Tag: Prince Of Johanne

Ascot International Handicap Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

King George Update

The serious injury to St Nicholas Abbey was sad news earlier this week and I’m sure that all racing fans are hoping that he can pull through. The O’Brien team will hopefully switch their hopes to my 150-1 ante-post selection Ernest Hemingway for the King George on Saturday. Having also taken 10-1 a place I am in a nice position to cover any losses with a lay bet. It certainly does not look the strongest King George in living memory so I’m hopeful of getting a run for my money.

International Handicap

The biggest betting race on the card is the International Handicap over seven furlongs. This seems to have attracted just about every leading player over this specialist distance. The key races for this are usually the Victoria Cup, the Hunt Cup and the Bunbury Cup and there are enough criss-crossing form lines here to give you a serious headache.

The Bunbury Cup was won by Jamie Osborne’s Field Of Dream who wore down long-time leader Es Que Love inside the final furlong. Not that far behind was Redvers whilst My Freedom weakened out of contention tamely. Field Of Dream has only incurred a 3lb penalty for that win whilst Es Que Love ran his usual game race in defeat last Saturday.

Field Of Dream was previously sixth in the Hunt Cup after an almighty gamble was scuppered by the draw. Es Que Love ran in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at the Royal meeting and finished behind Lightning Cloud and Dream Tune with Loving Spirit and Redvers just behind.

Diescentric did us a good turn when bolting up at Newcastle but has been hammered with a 10lb penalty. Julie Camacho is not keen to risk him on anything firmer than good ground so he may yet swerve this race. If you are not already confused by the older horses, there are two three-year-olds with live chances in Queensbury Rules and Ashaadd.

Queensbury Rules stayed on from the rear to take third in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. That race does not seem to have been quite as hot as in recent years but it was still a game effort. Ryan Moore has been booked so it is safe to assume that he is fancied. My concern is that he is dropping back to seven furlongs here and may find it all happening a bit quick.

Jim Goldie’s Hawkeyethenoo and the gallant Prince Of Johanne are others with a chance, especially the latter who has the assistance of the in-form Johnny Murtagh. You would expect the seven furlongs to be too sharp for a former Cambridgeshire winner but the grey seems to be getting quicker as he gets older! He also has a 3lb penalty for beating Es Que Love at Sandown and they are sure to go a good pace again here.

The draw is another factor to consider so we may need to revisit this race on Friday. At this stage, I’d side with Prince Of Johanne to continue Johnny Murtagh’s great run.

Prince Of Johanne 14-1 William Hill

Royal Ascot Day 2 Preview – Wednesday 19th June

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Well, what a cracking start to the Royal meeting! Nearly 30 points up thanks to War Command. It was nearly so much better with Aljamaaheer tipped at 33-1 and Gregorian (51-1) just collared by Declaration Of War.

I was also happy to see Mars (12-1) and Mubaraza (12-1) sneak into the frame. Once again I thought Mars was unlucky and he has got Coral Eclipse written all over him. I don’t like trying to guess the running plans of Aidan O’Brien but I’m going to break my own rule and take the 20-1 about him for that race. The picture will become clearer after the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes but that was some trial.

I can’t even remember the last time I backed a two-year-old Royal Ascot winner for the following year’s classics. But what can we make of War Command? Would I be talking through my pocket if I thought the 10-1 for the 2000 Guineas was a good bet? Probably! Even so, it’s worth re-investing a fraction of the winnings as I can’t see that price lasting long. He’s already half that price with Coral.

Our ante-post bets for day 2 rest on Prince Of Johanne at 20-1 in the Hunt Cup and Beldale Memory at 5-1 in the Queen Mary. Dance And Dance didn’t make the cut but we get refunded on him.

The card opens with the Jersey Stakes and Richard Fahey’s Garswood is fancied to win this. I tipped him for the Free Handicap but felt that the 2000 Guineas was flying a bit high as well as doubting his ability to stay a mile. This looks much more his cup of tea and two seconds for Fahey on day 1 offer plenty of encouragement.

In the same race, I like Music Master at a good each-way price. He ran a stormer to split Dundonnell and Baltic Knight at Newmarket and Henry Candy thinks a lot of him.

There are some really tough fillies in the second race with Chigun carrying the hopes of Lady Cecil. Tiger Cliff ran a great race in the Ascot Stakes but I doubt he would have beaten the winner even if he had been kept closer to the pace. It’s impossible to knock Dank or Thistle Bird and the raiders Duntle and Sarkyla make it interesting. The front three are going to be tough nuts to crack but I’m having each-way on Thistle Bird and Sarkiyla.

I haven’t entered the fray on the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes but I think The Fugue and Maxios could give the big two plenty to do tomorrow. Both can be backed at around 6-1 in the hope of arriving fast and late.

Prince Of Johanne should give us a run for our money in the Hunt Cup at 20-1. I am going to throw in Fury in first time blinkers at 16-1 as he is handicapped to win on his best form. As usual you can make out a case for most of them and I expect Trade Commissioner to run well as Gosden had some near-misses on day 1.

Beldale Memory must go well in the Queen Mary and I’m surprised she is still available at 9-2. Clive Brittain’s Rizeena is clearly above average and it would be nice to see the old boy back in the winner’s enclosure at the Royal meeting. At 7-1 she can offer good support to our main hope.

The closing handicap could go the way of French Guineas fourth Zurigha. Both French Guineas races were like a complete shambles but she ran through courageously to finish fourth. There is nothing with form to compare to that, other than possibly Waterway Run who was just behind in sixth, and she looks overpriced at 12-1. I’ll be kicking myself if Waterway Run beats her so I’ll have a saver on her at 22-1.

2.30
Garswood 5-1 Coral
Music Master 16-1 Bet365

3.05
Thistle Bird 8-1 Paddy Power
Sarkiyla 9-1 Bet Victor

3.45
The Fugue 6-1 Paddy Power
Maxios 6-1 Sportingbet

4.25
Ante-Post Prince Of Johanne 20-1
Fury 16-1 Ladbrokes

5.00
Ante-Post Beldale Memory 5-1
Rizeena 7-1 Bet365

5.35
Zurigha 12-1 Paddy Power

Waterway Run 22-1 Coral

Ante-Post
Mars 20-1 Coral Eclipse Betfair
War Command 10-1 2014 2000 Guineas

Royal Ascot Outsiders

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

This title is potentially misleading. Below is a list of horses i feel are worth a second look for next weeks Ascot showpiece.

Shropshire 33/1 Ladbrokes – Wokingham

This horse is 1 from 1 at the course and this time last year, he finished a NECK behind Maarek, who’s since progressed on to win a group 2 & 3. Now, since winning at Ascot, Shropshire has run 9 times, placing 3 times in big field handicaps. I’m not saying he’s going to win the Wokingham, far from it. But i’m convinced he has a great shout at placing. He’s had many of the wokingham entries behind him on numerous occasions, and 33-1 each way now (top 4) is brilliant value. There could even be some firms who go each way top 5 on the day, which makes anything 25-1 or above really appealing. Two starts back he finished ahead of Hamza (won twice since), Hitchens (won next start), Yeeoow (won since), York Glory (won since), Duke Of Firenze (10th behind Shropshire, won since) and Harrison George (won since).

Those are some class animals he finished ahead of that day. If he turns up and puts his best foot forward, i think we could well get a juicy each way return. 33-1 now, i expect him to go off around 16-18-1.

Prince Of Johanne – 16-1 Ladbrokes – Royal Hunt Cup

Last years Royal Hunt Cup victor is back to have a crack at winning the race back to back. He went into that race brimming with confidence, after wins at Newmarket (in a 32 runner race) and a nose 2nd to Fury at York. This time his preparation is completely different, well down the field in 6 of his 7 races since would be a cause for concern, had he not finished 2nd to Navajo Chief last month at York. He showed the Prince Of Johanne of old to only be denied in the final furlong by the fast finishing Navajo Chief.

I think this could be as solid an each way bet can be in a big field handicap if he’s up for it.

Royal Ascot Ante-Post Update

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Epsom Derby meeting does not usually provide many clues to Royal Ascot. In fact, it is often best to avoid the horses that run in the classics and then seek compensation at the Royal meeting. However, one of the handicaps could have provided an exception to the rule.

The Epsom Dash produced a bizarre finish when Sir Michael Stoute’s Duke Of Firenze burst through to grab an unlikely victory. With about a furlong and a half to run it looked as though he would struggle to make the frame but he suddenly took off once Ryan Moore switched him inside. Matching his run from the rear was Smoothtalkinrascal and the pair of them scythed through the field in eye-catching style.

It was possibly as much to do with the leaders slowing up as the first and second accelerating but both horses look sure-fire future winners. Duke Of Firenze looks set to run in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot off a 5lbs higher mark. The stable also has Enrol entered but that horse is languishing at number 80 in the handicap and is unlikely to get a run. Predictably the bookmakers have installed him as favourite but the 10-1 with Ladbrokes is worth adding to our Ascot portfolio.

Stoute will probably have a strong hand in the handicaps at the meeting this year but the one race he would really like to win is the Ascot Gold Cup. Amazingly he has not won the race since Shangamuzo in 1978 but has decent prospects this year with the Queen’s Estimate. The race she won at Sandown was a muddling affair but she quickened past them well enough and will be primed to run a big race. I’ve taken 16-1 about Simenon (now best-priced at 12-1) and I think the addition of Estimate at 10-1 will double my chances in a less-than-vintage Gold Cup.

Having backed Chapter Seven for the Royal Hunt Cup I was less than pleased to see him given a pacemaking role for Dunaden in the Coronation Cup. That race is over half a mile further than his optimum trip so it was hardly the ideal prep for Ascot. Another horse I like for the Hunt Cup is last year’s winner Prince Of Johanne. The grey ran a storming trial at York last month and must have a chance off virtually the same mark as 12 months ago. He is presently 20-1 with many punters believing that Dance And Dance, eighth at York, is the one to be on for Ascot. He was runner-up in 2011 and also has to be respected.

Royal Hunt Cup
Prince Of Johanne 20-1 Paddy Power

Wokingham
Duke Of Firenze 10-1 Ladbrokes

Gold Cup
Estimate 10-1 Ladbrokes