Flat Racing ~ Saturday 19th July

[BillyHills]

3.15 Newbury: Al Basti Equiworld Hackwood Stakes (Group 3) (6f8yds) A consistent sprinter is Music Master who ended last year with a good second to Tropics at Ascot and then opened up 2014 with a win in a Conditions event at Warwick. He was then 6^th to Rocky Ground and fourth to Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee. He will find this easier than Ascot and has a leading chance. Es Que Love and Hallelujah are both lively outsiders who definitely have a decent race I their locker this season at some point and are worth keeping an eye on. Selections: Music Master 7/2 >Paddy Power Es Que Love EW 14/1 >BetVictor Preview: http://www.punterslounge.com/newbury-betting-the-class-of-music-master-can-take-the-hackwood-stakes

[BillyHills]

Re: Flat Racing ~ Saturday 19th July 5.45 Curragh: Darley Irish Oaks (Group 1) (1m4f) Wide-open renewal of the Irish Oaks and it’s anybody’s guess which of the five Aidan O’Brien runners will come out on top although I think we can safely rule out Beyond Brilliance. Marvellous was very highly though of earlier in the year and obviously Joseph thinks a lot of Tapestry and personally would be surprised if either of those two were not the best of the quintet. Dermot Weld saddles the favourite Tarfasha and the Cumani horse Volume renews Epsom rivalry. Nothing to choose between them that day and no reason why it shouldn’t be close again. Selections: Marvellous 5/1 Coral Tapestry 8/1 SkyBet Preview: http://www.punterslounge.com/irish-oaks-betting-o-brien-can-dominate-another-classic

[BillyHills]

Re: Flat Racing ~ Saturday 19th July 2.25 Newmarket: Newsells Park Stud Stakes (Listed) (1m4f) Registered as the Aphrodite Stakes this contest is for Fillies & Mares and has gone to the 3yo’s in the last three renewals. The youngsters are well represented once again and led by the John Gosden trained Criteria. She’s rated 104 so has the highest mark in the line up and that’s thanks to a solid third last time out in at Royal Ascot in the Ribblesdale. Only beaten three quarters of a length to Bracelet and was not stopping at the line so this uphill finish should suit. Selections: Criteria 7/2 Bet365 Khione 8/1 Ladbrokes Preview: http://www.punterslounge.com/newmarket-betting-criteria-to-uphold-ribblesdale-form-at-newmarket

[robertob]

Flat Racing - Saturday 19th July 17.45 Curragh: Irish Oaks Cracking renewal of the Irish Oaks, despite the absence of Epsom Oaks winner Taghrooda. However the 2nd and 3rd of that race are here today and try to get a Group 1 on the board. Either Tarfasha and Volume are obvious chances, their form is clearly standing out and it's hard to argue against them. There seems little between them but I feel Volume will be much more happy on the galloping Curragh round. He'll attempt to make all and that can be a successful plan here. If you want to argue against them, though, you could state that this a hot race today, that they have to confirm that they are really up to the task and that both got pretty much a clear passage in the Epsom Oaks. On current prices, I would prefer Volume, but I like to look elsewhere for value, cause the Curragh is a much different track to anything these two have encountered yet. Even though Tarfasha did run here in the past. I don't say she isn't a worthy favourite, but short enough in the betting for sure. I can't have the O'Brien trio Tapestry, Palace and Marvellous. I doubt that they are either good enough or happy of this trip. Recent Ribblesdale winner Bracelet must be taken very seriously today though. She ran a mighty race on her first try over 12f and should be in with a big shout today. Runner-up in that race was Lustrous. A horse I do really like. She tried the trip for the first time that day and clearly stayed it. In contract to Bracelet, she didn't get a clear run though. She travelled nicely in rear turning for home, but got stuck in traffic and had to switch wide, delaying her run, which meant she had also to find her stride quickly once in the clear. She stayed on really strongly to finish 2nd and it could be argued that with a clear run she would have been very close to the winner eventually. She has to prove that today and her running style might not be a perfect fit for the Curragh, but she is well overpriced and worth a a bit of money. From the other long-shots I do feel Ballybacka Queen could run a big race. She steps up quite dramatically in trip, however she is bred to get the Oaks distance, which in fact should suit much better than all the trips she raced over so far. She won a maiden over 7f, as her only success to date, but her 3rd behind Afternoon Sunlight at Leopardstown in a Group 3 over 1m is interesting. She was outpaced at the rear of the field turning for home, but she stayed on very strongly, clearly indicating she needs further. Not a surprise that she didn't follow up in another race over a mile, but now she tackles 12f for the first time and that could easily see out some improvement. If she is good enough, if the ground is what she wants - well we'll find out. But at 100/1 I think I give her some sort of a chance to be in the money. Ballybacka Queen @ 100/1 Boylesports - 0.5pts e/w Lustrous @ 25/1 StanJames - 0.5pts e/w

[robertob]

Re: Flat Racing - Saturday 19th July 19.00 Haydock: Class 4 Handicap, 14f -Quality handicap considering the class of the race, with some good and competitive sorts in the race. It seems rather open, even though Lady Cecil's Perfect Summer proves popular and the filly tops the market quite comfortably. But she won't have all her own way, even though she is interesting if she can run to the form over this trip that she showed on her penultimate start. Most interesting contender in the field considering the current odds, is Ralph Beckett's Aldborough. The four year old is still lightly raced and tries this trip for the first time. He clearly wasn't right the last time at Kempton, though that performance is a worry. However before that he won really nicely a Handicap over 12f at Chepstow in soft conditions. So the rain that has been coming over the day at Haydock today, should be in his favour. On pedigree he should have a very decent chance to stay the trip and it might well bring out further improvement. Of a mark of 76 he might not be finished yet, so I'll give him a chance to be a big runner in this field. --- Aldborough @ 9/1 Betfred - 2pts win

[stewartd14]

Re: Flat Racing ~ Saturday 19th July

3.15 Newbury: Al Basti Equiworld Hackwood Stakes (Group 3) (6f8yds) A consistent sprinter is Music Master who ended last year with a good second to Tropics at Ascot and then opened up 2014 with a win in a Conditions event at Warwick. He was then 6^th to Rocky Ground and fourth to Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee. He will find this easier than Ascot and has a leading chance. Es Que Love and Hallelujah are both lively outsiders who definitely have a decent race I their locker this season at some point and are worth keeping an eye on. Selections: Music Master 7/2 >Paddy Power Es Que Love EW 14/1 >BetVictor Preview: http://www.punterslounge.com/newbury-betting-the-class-of-music-master-can-take-the-hackwood-stakes

Tremendous BH!!