A Preview Of June's UK Horse Racing
Comparing the current Flat turf season to a long train journey is one way of describing the roller-coaster campaign that comes to two of its most famous stops in June courtesy of the Epsom Derby and the five days of top-class racing at Royal Ascot later in the month. The Derby now occupies a Saturday slot in the racing programme that is more in keeping with its place in the modern age, and only a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist or a blinkered fool would be grudge the fact that the premier classic has been rescued from the backwaters of the first Wednesday in June to a permanent Saturday berth. The action at Epsom begins on Friday June 2 with the Group 1 Vodafone Oaks. Already this season’s classic fillies look a distinctly average bunch and it’s not hard to see the Oaks winner coming from the powerful stables of Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien, who should provide a handful of the more interesting runners. The all-conquering Stoute team is likely to feature Riyalma, a game winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes on her sole start to date this term at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting and the fast-improving Short Skirt, who beat O’Brien’s well-touted Alexandrova, the current Oaks favourite in the often influential Musidora Stakes at York at the end of last month. Speciosa and Confidential Lady, the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas winner and runner-up respectively, could also be in the Oaks line-up but the form of that soft ground classic may not add up to a great deal and the winner in particular is a wayward sort on track who might be unsuited to Epsom’s unique camber. The June 2 card also features the Vodafone Coronation Cup, a Group 1 race for older horses that may well be won by Andre Fabre’s Shirocco, who looked better than ever when scoring on his seasonal debut at Newmarket recently, while Look Again is one of the better treated horses in the Vodafone Rose Bowl Handicap on the same day. The Vodafone Derby takes centre stage on June 3 and there can be little doubt that the world’s greatest Flat race has been enhanced as a spectacle by the timely switch to a Saturday even though several recent renewals have been decidedly sub-standard affairs. Still, watching the Derby field stream around Tattenham Corner before hitting that long and tilting home straight remains one of the greatest thrills in racing and if the betting is an accurate guide then Visindar, this year’s short-priced favourite, is on an unstoppable course to give France their first Derby winner since Lester Piggott steered Empery home for trainer Maurice Zilber and Texan owner Nelson Bunker Hunt in 1976. Andre Fabre’s unbeaten chestnut has won both his races against weak opposition with ease this season and the trainer’s intimation that the colt is ‘something special’ will be put to the sternest of tests at Epsom. A short career of just three starts in small fields on flat tracks and over shorter distances is barely an adequate preparation for the uphill and downhill challenge of the Derby’s complete test. But Visindar may a cut above ordinary opposition. Aidan O’Brien and Sir Michael Stoute have saddled four of the last five Derby winners and the former’s Septimus, a determined winner of the best Derby trial in the Dante at York, may emerge as the main threat to Visindar even though he lacks a change of pace and seems a St Leger and not a Derby horse. Epsom’s Derby day card also features the Vodafone ‘Dash’, a five furlong sprint over one of the fastest sprint courses in the world and the man to stick with here is speed specialist, Dandy Nicholls, who may be represented by Merlin’s Dancer, his recent Chester winner who features on a handy mark for the ‘Dash’. June 4 sees picturesque Chantilly host the Prix du Jockey-Club, or French Derby as it is more universally known, and Aidan O’Brien’s French 2,000 Guineas winner Aussie Rules could complete a rare French classic double, while Jean-Claude Rouget’s Germance bids to make it five from five in the Prix de Diane Hermes, France’s version of the Oaks at Chantilly on June 11. On the eve of Royal Ascot, York stages its valuable Timeform charity day and the feature race is the valuable three-year-old sprint entitled the William Hill Trophy. Five of the best days of Flat racing to be found anywhere in the world begins on June 20 with the first day of Royal Ascot that is rightly restored to its true home after slumming it on the pudding-like turf of York’s Knavesmire a year ago. The Group 1 Queen Anne and St James’s Palace Stakes are the first day highlights and a clash between Peeress, the recent Lockinge winner and Proclamation, last year’s Sussex Stakes hero could be a mouth-watering meeting while George Washington’s presence in the St James’s Palace could put many of his potential rivals off their game. On June 21 the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes occupies pride of place and the Godolphin team have saddled four winners in recent seasons and if they can re-capture their best form before Royal Ascot then the stable’s chosen representative will be well worth a second look. Alan King’s Levera and Sir Michael Stoute’s Jeremy will be among the more fancied runners in the seven furlong Jersey Stakes while the latter’s Echelon could be the one to give the Stoute team back-to-back victories in the Windsor Forest Stakes, a one mile pattern event for the better middle-distance fillies. There’ll be a massive field in competition for the Royal Hunt Cup, one of the biggest betting heats of the entire handicap season where class as well as courage is required of the winner. An early fancy for this one-mile dash would be Roger Charlton’s Another Bottle, who can handle big fields and may be a shade better than he’s shown so far. The Ascot Gold Cup is the feature race on June 22 and many will be pinning their faith on Sergeant Cecil making the transition from top-class staying handicaps to this Group 1 prize and he’s sure to go well, though that also applies to Sir Michael Stoute’s Distinction, a runner-up in the race a year ago and the most likely winner from Andre Fabre’s Reefscape, who has been specially prepared for the valuable stayers’ crown. Friday’s Royal Ascot action centres upon the Coronation Stakes, a Group 1 race over a mile for fillies and though this year’s fairer sex seems like an ordinary bunch, the Marcus Tregoning-trained Makderah might be the type to go well at big odds. She has been progressing nicely all season. Royal Ascot’s final day, June 24, features the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, which hasn’t been a good race for favourites in recent years while the same is true of the Wokingham Stakes, where speed, a good handicap mark and the ability to handle a big field are all essential components for the eventual winner. Hughie Morrison’s Intrepid Jack will be one of the more intriguing challengers for the season’s first big sprint handicap. Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for the UK horse racing betting site GG.com - free daily tips, free expert articles, free 4 year form database, free alerts, free racing commentary, compare odds, forum and more! |
Other Horse Racing Articles
Sports Betting 101 Betting on sports is perhaps as old as the various games themselves. Millions of people have made huge money out of betting on sports. Possibly no game is left virgin of betting. All games have bookies and wages attached to them. Alike is the case with the countries across the globe. Betting is becoming a universal phenomenon nowadays. The diffe ...How to Spend Less and Have a Great Time in Dubai So you want to go to Dubai but have heard how expensive it can be for both vacationers and business travelers alike? If that's what you've heard, then whoever told you hasn't experienced Dubai. Here are some money saving tips that can cut your Dubai budget in half. Shopping in Dubai If shopping is your pleasure, then Dubai i ...SEO: How to Rank Number 1 in Google Starting your own web based business can be a great money making idea and lots of fun, but if you want people to visit your site you really need to know what you are doing. There is a ton of materials on the internet about how to bring web traffic to your site, but starting off with a good foundation makes it all much easier. 1) D ...History Behind Online Betting The urge for making quick bucks may be as old as human civilization. Gambling was prevalent in many parts of the globe from time immemorial. The first reference of betting is found in ancient scriptures where one can see the mention of games of Dice played by Kings and Lords across the world. The betting grew in variety and choice in due course ...The Dish: 'Sheed Defends Predictions Detroit Piston power forward Rasheed Wallace, fresh off his team's 74-72 loss in Cleveland Monday night, defended his record of prognostication. Despite the fact that 'Sheed ruffled a few feathers by guaranteeing a Detroit win in Game 4---a prediction that fell flat, as did Wallace, who sprained his ankle in the second quarter and was ineffectiv ...Gambling Abroad 101 The risk takers see no bounds. And so does gambling. The origin of gambling cannot be traced to one country or region in particular. Gambling is an age old practice. Though its concentration in the United States is higher, but its popularity is as evenly distributed as the water level. Betting in sports and the advent of international and nation ...White Sun (The Soul) We are basically very egoistic beings sometimes to the extent of becoming like animals in this modern time. Look at the way we fight amongst ourselves to attain all those worthless materialistic wants. Senseless fight for social recognition vide material acquirement, setting aside all moral values, forgetting that we are sentient beings with con ...First Aid Kits for Sporting Injuries Whether played by children or adults, sports present a unique opportunity for injury. Be ready for common bumps and bruises—or immediate treatment of a serious injury—of any sport with a well stocked and easily accessible sports first aid kit.Like any first aid kit, always include disposable gloves, flexible bandages of various sizes, gau ...Christian Gladiators? Athletics as a Metaphor for the Christian Lifestyle When Paul first arrived in Corinth in the middle of his second missionary journey, Acts 18:2-3 reports that he joined Aquila and Priscilla in the occupation of making tents. This fits in well with what Paul himself wrote at about that same time. For example, in 1 Thess. 1:9, he says: "Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we work ...Choosing Birthday and Christmas Gifts for Horse Lovers One of the best ways to choose a gift that will please a recipient, is to consider their greatest interests and loves. Whether it is for Christmas or a birthday, a hobby or interest related gift is likely to be particularly well received, especially if you choose with care, and do your homework. Often, though, the person you are buying for will ...Sports Halls of Fame To any sports fan, a hall of fame is the quintessential celebration of a sport and tribute to the athletes who participate in that sport. Many a sports fan will make pilgrimages to the hall of fame of their favorite sport to "soak up" the history and traditions of that sport.In North America there are over thirty halls of fame to vari ...Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 10 Matthew 3:7-10 John Rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ...7 Critical Factors You Must Know Before You Play Any Hand in Texas Hold'em Poker Being a poker professional I receive tons of emails and questions about how to play certain hands or what I would do in a particular situation. In this article I’ve outlined seven critical factors you need to be aware of any time you play Texas Hold’em poker.Use this article as an outline to help make the best possible decisions when pla ...Sports - America's Obsession If you watch situation comedies, the one thing that you will notice, or at least should notice, is that situation comedies make fun of real life situations. That's why they're funny, because they're all about things we can relate to. On an episode of "Home Improvement" Jill asks Tim if he's ready to go with her to some party. He replies by te ...Long Distance ATV Riding and Racing ATVs are a shear blast of adrenalin and excitement. Just giving it full throttle and then and sending up a roster tail behind you as you cut sideways and then jet off in another direction at full-speed. Jumping is also fun and often you just have to go back and do it over and over again to get your fill of the rush of energy and feeling of leavi ...Playing the Sway Game With so much opposition to their plans, many people are wondering if ISC’s dreams of building a Nascar Track in Staten Island will ever become reality. As we ponder over this question, there are many more questions in the minds of the ISC team of people who are struggling not only to realize this dream but also to pacify politicians and resident ...Places to visit in Albany, New York If you're looking to take a different kind of family vacation, why not try Albany, Capital Region of upstate New York. It's a great place full of side trips, history, shopping and more, all within a radius of about 50 miles.Downtown Albany When you're in Albany NY itself, you'll notice that it's a great mix of old and new city ...2006 Breeders' Cup Preview: Sprint The Sprint is a cruel race. It will take just more than a minute to run on Breeders' Cup day, and in that short time you could see your dreams of riches crash to the ground. Overall, the favorites have won about 40 percent of the races in the 22-year history of the Breeders' Cup, which is well above what we see on regular race days, but only fiv ...The Difference Between Bankroll and Money Management I am sure you would have heard comments like, 'if you don't have good money management skills then you simply won't win'; or how about 'money management is much more important than the selection strategy used'; or even 'you won't win if you don't have good money management skills'. There will always be a group of punters who is always bleating a ...Rope Halters Does a rope halter make a great gift? It might for someone who uses them exclusively. For someone whose preference in halters is nylon or leather the gift of a rope halter might rank right up there with the gift of a bad necktie.But if you offer a 20' length of rope and a set of instructions on how to fashion a halter from that piece o ...Betting Exchange Place Markets - Wise Up And Win How To Use The Betting Exchange Place Markets To Your AdvantageIntroductionIn article one, I introduced you to the Betting Exchange concept and explained the basics of LAY Betting (Lay to Lose). Now in this article, I'm going to introduce you to another unique and powerful feature of the betting exchanges, th ...Pet Insurance Horse Coverage Many people board horses and often pay high expenses to cover the pets. Dogs, cats, and other household pets often go without care because the owners cannot afford to pay the medical treatment and medicines to care for the pets. Horses are more expensive than common pets, but the laws state that these creatures need medical treatment and vaccine ...Did the Sabbath Change to Sunday? In over 105 languages Saturday translates to Sabbath. In Italy it is called Sabbato, in Russia Subbota, in Portugal Sabbado, in Spain Sabado and in Poland Sobota. All of these names mean "Sabbath" or "rest day" in the various languages.The fourth commandment of the Bible says Exo 20:8-11 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six d ...History of Chess I come from a family of golfers. Golf is the favorite recreation of everyone in my family, including my grandparents, my mom and dad, myself and my four siblings. Every year, we have a family reunion of sorts featuring all my relatives from my father's side. At those gathering, the entire clan always has a sportsfest wherein each of the differen ...The Pool Table Bars and recreation venues in rural or urban areas offer to their visitors the excitement and the sportsmanship of a famous table-played game, called pool or billiard. On the billiards table’s totally flat surface, pool game fans strike, with the use of a specially designed long wooden stick known as “cue stick,” colorful balls moving them aroun ...
|
