The Great St Wilfrid Stakes is by far the most competitive race at Ripon in a calendar season and is one of the highlights of Saturday’s racing. Orion’s Bow is a worthy favourite for the handicap having finished second behind the fast-improving filly Dancing Star in the Stewards’ Cup. He…
Author: Paul Davidson
0.75pt EW Ridge Ranger @16/1, 0.75pt EW Raucous @16/1, 0.5pt EW Dinkum Diamond @33/1, 15:45 Stewards' Cup, Goodwood
One of the highlights of the handicap sprinting season is the Stewards’ Cup. There’s been some excellent racing at Glorious Goodwood this week, but it’s a race I’ve always looked forward to the most at the festival. The races on the straight course have generally developed down the centre of…
1pt win Intisaab @15/2, 0.5pt EW Tatlisu @16/1, 16:10 York, Skybet Dash
The Skybet Dash at York looks as open as ever and with the quick ground returning we should start to see large swings in form-lines. Kimberella wouldn’t be winning out of turn here. But has been the victim of his own success having held his form very well this season…
1pt win Carry On Deryck @12/1, 0.75pt EW Revolutionist @14/1, 16:15 York, John Smith's Cup
The feature race at York this weekend is the 57th John Smith’s Cup with 20 set to go to post. At the time of writing, James Fanshawe’s Arthenus was sitting at the top of the market at a general price of 7/1. His run in the Wolferton was eye-catching as…
1pt win Maljaa @9/1, 0.5pt EW Mukaynis @14/1, 15:45 Epsom Downs, 'Dash'
The 5f Epsom ‘Dash’ is regarded as one of the fastest sprint contests in the racing calendar year, with a devilishly quick descent to contend with and 18 runners going to post this year. The ground was definitely riding on the slow side yesterday, so I do not expect any…
0.5pt EW Sennockian Star @14/1, 14:35 Epsom Downs, Friday
Dark Red goes in search of his fourth consecutive win with Ryan Moore aboard the saddle in the opening handicap of the Epsom Classic weekend. Ed Dunlop has got a highly progressive four-year-old on his hands, and there could be more to come despite a 20lb rise for his three…
1pt win Predominance @9/2, 14:50 Chester, Saturday
PREDOMINANCE went off a 6/1 favourite of the Victoria Cup, finishing rather disappointingly in mid-division. The ground may have been a bit quick for him on that occasion as he looked better than the bare result. His striking performance at Haydock in his previous run is one still to note,…
0.75pt each-way Dutch Connection @12/1, 15:55 Newbury, Saturday
Newbury hosts the Group 1 Lockinge Stage today. A race that has brought out the best in some fantastic milers over the years with the likes of Frankel, Canford Cliffs and Farhh all having tasted success. The clerks of the course spoke of a change in the going on Friday…
1pt EW Hold Tight @14/1, 0.5pt EW Mullionheir @20/1, 16:15 Ascot, Victoria Cup (UPDATE)
The weather has turned across the UK this week, and that means we are set to have an extremely quick Victoria Cup, where one of the first major big-field handicap prizes of the season is set to be won. There isn’t a huge draw bias at Ascot, but most of…
1pt EW Measureofmydreams @12/1, 0.5pt EW Shotgun Paddy @28/1, 16:10 Ayr, Scottish Grand National
The Scottish Grand National has been a graveyard for favourite backers in recent years with horses towards the top of the handicap generally worth avoiding. However, like the Grand National last weekend, this looks a much stronger renewal with class novices coming up against seasoned-staying veterans and we have a…