprinter around these days and is tough to…

1m6f (1m5f188y) Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+) Earl Of Tyrone has been all the rage for this event over the last few weeks with Paddy Twomey’s yard attracting plenty of attention. He is potentially well-in for this race, but he is yet to encouter a handicap…

1m4f Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+) A fascinating renewal for the Darley Yorkshire Oaks and I think the market has got this wrong with Alpinista currently a 2/1 favourite. She has been very consistent this season winning five on the bounce…

6f Coral Stewards’ Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) The Stewards’ Cup is a race which has tended to go towards a classy horse carrying a big weight as opposed to a well-handicapped runner off a light burden in recent years. The draw is also always very difficult to predict…

1m4f John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo) The Derby form is put on the line here with several coming into this to contest the Gordon Stakes. Hoo Ya Mal would be the obvious place to start having finished second in the Classic. He is fancied to…