As final declarations were made for the Epsom Oaks on Friday, we learned that there would be a field of nine who will try to contest what looks to be a mighty challenge from Rhododendron. The O’Brien filly is yet to tackle the mile-and-a-half trip, but there seems to be…
0.75pt each-way Intricately @16/1, 15:25 Curragh, Sunday
I’m backing Joseph O’Brien’s and INTRICATELY to land the Irish 1000 Guineas today at Curragh. He’s a Group One winner at the track and the form of that Moyglare Stud Stakes win gives him a big shout in this, particularly as the rain has come. He’s by Fastnet Rock, whose progeny appreciate…
1pt win Desert Encounter @3/1, 15:45 Goodwood, Saturday
It’s a tough day for punting with conditions anyone’s guess; heavy rain is forecast for most of the country yet the ground is firm at most tracks after a hot week. As such I can’t touch the big sprint at Haydock, but there might be a bet in the Listed…
2pts win Hawkbill @4/1, 13:50 Newbury, Saturday
It’s soft ground for Newbury’s big Saturday card and the first race looks a cracker, with a mixture of tall reputations and Group One winners. Midterm trades favourite from his stablemate Across The Stars – both horses put up by these pages in the past year. Having had our fingers…
1pt win Ardad @5/2, 16:35 York, Thursday
It’s difficult to pass up the chance to back Royal Ascot winner ARDAD at 5/2 in the 16:35 at York, given the soft ground is no negative and on official ratings he is right at the weights even with his 5lb penalty for winning a Group Two at Doncaster last season. Race fitness…
1pt win The Black Princess @7/1, 14:55 York, Thursday
A deluge of rain has followed a bone-dry spring in Britain, degrading the going at York’s Dante meeting to soft. As always, that throws a spanner in the form book and I can see John Gosden’s THE BLACK PRINCESS taking full advantage of conditions in the 14:55. It’s a top-class race with…
Ante-post: Benbatl to win the Dante (8/1) and Derby (33/1)
The first round of English and French Classics are wrapped up with the usual suspects, Aidan O’Brien and French champion trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, landing the majority of spoils. We had one of the winners today with a brilliant performance from Brametot in the French 2000 Guineas, and he and the…
1pt win Brametot @7/2, 15:15 Deauville, Sunday
There’s Group One flat racing in France today with Deauville hosting the French 2000 Guineas over its straight mile. Whilst it’s been bone dry for the start of the British flat season, it’s very soft in France, and that hurts a few chances. Aidan O’Brien won this last year with…
1pt win Winning Story @9/1, 15:35 Chester, Friday
Godolphin’s WINNING STORY looks a decent price to chance in the staying race on Chester’s Friday card after breaking the track record on the all-weather at Lingfield. Very unexposed on turf, he has race fitness and recent form in the book so might be overpriced. Track records at Lingfield hardly…
1000 Guineas bets: the Aidan O'Brien 1-2-3 and Unforgettably Filly each-way
6/4-favourite Churchill winning yesterday’s 2000 Guineas was a bit of a slap in the face and suddenly reasons to take on his stablemate Rhododendron in today’s 1000 Guineas are weak. She isn’t Churchill, though, and she’s been beaten twice already in five starts so lacks a shade of his star quality.…