Tag: Russian Realm

Ascot Victoria Cup Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The big betting race of the weekend is the Victoria Cup over seven furlongs at 3.45. As usual, it has attracted a huge field with 29 runners spread across the track.

The bookmakers are currently offering 12-1 the field and beating five places each-way, which tells you all that you need to know about the competitive nature of the race. Ed Dunlop has already scooped one major handicap this week with the Chester Cup and saddles Zarwaan here.

The four-year-old was our selection for the Lincoln at Doncaster and he ran a creditable race to finish sixth, unable to quicken in the closing stages behind Gabrial. He had chased home Chatez on soft ground at Haydock last year and was also a close fifth in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. He may just have needed the race at Doncaster and this drop back to seven furlongs could also see him in a better light.

Richard Hannon saddles Emell, a five-year-old by Medicean and an emphatic winner at Haydock in April. He wore blinkers for the first time when producing a fine turn of foot to beat Professor by three and a quarter lengths. The handicapper put him up 8lbs for that run and he looked unlucky not to follow up at Goodwood. He seemed to be travelling extremely well under Kieran O’Neill but could not find a gap. He eventually flashed home in fifth and races off the same mark here.

Speculative Bid is on a hat-trick for David Elsworth after winning twice at Kempton this spring. He was a very impressive winner over Brave Echo off a mark of 82 before defying a 9lbs rise in April. He beat Outback Traveller by a head and that horse is only 1lb better off on Saturday. That was a fine seasonal debut for Jeremy Noseda’s son of Bushranger and he won by seven lengths here in October. He is now a stone higher in the handicap but has to be a contender.

Russian Realm is an interesting runner here for David O’Meara having previously been trained by Sir Michael Stoute. He won well in soft ground at Goodwood last May but never really went on from there. The change of scenery may bring about some improvement and Richard Hughes is an eye-catching jockey booking.

William Haggas is always to be feared in these big handicaps and he saddles the lightly raced Dream Spirit. He beat Maverick Wave at Newmarket last August but was beaten at the same track next time and was third to Mooharib at Pontefract.

Emell @25-1 Ladbrokes

Dream Spirit @14-1 Ladbrokes

¼ odds, 1,2,3,4,5

Racing Preview Aug 30th

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Time Test was a very impressive winner at Sandown on Friday and looks set to be upped in class by Roger Charlton. It looked more of a staying performance to me rather than a Guineas prospect but I’m not ready to invest in the ante-post market just yet.

Saturday’s racing action opens with an impossible sprint handicap at Sandown before some more promising two-year-olds line up for the Solario Stakes. This doesn’t look like a strong renewal and Aktabantay looks vulnerable to something with a bit more scope. Future Empire fits the bill after knuckling down well to his task when beating subsequent winner Invincible Gold at Newmarket.

Godolphin has yet to win a Group 1 race this season, something that they will surely put right before long. I’m hoping to see the blue colours dominate on Saturday as Fintry makes the trip over to France for the Atalanta Stakes. Andre Fabre does not waste money on fanciful entries so we can assume that she is pretty smart. The danger could be John Gosden’s Water Hole who has won a couple of handicaps and deserves to take her chance at this level.

A huge field of handicappers go to post for the mile and a quarter handicap at 3.50. I’ve been going through the form but keep coming back to the ease with which Clon Brulee won at Newmarket last time. I don’t know the 7lb claimer and a 14 draw may not be ideal but he should go well. Forgotten Hero and Ajmany look the obvious dangers.

Chester also stages a very competitive card and B Fifty Two looks a tempting proposition in the opener. He blazed the trail here earlier in the season and comfortably holds Forest Edge on that form. More significantly, he nearly pulled off a shock win at the York Ebor festival and is housed in stall 2. He must surely go close although I am going to have a small saver on Dungannon who likes the ground and has slipped down the weights.

The seven furlong race at 2.55 is no easier to solve and plenty of people will fancy Foxtrot Tango to end his long losing run. It is true that he was second in the Irish 2000 Guineas and would win this doing cartwheels if he could reproduce that run. However, it is a long time ago now and I prefer the claims of Sir Michael Stoute’s Russian Realm. He was forced wide at York last time and is better with some give in the ground.

Finally, Whiplash Willie can gain a deserved Listed race success at 3.30. I was very disappointed with De Rigueur in the Ebor and the fast ground was blamed for his lack lustre performance. He is the main danger.

Future Empire 2.40 Sandown @9-4 William Hill

Fintry 3.15 Sandown @13-8 Betfred

Clon Brulee 3.50 Sandown @9-1 BetVictor

B Fifty Two 2.20 Chester @5-1 Paddy Power

Dungannon 2.20 Chester @10-1 William Hill (each-way)

Russian Realm 2.55 Chester @8-1 Totesport

Whiplash Willie 3.30 Chester @4-1 BetVictor

Royal Ascot Friday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It is no secret that Sir Michael Stoute’s horses have needed a run this season to sharpen them up. Time and again we have seen his runners improve by up to 7lbs from their seasonal debut, Integral being a case in point on Wednesday when comprehensively reversing Newmarket form.

The Newmarket handler has a strong team lined up for Friday and will be very disappointed if he comes away with nothing. Bold Sniper ran a great race at this meeting last year to be beaten just a length by Elidor in a competitive handicap and returns in peak form for the Wolferton Handicap at 3.05.

He was given a lot to do first time out at Newmarket but cut through the pack impressively to finish third to Niceofyoutotellme. As with the rest of the yard, he will surely improve for that run and my only concern is the shorter trip. This race is over a mile and a quarter which must be a minimum for the Royal runner so I’m hoping they go a fast gallop. He will love the ground and may have most to fear from old rival Café Society.

Snow Sky was nibbled at in the ante-post market for the Derby after winning the Lingfield Trial impressively. A minor knock prevented him from taking his chance at Epsom but that may have been a blessing in disguise. The Lingfield form looks weak but he is closely matched with Derby sixth Western Hymn on Newbury form. He was having his first start when beaten by the Gosden horse and his rival may be feeling his Epsom exertions.

Stoute also has a massive chance with Russian Realm in the closing Buckingham Palace Stakes at 5.35. He made rapid late headway to finish second first time out and then bolted up at Goodwood. He was racing off a mark of 88 that day and is now up to 96 but Ryan Moore only needed hands and heels to secure a comfortable win.

With 29 runners it is impossible to be too confident but he won in the style of a potential Listed or Group class winner and looks worth a bet at around 6-1. I would be kicking myself if I did not include Radiator as an each-way bet in the Coronation Stakes. Strictly on form she ought to be outclassed but she ran too freely when just beaten at York and will also improve markedly. The fact that she is running in the Group 1 is a hint in itself.

Bold Sniper 3.05 Royal Ascot at 4-1 BetVictor

Snow Sky 3.45 Royal Ascot at 5-1 Coral, William Hill

Radiator (each-way) 4.25 Royal Ascot at 16-1 Paddy Power

Russian Realm 5.35 Royal Ascot at 6-1 William Hill