Bolger to knockout rivals in Round Two June 15, 2015 IT really is bizarre that this afternoon’s Coventry Stakes (3.05pm) is still only a Group Two. You only have to look at the roll of honour over the past decade to see why it should be awarded the highest status. Henrythenavigator, Canford Cliffs, Strong Suit, Dawn Approach and The Wow Signal all proved themselves to [...]
Top Tips from Paddy Power June 15, 2015 If you were looking for an unbiased view of the King’s Stand today, you’re in the wrong place! I am of course talking about my mum’s horse Sole Power who is trying to become the first horse ever to win the King’s Stand three years on the trot. All I can tell you is he’s [...]
King’s Stand beckons for speedy Angel June 15, 2015 THE Group One King’s Stand Stakes (3.40pm) is always hotly-contested and today features 19 speedballs that are sure to be wound up and ready to go. Sole Power has been a wonderful servant for Eddie Lynam and the Power family. He has won the last two editions of this race and bids to make history [...]
Ray to give flat boys a long overdue Ascot Stakes June 15, 2015 NATIONAL Hunt trainers have had a stranglehold on the Ascot Stakes (5.00pm) in recent years, winning the last five renewals, and they are strongly represented again. Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins saddle five runners between them in their attempts to win the race for a second time. But I reckon RAY WARD can put one [...]
Panther hiccup spoils the Ascot party June 14, 2015 GEOFF LESTER TALKS TO TRAINER TOM DASCOMBE AHEAD OF THIS WEEK’S ROYAL ASCOT TO paraphrase that well-used political expression, “24 hours is a long time in racing”. Having lived the dream with trainer Tom Dascombe on Friday that his stable-star Brown Panther was “jumping out of his skin” in readiness for Thursday’s Ascot Gold Cup, [...]
Scalzo can prove money well spent for his new owner June 11, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND’S RACING IT IS a predictably quiet weekend seeing as we’re just four days away from Ascot. A winner is a winner, though, and there is some competitive action at York, Sandown and Musselburgh. The highlight is the Charity Sprint at York (3.45pm) where northern trainers have won [...]
Back speedy Waady to return to winning ways at Sandown June 11, 2015 JOHN Gosden’s speedster WAADY was far too keen when stepped up in trip at Newbury in the Carnarvon Stakes last month and is interesting now back down to five furlongs in tomorrow’s Scurry Stakes at Sandown (2.55pm). He caught my eye when whizzing up over course and distance in a Class Two handicap off a [...]
England set for scrap in Slovenia as they search for six wins on the spin June 11, 2015 BEN CLEMINSON LOOKS AT THE EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS HAVING won all five of their European Championship qualifiers to date, England are well-fancied to add a sixth victory against Slovenia on Sunday night. They have also beaten their opponents in their three previous meetings. Any repetition will see them go nine points clear at the top [...]
Belgium to emerge on the right side of a Cardiff thriller June 11, 2015 ON PAPER, tonight’s Group B qualifier between joint leaders Wales and Belgium in Cardiff appears to be something of a mismatch. The visitors are ranked second in the world, were 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists, and haven’t lost to their hosts in five encounters. However, while Belgium should still be fancied, Wales are in fine form, [...]
Maximum excitement on euro 2016 qualifiers June 11, 2015 GOALS galore or bore draw? Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier between Wales and Belgium could go either way. Level with Marc Wilmots’ men on 11 points at the top of the table, the Dragons have given themselves a clear chance of reaching the finals in France, but have only scored seven times in five fixtures. By [...]