Horse racing’s new broadcaster appears to be aiming at a cast of thousands. We’ll settle for a winner at PlumptonThe really excellent thing that can be said about ITV Racing at this stage is how much employment it’s giving to the great game’s TV types. The list of people now signed up to work on terrestrial coverage of racing from January is: Ed Chamberlin, Francesca Cumani, Matt Chapman, Oli Bell, Hayley Turner, Mick Fitzgerald, Richard Hoiles, Mark Johnson, Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad, Sally-Ann Grassick, Lucy Verasamy, Jason Weaver, Luke Harvey, Brian Gleeson, Frankie Dettori, Victoria Pendleton and Brough Scott. Continue reading...
Mick Easterby has an excellent record in races for female amateur jockeys and can bag another one at Redcar todayTwo years ago, on the day before Champions Day, Belardo won the Dewhurst, Charming Thought won the Middle Park and Together Forever landed the Fillies’ Mile. If three Group Ones were insufficient to divert you, there was also an excellent card of jump racing at Cheltenham, where Vicente and The Young Master were among the winners. Continue reading...
If you fancy the surprise Irish Guineas winner for the QEII, you can have anything from 4-1 to 14-1If, like me, you’ve become rather bored of all major bookmakers offering essentially the same prices about the runners in major races, it may interest you to know that William Hill are just 4-1 about Jet Setting for the QEII on Saturday. I had concluded it must be a typo, that they had probably meant 14-1. But no. I’m now told that their odds compilers are pretty keen on her chance. Related: Horse racing tips: Tuesday 11 October Continue reading...
Brian Meehan’s Ma Peek has achieved little so far but there are reasons to think that might change...From 1pm, the entries for Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday will be revealed. Gina Harding will be live with a Newmarket press conference to reveal the big names being aimed at the day and to discuss their chances with trainers including John Gosden and Henry Candy, and you can watch a live stream of it here. Related: Horse racing tips: Monday 10 October Continue reading...
Sobetsu (3.10) is the form pick for the Group One Fillies’ Mile at NewmarketThe Champions have a single day, but the Future Champions have a weekend. It does not make a great deal of sense to me either, but it is what has emerged from several years of horse-trading to reshape Britain’s autumn programme. As a result, the first of two days at Newmarket includes four races for juveniles - and three for older horses, including the Group Two Challenge Stakes and the Old Rowley Cup, the big betting race of the day. Related: Horse racing tips: Friday 7 October Continue reading...