The Brigadier

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

Another detailed / interesting write up / read from The Brigadier......agree with Saturday re Ascot / trainers, so i will see how i do today with 30pts staked, then small wins / EW tomorrow possibly. initially like the EW for me on Mr Wagyu and Forza Orta. 
 

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

We have eight races from our good friends at ITV this afternoon although I must admit we’re lacking in a bit of quality which isn’t surprising really with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Beverley and Haydock share the limelight today with the ground riding on the fast side at both tracks although with the soon to be retired clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright in charge of the watering at the latter we may have to revise our thoughts come race time. Here’s my free tips to beat the bookies.   Haydock 13:15 Today’s action kicks off with a ten runner listed race, the Skybet Achilles Stakes run over 5F. The best in at today’s weights is Charlie Hill’s Eauilateral who if able to reproduce his latest effort when runner up, only beaten a length, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago will be hard to beat even if he did have an advantage that day racing against the near side rail. Frankie Dettori is having a terrific season winning on 13 of his 40 rides and is a mouth watering jockey booking. There shouldn’t be anything between Ed Bethell’s Regional and Karl Burke’s Korker on York handicap form from last month and both should be thereabouts. The only three year old in the contest and claiming a valuable 7lb age allowance is the Keith Dagleish trained Prince Of Pillo who looks quite interesting but hasn’t been seen for 246 days and may just need this run. Last year’s winner Raasel, owned by The Horse Watchers was 7 1/4L behind Equilateral in The Temple Stakes a fortnight ago and even allowing for him racing on the slower part of the track has to up his game to turn the tables. Drawn on the wing it’s Equilateral, the clear recent form horse, for me.   EQUILATERAL 1 point win @ 10/3 Boylesports   Haydock 13:50 A competitive fourteen runner class 3 6F 0-95 handicap is up next. Top weight and my pick is the John Quinn trained Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in the Summer as opposed to the rest of the year and looked to be reaching peak fitness when running third at Epsom in a similar contest a week ago when third to Badr, only beaten 1 1/4L. He’s on a winning mark and loves to hear his hooves rattle. Last year’s winner, the flying grey (near white) Silver Samurai has yet to really hit top form this season and is still 3lb higher than his winning mark of 12 months ago for trainer Marco Botti. His time is near but maybe not today. The current favourite All The Kings Man also ran at the Epsom Derby meeting a week ago but on the Friday when running a fine third, beaten under a length to Austrian Theory over a mile and half a furlong and drops back 2 1/2F today. Even with the eye catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore he may just find himself run off his hooves by some experience speedsters and looks poor value to my eyes. Julie Camacho’s Raatea is an interesting runner having run with distinct promise on his re-appearance when 5th to Probe at Newmarket in a better class handicap than this and can be competitive but for me it’s the top weight Mr Wagyu who can boost his Royal Ascot Wokingham claims by taking this handicap.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234   Beverley 14:05 Just the nine two year olds go to post for this class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5F. To be honest it’s not a race that really strikes me as a contest where there’s a value bet. The current favourite and probably the most likely winner is the Richard Fahey trained Clipper Logistics owned Midnight Affair who ran a fine second on his debut at Newmarket in a race won iby George Boughey’s well touted Soprano. The issue with that form is that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all been beaten since. I’m happy to let him win at around the even money mark with the form not working out. Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda showed promise on his debut at Sandown in a bunch finish although that form too has been de-valued since by the 2nd and 3rd being beaten. The Middleham Park owned Ziggy’s Phoenix has questions to answer on this lightning fast ground having won both of his starts on soft ground whilst the Charlie Johnstone trained Never Fear is dropping in distance and the horse he beat for his win has been soundly beaten since. I don’t really see an angle here and am happy to keep my powder dry so it’s a no bet race for me.   Haydock 14:25 Ten go to post for this class 2 0-105 1M 4F handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles a brace of runners in the long time absent Live Your Dream who after 609 days off the track will surely need this run and Global Heat who may need the handicapper to drop him a few more pounds before reaching his winning mark again. The ground may be too quick (although you never know with Haydock and Kirkland with his watering can!) for Charlie Fellowes’ Cumulonimbus whilst top weight Get Shirty may be still a few pounds too high in the handicap although I still feel he can run a good race here. My pick however is the bottom weight trained by Kevin Ryan in Forza Orta who seems to be building up to something following two runs this Spring at Thirsk and York dropping 3lb. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark which came at York last July. Cam Hardie takes over for the first time and looks good each way value in an open looking contest. Keith Dagleish’s Good Show is lightly raced and is only up 3lb for his win last time at Hamilton and on only his seventh start can also be thereabouts. Keep an eye on the Terry Kent trained Cosmic Desert who was bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable for £100,000 and it will be interesting to see if he retains his ability.   FORZA ORTA 1 point each way @ 8/1 BetVictor 1/5th 123   Beverley 14:40 The weakest race of the eight shown by ITV is up next with a class 4 0-80 7F 96 yard handicap with ten declared. There’s quite a few here that are hard to fancy looking either moderate or out of form and the pair that I like are the top and bottom weights. Heading the weights is Mick Appleby’s United Front. Appleby has been slow to get going this season but he seems to have turned a corner now and his runner here is attractively weighted on the turf compared to the all weather with his turf rating 12lb lower than his all-weather mark. He possibly bumped into one last time in the Gosden handicap debutant Lady Eros and only a pound higher can take this. Bottom weight Ugo Gregory has fallen down to a winning mark and appears to like this track with course figures here reading 8118413242. He seems in good form recently finishing a nose second to Cliffcake over course and distance 19 days ago. Those two can battle out the finish with slight preference for United Front with Oisin Murphy an attractive jockey booking.   UNITED FRONT 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 123   Haydock 15:00 Only six have declared for this intriguing Group 3 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (previously known as The Pinnacle Stakes) run over 1M 3F 175 yards for fillies and mares. I’m against the John & Thady Gosden runner Mimikyu who has a 5lb penalty here for her Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. She should have been winning on her re-appearance at Goodwood but was caught close home and although that will have tightened her up she could be vulnerable to a couple of lightly raced promising types. Firstly we have Roger Varian’s Modaara who has won two small novice stakes contests on the all weather easily and is very hard to assess but could be useful with entries in the Hardwicke Stakes and Irish St Leger suggesting her connections believe she may be. Secondly there’s the Harry and Roger Charlton trained Time Lock, a Juddmonte four year old who’s neck second to Haskoy in the listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last August is an excellent piece of form with Haskoy going on to finish 4th in the St Leger and win the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury last month. It has to be said however that Time Lock was a tad disappointing on her re-appearance when only second in a listed contest at Goodwood to Luisa Casati. Charlton’s horses were out of form then and with that run under her belt and the stable now firing in the winners (4 from 11 in last fortnight) looks the bet here.   TIME LOCK 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Beverley 3.15 A small but select field of seven line up for this 5F Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes with the best bet of the day lining up. Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and can take this prestigious £40,000 added contest with his promising Cuban Slide who his trainer himself called ‘a smart colt’ having won on his debut when having been left at the start came through to win easily by 9L. I’m not entirely sure what he beat as the runner up and fourth have been beaten since from that four runner novice stakes at Musselburgh but it was more of the visual performance that stood out that day. He looks the best bet of the day and let’s hope there’s no issue with being slowly away again. Richard Fahey’s Bombay Bazaar looked good winning over course and distance last month although that was on easy ground and fast ground will be totally different today. Kevin Ryan’s representative is Room Service who went off a 20/1 chance when winning on his debut at Wetherby and has a chance whilst Richard Hannon saddles the Amo Racing owned Fusterlandia who ran second on his debut at Leicester. An informative race but Cuban Slide made a big impression on me when winning at Musslebugh and with his handlers positive words afterwards could be too good for his rivals here.   CUBAN SLIDE 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill   Haydock 15:35 Another small field, this time with just the six going to post for the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes run over 7F of the Lancashire course. There is an intriguing runner in the Australian contender The Astrologist who is jointly top rated here. He will have to show a bit more mind than he did on his British debut at York 24 days ago when only 7th of 10 ( beaten 7 1/2L) to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6F. He has won at today’s trip so that shouldn’t be a problem mind. Stan Moore’s flag bearer Wizard Of Edge had Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby 3/4L behind in last month’s Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury over a mile with the drop to 7F more likely to suit the latter and he looks sure to run a big race for his in form trainer. Boardman arrives in good form having won a handicap at his beloved Chester a fortnight ago but has it to do at the weights here with Gorak even more so. Karl Burke is having a fantastic season especially with his sprinters of all ages and saddles his speedy El Caballo who won the Sandy Lane at this track over 6F last season. He’s flopped on both starts since with excuses for both and having already proven his stamina for today’s trip of 7F when winning on All-Weather Championship Final’s day last year can take this valuable contest with Clifford Lee in the saddle.   EL CABALLO 1 point win @ 3/1 bet365   All prices were accurate at time of writing.

Listowel 5.50
Maggie And Me
Each way
This is a maiden and the selection gets weight from the entire field.
Went well to be 2.25 lengths second over a mile latest.
Exposed but in with a chance even though vunerable to any well bred sorts.....

Gutted ....silkie had no run and loses by a nostril .....I've no doubt he'd have won with a clean run ew money ...clarendon 3rd ew too 

Had a small bet on
8.45 Ling - Parisiac - 11/2 - don't often bet in apprentice handicaps, but this one is falling in the weights (16lbs lower than it has won off within the last year). It is only a 4 year old, and wears blinkers 1st time. Don't know much about the apprentice jockey, but it is a small field so hopefully gets a good run. Trainer Alice Haynes (part owner) is in reasonable form, and at the price looks fair value.

Interesting Derby will have to think about that result for a while, fair play i got the winner all wrong but thats racing for you.

Flat selection
Doncaster 4.00
SAINT GEORGE

Oddest Derby betting i can remember this year, anyone else think the same? Dettori and or rodin fav based on what? Dettori last ride in a derby (allegedly). Rodin bombed out despite being touted as the best thing since sliced bread LTO. Dante was run in a very fast time but you can bet those first 2 at 12/1 14/1 and the unlucky Passenger 7/1, that apart from others with chances.  Its not a big jump to think there will be a whopping price in the 1st 4 somewhere. Weird indeedy.

Stratford 6.50 Shantou Express 2/1
Not the strongest of races and he won this last year off 127 where as he runs off 122 today which indicates a drop in form. Ran average in a class 2 last time out in a deeper race. This is a lot easier and everything is there to suit . 
 
Stratford 8.20 Coup De Pinceau 4/1
Ran well last time out and hopefully can hold his form today off the same mark over this long trip where  he usually stays well with Harry Cobden on board . Not sure the favourite will stay and the other chief threat Tommie Beau has a 7Ibs penalty to contend with which basically has him running off a career high mark and is not sure to back up his win last time out. I think the selection offers a bit of value in this 4 horse race. 
5 points win both 

I am sticking with my original figures in the derby, i am fairly confident that they are accurate on what we have seen so far, Stout has previous (workforce et al) and i am guessing Passenger is very special and the figures support this. I wouldnt put anyone off backing all 4 stout horses tomorrow although i am underwhelmed by the lack of value so 3 trebles and a 4fold for me.
elsewhere on the card 245 Estate forecast- between the sticks 320 the dash well i am going to risk old git Lord Riddiford that 33/1 is far to big, Vintage clarets and Lihou wont be far away, both from good draws.
1. The Foxes         139            12/1
2. White Birch      136            14/1
3. Passenger        131++p     13/2 
4 Military Order  129             9/2
Outsider with a place chance My Dear Friend 150/1

Going with, Frankley Dettori's rides one for  John & Thardy Gosden and Mr Ralph Beckett. 
Double. 
1.30. Arrest         7/2
2.10. Prosperous Voyage     6/4
singles & double 
stk 6.00       rtn 36.50.
Good luck all. 
 
,

Well done to The Brigadier for 2 nice Friday Epsom winners 👍......not a 1st day racing on here i anticipated, loss of 50pts!
soooo hey ho day 2 at Epsom better i hope....60pts stakes
1.30    Passenger  13/2  ( betfair )   10pts win   ( added to friday list on sat morning )
1.30    Arrest  4/1 ( betfair odds boost offer )   10 pts win
1.30    White Birch  12/1 ( betfair 4 places)    5 pts EW
1.30    Dubai Mile    16/1 (betfair 4 places)   5pts EW
 
2.45    Miss Brazen 10/1  (betfair 4 places)   5pts EW
2.45    Zuffolo   12/1  ( betfair 4 places)    5pts EW
 
3.20   Ancient Times  9/1 ( betfair 5 places)   5pts EW
3.20   Lihou   14/1   (betfair 5 places)     5 pts EW
 
3.55  Kadovar  12/1   (betfair 4 places)    5pts EW
3.55  Perfect Play  12/1  (betfair 4 places)   5pts EW
 
Good luck to all with todays racing
 
 

In the dash,I’ve backed Clarendon House (2)and a smaller each way on Recon Mission(1) ,,Against public perception that you need a high draw ,,when in fact over the last 10 runnings,when the going’s come up fast ,ie Good -Firm (which has happened 4 times) the winners have been drawn ;;2,1,1,2 ,,, at sp’s of 33/1,25/1,16/1 & 50/1 ,,,,Looks decent value to me 👍

This Saturday sees the running of the fastest horse race in the world, the Epsom Dash. The 5-furlong race is all downhill until the last 100 yards. The current world record of 53.69 seconds was set by Stone of Folca in 2012.
The race is open to horses aged three years or older. 20 go to post and off time is 15.20.
Most bookmakers are offering up to 6 places which makes this an excellent betting proposition.
 
I have looked at the statistics over the last 9 years and these are my key conclusions.
It is best to keep clear of those at the top of the betting. Just 2 winners from 64 runners have been in the top 7 in the betting forecast. The remainder have recorded 6 wins from 48 runs with a profit of 98 points.
Claiming jockeys have a poor record with no wins from 26 attempts.
Horses bred in Ireland have the best record with 5 wins from 62 runs and a profit of 50 points.
 
3 horses meet these criteria.
 
ZARZYNI 16/1
CAME FROM THE DARK 16/1
SAMPERS SEVEN 11/1
 
I suggest backing these each way with bookmakers offering 5/6 places.

It’s Derby day and the ITV cameras are showing all eight races from an intriguing card from Epsom where following extensive watering throughout the week the ground should be riding perfect with the official report reading as good. I’ve some strong fancies in the last three handicaps today so here’s my racing tips to beat the bookies.   Epsom 12:50 The day kicks off with the Group 3 Betfred Diomed Stakes run over 1M 113 yards. The one to beat has to be the Godolphin horse Highland Avenue. He’s been a talented horse over the years and it’s his latest effort which makes him a stand out here. He appeared to be used as a pacemaker for the re-appearing 2021 Derby winner Adayar at Newmarket in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes last month keeping on well to finish third to his stablemate beaten 3L, just 1/2L behind the runner up Anmaat with Sir Michael Stoute’s Regal Reality some 11L further back in fourth. Anmaat was out last week in France winning a Group 1 and that looks a good piece of form, certainly better than anything his opponents have mustered in recent times. Handicap ratings have David O’Meara’s Escobar only a pound behind the favourite but he’s best in big field handicaps and was soundly beaten in this contest last season. Imperial Fighter is out of form and Marie’s Diamond has a stone to find with Highland Avenue whilst the only three year old in the field Kolsai maybe the one to chase Highland Avenue home. The only negative against the favourite is the stable form of Charlie Appleby who (upto racing on Thursday) had had just 4 winners from his last 32 runners which by his standards is pretty poor.   HIGHLAND AVENUE 1 point win @ 5/4 BetVictor   Epsom 13:30 This year’s Derby is run earlier than normal due to avoiding a clash with the FA Cup Final and let’s hope there’s no issues with the Animal Rising hooligans who are planning to disrupt the great race. Run over 1M 4F we have a stellar field of 14 for this year’s renewal. Aidan O’Brien struck top form last weekend when winning with Guineas disappointment Little Big Bear and Paddington in the Irish 2000 Guineas and will be hoping that Auguste Rodin can also bounce back from his flop in the 2000 Guineas. He obviously could but at the current prices he’s impossible to put up after his lack lustre effort there for whatever reason. The Dante at York is always the best trial in my opinion and the best of the three that ran that day may well be Sir Michael Stoute’s Passenger. On a day in which Richard Kingscote would like to forget (Astro King anyone!) he constantly ran in to trouble and was flying when finally extracted to finish third to the winner The Foxes beaten only 1 1/2L. Would he have won? It’s hard to tell but that was only his second ever start and improvement is highly likely here stepping up a furlong and a half. He was supplemented for this at the cost of £85,000 and is on the short list for the team that took the race last year. Charlie Appleby’s Military Order, as a full brother to the 2021 winner Adayar, has to be respected. He’s done more coming into the race than his brother did when winning this a couple of years ago with the only negative for me the form of the stable who just aren’t firing on all cylinders. Arrest would be a fairytale result for Frankie Dettori riding in his last Epsom Derby before retirement and that is a distinct possibility although he could have done with easier ground. If you like Arrest then surely it’s worth backing Charlie Johnstone’s Dubai Mile who beat him at Saint Cloud last Autumn over 10F and had an ideal prep for this when running a credible 5th in the 2000 Guineas. It’s baffling that he’s twice the price of Arrest and has to be part of the staking plan along with Passenger. An intriguing race , as always, let the best horse win.   PASSENGER 1 point each way @ 6/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234 DUBAI MILE 1 point each way @ 16/1 Betfred 1/5th 1234   Epsom 14:10 Just the six go to post for the 1M 113 yards Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a Group 3 contest for fillies and mares only. Sir Michael Stoute’s Potapova ran second in this last year but her latest run and re-appearance was blighted by an irregular heartbeat with Ryan Moore pulling her up at Goodwood. It’s hard to fancy her after that effort. Half a length behind Potapova last year was the Archie Watson trainer Roman Mist who ran out a good winner of the listed contest at Goodwood that Potapova pulled up in a month ago on heavy ground. This looks tougher mind and has 11lb to find with favourite and most likely winner Prosperous Voyage. Ralph Beckett’s four year old Prosperous Voyage, a winner here as a two year old, kept top company last season finishing runner up in the 1000 Guineas and causing an upset in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting when defeating Inspiral at 16/1. The ground was probably against her on her re-appearance when only 5th of 9 in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on soft ground and back on a sounder surface and dropped in class looks the one they all have to beat. Ed Walker’s Random Harvest has to shoulder a 3lb penalty which will make this tough for her whilst the ground surely isn’t soft enough for Pam Sly’s flag bearer Astral Beau. The Gosden’s Shaara hated the ground last time and has featured promisingly in gallop reports since, she might be the one to outrun her odds and chase the favourite home.   PROSPEROUS VOYAGE 2 points win @ 7/4 BetVictor   Epsom 14:45 A new race for the card is the class 3 three years only 5F ‘Dash’ handicap with fourteen declared for this inaugural contest. There’s plenty of horses with chances here including Salisbury one-two Estate and Betweenthesticks from a week ago and there shouldn’t be much between that pair at the revised terms although that was a class 5 handicap and this looks tougher especially now they have both been re-assessed. The one I like here is the John Quinn trained Jm Jungle who stepped up his form when tackling fast ground for the first time this season when runner up at York in a competitive class 3 handicap a fortnight ago with Miss Brazen and Tatterstall back in 6th and 7th respectively. He’s been raised 4lb for that fine effort and with his trainer doing so well at this track looks the one to be on here with Jason Hart on board. The interesting one in the field is the Roger Varian trained Russet Gold who we haven’t seen since last October having being gelded since. With Harry Davies, who still claims 3lb, on top booked he’s one to watch carefully in the betting.   JM JUNGLE 1 point each way @ 6/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234   Epsom 15:20 The traditional Derby day cavalry charge is up next with twenty speedsters declared for the class 2 Dash Handicap run over 5F with the downhill track on fast ground likely to produce a real spectacle and a very fast time. Last year’s runner up Mountain Peak is one of two Ed Walker runners here (the other being Came From The Dark who would prefer easier ground) and can run well despite his poor effort last time out at York ( a track he’s never run that well at). Clarendon House is another with claims having had excuses for his latest effort when a fine 5th at York losing a shoe during the race. Also there with a chance are the consistent Lihou, trained by sprint specialist David Evans and ridden by Hollie Doyle who can turn the tables on his recent conqueror Angle Land on 4lb better terms for 3/4L. David & Nicola Barron’s Zarzyni is also on my short list having dropped to a mark 5lb lower than his last winning one and wasn’t disgraced at York last week. The draw has seen winners coming from all across the track so I’m not getting bogged down with that and I will look for the best horse. Hopefully that might be Ian Williams’s Mokaatil whose form figures at this specialist track reads 41110 which includes victory in this very race in 2021 and a credible 4th last year. His jockey is the Irish Sean D Bowen (not to be confused with the jump jockey!) who is a new name to me but has won on 13 of his 272 mounts in his native country and gets to claim the full allowance of 7lb here which puts Mokaatil on a mark of 78 which is 4lb less than his win two years ago and 9lb less than last year’s 4th. With the cobwebs blown away with a run at Newmarket 7 weeks ago on unsuitable easy ground he looks sure to run well in a wide open sprint handicap.   MOKAATIL 1 point each way @ 12/1 William Hill 1/5th 123456   Epsom 15:55 A maximum field of 14 go to post for this class 2 10F Betfred Lester Piggott Handicap for three year olds only for which I think there’s a decent each way bet. Ralph Beckett’s Balance Play looks thrown in on his handicap debut here off of 81 having finished runner up to the subsequent winner Quddwah at Salisbury a month ago. The winner has won again since and is now rated 95 whilst the third that day Greek Order has also won since and is now rated 85. Nicely drawn in stall 6 this 280,000 guineas yearling by Lope De Vega will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni and looks excellent each way value with firms paying an extra place. As one would expect in a race of this nature there are plenty of dangers lurking including Charlie Hills’ Lose Your Wad who, like the selection, is also making his handicap debut with his form already working out well and with a future Group entry at Royal Ascot further enhancing his claims. John and Thady Gosden saddle a brace of runners with Torito (handicap debut) preferred from soft ground Ascot winner Maasai Mara whilst the Sir Michael Stoute runner Fox Journey is going the right way having won at Newmarket last time but now is 9lb higher in the handicap. Balance Play is a confident each way bet.   BALANCE PLAY 1 1/2 points each way @ 7/1 bet365 1/5th 1234   Epsom 16:30 Only 9 have declared for this 1M 4F class 2 handicap. Max Mayhem was a winner on his stable debut for Kevin Philippart De Foy in the valuable Roseberry Handicap at Kempton on the all weather in April and off of just a 4lb higher mark has definite claims today. Scampi was a 16/1 winner for Hayley Turner and Andrew Balding at York last time but is now upped 6lb and has to race off of his highest ever handicap mark. Sir Mark Prescott has his string in excellent form currently and his representative Sea King sporting first time cheek pieces is another with claims but this can go to the David Menuisier trained Caius Chorister who racked up a five timer last summer including two course and distance wins on fast ground bringing her track form figures to 112. She ran well on ground that may not have suited on her re-appearance in the City And Suburban Handicap here over a trip on the short side when runner up to Bad Company and one would think this race has been the target since especially with Ryan Moore booked. Her future entry in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot later in the month may not be too much of a pipe dream where she to win here off of 99 and is a strong fancy.   CAIUS CHORISTER 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Epsom 17:05 The day finishes with a class 2 6F handicap with another maximum field of 14 going to post. Jennie Candlish’s Probe won nicely at Newmarket a month ago with Apollo One back in fourth (7lb better off here for 3 1/2L) and even with a 7lb rise can be competitive from a favourable draw in 4 whilst Hughie Morrison’s Haymaker comes here having won at Windsor 12 days ago and has to race off of a 4lb higher handicap mark today. Robert Eddery has his small string in decent form and saddles his Spring Bloom here who was last seen winning at Newmarket a fortnight ago and a 4lb rise my not stop him being competitive. The horse I’m keen on though is last year’s victor Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in June and July of 15 wins from 30 starts for a level £1 stakes profit at SP of £69.35 (with 10 other times hitting the frame as well) as opposed to his record outside of those months which reads 0 from 43. John Quinn’s eight year came out of stall 12 last year when winning so hopefully a wide draw of 11 won’t be too much of a hinderance. His latest run at York when 7th to Bielsa proved he’s on the way back and off of a handicap mark only 2lb higher than last years win can further his fantastic summer record under regular rider Jason Hart.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 5/1 Paddy Power 1/5th 1234   All odds accurate at time of writing.

It’s Derby day and the ITV cameras are showing all eight races from an intriguing card from Epsom where following extensive watering throughout the week the ground should be riding perfect with the official report reading as good. I’ve some strong fancies in the last three handicaps today so here’s my racing tips to beat the bookies.   Epsom 12:50 The day kicks off with the Group 3 Betfred Diomed Stakes run over 1M 113 yards. The one to beat has to be the Godolphin horse Highland Avenue. He’s been a talented horse over the years and it’s his latest effort which makes him a stand out here. He appeared to be used as a pacemaker for the re-appearing 2021 Derby winner Adayar at Newmarket in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes last month keeping on well to finish third to his stablemate beaten 3L, just 1/2L behind the runner up Anmaat with Sir Michael Stoute’s Regal Reality some 11L further back in fourth. Anmaat was out last week in France winning a Group 1 and that looks a good piece of form, certainly better than anything his opponents have mustered in recent times. Handicap ratings have David O’Meara’s Escobar only a pound behind the favourite but he’s best in big field handicaps and was soundly beaten in this contest last season. Imperial Fighter is out of form and Marie’s Diamond has a stone to find with Highland Avenue whilst the only three year old in the field Kolsai maybe the one to chase Highland Avenue home. The only negative against the favourite is the stable form of Charlie Appleby who (upto racing on Thursday) had had just 4 winners from his last 32 runners which by his standards is pretty poor.   HIGHLAND AVENUE 1 point win @ 5/4 BetVictor   Epsom 13:30 This year’s Derby is run earlier than normal due to avoiding a clash with the FA Cup Final and let’s hope there’s no issues with the Animal Rising hooligans who are planning to disrupt the great race. Run over 1M 4F we have a stellar field of 14 for this year’s renewal. Aidan O’Brien struck top form last weekend when winning with Guineas disappointment Little Big Bear and Paddington in the Irish 2000 Guineas and will be hoping that Auguste Rodin can also bounce back from his flop in the 2000 Guineas. He obviously could but at the current prices he’s impossible to put up after his lack lustre effort there for whatever reason. The Dante at York is always the best trial in my opinion and the best of the three that ran that day may well be Sir Michael Stoute’s Passenger. On a day in which Richard Kingscote would like to forget (Astro King anyone!) he constantly ran in to trouble and was flying when finally extracted to finish third to the winner The Foxes beaten only 1 1/2L. Would he have won? It’s hard to tell but that was only his second ever start and improvement is highly likely here stepping up a furlong and a half. He was supplemented for this at the cost of £85,000 and is on the short list for the team that took the race last year. Charlie Appleby’s Military Order, as a full brother to the 2021 winner Adayar, has to be respected. He’s done more coming into the race than his brother did when winning this a couple of years ago with the only negative for me the form of the stable who just aren’t firing on all cylinders. Arrest would be a fairytale result for Frankie Dettori riding in his last Epsom Derby before retirement and that is a distinct possibility although he could have done with easier ground. If you like Arrest then surely it’s worth backing Charlie Johnstone’s Dubai Mile who beat him at Saint Cloud last Autumn over 10F and had an ideal prep for this when running a credible 5th in the 2000 Guineas. It’s baffling that he’s twice the price of Arrest and has to be part of the staking plan along with Passenger. An intriguing race , as always, let the best horse win.   PASSENGER 1 point each way @ 6/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234 DUBAI MILE 1 point each way @ 16/1 Betfred 1/5th 1234   Epsom 14:10 Just the six go to post for the 1M 113 yards Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a Group 3 contest for fillies and mares only. Sir Michael Stoute’s Potapova ran second in this last year but her latest run and re-appearance was blighted by an irregular heartbeat with Ryan Moore pulling her up at Goodwood. It’s hard to fancy her after that effort. Half a length behind Potapova last year was the Archie Watson trainer Roman Mist who ran out a good winner of the listed contest at Goodwood that Potapova pulled up in a month ago on heavy ground. This looks tougher mind and has 11lb to find with favourite and most likely winner Prosperous Voyage. Ralph Beckett’s four year old Prosperous Voyage, a winner here as a two year old, kept top company last season finishing runner up in the 1000 Guineas and causing an upset in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting when defeating Inspiral at 16/1. The ground was probably against her on her re-appearance when only 5th of 9 in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on soft ground and back on a sounder surface and dropped in class looks the one they all have to beat. Ed Walker’s Random Harvest has to shoulder a 3lb penalty which will make this tough for her whilst the ground surely isn’t soft enough for Pam Sly’s flag bearer Astral Beau. The Gosden’s Shaara hated the ground last time and has featured promisingly in gallop reports since, she might be the one to outrun her odds and chase the favourite home.   PROSPEROUS VOYAGE 2 points win @ 7/4 BetVictor   Epsom 14:45 A new race for the card is the class 3 three years only 5F ‘Dash’ handicap with fourteen declared for this inaugural contest. There’s plenty of horses with chances here including Salisbury one-two Estate and Betweenthesticks from a week ago and there shouldn’t be much between that pair at the revised terms although that was a class 5 handicap and this looks tougher especially now they have both been re-assessed. The one I like here is the John Quinn trained Jm Jungle who stepped up his form when tackling fast ground for the first time this season when runner up at York in a competitive class 3 handicap a fortnight ago with Miss Brazen and Tatterstall back in 6th and 7th respectively. He’s been raised 4lb for that fine effort and with his trainer doing so well at this track looks the one to be on here with Jason Hart on board. The interesting one in the field is the Roger Varian trained Russet Gold who we haven’t seen since last October having being gelded since. With Harry Davies, who still claims 3lb, on top booked he’s one to watch carefully in the betting.   JM JUNGLE 1 point each way @ 6/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234   Epsom 15:20 The traditional Derby day cavalry charge is up next with twenty speedsters declared for the class 2 Dash Handicap run over 5F with the downhill track on fast ground likely to produce a real spectacle and a very fast time. Last year’s runner up Mountain Peak is one of two Ed Walker runners here (the other being Came From The Dark who would prefer easier ground) and can run well despite his poor effort last time out at York ( a track he’s never run that well at). Clarendon House is another with claims having had excuses for his latest effort when a fine 5th at York losing a shoe during the race. Also there with a chance are the consistent Lihou, trained by sprint specialist David Evans and ridden by Hollie Doyle who can turn the tables on his recent conqueror Angle Land on 4lb better terms for 3/4L. David & Nicola Barron’s Zarzyni is also on my short list having dropped to a mark 5lb lower than his last winning one and wasn’t disgraced at York last week. The draw has seen winners coming from all across the track so I’m not getting bogged down with that and I will look for the best horse. Hopefully that might be Ian Williams’s Mokaatil whose form figures at this specialist track reads 41110 which includes victory in this very race in 2021 and a credible 4th last year. His jockey is the Irish Sean D Bowen (not to be confused with the jump jockey!) who is a new name to me but has won on 13 of his 272 mounts in his native country and gets to claim the full allowance of 7lb here which puts Mokaatil on a mark of 78 which is 4lb less than his win two years ago and 9lb less than last year’s 4th. With the cobwebs blown away with a run at Newmarket 7 weeks ago on unsuitable easy ground he looks sure to run well in a wide open sprint handicap.   MOKAATIL 1 point each way @ 12/1 William Hill 1/5th 123456   Epsom 15:55 A maximum field of 14 go to post for this class 2 10F Betfred Lester Piggott Handicap for three year olds only for which I think there’s a decent each way bet. Ralph Beckett’s Balance Play looks thrown in on his handicap debut here off of 81 having finished runner up to the subsequent winner Quddwah at Salisbury a month ago. The winner has won again since and is now rated 95 whilst the third that day Greek Order has also won since and is now rated 85. Nicely drawn in stall 6 this 280,000 guineas yearling by Lope De Vega will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni and looks excellent each way value with firms paying an extra place. As one would expect in a race of this nature there are plenty of dangers lurking including Charlie Hills’ Lose Your Wad who, like the selection, is also making his handicap debut with his form already working out well and with a future Group entry at Royal Ascot further enhancing his claims. John and Thady Gosden saddle a brace of runners with Torito (handicap debut) preferred from soft ground Ascot winner Maasai Mara whilst the Sir Michael Stoute runner Fox Journey is going the right way having won at Newmarket last time but now is 9lb higher in the handicap. Balance Play is a confident each way bet.   BALANCE PLAY 1 1/2 points each way @ 7/1 bet365 1/5th 1234   Epsom 16:30 Only 9 have declared for this 1M 4F class 2 handicap. Max Mayhem was a winner on his stable debut for Kevin Philippart De Foy in the valuable Roseberry Handicap at Kempton on the all weather in April and off of just a 4lb higher mark has definite claims today. Scampi was a 16/1 winner for Hayley Turner and Andrew Balding at York last time but is now upped 6lb and has to race off of his highest ever handicap mark. Sir Mark Prescott has his string in excellent form currently and his representative Sea King sporting first time cheek pieces is another with claims but this can go to the David Menuisier trained Caius Chorister who racked up a five timer last summer including two course and distance wins on fast ground bringing her track form figures to 112. She ran well on ground that may not have suited on her re-appearance in the City And Suburban Handicap here over a trip on the short side when runner up to Bad Company and one would think this race has been the target since especially with Ryan Moore booked. Her future entry in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot later in the month may not be too much of a pipe dream where she to win here off of 99 and is a strong fancy.   CAIUS CHORISTER 2 points win @ 3/1 bet365   Epsom 17:05 The day finishes with a class 2 6F handicap with another maximum field of 14 going to post. Jennie Candlish’s Probe won nicely at Newmarket a month ago with Apollo One back in fourth (7lb better off here for 3 1/2L) and even with a 7lb rise can be competitive from a favourable draw in 4 whilst Hughie Morrison’s Haymaker comes here having won at Windsor 12 days ago and has to race off of a 4lb higher handicap mark today. Robert Eddery has his small string in decent form and saddles his Spring Bloom here who was last seen winning at Newmarket a fortnight ago and a 4lb rise my not stop him being competitive. The horse I’m keen on though is last year’s victor Mr Wagyu who has a remarkable record in June and July of 15 wins from 30 starts for a level £1 stakes profit at SP of £69.35 (with 10 other times hitting the frame as well) as opposed to his record outside of those months which reads 0 from 43. John Quinn’s eight year came out of stall 12 last year when winning so hopefully a wide draw of 11 won’t be too much of a hinderance. His latest run at York when 7th to Bielsa proved he’s on the way back and off of a handicap mark only 2lb higher than last years win can further his fantastic summer record under regular rider Jason Hart.   MR WAGYU 1 point each way @ 5/1 Paddy Power 1/5th 1234   All odds accurate at time of writing.