The selection has plenty of form at 10 furlongs and the rain has come in time to help him win the Prince of Wales’s StakesThere is nothing remotely flashy about the Michael Stoute-trained Crystal Ocean (4.20), who wins by grinding or not at all, but he might be the right ally for a race like this Prince of Wales’s Stakes. He is better known for his exploits over further but has plenty of form at 10 furlongs and the rain has come in time to help him.There is little between him and the Aidan O’Brien runner Magical but the Irish filly has had little to beat so far this year and looks like being a shade too short in the...
Charlie Hills’s grey beat Too Darn Hot fair and square in the Irish Guineas and can confirm the form of that three-length success in the St James’s Palace StakesThe big question for punters on day one at this Royal Ascot is: how many excuses do you make for a horse who was brilliant last year but has yet to show it this season? Too Darn Hot is the relevant animal and he probably still has bundles of talent, despite being winless since autumn.But Phoenix Of Spain (4.20) beat him fair and square in the Irish Guineas and I hope to see Charlie Hills’s grey confirm the form of that three-length success in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Reportedly, he had...
Racing’s ruling body refuses to publish the test reading when a jockey fails a breath test, allowing speculation to flourishI found it frustrating, writing about Oisin Murphy’s failed breath test on Sunday, that I was unable to report the amount of alcohol recorded by his test. To me, this would seem essential context which in most cases would show that the jockey concerned had very little alcohol in his system at the time. Related: Oisin Murphy prevented from riding at Salisbury after failing a breath test Carlisle2.00 Space Ace 2.30 Diamond Shower 3.00 Dream House (nb) 3.30 Chinese Spirit 4.00 Praxidice 4.30 Rosin Box 5.00 Matewan 5.30 Brutalab Continue reading...
Thursday’s meetings at Nottingham and Yarmouth have got the all-clear but Uttoxeter and Haydock were both waterlogged It is a very odd week in June when only two washouts on a day’s programme feels like a decent result, but it looked like it could be four on Wednesday evening and in the end, only Haydock and Uttoxeter have succumbed following inspections.Haydock, which raced on Wednesday, was doomed after a further 10mm of rain overnight, while Uttoxeter reported via Twitter that the track has received 100mm of rain in the last 10 days and that there are large areas of standing water on the course.**Racing Abandoned** 100mm of rain in the last 6 days. Large areas of standing water and forecast...
Racing at Kempton on Wednesday and Nottingham on Thursday are under threat after the deluge in recent daysThe race meetings at Kempton on Wednesday and Nottinghma on Thursday are under threat following the heavy rain of recent days, writes Tony Paley. Kempton plan to inspect at 12.30pm on Wednesday after a “major water burst” at Hampton Court waterlogged parts of the Sunbury track. Details are sketchy at present but the Racing TV presenter Nick Luck has stated on Twitter that “a huge area” has been affected. Racing TV would be televising the scheduled meeting.UPDATE: A precautionary inspection has been called for 12:30pm due to a major water burst at Hampton Court we are awaiting an update from Thames Water on...