Day 5 Royal Ascot Tips and Preview Race 1 – It isn’t often that John Magnier is publicly bullish about a horse before they have done it on the track, but he was quite open yesterday when singing the praises of BALLYDOYLE. This filly was named for the famous training yard owned by Magnier’s Coolmore breeding operation and this was clearly no accident. ‘That [her naming] should give you a big hint about what we think of her’, said Magnier, asserting that she was expected to run a big race today. In the light of such confidence, with the yard in sparkling form and jockey Ryan Moore at the very peak of his powers, it’d be a brave man who backed against her and she should form the first part of what I think […]
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Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips and Preview Race 1 – Tricky looking opener from a punting perspective with no fewer than ten of the runners coming here to defend an unbeaten record. US raider BACK AT THE RANCH could be worth siding with as she comes here after an eye-catching win on her second start. Bred to be suited by turf and with top US jockey Joel Rosario on board she looks certain to make a bold bid and is preferred to her stablemate Laxfield Road. Spanish Romance could provide the main danger. Race 2 – This hinges around OL’ MAN RIVER and Aidan O’Brien’s success or otherwise at getting him back on track. The fact that he’s been persevered with is a hint in itself and with the opposition’s claims built around potential rather […]
Royal Ascot Day 3 – Tips and previews Race 1 – Ajaya and Shanghai Glory are of mild interest at double figure prices for those looking to play each way in the hope of finding one to upset the Hannon pair but in reality King Of Rooks and Log Out Island look to set a very tough standard. KING OF ROOKS gets a firm nod as it is impossible to get away from his emphatic success in the National Stakes where he readily accounted for subsequent Woodcote and Coventry winner Buratino. That form looks far in excess of anything his rivals have achieved with the exception of Log Out Island, who also slammed Buratino on his debut and has bags of potential. But his last run was in April while his stable companion has been […]
Royal Ascot day 2 – tips and preview Race 1 – Fadhayyil was beginning her effort in the 1,000 Guineas when a loose bandage appeared to cause her to falter. She is respected, along with Sir Isaac Newton, who has always been held in regard at Ballydoyle. However, Gleneagles’ win in the St James’s Palace yesterday underlined the strength of Ivawood’s claims here and, despite a 5 lb penalty today, he looks set fair to make a bold bid. This drop back to seven furlongs looks ideal as he looked to run out of steam in the last 100 yards at the Curragh. Trainer and jockey are extremely confident (‘banker of the week’ says Hannon, while Richard Hughes has suggested Ivawood ‘won’t come off the bridle’) – IVAWOOD is a confident selection. I fully […]
ROYAL ASCOT Day 1 – Tips and race by race preview Race 1 – Royal Ascot 2016 gets underway with the mouth-watering prospect of witnessing Asian contender Able Friend attempting to add to his reputation by winning outside of his home patch. He’s on a winning streak of six, four of which have been at Group 1 level, but he’ll find this a different proposition and I’m siding with Freddie Head’s French raider SOLOW. A comfortable winner of the Prix D’Ispahan last time, this horse is now nine wins from last ten runs and if reproducing anything resembling his 4 and a half length rout of The Grey Gatsby in Dubai then he’ll stretch Able Friend to the limit. Race 2 – A host of smart horses contest this, and any number of them have […]
Five thoughts on the psychology of betting Tom Segal (Pricewise in the Racing Post) – Keep it Fun “Keep it fun, that’s the key to any gambling. Don’t let it mean too much. If it means too much then it hurts when you lose and if it hurts when you lose, that’s a problem. Just try to keep it nice and calm and fun.” Alan Potts (Punter, author and pundit) On the importance of ‘attitude’ “Once you’ve gained enough experience to be able to analyse races with sufficient accuracy to find a decent percentage of winners, it’s only attitude that can prevent you from making profits. As with golf, it’s the six inches between your ears that will ultimately decide whether you win or lose” Peter Braddock (author ‘Braddock’s Complete Guide to Horse […]