Class act Sarafina a worthy ‘Arc’ favourite
You might think that on a track as wide and inviting as Longchamp it might be pretty difficult to find traffic problems in a four-runner race, but that was exactly the scenario for the brilliant French filly Sarafina who had to overcome trouble in running before coming home a tremendously impressive winner of the Prix Foy, one of the traditional signature trials for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the track early next month, writes Elliot Slater.
A hugely unfortunate third in the ‘Arc’ nearly 12 months ago when all but brought down over two furlongs from home before picking herself up and flying home to pass most of the field inside the final furlong, the Aga Khan’s home bred four-year-old found herself boxed in behind the fading…
Continue Reading Class act Sarafina a worthy 'Arc' favourite
O’Brien sends trainers’ title message with Reply
The victory of Aidan O’Brien’s Reply in the Weatherby’s Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on Thursday meant that the Ballydoyle handler moved into second place behind reigning champion Richard Hannon and ahead of Sir Henry Cecil in the race for this year’s title, writes Elliot Slater.
Although he has only sent over 63 runners to Britain this season O’Brien has bagged a series of high profile and lucrative successes and the success of the juvenile Reply (under the trainer’s son Joseph), landed another huge pot with a first prize-winning cheque of £207,000 going the way of the winning connections. The yard’s British haul so far this term has now risen to £2,015,415, still some £473,000 behind Hannon but with a series of valuable races coming…
Continue Reading O'Brien sends trainers' title message with Reply
Talwar the eyecatcher amongst Champagne Stakes entries
With 81 horses still entered for the Group 2 One Call Insurance Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on St Leger day trying to nominate the winner at this stage might seem like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but should he take his chance then the highly progressive Talwar might well take all the beating in a race that has been won by some smart performers over the years, writes Elliot Slater. Those looking towards the Betfair St.leger betting should remember this.
The likes of Rodrigo de Triano, Alhaarth, Distant Music, and Dubai Destination have won the Doncaster seven furlong contest in the not too distant past, and the way he won at Sandown last time out when landing the Group 3 Solario Stakes by an impressive…
Continue Reading Talwar the eyecatcher amongst Champagne Stakes entries
Kauto Star half-brother joins champion trainer Nicholls
Paul Nicholls is reportedly very pleased indeed to have received into his stable recently Kauto Stone, a half-brother to his outstanding chaser Kauto Star, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup on two occasions and four-times triumphant in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, writes Elliot Slater.
Although still only a five-year-old, the gelded son of With The Flow has won in graded company three times already, landing a Grade 2 hurdle at Auteuil in 2009, then last year winning the Grade 3 Prix Orcada Chase before stepping up to the top level of French steeplechasing to make every yard of the running to land the two-and-three-quarter–mile Grade 1 Prix Maurice Gillios, France’s top event for four-year-old chasers.
Having clearly been blessed with a fair proportion of the…
Continue Reading Kauto Star half-brother joins champion trainer Nicholls
Hughes not afraid of a tactical Sussex Stakes
Richard Hughes, stable jockey to his father-in-law Richard Hannon, the champion trainer, has no fears at all about the forthcoming clash between his outstanding older miler Canford Cliffs and the three-year-old superstar Frankel turning into a tactical affair when the pair clash in the Group 1 Qipco Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 27, writes Elliot Slater.
Suspended for some weeks now and anxious not to ride before the Goodwood race for fear of incurring any further ban that might rule him out of partnering the horse Hughes says is “the best I have ever ridden”, the tremendously popular Irishman believes that regardless of the way the race pans out his mount is more than capable of adapting tactically to whatever occurs in a race that could potentially…
Continue Reading Hughes not afraid of a tactical Sussex Stakes
No firm Juddmonte International plans for possible French raiders
Plans still remain very much up in the air for potential French challengers Planteur and Cirrus Des Aigles, both of whom are amongst the entries for the prestigious Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at the Betfair York Ebor 2011 festival on August 17, writes Elliot Slater.
Planteur, last seen finishing fourth behind Rewilding and So You Think in a thrilling renewal of the Coral Eclipse at Sandown last month, may be redirected to take on Goldikova in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 15, a race that would see him dropping down to race over a mile for the first time since winning over the trip as a juvenile at Saint-Cloud in September 2009. A runner-up in last season’s French Derby and in the Grand…
Continue Reading No firm Juddmonte International plans for possible French raiders
Ahead produces dream July Cup performances
David Simcock’s Dream Ahead produced the best sprinting performance of the 2011 season so far when easily accounting for a field of high quality speedsters in landing the Group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday and in the process laid down a serious marker to others in the division that he is one they all have to beat for the rest for the term, writes Elliot Slater.
Rated alongside the mighty Frankel as the joint-top rated two-year-old in Europe last season on an official mark of 128, Simcock has had to be very patent indeed with the son of Diktat this term as unseasonably fast ground ruled his colt out of a crack at the 2000 Guineas and other high profile races. It wasn’t until Royal Ascot…
Continue Reading Ahead produces dream July Cup performances
Bunting set to be rolled out for Irish Oaks attempt
Simon Crisford, racing manager to Sheikh Mohammed’s hugely powerful Godolphin racing empire, has confirmed that trainer Mahmood a Zarooni intends to run the team’s Qipco 1000 Guineas winner Blue Bunting in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 17, writes Elliot Slater.
Last seen being eased down by Frankie Dettori in the last couple of strides of the Investec Oaks, a jockey error that cost the filly third place as Izzi Top rallied to gain the place verdict by a short-head, and Dettori a 10-day ban, Blue Bunting is reported in good form and, according to the racing tips, is expected to give a good account of herself at the home of Irish racing.
It would hard to say that the daughter of Dynaformer failed to…
Continue Reading Bunting set to be rolled out for Irish Oaks attempt
Free bets!
 |
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
|
|
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
|
|
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
 |
Claim free bet |
*Terms apply. See websites for full details. Free bet amounts shown are maximum available.
