Tag: Royal Ascot

Tipsy Tipster Ascot Day 1

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Here we have it ladies and gentlemen, the Cheltenham of the flat is upon us, Royal Ascot. 5 days of top quality group races for the whole family to enjoy, and as an avid punter i’m going to throw up a few fantastic bets for tomorrows action.

Animal Kingdom 2:30 Ascot 2-1 Coral

Fill your boots people, the guys over at Coral have woke up this morning and decided to take on Animal Kingdom for some reason! The max bet is only £25, but as it stands, £25 at the current price would only give you £25 profit! Take the extra £25 right out of Corals purse at once. I’ve heard so many people say there are serious question marks about this horse, and my reply is, so what? He’s never won at a mile, but he’s come 2nd by a length to the worlds best miler (Wise Dan), he’s not won on turf, this is true, but he’s won on EVERY other surface in racing, showing he’s versatile? Bookies will be out to take on this horse, let’s show em who’s boss.

Declaration of War vs Elusive Kate Match bet 5/6 Elusive Kate Bet365

Cannot be having Declaration Of War finishing ahead of a proven Group 1 performer in Elusive Kate, no sir, not for me. DOW was a bitterly disappointing, overhyped horse who completely bombed in the lockinge. Why he went off 5/4 favourite having only won a weak group 3 race in Ireland is beyond me.

It was this time last year Elusive Kate came 2nd to Giofta in the Falmouth stakes at Newmarket, 2 weeks later, won the Prix Rothschild Group 1 at Deauville. Since then she’s raced against Excelebration and finished 3rd both times in group 1s. That form is absolutely head and shoulders above DOW form who won an egg and spoon group 3 at Dundalk on the all weather.

For good measure, throw in a Animal Kingdom to beat Elusive Kate RFC for the craig, ahhh go on now.

Royal Ascot Day 1 Preview – Tuesday 18th June

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The big day has finally arrived and it’s time to take on the bookies at Royal Ascot! Our ante-post portfolio isn’t looking too bad on paper. Chapter Seven remains our only outright loss after his withdrawal from the Hunt Cup but we will be refunded even if Dance And Dance doesn’t make the cut.

I’ve snapped up early prices about three runners in the opening Queen Anne Stakes with Aljamaaheer (33-1), Gregorian (51-1) and Sovereign Debt (16-1). Just one of them placed will cover us and I’m still of the opinion that Animal Kingdom is far from a certainty. However, there’s no harm in covering your back so I’m going to take up Corals enhanced odds treble on Animal Kingdom, Shea Shea and Dawn Approach at 14-1. I personally can’t see them all winning but it’s a fair insurance policy. I don’t want to be the only one crying into my beer whilst Channel 4 are telling us how the bookies have taken a beating!

I am similarly placed in the sprint with Reckless Abandon (7-1), Kingsgate Native (14-1) and Spirit Quartz (27-1) running for team Betcirca! I think the value has gone from the market leaders so I’ll just let this one run.

The third race has not gone to plan having taken 2-1 about Magician before his minor knock. He’s now out to 11-4 but O’Brien wouldn’t be running him unless he was confident he was 100%. I still think Mars will make up into a decent colt and he will benefit from Leitir Mor setting a decent gallop for Dawn Approach. I’m going to have a little each-way on Mars.

One thing about Ascot is that it is the only meeting of the year bar Cheltenham where you can get massive odds about top class horses. Take a look at the Betfair price of George Vancouver. Where else would you get 132-1 about a Breeders’ Cup winner? Yes, I know his form this season is dire but he looked a rattling good colt last year and I can’t leave him out whilst supporting the other O’Brien horses.

Hopefully we will still be going strongly by race four when they line up for the Coventry. O’Brien and Hannon have carved up this race between them in recent years with nine victories and they have three runners each (just to make things simple!). I’m going to take a stab on War Command being overpriced at 14-1 whilst I also like Riverboat Springs at 11-1. The latter covered half of the Epsom downs before realising what it was all about in the Woodcote Stakes and he will be better running in a straight line.

Everyone is hoping that Tiger Cliff can win the Ascot Stakes so that we can get another rendition of three cheers for Sir Henry. There is a very good chance of that happening but I just wonder if this one has the stamina? I liked the run of Mubaraza behind him at Newmarket and I’m hoping Justification will run well to further boost the claims of Simenon in the Gold Cup. Both horses endured terrible traffic problems at the Roodeye.

By the time we get to the closing Windsor Castle Stakes I may have enough crumpled ante-post slips to start a small bonfire but I’m hoping that isn’t the case. My tip here has to be the American raider Ogermeister. Can it really be four years since Wesley Ward’s two-year-olds were making our youngsters look like donkeys? This one won by six lengths at Belmont Park but who knows how that will compare to York or Sandown? At 7-1 it’s worth taking a chance.

Looking to later on in the week, I am going to add Biographer (40-1) to my Gold Cup team. Whilst studying the video of Tiger Cliff’s race I noticed he was tenderly handled and looked full of running at the end. He may have a bit to find on official ratings but it wouldn’t take more than 7 or 8lbs improvement to see him in the frame.

Royal Ascot Day 1

2.30 Ante-Post Aljamaaheer 33-1, Gregorian 51-1, Sovereign Debt 16-1

3.05 Ante-Post Reckless Abandon 7-1, Kingsgate Native 14-1, Spirit Quartz 27-1

3.45 Ante-Post Magician 2-1.

Mars 12-1 Bet Victor
George Vancouver 132-1 Betfair

4.25
Riverboat Springs 11-1 Boylesports
War Command 14-1 Boylesports

5.00
Justification 7-1 William Hill
Mubaraza 12-1 888Sport

5.35
Ogermeister 7-1 William Hill

Special bet – Animal Kingdom, Shea Shea, Dawn Approach 14-1 Coral

Gold Cup
Biographer 40-1 Skybet

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.

Horse Racing Preview Saturday 15th June

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The last Saturday before Royal Ascot always seems to serve up some tricky handicaps to tempt punters into having a dabble before the serious betting starts on Tuesday. This year is no exception with York’s Charity Sprint Trophy a case in point. Can you believe it is possible to back any horse in the field at 10-1 or better?

In my preview article I picked out Moviesta, Vincentti and Lewisham as my three against the field. If you haven’t already placed a bet, you can get 10-1, 14-1 and 16-1 respectively. My advice would be to back anything you fancy now as York has a strong betting market and the favourite will probably be nearer 5-1 by the time the SP’s are returned.

In the 2.40 Westwiththenight is likely to go off favourite after finishing second to Gifted Girl at Ascot. Subsequent events reveal that she would have had to have been up to group class to beat that filly so it was no wonder she was left trailing by five lengths. Gifted Girl finished a fine second at Epsom and looks like a filly to follow.

The handicapper hasn’t done Westwiththenight any favours with 9st 10lb to carry and she may have a battle on her hands against the bottom weight Maven. This one has finished second twice at a mile and a quarter, running a little too freely for her own good on each occasion. She should settle better with a faster pace here and looks good each-way value.

The listed race at 3.15 is looking as competitive as the big sprint with the bookmakers going 4-1 the field with only eight runners. Plenty of people will be hoping that first time blinkers can persuade Stipulate to put his best foot forward for Lady Cecil whilst Questioning and Ladys First are bound to be in there battling.

It will be interesting to see how the two three-year-olds get on against their elders. Baltic Knight was trounced by Remote last time and if he boosts the form tomorrow you can expect Remote to be the shortest priced favourite in years for the Britannia Handicap. John Gosden usually has his string firing for Royal Ascot so I’m going to stick with Questioning.

Over at Sandown, Smoothtalkinrascal will have gone into more notebooks than Vinnie Jones after flashing home in second place in the Epsom Dash. He steps into listed class and is a warm favourite at around 2-1. My only reservation is that he doesn’t seem the kind of horse to win by far I’ll be hoping that his jockey can produce him at the right moment.

In the 2.20 there is bound to be plenty of support for Ashaadd who rather got Ryan Moore out of jail last time. He was held up behind horses off a slow pace but answered every call to get up close home and beat a useful sort in Homage. Moore can double up in the 4.05 on Defendant for Sir Michael Stoute. This one won his maiden impressively and can take advantage of the weight he receives from the slightly quirky but very talented Pythagorian.

York

Maven 8-1 Coral
Questioning 5-1 Ladbrokes

Sandown

Ashaadd 5-1 Ladbrokes
Smoothtalkinrascal 2-1 Coral
Defendant 9-2 Ladbrokes

Royal Ascot Ante-Post Betting Round Up

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Royal Ascot is only a few days away now and it’s time to check our ante-post portfolio. Of the 12 horses backed, only one has been withdrawn and all of the remainder are now trading at shorter prices.

Chapter Seven is the one to blot my copybook. I had not reckoned on him being used as a pacemaker for Dunedin after two highly encouraging runs in competitive handicaps. As yet, the bookmakers are not offering NR/No Bet but it must be imminent. Until that happens, it is best to side only with declared runners.

My Hunt Cup hopes currently rest with Prince Of Johanne but I’m going to include Dance And Dance after getting confirmation from Ed Vaughan that he is on target for the race. His ups and downs have been well documented but basically he was second here in 2011, ran his heart out in Listed races in various countries and is only now returning to his best. As his trainer says, he is better off at the weights but he is two years older. There’s still a little each-way value at 14-1 with Ladbrokes.

The opening race of the meeting has developed into a one-horse book with Animal Kingdom all the rage. There will be some long faces if he doesn’t win but I am more interested in the value in the place market. Having secured 33’s for Aljamaaheer and 51 for Gregorian I am going to take 16-1 about Sovereign Debt. I think the Lockinge form will hold up here and that will give me three excellent place chances even if the favourite does bolt up.

Having pinned my colours firmly to the Temple Stakes form in the King’s Stand, I am also going to snap up the last of the 7-1 about Reckless Abandon. I do feel that six furlongs will ultimately prove his trip but he still has a major chance and hopefully the Cowell-trained pair can grab some place money.

I am going to stick with Society Rock at 9-2 in the Diamond Jubilee. I’m on the veteran Hawkeyethenoo at 16-1 for the same race but Society Rock seems to be in his element here.

Finally, there’s a bit of 5-1 about Beldale Memory in the Queen Mary at Betfair at the moment. I thought she would be nearer 3-1 and, as she is the only two-year-old that I’ve been impressed by this season, I’m happy to add her to my portfolio.

St James’s Palace Stakes: Magician 7-4

King’s Stand: Spirit Quartz 27-1, Kingsgate Native 14-1, Reckless Abandon 7-1 Coral

Diamond Jubilee: 16-1 Hawkeyethenoo, Society Rock 9-2 William Hill

Hunt Cup: Prince Of Johanne 20-1, Chapter Seven 20-1, Dance And Dance 14-1 Ladbrokes

Gold Cup: Estimate 10-1 Simenon 16-1

Wokingham: Duke Of Firenze 10-1 Nocturn 25-1

Queen Anne: Aljamaaheer 33-1, Gregorian 51-1, Sovereign Debt 16-1 Bet Victor

Queen Mary: Beldale Memory 5-1 Betfair

St James’s Palace Stakes Preview

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The news that Dawn Approach will, after all, be running in the St James’s Palace Stakes has created quite a stir. Those of you with long memories may recall a similar “will he, won’t he” scenario with Jim Bolger’s New Approach ahead of the Derby in 2008. He was suddenly brought back into the equation with some punters having invested at huge prices on Betfair.

The news that the 2000 Guineas winner will line up on Tuesday has certainly helped to raise the excitement ahead of the meeting. Coral quickly announced that they will be treating all bets previously struck as being “without Dawn Approach”. That was very smart thinking and shows how much more “punter friendly” the bookies are these days. It certainly has not always been the case so full credit to them for acting so quickly.

So what are we to make of Dawn Approach after his Derby antics? It appears that the possibility of him attempting to bolt during the race had not even occurred to his connections, such was their confidence in his ability to settle. Kevin Manning certainly wasn’t expecting it and had already decided that he would need to “get after” Dawn Approach quite early in the Guineas to get him into top gear. Was it simply a case of a miler running in a mile and a half race? I have seen plenty of Guineas horses run in the Derby but cannot remember any of them running as freely as that.

Magician was expected to head for Epsom after winning the Dee Stakes at Chester but Aidan O’Brien dropped him back to a mile for the Irish Guineas instead. The decision was rewarded in spectacular fashion and he looks the obvious choice. O’Brien still has three other entries in the race whilst Bolger has Leitir Mor entered as a possible pacemaker. A crawl would not suit either of the market leaders to it seems safe to assume that there will be a decent pace on.

Toronado was thought to be Dawn Approach’s biggest rival at Newmarket and it looked like being a clash between the two with a furlong or so to run. However, Richard Hannon’s colt dropped out very tamely and was treading water at the line. Connections are adamant that he is a lot better than that and he will presumably be tucked in behind the pace.

The French raiders Mutin and Mshawish don’t look up to top standard and Dundonnell has had his limitations exposed in the past. The verdict has to be to stick with Magician until he is beaten. There are just too many question marks over Dawn Approach.

Magician 2-1 Boylesports