Trainers are fulminating over the effect of watering on the straight-course ‘bias’ at Royal Ascot last weekThe first thing to say is that Pat Smullen has indeed been booked to ride Cracksman in Saturday’s Irish Derby, as anticipated in this morning’s Guardian. The 40-year-old won the Curragh Classic just last year on Harzand and now has an excellent chance of making it two in a row. Related: Racing news and tips: Cracksman short of a jockey for Irish Derby Continue reading...
Le Brivido deserves loads of credit for a memorable Ascot performance. Plus two bread and butter tips for todayIn the post-Royal Ascot hubbub, I’m not hearing the name of Le Brivido mentioned as often as it should be. Perhaps it’s because he’s French-trained or that his race last week was only a Group Three or that it seems a long time ago, having been on Wednesday. Related: Racing news and tips: James Fanshawe takes aim at Northumberland Plate Continue reading...
Shrewd connections will field a couple of very interesting ex-Irish runners on tonight’s cardsThis week, it’s that Royal Ascot thing you may have heard of. We’ll run a tipping competition each day on Talking Horses, from tomorrow (Tuesday) to Friday, so you’ll have four chances to win. Whoever does best on each day will get a £50 bet from Ladbrokes. All you have to do is pick one horse in each race at Ascot that day and whoever does best to imagined level stakes of £1 at SP will be our winner. Related: Racing news and tips: Gay Kelleway backs Josephine Gordon for Royal Ascot breakthrough Continue reading...
Connections of British horses are having a bit of a moan about Wesley Ward’s youngsters getting some Ascot practiceJust as Royal Ascot has an official car (the Porsche Cayenne, since you ask), next week’s race-meeting now also has an official build-up controversy. You’d have thought it might be about medication, since we have so many US runners this time, but instead the subject is whether America’s Wesley Ward was given an unfair advantage when the track allowed him to work his two-year-olds up the straight on Wednesday. Related: Record number of runners in American raiding party at Royal Ascot Continue reading...
Talaayeb is naturally a hot favourite for today’s big race but her fine Guineas effort is no guarantee of successThere’s a very lopsided look to the betting for Newbury’s Lord Weinstock Memorial, thanks to the presence of Talaayeb. A fair fourth in the 1,000 Guineas, she undoubtedly has the standout piece of form in this race and is therefore very short at 4-7. Related: Royal Ascot 2017: Lady Aurelia returns to lead Wesley Ward’s assault Continue reading...