The Duke Of Cambridge is a hot looking renewal with it difficult to rule out many with confidence. Michael Stoute has two potential Shamardal-sired improvers in the shape of Jubiloso and Queen Power, with the latter marginally preferred having run a career best on her reappearance to Terebellum (second favourite…
1pt each-way Moon King @15/2, 16:40 Ascot, Tuesday
16:40 2m4f Ascot Stakes (A Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-100) National Hunt trainers have had a dab hand in the Ascot Stakes over the last couple of decades, but with no Willie Mullins or Irish entries it looks like it could go to a flat trainer this season. Verdana Blue…
1pt win Trefoil @13/2, 15:00 Newmarket, Sunday
The Pretty Polly Stakes serves up a cracking appetiser to the 1000 Guineas later on the card. An Oaks trial in its own right, it’s difficult to know at this stage whether this crop will be good enough to compete at Epsom in July. One man who knows a thing…
1pt win Love @4/1, 15:35 Newmarket, Sunday
Where were we? Sunday’s rescheduled 1,000 Guineas has 15 runners so the draw is relevant. Raffle Prize looks the likely pace angle to the race, but I don’t think she’ll stay, for all she has smart form. I’m not sure the favourite Milisle’s stamina doubts are factored into her price…
Cheltenham Festival day four tips: Allmankind, Sempo, Clan Des Obeaux
2m1f (2m179y) (New) JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4yo) I’m a huge advocate of backing front runners at Cheltenham, particularly on the New Course, and ALLMANKIND is guaranteed to make the pace in this classy renewal of the Triumph Hurdle. His jumping is solid and he seems to stay two miles at his…
Cheltenham Festival day three tips: Itchy Feet, Relegate, Third Wind, Ard Abhainn
2m4f (2m3f168y) (New) Marsh Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Golden Miller) (Class 1) (5yo+) The market doesn’t know who should be favourite for the Marsh Novices Chase with four essentially within a point of each other at the top of the market. Faugheen would be the story of…
Cheltenham Festival day two tips: Minella Indo, Alfa Mix, Black Tears, Tronador, Palladium
3m½f (3m80y) (Old) RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5yo+) Quite a few surprises among the final declarations for this race. Copperhead has taken up his entry instead of running in the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday, but his yard’s jockey Robbie Power has chosen to ride Slate House instead, which the market…
Cheltenham Festival day one tips: Shishkin, Esprit Du Large, Epatante, Espoir De Guye, Ravenhill, Springfield Fox
Here are our best bets for an excellent opening card at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. Best of luck with everything you back throughout the week. 2m½f (2m87y) (Old) Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4yo+) We only put up two ante-post selections for this year’s Cheltenham and both run in the opener.…
1pt win Pipesmoker @5/1, 13:15 Ascot, Saturday
2m3½f (2m3f58y) Thames Materials Novices’ Hurdle (Class 2) (5yo+) Only the four runners but this is a very good little race. Master Debonair sets a high standard with his course form also coming on bad ground – it may literally be unraceable tomorrow with awful conditions forecast – but his price is prohibitive and…
1pt each-way Mack The Man @8/1, 1pt each-way Thebannerkingrebel @10/1, 15:35 Newbury, Saturday
2m½f Betfair Hurdle (Handicap) (Grade 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) Another excellent looking renewal of the Betfair Hurdle which is set to be run on unusually quick conditions for this time of year. Not So Sleepy looked very impressive on his second start over hurdles when making all at Ascot on…