Happy to report that GirdysGeeGees did it again in June with 5 winners from 12 bets and the sites tips showing a +7 points profit to level stakes (Royal Ascot results can be found on the specialist page). That’s five winning months out of six in 2011.
We have some cracking racing to look forward to in July, with the Eclipse Stakes getting the ball rolling at Sandown on Saturday with Workforce, So You Think and Snow Fairy likely to line-up; hopefully the winning streak will continue.
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Fairyhouse Fancy
The Group Three Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Brownstown Stakes, 7.30 at Fairyhouse is the race of interest today over in the Emerald Isle.
Emulous beat Lolly For Dolly last time out at the Curragh, form which was well and truly franked by the latter's Windsor Forest Stakes victory at Royal Ascot, and the Dermot Weld trained filly looks a good bet to take this at the early price of 5-2.
Let’s hope Irish eyes will be smiling and all that.
Be lucky
Emulous beat Lolly For Dolly last time out at the Curragh, form which was well and truly franked by the latter's Windsor Forest Stakes victory at Royal Ascot, and the Dermot Weld trained filly looks a good bet to take this at the early price of 5-2.
Let’s hope Irish eyes will be smiling and all that.
Be lucky
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Southwell Late
It is hardly top quality stuff at Southwell this evening but I do fancy one. Zarius has a good record at the track having won twice and placed twice having run here five times. The seven furlongs of the Membership Of Southwell Golf Club Handicap at 8.30 is ideal and I will be taking a little bit of the 4-1.
Be lucky
Be lucky
Friday, 24 June 2011
Newmarket, Curragh And Potty Training
I am babysitting the nephew this weekend, or the two and a half year old is looking after me depending on your point of view, so it is very unlikely I will get the chance to spend hours going through the racing form - potty training, swimming, finding bugs and chasing imaginary dragons taking precedence.
In the world of little Frankie Captain Barnacles Bear, Kwaxii Kitten and the rest of the Octonauts gang are of much more interest than Richard Hughes and Henry Cecil but the little fella does quite enjoy watching the horses so I might get Channel Four Racing on for an hour or two and I will be backing a couple over the weekend.
In the 3.55 at Newmarket on Saturday we have some nice types and my eye has been taken by Siren's Song. The filly ran a big race when seventh in the Oaks and she can make the most of this drop in grade.
On Sunday we of course have the big meeting at the Curragh including the Irish Derby. The Queens Carlton House set to line up and will be sent of favourite for the race. I have made no secret of my liking of the horse, I backed him at Epsom, and I am confident he will be successful this time.
Be lucky
In the world of little Frankie Captain Barnacles Bear, Kwaxii Kitten and the rest of the Octonauts gang are of much more interest than Richard Hughes and Henry Cecil but the little fella does quite enjoy watching the horses so I might get Channel Four Racing on for an hour or two and I will be backing a couple over the weekend.
In the 3.55 at Newmarket on Saturday we have some nice types and my eye has been taken by Siren's Song. The filly ran a big race when seventh in the Oaks and she can make the most of this drop in grade.
On Sunday we of course have the big meeting at the Curragh including the Irish Derby. The Queens Carlton House set to line up and will be sent of favourite for the race. I have made no secret of my liking of the horse, I backed him at Epsom, and I am confident he will be successful this time.
Be lucky
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Botham To Bowl 'em Over Again
A winner for me last week Botham is out again today in the 9.00 at Hamilton Ayr . He is nicely treated being due to rise 4lb in the weights after today and though he does need a little luck due to his hold-up style of running I am expecting another bold display today.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Maybe, Just Maybe - 1000 Guineas 2012
Following her win in the Chesham Stakes, putting the colts in there place in doing so, at this time it is impossible to see past Maybe for next years 1000 Guineas
I know I got stung last year backing Strong Suit and Memory this far in advance but a faint heart never won a fair lady and she looks a lot better than any other filly we have seen thus far and the way in which she won over seven furlongs at Ascot suggests that a mile will be no problem at all in the fuure. If anyone can get her to Newmarket in one piece and at her peek it is Aidan O'Brien and as 8-1 is available in places I will be taking a little bit of that and keeping my fingers crossed over the coming months.
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Ascot Review
I end the week -3 points down to level stakes for the thirty races throughout the meeting with six winners and and each-way bet (Docofthebay) having come off; I put up three second placed finishers as well so again a case of close but no cigar at the Royal Meeting.
It has as ever been a great week (baring those idiots getting all handbags - at least learn to fight if you're going to have one) with some of the best horses in the world on show and I am already looking forward to some terrific racing again in 2012.
It has as ever been a great week (baring those idiots getting all handbags - at least learn to fight if you're going to have one) with some of the best horses in the world on show and I am already looking forward to some terrific racing again in 2012.
Friday, 17 June 2011
Get Out Of Trouble Stakes
It's all going wrong again at Ascot today but we have some late news elsewhere.
Up at Ayr in the 6.10 I am told by my Dundee connection (a Scot in the boozer) that Botham is a good bet having been made ready for a run last week but pulled out due to the conditions and a big race is expected tonight.
in the 6.30 at Newmarket I doubt that Pintrada has been sent all the way from Yorkshire by James Bethell just for a day out.
Fingers crossed my luck is better elsewhere than it has been in Berkshire for the last couple of days.
Be lucky
Up at Ayr in the 6.10 I am told by my Dundee connection (a Scot in the boozer) that Botham is a good bet having been made ready for a run last week but pulled out due to the conditions and a big race is expected tonight.
in the 6.30 at Newmarket I doubt that Pintrada has been sent all the way from Yorkshire by James Bethell just for a day out.
Fingers crossed my luck is better elsewhere than it has been in Berkshire for the last couple of days.
Be lucky
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Diamond And Moon
The big meeting at Ascot is only hours away but there is still some half decent racing today and a couple of bets to be had.
In the 3.30 at Sandown we have a horse I talked about on several occasions last year and already this in the shape of Dinkum Diamond. He won the National Stakes at Sandown last year and was second in the Flying Childers. I always thought the Aussie Rules colt should make a nice three-year-old but he hasn't quite been at his best yet with two third place finishes this season. At his best he would win this and as trainer Henry Candy has sent out a couple of winners this week I am going to invest a couple of bob this afternoon.
Up at York one time Derby hope Sea Moon will be making his seasonal reappearance. Held in high regard at Freemason Lodge the colt should be far too good for his rivals today unless something has gone terribly wrong over the winter and I wouldn't expect to see him in handicap company again after today.
Be lucky
In the 3.30 at Sandown we have a horse I talked about on several occasions last year and already this in the shape of Dinkum Diamond. He won the National Stakes at Sandown last year and was second in the Flying Childers. I always thought the Aussie Rules colt should make a nice three-year-old but he hasn't quite been at his best yet with two third place finishes this season. At his best he would win this and as trainer Henry Candy has sent out a couple of winners this week I am going to invest a couple of bob this afternoon.
Up at York one time Derby hope Sea Moon will be making his seasonal reappearance. Held in high regard at Freemason Lodge the colt should be far too good for his rivals today unless something has gone terribly wrong over the winter and I wouldn't expect to see him in handicap company again after today.
Be lucky
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
Derby Review
If it could have gone wrong for Carlton House it did in the Derby finding trouble in running and losing a shoe in the run-in; Moore looked distraught at the end but it must be said that the French horse came home like a train and it is very hard to say if the Queens colt would have won with more luck in running or not. Young jockey Mickael Barzalona nearly made a terrible hash of it celebrating before the line but got away with it and Pour Moi looks like a horse to be reckoned with other the coming months. I would expect to see the horse aimed at the Prix Niel followed by the Arc.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Derby Day - Send Her Victorious
A lovely day for it and it is all eyes to the Downs for the Derby.
I have looked over the videos again and again and read the form till my eyes hurt. The Dante looks the best trial again this year and with that in mind Carlton House fully deserves his position as favourite and has to be the pick. I know there was the injury scare but there is now way Sir Michael Stoute and Her Majesty - gawd bless her - would be sending the colt if he wasn't fit and raring to go.
Send her victorious...........
Be lucky
I have looked over the videos again and again and read the form till my eyes hurt. The Dante looks the best trial again this year and with that in mind Carlton House fully deserves his position as favourite and has to be the pick. I know there was the injury scare but there is now way Sir Michael Stoute and Her Majesty - gawd bless her - would be sending the colt if he wasn't fit and raring to go.
Send her victorious...........
Be lucky
Friday, 3 June 2011
Oaks Day Review
Bit of a rollercoaster again today. I was disappointed with Timepiece, it looked like she was setting a fair gallop to my eye in the early stages and she duly ended up going out like a light when the pressure came.
St Nicholas Abbey on the other hand was quite brilliant. Totally off balance round the turn and then having the door firmly shut in his face by Tom Queally on Midday (fairly it most be said) Ryan Moore got him balanced, pointed him at the line and boy did he run to it and was in fact going away at the finish.
As for Havant, she never really seemed to get going and finished a fair way behind the impressive Dancing Rain, under a good ride from Johnny Murtagh, who kept on gamely to deny Wonder Of Wonders.
St Nicholas Abbey on the other hand was quite brilliant. Totally off balance round the turn and then having the door firmly shut in his face by Tom Queally on Midday (fairly it most be said) Ryan Moore got him balanced, pointed him at the line and boy did he run to it and was in fact going away at the finish.
As for Havant, she never really seemed to get going and finished a fair way behind the impressive Dancing Rain, under a good ride from Johnny Murtagh, who kept on gamely to deny Wonder Of Wonders.
Tote Done!
So Betfred have won the Tote and signed a contract with the government to buy the state-owned betting operator for a total of £265 million. Everyone I know in the racing game favoured the Sports Investment Partners bid but Fred’s got it.
Most of the threads on the racing sites are full with unhappy punters and regular race goers all of whom believe this is a bad idea, The Jockey Club of course opposed the sale altogether. Just about every argument against a High Street chain taking over the Tote appears to have been ignored.
I sincerely hope I am wrong but I fear that I and thousands of racing fans across the country will be proved correct and that this deal will ultimately prove to be of no benefit to racing at all.
Most of the threads on the racing sites are full with unhappy punters and regular race goers all of whom believe this is a bad idea, The Jockey Club of course opposed the sale altogether. Just about every argument against a High Street chain taking over the Tote appears to have been ignored.
I sincerely hope I am wrong but I fear that I and thousands of racing fans across the country will be proved correct and that this deal will ultimately prove to be of no benefit to racing at all.
Oaks Day
The Henry Cecil trained Timepiece is back on track today at Epsom in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at 1.40. The trainer believes she has come on for her York run when third in the Middleton Stakes behind Midday and though this is a good Group Three the filly faces nothing of the class of Midday today.
Midday is set to take on the colts in the Coronation Cup later on the same card at 2.45. The five-time Group One winning mare is reportedly in fine shape according to Henry Cecil but comes up against St Nicholas Abbey today who looked to be right back to his best last time at Chester in the Ormonde Stakes winning by nine lengths. I have tipped up both horses this season but preference is just for the O’Brien trained colt today with fingers crossed that the four-year-old is having one of his good days – it should be a belter of a contest between the pair.
I have already tipped up Havant for The Oaks in my preview and will be sticking with the Stoute trained filly in the big one at 4.05.
Be lucky
Midday is set to take on the colts in the Coronation Cup later on the same card at 2.45. The five-time Group One winning mare is reportedly in fine shape according to Henry Cecil but comes up against St Nicholas Abbey today who looked to be right back to his best last time at Chester in the Ormonde Stakes winning by nine lengths. I have tipped up both horses this season but preference is just for the O’Brien trained colt today with fingers crossed that the four-year-old is having one of his good days – it should be a belter of a contest between the pair.
I have already tipped up Havant for The Oaks in my preview and will be sticking with the Stoute trained filly in the big one at 4.05.
Be lucky
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Oaks & Derby Preview
The Oaks looks a competitive affair to me with a number of the runners in with a credible chance of lifting the prize. Ballydoyle have a terrific record in the race over the last fifteen years so Wonder Of Wonders and Misty For Me have to be considered, both also have good form to their name with Wonder Of Wonders having won the Cheshire Oaks and Misty For Me having taken the Irish 1000 Guineas. Why and Eirnin are the other runners for the stable both available at 100-1. Godolphin of course won the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket with Blue Bunting who comes to Epsom as favourite for a race in which the jolly has a good record, five wins in the last ten years, and she is expected to be better over a mile and a half.
Mick Channon sends the unbeaten Zain Al Boldan to take her chance but this is a major step up in class even though her Oaks Trial win at Lingfield was impressive. Dancing Rain trained by William Haggas is another who will need to step up on what she has achieved already but she will have the assistance of Johnny Murtagh in the saddle.
I of course having been saying all season on this site that the Sir Michael Stoute trained Havant might just find middle distances more to her liking than the mile of the Guineas and that she will possibly be a better bet for The Oaks. You could argue that she was doing no more than staying on in the Guineas but I am convinced the mile and a half is the trip for her and at 6-1 is worth a punt.
The Derby market has been thrown into confusion in the run-up to the big race with the French horse Pour Moi coming in for support following his ‘Breakfast with the Stars’ run-out and of course the injury scare for Carlton House. Pour Moi has certainly been the horse in the news of late but it is notoriously difficult to assess the French form and Andre Fabre has a terrible record in the race. On paper he has a fair chance but there are questions to be answered. Vadamar also takes a trip across the channel and the Aga Khan owned colt has an each-way chance having chased home Pour Moi at Saint-Cloud in May.
Of the home team Native Khan, trained by Ed Dunlop, will be ridden by Johnny Murtagh and must have a squeak though I feel a mile and a quarter might be his distance. The two main runners for Ballydoyle are Recital and Seville following the defection of Roderic O’Connor to the French Derby. Both colts certainly have a chance with Recital, ridden by Kieren Fallon, probably the best of the pair.
The Godolphin team have Ocean War as their main representative but even with the irrepressible Frankie on board this looks a little to hot for their charge and we are unlikely to see the Dettori flying dismount this year.
Carlton House (owned by Her Majesty The Queen if you didn’t already know) is the form choice but you are of course taking his fitness on trust after the injury scare at the start of the week. If anyone can get the horse ready for the big race it is Sir Michael Stoute, and you can call me a soppy old romantic, but it would be great to see the Queen finally win the Derby. All being well the colt will arrive at Epsom in tip top shape and if he does he will take all the beating.
I can see it being a Sir Michael Stoute trained double at Epsom and have invested a couple of quid this morning (non-runner no bet) on Havant for the Oaks and Carlton House for the Derby win double.
Mick Channon sends the unbeaten Zain Al Boldan to take her chance but this is a major step up in class even though her Oaks Trial win at Lingfield was impressive. Dancing Rain trained by William Haggas is another who will need to step up on what she has achieved already but she will have the assistance of Johnny Murtagh in the saddle.
I of course having been saying all season on this site that the Sir Michael Stoute trained Havant might just find middle distances more to her liking than the mile of the Guineas and that she will possibly be a better bet for The Oaks. You could argue that she was doing no more than staying on in the Guineas but I am convinced the mile and a half is the trip for her and at 6-1 is worth a punt.
The Derby market has been thrown into confusion in the run-up to the big race with the French horse Pour Moi coming in for support following his ‘Breakfast with the Stars’ run-out and of course the injury scare for Carlton House. Pour Moi has certainly been the horse in the news of late but it is notoriously difficult to assess the French form and Andre Fabre has a terrible record in the race. On paper he has a fair chance but there are questions to be answered. Vadamar also takes a trip across the channel and the Aga Khan owned colt has an each-way chance having chased home Pour Moi at Saint-Cloud in May.
Of the home team Native Khan, trained by Ed Dunlop, will be ridden by Johnny Murtagh and must have a squeak though I feel a mile and a quarter might be his distance. The two main runners for Ballydoyle are Recital and Seville following the defection of Roderic O’Connor to the French Derby. Both colts certainly have a chance with Recital, ridden by Kieren Fallon, probably the best of the pair.
The Godolphin team have Ocean War as their main representative but even with the irrepressible Frankie on board this looks a little to hot for their charge and we are unlikely to see the Dettori flying dismount this year.
Carlton House (owned by Her Majesty The Queen if you didn’t already know) is the form choice but you are of course taking his fitness on trust after the injury scare at the start of the week. If anyone can get the horse ready for the big race it is Sir Michael Stoute, and you can call me a soppy old romantic, but it would be great to see the Queen finally win the Derby. All being well the colt will arrive at Epsom in tip top shape and if he does he will take all the beating.
I can see it being a Sir Michael Stoute trained double at Epsom and have invested a couple of quid this morning (non-runner no bet) on Havant for the Oaks and Carlton House for the Derby win double.
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Derby And Oaks
Latest news and views for the big Epsom races can be found on the Classics 2011 page.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
May Review – In Profit Again
It was a long and at times gruelling month - not too mention maddening having tipped up four second placed horses in the last four days - but I finish May in front to the tune of +8.34 profit to level stakes making it four winning months out of five this year; due in no small part to Barcelona getting the job done against Man Utd in the Champions League final.
Here’s hoping the winning run continues as we enter what promises to be a wonderful month of racing with the small matter of The Oaks, The Derby and Royal Ascot to look forward to over the coming weeks.
Here’s hoping the winning run continues as we enter what promises to be a wonderful month of racing with the small matter of The Oaks, The Derby and Royal Ascot to look forward to over the coming weeks.
That Elusive Winner
I finally got my nose back in front having been playing catch up all month courtesy of Show Rainbow at Haydock and the Barcelona boys doing the business against Man Utd at the weekend.
I fancy one today at Leicester in the 3.15. Caught in the closing stages over a mile at Newmarket last time Elusivity has been in good form of late and the gelding should put in another big run today.
Be lucky
I fancy one today at Leicester in the 3.15. Caught in the closing stages over a mile at Newmarket last time Elusivity has been in good form of late and the gelding should put in another big run today.
Be lucky
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