Category Archives: horse racing

horse racing

Talking horse

Concentrating on the high quality card at the Curragh this afternoon, including the Irish Derby. The going is Good to Yielding.

4.40 6f GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) (2yo)

Murillo sets the  form standard after his third in Coventry at Royal Ascot.

Verbal Dexterity was noted after impressing on debut on this track over 7f.

Dropping back to 6f is a concern, but he is expected to go close. Current 4/1 looks fair.

Verbal Dexterity

5.20 1m4f Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) (Entire Colts & Fillies) (3yo)

Wings Of Eagles may be underestimated after what I considered to be an excellent performance when winning the Derby.

He came from a long way back, was hampered on a couple of occasions, yet stayed on to win going away at the finish.

Waldgeist is respected, with the French form being sound.

9/4+ about Wings Of Eagles is fair.

Wings Of Eagles

 

Had our first bet of the week yesterday after a very successful Royal Ascot. We were rewarded with a 10/3 winner.

We currently have special introductory terms for the summer campaign. More details plus your free information pack at: www.slh.co.uk

horse racing

Value at Cartmel

Five turf meetings in Britain today and not a lot of quality to be had. Although the standard does pick up tomorrow.

The going at most meetings  has switched markedly from the firm ground of a few days ago to a general Good to Soft.

During the summer I concentrate on the better quality flat and the summer jumps. Today we will be looking at the two opening races from Cartmel, both 2m 6f hurdles.  If you have never been racing at Cartmel, it is a track well worth a visit.

2.20 2m6f Jennings Cumberland Ale Maiden Hurdle (Class 5) (4yo+)

Its Pandorama’s form is suspect. Steps up in trip from the 2m 1f when finishing second here at the end of last month.  7/4 my tissue

Schlipf can improve for the step up in trip in a very weak race.

I go:

7/4 Its Pandorama

3/1 Schlipf

The books go 11/10 and 7/2, at the prices Schlipf is preferred.

Cartmel racecourse

 

2.50 2m6f  Cumbria Grand Hotel At Grange Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-120)

12 runners and most have a bit to prove. Silver Shuffle is a non-runner.

Boruma sets the recent form standard and looks sure to go close.

Attention Seaker ran with some promise on the flat returning from an absence on latest start.

Munsaab is a chaser who is favourably handicapped over hurdles. His chance is respected.

My tissue:

2/1 Boruma

4/1 Attention Seaker

5/1 Munsaab

Munsaab winning at Cartmel

 

Royal Ascot proved to be rewarding for us as our five selective bets produced a profit on stakes of 114%.

We currently have special introductory terms for the summer campaign. More details plus your free information pack at: www.slh.co.uk

horse racing

Favourites upset?

Final day of Royal Ascot and it has been a thoroughly enjoyable meeting for true followers of horse racing.

We have had consistent Good to Firm going all week and it remains so today. For form students this will make the full five days a solid point of reference.

2.30 7f Chesham Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (2yo)

Sixteen to post and the clear market leader is Aidan O’Brien’s filly September.

She impressed on her debut at Leopardstown on yielding ground. Races on quicker ground today.

Masar’s debut win at Goodwood is strong form.

He looks sure to figure and at the prices is my preferred.

Currently the books go 11/10 September and 6/1 Masar.

Masar

 

4.20 6f Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (4yo+)

 

An in form Limato would set a very high standard. Winner of two Group 1’s last season.

However he has disappointed on his last two starts. It will be worth noting the level of market support.

Magical Memory’s reappearance run at York was very encouraging and he is expected to go close. Currently a general 8/1.

Magical Memory

 

We currently have special introductory terms for the summer campaign. More details plus your free information pack at: www.slh.co.uk

horse racing

Hurry Up Harry

Another fabulous day of world class racing from Royal Ascot. The going remains at Good to Firm and the course has been watered.

Yesterday that watering saw an ‘evening up’ of chances for the lower drawn on the straight course after the high draws had been dominant the previous day. I am anticipating that outcomes today will be more weighted towards where the pace is rather than the starting position on the course.

3.05 1m4f King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 1) (3yo)

 Crystal Ocean expected to improve for this step up to 12f.

His chance is reflected in the market who quote around the 9/4 mark.

Best Of Days was a good 2yo and is worth a very close look on seasonal reappearance.

Salouen ran far better than finishing position suggests in the Derby and is my marginal preference.  Currently a general 15/2.

The disruption caused by the weather to preparations this season is amplified by quite a few in this race.

Salouen (right)

 

3.40 6f Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo)

What a race!!

Three high class sprinters head the market.

At the prices I favour Harry Angel, who impressed greatly on his latest start at Haydock.

I expect him to reverse form with Blue Point, who beat him over c/d earlier in the season.

Caravaggio may well be a superstar, but will probably need to be to beat Harry Angel.

There is a bit of 10/3 on offer for Harry Angel, which looks about right.

Harry Angel

 

Just the three bets at Royal Ascot this week and a profit on stakes of over 100%.

horse racing

Mou to progress

Two races for us to quickly look at. One each from Sandown and Musselburgh. The going at both is Good to Firm.

2.40 Sandown

5f Listed sprint and the only race on the card being shown by ITV4.

Both Fashion Queen and Equimou put up career best performances on their latest starts.

Both are expected to progress further.

My provisional tissue:

Fashion Queen  7/2

Equimou 11/2

 

Equimou winning at Hamilton

3.10 Musselburgh

 

5f sprint handicap worth over £62,000 to the winner.

Gamesome is fairly handicapped and has a good draw. Expected to go well in a wide open race.

Anything around 10/1 is reasonable.

Gamesome

You can take up the Royal Ascot special membership from today through to Sunday 25th. Just £25 for access to all my work.

Further details and immediate subscription via: http://www.slh.co.uk/royal-ascot-2017-special-membership/

Royal Ascot
horse racing

Royal Ascot special

My main concentration today is on the evening card at Aintree and my continued preparations for Royal Ascot. The afternoon flat cards are not appealing and there is one race at Newton Abbot to look at.

3.55 Newton Abbot

Bagad Bihoue will find it difficult to give 10lbs to Kayf Blanco, if that one puts in an adequate round of jumping. I have them in at evens the pair, which is quite a bit different to the early layers.

Kayf Blanco

You can take up the Royal Ascot special membership from today. Ten days for £25 and access to all my work. Further details and immediate subscription via: http://www.slh.co.uk/royal-ascot-2017-special-membership/

 

Royal Ascot

 

Seven meetings and fifty-one races in Britain tomorrow. Come back in the morning for my early analysis of selected races.

horse racing

Batgirl

The rain coming in from the Atlantic across the north and Wales has produced softer conditions for six of the eight meetings today across Britain and Ireland. Only Newmarket and Stratford have escaped the deluge. The continued absence of consistent going has been a troubling feature of the summer season for all concerned.

Two races for us to consider today with widely contrasting conditions. At Haydock it is Soft with further rain forecast and Stratford have Good ground which has been selectively watered.

3.30 Haydock 1m4f  Betway Pinnacle Stakes (Group 3)

Ajman Princess won convincingly on latest start at Goodwood in a Listed event, although she did flash her tail when urged by the whip. Soft ground shouldn’t be an issue.

Bateel moved from David Simcock  to the Graffard yard in France at the end of April this year. She is suited by testing ground, has solid form and looks sure to go close.

5/2 joint favs my provisional tissue. Laganore now a non-runner.

Bateel

7.00 Stratford 2m½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

Tight handicap where most of the runners have form that ties them together.

Barman is returning from a six month break and is expected to go well.

4/1 fav my provisional tissue.

Our Royal Ascot special membership starts next Saturday and runs to Sunday 25th June.

Full membership is just £25. For full details, drop me an email at: steve@slh.co.uk

horse racing

Haydock highlight

Only 11 days to Royal Ascot and the racing on offer today is modest.

Quick look at one race this evening at Haydock where the going is Soft after plenty of rain in the North-West. The forecast is for a sunny day with a drying westerly wind.

 Haydock 7.25

 A 5f Listed race with prize money of just over £37,000. Far and away the premier race on the card and the day overall.

 Final Venture and Ornate have the best form although neither are certain to produce it on softer ground.

After a good spell in Dubai, Final Venture finished a promising fourth in the Temple Stakes over today’s C/D.

 Ornate ran an excellent second on his first start for his present stable before disappointing on his latest start in the Group 3 Palace House at Newmarket.

 Final Venture has soft ground form from earlier in his career and is preferred. 

 Difficult to price, but 2/1 would be fair.

 

Final Venture (near side)

Applications for my Royal Ascot special membership will be available from tomorrow on this site.

Three bets so far this week and two winners. For more details about my work and your free info pack, go to: www.slh.co.uk

horse racing

Derby day

Looking at the Derby today. The going at Epsom is Good and the course has been watered.

With total prize money standing at £1.625 million for the 19 declared, the 2017 Derby will be the richest race ever run in Britain.

The winner collects  £921,000.

4.30 Epsom 1m4f Investec Derby (Group 1) 3y.o. Entire Colts & Fillies

Cracksman and Cliffs Of Moher are the two contenders that could show significant improvement.

Their form ties together through Bay Of Poets, who was placed behind both horses on their latest starts. The pair are both around the 5/1 mark in the early betting.

Of the bigger priced runners, Best Solution is expected to go well, having won Lingfield’s Derby Trial. Currently a general 14/1.

My marginal preference is for Cliffs Of Moher.

After the disappointment with Rhododendron in the Oaks yesterday, Aidan O’Brien will be keen to bounce back with another classic winner.

Cliffs Of Moher

Around the country the going is on the firm side of good, with the exception of Doncaster who report soft ground after plenty of rainfall. Already quite a number of non-runners at the Yorkshire track due to unsuitable ground.

 

horse racing

Journey to progress again?

Going to look at the Coronation Cup and the Oaks. With both races there are plenty of unknown factors to weigh up, which makes accurate pricing even more difficult.

The going at Epsom is Good and a warm cloudy day is forecast.

Epsom 3.10 1m4f  Investec Coronation Cup (Group 1) (4yo+)

Highland Reel sets the standard if at his best. He was well below form on his latest start in Dubai in unsuitable conditions.

Journey progressed throughout last season, putting up her best performance at Ascot on her final start in October. Today is her seasonal debut. She could be the one to take advantage if Highland Reel is below par.

I provisionally go:

Highland Reel 9/4

Journey 7/2

Journey

Epsom 4.30 1m4f  Investec Oaks (Group 1) (3yo)

 

Enable stayed on well to win at Chester and is expected to go close.

However there’s a chance that Rhododendron could be a higher class filly and can continue Aidan O’Brien’s excellent record in this race.

She ran an excellent second in the 1000 Guineas behind subsequent Irish Guineas winner Winter.

I provisionally go:

Rhododendron  1/1

Enable   5/1

Rhododendron

Looking to build upon a good start to the week with two winners from our only three bets plus the additional race analysis for members own use has been extremely accurate providing more selective  winners.

For more information about my work, visit: www.slh.co.uk