Part of the undercard to the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday features the Group 2 Greenland Stakes won by Merchant Navy last year for Coolmore. O’Brien enters St. Patricks Day for his first start of the season having failed to improve as a three-year-old. He isn’t the…
1pt win Solid Stone @11/2, 15:00 Newbury, Saturday
The Al Zubarah London Gold Cup Handicap tends to produce Group-level performers and there could be a couple of special horses lining up in this again. Recent winners have included the likes of Time Test and Cannock Chase, with the latters connections running an exciting prospect in the shape of…
1pt win Mythical Magic @20/1, 15:40 Newbury, Saturday
With virtually the entire field rated within a few lbs of each other, Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes looks an ideal betting race. Against very exposed horses all around a similar level, I’m looking for something at a big price that’s on a progressive arc and comes into this race off the…
1pt each-way Almania @22/1, 15:00 York, Thursday
Too Darn Hot missed the 2,000 Guineas after a setback so trainer John Gosden has elected to start the champion two-year-old of 2018 in the 10f Dante Stakes, suggesting a u-turn on his view that he’s not a middle distance horse. Surely victory here would confirm his place in the…
1pt win Devant @5/1, 15:40 Lingfield, Saturday
There’s a decent looking fillies Group 3 race after the feature Oaks and Derby trials on Saturday. Pretty Baby is the current 9/4 favourite for William Haggas. She looked highly progressive last season, which culminated in a Group 3 win at Goodwood in August. She did well on that occasion…
1pt win Cap Francais @4/1, 14:30 Lingfield, Saturday
Aidan O’Brien is in ridiculous form this season and has won virtually every single Derby trial so far, but I’ve serious doubts his Anthony Van Dyck is a good thing at close enough to even money for Lingfield’s Listed trial on Saturday. Make no mistake, he’s favourite for good reason…
1pt win Sir Dragonet @8/1, 1pt win Gentile Bellini @9/1, 15:35 Chester, Wednesday
Derby hopefuls go on trial at Chester in the Vase on Wednesday, with a really good race in prospect. It’s a perfect betting market as eight run, meaning three each-way places, and all have chances with the favourite looking ripe to be taken on on his seasonal reappearance. Norway wasn’t…
1000 Guineas selection: 1pt win Skitter Scatter @6/1, 15:35 Newmarket, Sunday
In contrast to the lead-up to the 2000 Guineas being raced on Saturday, the ante-post betting market for the 1000 Guineas has lacked a dominant figure. In fact, current favourite Qabala was only promoted into 3/1 market leader off-the-back of her taking performance a fortnight ago at Newmarket. Qabala has…
2,000 Guineas selection: Madhmoon (7/1)
This weekend sees Classic action return to Britain as Newmarket hosts the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas Stakes, on Saturday and Sunday respectively, over the Rowley Mile. The ante-post market for the 2,000 Guineas has received several blows in recent months as favourites Too Darn Hot, Calyx and Quorto have all…
1pt win Defi Du Seuil @2/1, 18:40 Punchestown, Thursday
Obvious value has been few and far between during Punchestown this week, particularly in the Graded races where the form horses have dominated the markets and generally run well. Thursday’s card has an excellent Grade 1 with our favourite DEFI DU SEUIL running – and, amazingly, he’s not favourite. That’s…