Off to Baden-Baden

This column is now off to Baden-Baden for a week, where we expect Green Destiny to win today and Verde Mar to take tomorrow´s Goldene Peitsche (especially now that the main German hope Arabian Falcon has been sold to HK and will not run). We expect to be back on Tuesday, September 4th.

Ebor Handicap at York

Despite the various Group One races run this week, the Ebor Handicap, to be run today over 1 3/4 miles at 16.40 CET, is regarded as the top event of the York August meeting. Worth more than 140,000 GBP to the winner, it is the most valuable handicap in Europe and is always fiercely competitive. None of the 20 runners can be easily discarded, and the strong challenge from Ireland (5 runners) and France make it even more difficult. In view of ther vantastoc stablöe form, Sense of Purpose (Dermot EWeld/ Liam Roche) could be the bdest of the Irish, while Hammerfest (Jpohn Hammond/ Jim Crowley) has run some good races in top U.K. handovcaps and had clearly been prepared fpor this. So of course have most of the others, and we especially like the lightly-weighted Motivado (Sir Mark Prescott/ Luke Morris) and Qahriman (Luca Cumani/ Kieren Fallon). Favourites have a very poor record here, so punters should tread warily.

In terms of class, the best race at York is the Lonsdale, Cup, a Group Two race over 2 miles at 16.05. Plenmty of the usual suspects line up here, including saddlers Rock (John Oxx/ Niall McCullough), the Irish-ztrained winner of the Goodwood Cup last time, with 4 of these behind, and Godolphin´s back to form Cavalryman (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori), biut the one we like is ex-German Ibicenco (Cumani/ Fallon), now being prepared for a crack at the Melbourne Cup for his new owners.

On a typically overkill Saturday, there are also strong cards at Goodwood (including the Group Two Celebration Mile at 15.45), Newmarket, with a listed race, and in Ireland at the Curragh, as well as jumping from the pretty Lake District course at Cartmel.

York - betting forecast:
1. Race: Gordon Lord Byron - Eton Forever - Doncaster Rover
2. Race: Guarantee - Monshak - Future Security
3. Race: Saddler`S Rock - Cavalryman - Simenon
4. Race: Motivado - Camborne - Hammerfest
5. Race: Hoyam - Cosmic Chatter - Lucky Beggar
6. Race: Bonnie Lesley - Salutation - Medicoe
7. Race: Heeraat - Sir Maximilian - Lupin Pooter

rest of York Ebor Meeting: day three

The Group Two Gimcrack Stakes for 2yo´s over 6 furlongs at 15.30 CET is the main suppporting feature at York today, and the owner of the winner of this prestigious event will have the doubtful honour of making a speech at the famous Gimcrack dinner later in the year. It seems likely that the winner´s owner will come from the Gulf, as the favourites are Heavy Metal (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning), Morawij (Roger Varian/ Neil Callan) and Odooj (William Haggas/ Paul Hanagan), all owned by members of the Maktoum family, as well as Pearl Acclaim (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes), owned by the Qatari Pearl Bloodstock. We have slight preference for Pearl Acclaim on what could be a big day for the Qataris.
Side Glance (Andrew Balding/ Jimmy Fortune) also carries the Pearl Bloodstock colours in the 9 furlongs Group Three Strensall Stakes at 16.05 and we think he also has a winning chance in an open race. Dubai Prince (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Frankie Dettori), who found 1 1/2 miles too far at Goodwood last time, is an obvious danger back at this distance, while Tazahum (Sir Michael Stoute/ Hanagan), runner-up here last year, could also go close.
Hannon and Hughes can also pick up the 2yo maiden at 17.15 with Wentworth, while the 2yo handicap which closes the card at 17.50 looks almost impossible, even with 3 non-runners. Possibly Burning Blaze (Kevin Ryan/ Jamie Spencer), also Qatari-owned, could be the answer here. The opening 1 1/2 miles handicap at 15.00 is another very tricky puzzle. Our 3 against the field are John Biscuit (Balding/ Fortune), Expert Fighter (Saeed bin Suroor/ Dettori) and Martin Chuzzlewit (Stoute/ Callan).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Expert Fighter - Silver Lime - Kirthill
2. Race: Morawij - Pearl Acclaim - Heavy Metal
3. Race: Stipulate - Side Glance - Tazahum
4. Race: Bated Breath - Ortensia - Pearl Secret
5. Race: Wentworth - Bright Strike - Brave Command
6. Race: Burning Blaze - Royal Aspiration - Majestic Moon

Nunthorpe Stakes at York

the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes over 5 furlongs at 16.40 CET is the top race at York today and indeed one of the best sprint races of the season. These big sprints are always very tricky, and this one even more difficult than usual, as not only is there a maximum field of 19 runners (Kingsgate Native is a non-runners), much depends on the state of the going. Up till yesterday morning the going was firm, but there were several heavy showers in ther afternoon and it is now officially good. Any more rain today (which has not fallen yet but is certainly possible) would probably get into the ground. If the ground stays on top, then the three likeliest winners are Bated Breath (Roger Charlton/ James Doyle), 2010 winner Sole Power (Eddie Lynam/ Wayne Lordan) and the Australian mare Ortensia (Paul Messara/ William Buick). The interesting one in any case is Pearl Secret (David Barron/ Jamie Spencer), unbeaten in 4 starts but never yet in such a hot race as this, while Hamish McGonagall (Tim Easterby/ David Allan) is a very speedy sort who is an absolute CD specialist. He is drawn one, and although most of the winners so far have come up the stands rail (i.e.high numbers) it may not be the case today that the outside has an advantage. Ortensia is drawn in the middle, while Bated Breath, Sole Power and Pearl Secret are all on the outside. Our selection is Ortensia, but only if it stays dry today.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Expert Fighter - Silver Lime - Kirthill
2. Race: Morawij - Pearl Acclaim - Heavy Metal
3. Race: Stipulate - Side Glance - Tazahum
4. Race: Bated Breath - Ortensia - Pearl Secret
5. Race: Wentworth - Bright Strike - Brave Command
6. Race: Burning Blaze - Royal Aspiration - Majestic Moon

rest of York Ebor Meeting: day two

another very high class card at York today, and the Group Two Lowther Stakes for 2yo fillies over 6 furlongs at 15.30 CET is the main supporting feature. Newfangled (John Gosden/ William Buick) is the obvious favourite here; she has won both her starts in the style of a very smart filly. She has not run since Royal Ascot, but this race has always been her target. Rosdhu Queen (William Haggas) is also unbeaten in two starts and is very speedy, but possibly better at 5 furlongs. Badr Al Badoor (James Fanshawe/ Hayley Turner) is also highly rated after winning her only start with ease,
but she had a setback afterwards and may need the race, while Baileys Jubilee (Mark Johnston/ Kieren Fallon) has run two good races in France, but may find this tougher. We are happy to go along with Newfangled, but she won´t be much of a price.
The DBS Premier Yearling Stakes for 2yo´s over 6 furlongs which opens the card at15.00 is worth a massive 142,622 GBP to the winner and even with the forecast favourite Blessington a non-runner, looks hugely competitive. With too many unknown factors, it is not a race to bet on, although the betting suggests that Rocky Ground (Roger Varian/ Neil Callan), Annunciation (Richard Hannon/ Jimmy Fortune) and Mister Marc (Hannon/ Richard Hughes) could be the 3 to concentrate on.
The listed Galtres Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 1/2 miles at 17.15 looks more straightforward. The Queen won this last year and can follow up with Sir Michael Stoute´s Sequence, but we prefer the very lightly-raced Pale Mimosa (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen). Weld is a trainer for whom we have the greatest respect and as we saw yesterday, only sends horses across the Irish Sea if he thinks they are going to win .
The two handicaps are as usual very difficult, especially the mile trace at 16.05, in whichsevetral of the lreading contestants ran in the Royal Hunt Cup. Prince of Johanne (Tom Tate/ John Fahy) won that race from Excellent Guest (George Margarson/ Tom Queally), but we prefer Invisible Man (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori), 5th at Ascot, biut now much better off at the weights. The two CD specialists Navajo Chief (Alan Jarvis/ Michael Murphy), who won the race last year, and Anderiego (David O´Meara/ Kieren Fallon) - with a strong German element in his pedigree- are two of many dangers. Our 3 against the field in the 7 furlongs fillies handicap at 17.50 are Instance (Jeremy Noseda/ William Buick), Ladyship (Sir Michael Stoute/ Frankie Dettori) and Riot of Colour (Ralph Beckett/ Jim Crowley).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Rocky Ground - Mister Marc - Hototo
2. Race: Newfangled - Baileys Jubilee - Rosdhu Queen
3. Race: Trade Storm - Switzerland - Anderiego
4. Race: The Fugue - Shareta - Was
5. Race: Sequence - Pale Mimosa - Bite Of The Cherry
6. Race: Ladyship - Riot Of Colour - Whimsical

Yorkshire Oaks

today is Ladies Day at York with 4 of the 6 races confined to fillies. Main event is the Group One Yorkshire Oaks over 1 1/2 miles at 16.40 CET, in which older fillies and mares can also run, and 3 of the 7 runners are 4yo´s. Best of them is French-trained Shareta (Alain de Royer-Dupré/ Christophe Lemaire), runner-up in last year´s Arc; she is a bit one-paced and normally makes the running, and will find the fast ground to her liking. German-owned Wild Coco (Sir Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally) came back from almost a year´s break to win in good style over further at Goodwood last time, but this is a much tougher race.
We expect the 3yo´s, who receive 10 lbs from their elders, to dominate here and all 4 of of them ran in the Oaks at Epsom. Was (Aidan O´Brien/ Seamus Heffernan) was the winner then, with Shirocco Star (Hughie Morrison/ Richard Hughes) runner-up, The Fugue (John Gosden/ William Buick) third and Coquet (Morrison/ Robert Havlin) sixth. However Was was arguably lucky to win there, as it was a very rough race and she avoided all the trouble. The Fugue and Coquet were badly hampered, and The Fugue, who has since won the Nassau Stakes over 10 furlongs in excellent style, is the likely favourite today. Shirocco Star, like Wild Coco a daughter of German Derby winner Shirocco, was also runner-up in the Irish Oaks, but normally the progeny of this sire like a bit of cut in the ground. This looks a very tricky race, and while we think that The Fugue could come out on top, she is not much value at the likely price.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Rocky Ground - Mister Marc - Hototo
2. Race: Newfangled - Baileys Jubilee - Rosdhu Queen
3. Race: Trade Storm - Switzerland - Anderiego
4. Race: The Fugue - Shareta - Was
5. Race: Sequence - Pale Mimosa - Bite Of The Cherry
6. Race: Ladyship - Riot Of Colour - Whimsical

rest of York Ebor Meeting: day one

the next best race of the day is the Great Voltigeur Stakes for 3yo´s over 1 1/2 miles at 16.05 CET, a major St.Leger trial. Only 6 runners, but thye all have a chance, inclkudimg both of Sir henry cecil, Thomas Chippendale and Noble Mission, Frankel´s younger brother, who will of course be partnered by Tom Queally, and both Mahmood al Zarooni´s Encke (Mikael Barzalone) and Energizer (Frankie Dettori). The latter was bought by Godolphin after his Royal Ascot win in Schlenderhan colours. This is his first try at the distance, but at as a son of Monsun, that should be no problem. Encke was just touched off last time by Noble Mission in Goodwood´s Gordon Stakes, while Thomas Chippendale was a narrow Royal Ascot winner from Noble Mission and Thought Worthy (John Gosden/ William Buick), an own brother to Lucarno who won both this trace and the St. Leger for the stable in 2007. There is lttle between these 5, but the logical winner must be Main Sequence (David Lanigan/ Ted Durcan), runner-up in the Derby and very unlucky last time in the Grand Prix de Paris.
There is another small field for the Group Three Acomb Stakes for 2yo´s over 7 furlongs at 15.30, where all 5 runners were last-time-out winners who are now moving up in grade, Dundonnell (Roger Charlton/ Jack Doyle) and Ebn Arab (Charlie Hills/ Paul Hanagan) made the best impression when winning their maidens, so one of them might win, but again they all have a chance.
As usual the 3 handicaps, all with huge fields, look very difficult. For the record, our two against the field are Kaldoun Kingdom (Richard Fahey/ Hanagan) and Tax Free (David and Adrian Nicholls) over 5 1/2 furlongs at 15.00, Olympiad (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) and Dazinski (Mark Tompkins/ Hanagan) over 2 miles at 17.15, and Spanish Duke (John Dunlop/ Eddie Ahern) and Sir John Hawkwood (Sir Michael Stoute, with William Buick deputising for the injured Ryan Moore) over 10 furlongs at 17.50.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Zero Money - Tax Free - Rex Imperator
2. Race: Dundonnell - Afonso De Sousa - Ebn Arab
3. Race: Main Sequence - Noble Mission - Thomas Chippendale
4. Race: Frankel - St Nicholas Abbey - Farhh
5. Race: Western Prize - Never Can Tell - Olympiad
6. Race: Sir John Hawkwood - Hajras - Kalk Bay

Frankel runs today at York

the York Ebor meeting, which starts today and goes on to Saturday, is probably only second tzo Royal Ascot in the Brotish calendar, and most Yorksghiremen woiuld argue that it is even better than that meetzing. Certainly today´s card is excellent and is headed by the Group One International Stakes over 10 furlongs at 16.40 CET, the race chosen for the great Frankel´s first attempt at racing beyond a mile. This race has always been the plan for the Galileo 4yo, owned by the race sponsor, who also has Twice Over (Ian Mongan), last year´s winner, and pacemaker Bullet Train (Eddie Ahern) engaged. But Frankel (with the stable´s main jockey Tom Queally) is obviously the one everybody hopes will win, and trainer Sir Henry Cecil is expected to saddle the horse in person despite his health problems..
Frankel is officially rated the best horse in ther world by some considerable margin, having won all his 12 races so far (almost all of them Group Ones) with the greatest of ease, and there seems no reason to believe that he will not get the extra two furlongs today. A lot will depend on Queally getting him relaxed and settled, but he has seemed much more amenable this year. His usual pacemaker, his older brother Bullet Train, is there to ensure that this will happen.
However it will be a tactical race as Aidan O´Brien also has 3 runners; two of them, Robin Hood (Seamus Heffernan) and Windsor Palace (Colm O´Donoghue) - who was last here last year- are presumably the pacemakers the main hope St. Nicholas Abbey (Joseph O´Brien). St. Nicholas Abbey is pretty smart and likes cominmg off a strong pace, as we saw in last year´s Breeders Cup, and will certainly try to make a race of it. There are rules against team tactics, but oacemakers are allowed, and with 3 Cecils and 3 O´Brien´s in the race, it will all come down to tactics, but probably the best horse in the race will win and that is certainly Frankel. Farhh (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori) is another interesting contender; he had no chance against Frankel in the Sussex Stakes, but will probably be better suited by this trip, over which he ran well in the Eclipse and Prince of Wales, he is out of German Group One winner Gonbarda, by Lando, and should have no problems with the distance, nor with the going, although the trainer has apparently said that he would like some rain.
So would Marco Botti for Planteur, and he also needs a new jockey as Ryan Moore broke his wrist yesterday and will be out of action for some time. Planteur had very useful form when trained in France, but he is not up to Frankel´s level and we also do not expect him to trouble St. Nicholas Abbey and Farhh, who look the only credible threats. Twice Over is next best. although last yeat´s renewal was quite weak, so that form would not be nearly good enough.
We do not expect Frankel to be beaten, but he is not a betting proposition at the likely odds of around 8-1 on; so our advice is either St. Nicholas Abbey or Farhh each way, assuming you can get the proper place odds.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Zero Money - Tax Free - Rex Imperator
2. Race: Dundonnell - Afonso De Sousa - Ebn Arab
3. Race: Main Sequence - Noble Mission - Thomas Chippendale
4. Race: Frankel - St Nicholas Abbey - Farhh
5. Race: Western Prize - Never Can Tell - Olympiad
6. Race: Sir John Hawkwood - Hajras - Kalk Bay

listed race at Gowran Park

plenty more poor racing today, with generally small fields as well, but there is a listed race at Gowran Park, a repeat of last week´s abandoned card. This is the Hurry Harriet Stakes for fillies and mares over 9 1/2 furlongs at 16.00 CET. There is always enough interest in these black type races for fillies and Coolmore have four of the ten runners, including our selection Chrysanthemum (David Wachman/ Wayne Lordan). She has to concede weight all round and has been off the track for over 3 months, but still looks the most reliable candidate. Aidan O´Brien trains the other 3, with son Joseph on Devotion, but she was well beaten on her recent starts, including in the Oaks at Epsom, where she did at least finish in front of Twirl (Colm O´Donoghue), also last in the Irish Oaks. Soon (Seamus Heffernan) looks well held on her latest run behind Shebella (Jopn Oxx/ Niall McCullagh) and the Aga Khan filly looks the main danger to Chrysanthemum.
Mark Johnston has a good strike rate at Brighton and it is interesting that he has sent his main jockey Joe Fanning there for two mounts. the 2yo debutant House of Orange, who has only two opponents at 15.15, and Chatterati in the 10 furlongs handicap at 16.15; the latter has a good US pedigree, but he has so far been disappointing, but he can be excused his latest poor performance at Kempton (where there was a problem with the traclk) and he must have a chance against this very poor opposition. Gary Moore is another trainer who does well here and we expect Whinging Willie (Adam Kirby) to run well in the mile handicap at 17.15, another bad race.
Mark Johnston can also have a winner at Yarmouth, where he has 2 runners in the 1 3/4 miles handicap at 16.35. Silvestre de Sousa partners Authentication, who has a very light weight afterr a string of poor performances, but we prefer German-bred Finity Run (Mirco Demuro). The stable can also take the 10 furlongs handicap half an hour earlier with Three Bards (de Sousa), a half-brother to German classic winner Portella.
Another German-bred we expect to do well is Solis (Dianne Sayer/ Ryan Mania) who runs in the 2 1/2 mile handicap hurdle at 16.25 at Perth. Solis, bred by Fährhof, usually runs well at this track and for this jockey, and this trip should suit him better than 3 miles over which he was 4th here last time. If all 8 run, he rates a good each-way bet.
To be honest, these are however not punter-friendly races and our best advice is to keep one´s powder dry for the big York meeting starting tomorrow.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Battle Of Marengo - Bunreacht - Twilight Zone
2. Race: Fromajacktoaking - Einsteins Folly - Horizon Sky
3. Race: Livia Galilei - Shelford - All That Rules
4. Race: Chrysanthemum - Devotion - Shebella
5. Race: Vedani - Brog Deas - Sulwaan
6. Race: Daisy Mountain - Xsquared - Apache Gold
7. Race: Power To Please - Azores - Teodolite

7 meetings today

plenty of racing today but all at a very low level.
At Thirsk this afternoon there are two very tricky handicaps, and Paul Midgley has a double chance in the 5 furlongs sprint at 16.00 with Haajes (Micky Fenton) and Dispol Grand (Ned Curtis); the latter won at Nottingham last time out, but that was in May, and we prefer the former, who has not scored for quite a while but has won 10 races in his career, all over this distance. They go over a mile one hour later, when German-bred Daring Dream (Jim Goldie/ Gary Bartley) must have a solid each-way chance.
There is jumping at Stratford, where the 2 1/2 mile handicap chase at 16.40 could go to Premier Dane (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore), who made a successful comeback after 15 months off when winning at Market Rasen; that was over hurdles but he also jumps fences well enough and can score again on his favoured fast ground.
Another horse who recently made a successful comeback after 15 months off is The Tiger (Ed Dunlop/ William Buick) who has top weight in the 8 1/2 furlongs handicap at Wolverhampton at 18.20. This looks quite a decent race, and the 3yo´s Asifa (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa) and Position (Sir Mark Prescott/ Chris Catlin) should also play a prominent role.
Ed Dunlop deserves the highest praise for his handling of Snow Fairy, who came off a long break with an injury to win a Group One at Deauville yesterday. Today he has runners at 3 meetings and it is possible that he can win at all 3. We also like his Sky Khan (Mikael Barzalona) at 20.20 at Kempton this evening, and Strathnaver (Frankie Dettori) at 20.00 at Windsor. Dettori´s presence at Windsor on their last Monday evening fixture of 2012 is no doubt due to Godolphin´s debutant Tabib in the mile maiden at 20.30.
Both the Irish meetings today, Tramore this afternoon - a repeat of last week´s abandoned meeting- and Roscommon this evening are mixed meetings. Ben Curtis looks the jockey to follow on the flat at Tramore; he can win the maiden over 1 1/2 miles at 15.55 on the Aga Khan´s Zalantoun (John Oxx) and the 3yo handicap over the same trip an hour later on German-bred Hartside (Tommy Carmody). The most interesting runner over jumps is Tarla (Willie and Emmett Mullins), who runs in the 2 1/2 mile hurdle at 20.10 at Roscommon. The Lavirco mare is another one to have made a successful comeback (on the flat) after a lay-off but she looked very promising previously and gets lots of weight today.

Betting forecast at Tramore:
1. Race: Dare To Doubt - Crystal Earth - Burrenbridge Lodge
2. Race: Zalantoun - Dante Inferno - Spider Zagato
3. Race: Passion Planet - Dusty Trail - Ballochroy
4. Race: Arabela - Ariahey - Windsor Pride
5. Race: Gimli`S Rock - Audrelles Lad - Royal Choice
6. Race: Lord Ben - Capellanus - Cork Twenty Ten
7. Race: Fever Pitch - Agus A Vic - Fastey

top class card at Deauville

some of the midweek racing at Deauville is moderate, but they have top class racing on Sundays and today is no exception, with two Group One races heading the card. The Prix Morny for 2yo´s over 1200 metres at 14.30 is one of the best juvenile races of the year in Europe and has an international field, with five French runners faced by four from the U.K, and two (both trained by Aidan O´Brien) from Ireland. Dabirsim (owned by the boss!) won this last year for France, but otherwise the Brits have dominated this century and we expect Reckless Abandon (Clive Cox/ Gerald Mossé) to continue this trend. He is unbeaten in 3 starts and last time won the Prix Robert Papin with 3 of these opponents behind. Hamdan al Maktoum´s pair Alhebayeb (Richard Hannon/ Paul Hanagan) and Mazameer (Freddie Head/ Christophe Soumillon) look the main dangers, but André Fabre´s runner Zenji (Pierre Boudot), by Dabirsim´s sire Hat Trick, could also be a threat.
The Prix Jean Romanet for 4yo and older fillies and mares over 2000 metres at 15.40 also has an extremely strong field. Multiple Group One winner Snow Fairy (Ed Dunlop/ Ryan Moore) is the best of the older brigade, but she has not run since winning in Japan in November and the stable is going throigh a quiet spell. Sortilege (Andreas Wöhler/ Maxime Guyon) is the only German runner; she has a good pedigree, being out of an own sister to Samum and Schiaparelli, but has so far not shown herself to be up to Group One level. There could still be a German winner, as Giofra (Alain de Royer-Dupré/ Soumillon) won the Falmouth Stakes last time and looks a filly right out of the top drawer; she is owned by Jürgen Winter´s Haras de la Perelle. The obvious danger is Galinova (Freddie Head/ Olivier Peslier), a sister to the great Goldikova, but also pretty smart in her own right. On her only 2012 start she finished third to Meandre in a false-run race for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, wit h Danedream last of four. That race can be ignored, she has clearly been trained with today´s race in mind and she may be able to get the better of Giofra.
The third group race on the card is the Prix Kergolay over 3000 metres at 16.10, with two German runners - Flamingo Fantasy (Sascha Smcrzek/ Stephane Pasquier) and Tres Rock Danlon (waldemar Hickst/ Johan Victoire); they met over this CD 3 weeks ago, when Flamingo Fantasy was beaten a head with the Rock in fourth, but meet much stronger opposition today, headed by Melbourne Cup winner Americain (Royer-Dupré/ Mossé). There are also two German runners in the Grand Handicap des Sprinters over 1000 metres at 15.08; German-breds do not usually shine over this distance, but Birthday Lion (Uwe Stoltefuss/ Peslier) and Lord Shuffle (Hans Blume/ Theo Bachelot) both have good form over the trip and should run well.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Opie - Real Tiara - Black Whip
2. Race: Pareo - Miss Fifty - Nice Danon
3. Race: Reckless Abandon - Sir Prancealot - Snowday
4. Race: Small Frida - Chopouest - Vital Spirit
5. Race: Timepiece - Galikova - Giofra
6. Race: Brigantin - Americain - Joshua Tree
7. Race: Mahirah - A Huge Dream - Derivatives
8. Race: Ceodora - Nice Yield - Enverse

listed race at Pontefract

those looking for high class racing today should ignore the four cards in the U.K. and Ireland and go straight to Deauville. There is to be sure a listed race for fillies over 6 furlongs at 16.45 CET, but there is a large field of mainly useful handicappers moving up in grade in the hope of gaining some black type. Miss Work of Art (Richard Fahey/ Freddie Tylicki), from a stable in top form, would win this on last season´s smart form, but has not run since finishing 4th in Cheveley Park last September. In general we prefer to back horses with recent form and our choice falls on Mince (Roger Charlton/ Frankie Dettori), who won in good style at the recent Shergar Cup meeting and now tries listed class for the first time. Frankie is rarely seen at this track, but he can make his visit worthwhile by also winning the 1 1/2 mile handicap at 15.45 on Muntasir and the mile handicap for 3yo´s at 17.15 on top-weight Asatir, both Godolphin horses trained by Saeed bin Suroor.
The other British meeting is over jumps at Southwell, where Rajnagan (Paul Webber/ David Elsworth) should win the novice chase at 16.00. He would have been an easy winner last time at Stratford but for a bad mistake at ther last; however he was odds-on that day and will be at a very short price again. Irish runners are seldom seen here, but Monterrey (Shark Hanlon/ Paddy Brennan) must have chance in the handicap hurdle at 16.30, but this is a very competitive race and we just prefer Sansili (Peter Bowen/ Jamie Moore)
In Ireland there is jumps racing at Tramore and flat racing on the all-weather at Dundalk. This is in theory the final day of the Tramore meeting, but there will be an extra day tacked on tomorrow to make up for the races abandoned earlier The ground will be very bad after all the rain that fell last week and, frankly, we would leave this meeting alone.´
The best race at Dundalk is the 6 furlongs handicap at 16.40. Top-weight The Reaper (Ger Lyons/ Emmett McNamara) is the class act here, third in a group race last time, and may be able to concede weight all round. An interesting runner is 9yo Duff (Eddie Lynam/ Wayne Lordan), previously much better than this grade; he has not been seen since running very poorly in the spring, but the handicapper has given him a real chance now.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Top Boy - Shillito - Polish Crown
2. Race: Muntasir - Key Gold - Alsahil
3. Race: Solar View - Descaro - Knox Overstreet
4. Race: Mince - Ultrasonic - Miss Work Of Art
5. Race: Sweetnessandlight - Warcrown - Asatir
6. Race: Alraased - All Time - Eamaadd
7. Race: Planetex - Sleepy Blue Ocean - Johnny Cavagin
8. Race: Commanche Raider - Yankee Storm - Above The Stars

big handicaps with big fields

the remaining cards are notable for some hot handicaps, some with very big fields, such as the two big 6 furlongs races at Ripon with 20 runners each. The Great St. Wilfrid Handicap at 16.30 CET is one of the best of the year and many of the runners ran at Glorious Goodwood, either in the Stewards Cup or the consolation race. Also in the line-up are the first two from last year, Pepper Lane (David O´Meara/ Danny Tudhope) and Our Jonathan (Kevin Ryan/ Stephen Craine). Goodwood form points to Alben Star (Richard Fahey/ Tony Hamilton), 5th in the Stewards Cup, Es Que Love (Mark Johnston/ Fran Berry), 7th, while we would not be surprised to see Lexi´s Hero (Kevin Ryan/ Neil Callan), who made much of the running, and Seal Rock (Henry Candy/ Paul Mulrennan), finish much closer this time. Johannes (Fahey/ George Chaloner) and Our Jonathan finished 1-2 in the consolation race at Goodwood, but this looks even harder. Almost anything is possible here, but we with some hesitation go for Es Que Love, the only 3yo in the field,who can continue the stables good run.
The consolation race at 15.20 looks equally difficult. Our 3 against the field are Fast Shot (Tim Easterby/ David Allan), L´ami Louis (Henry Candy/ Fran Berry) and Beckermet (Ruth Carr/Dale Swift), 10 years old but no back number.

Betting forecast at Ripon:
1. Race: Bachotheque - Nordikhab - Baron Run
2. Race: Prodigality - L`Ami Louis - Spinatrix
3. Race: Jo`Burg - Hot Rod Mamma - Kyllachy Star
4. Race: Alben Star - Barnet Fair - Louis The Pious
5. Race: Ashaadd - Pearl Acclaim - Luck
6. Race: Intent - Sakhee`S Pearl - Lady Loch
7. Race: Arley Hall - Maybeagrey - Cellist

group races at Newbury

a typical Saturday with meetings all over the place - 8 in the U.K. and one in Ireland, where Tramore finally gets under way after there first two days of their big fixture had to br abandoned.
the top meeting is Newbury where there are two group races on the card. The Hungerford Stakes over 7 furlongs is a Group Two and always goes to a smart performer. Strong Suit (Richard Hannon/ Ryan Moore) is the form choice here; although well beaten on his 2012 starts, always in very hot company, he now encounters his favoured fast ground for the first time and is racing over his best distance. The main dangers are Godolphin´s Australian-bred Soul (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori), a close 4th to Black Caviar at Royal Ascot last time, and Irish raider Alanza (John Oxx/ Niall McCullagh), another fast ground specialist.
The Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes over 1 mile 5 furlongs is often used as a St.Leger trial, but the only 3yo in the field is Dartford, who is presumably the pacemaker for his stable companion Masked Marvel (John Gosden/ Jimmy Fortune), who won last year´s St. Leger with Brown Panther (Tom Dascombe/ Richard Kingscote) a good runner-up. However the latter, a son of Shirocco, probably needs soft ground and Masked Marvel should confirm that form, although he was behind Brown Panther last time in the King George. Mount Athos (Luca Cumani/ Ryan Moore) is being aimed at the Melboune Cup and needs to well here to improve his rating; he is unbeaten in two starts this year, both in valuable handicaps, but this is much tougher. The ex-German Arrigo (Ibrahim al Malki/ Martin Dwyer) won last years Union-Rennen before finishing last, after being badly hampered, in the German Derby. He is coming off a long break and we are sceptical.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Supernova Heights - Abated - Tantshi
2. Race: Just The Judge - Pasaka Boy - Ninjago
3. Race: Mount Athos - Brown Panther - Masked Marvel
4. Race: Strong Suit - Soul - Pastoral Player
5. Race: Jacob Cats - Emilio Largo - Valery Borzov
6. Race: Jillnextdoor - Malilla - Floating Along
7. Race: Commend - Drummond - Docs Legacy
8. Race: The Quarterjack - Shades Of Grey - Tidal Run

two-year-olds in the spotlight

some interesting 2yo races in the UK today, when the main event is the listed race for 2yo fillies at 17.00 CET at Newbury. Ten fillies line up, and Rosdhu Queen (William Haggas/ Ryan Moore) looks the one to beat; she won her only race, at Ripon, in fine style and the form of that race is working out very well. The one to beat is clearly Sandreamer (Mick Channon/ Martin Harley), runner-up to the smart Maureen in an Ascot Group Three last time, and from a stable whose juveniles are doing really well. Sound of Guns (Ed Walker/ Luke Morris) won well at Yarmouth last time and looks next best. The two races for 2yo maidens over 7 furlongs that open the Newbury card look equally interesting, with some very well-bred newcomers on view. Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes could well win them both with the debutant A Ladies Man at 14.50 and Sea Shanty, owned by the Queen, half an hour later. Hannon has made his reputation with speedy 2yo´s that were often very cheaply bought, but owner Julie Wood splashed out 220,000 guineas on A Ladies Man, of whom high hopes are held. The Queen´s runner was an excellent runner-up at Ascot on his debut and probably has Pythagorean (Roger Charlton/ James Doyle), a good third over this CD on his debut, to beat.
The other 2yo race which could have a big bearing on upcoming big events is the mile race at 19.25 at Newmarket this evening. Godolphin have entered four here, with Frankie Dettori riding Saeed bin Suroor´s Tarikhi presumably the main hope. Sir Henry Cecil runs Squire Osbaldeston (Tom Queally), also well regarded, while Glory City (Marco Botti/ Seb Sanders), who has run two good races here already, is easily the best of those with form. The interesting feature of this race is that it was the event chosen by Cecil two years ago for the debut of Frankel, who beat another subsequent star in Nathaniel. We are not saying that any of this evening´s runners will reach those heights, bjut it is definitely a race worth watching.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: A Ladies Man - Intimidate - Altharoos
2. Race: Sea Shanty - Related - Pythagorean
3. Race: Duster - Bawaardi - Fishforcompliments
4. Race: Grandiloquent - Require - Asker
5. Race: Rosdhu Queen - Sandreamer - Lasilia
6. Race: Delft - Byton - Take A Note
7. Race: Bana Wu - Miracle Maid - Caphene
8. Race: Satwa Laird - Matavia Bay - Blue Maisey

listed races at Salisbury and Gowran Park

best events in Britain and Ireland today are the two listed races at Salisbury and Gowran Park - with brilliant planning, both are for 3yo+ fillies over ten furlongs, expecially as there are also similar races today in France and Italy. It is therefore not surprising that these races are not really up to listed standard, but with owners looking for valuable black type, there are competitive fields in all of them.
The Salisbury race is at 17.05 CET and the lightly-raced Emirates Queen (Liuca Cumani/ Kieren Fallon) looks the clear form choice here. On only her third racecourse appearance she was a good runner-up in a similar race at at York, and with further improvement likely, she should win here. Qaarida (John Gosden/ Paul Hanagan), a very easy maiden winner in May, but has not been seen since, and the inconsistent German-bred Rumh (Saeed bin Suroor/ Jim Crowley), a daughter of Monsun, are the main dangers. Also at Salisbury, we like the consistent Devdas (Clive Cox/ Adam Kirby) in the mile handicap for 3yo´s at 16.35; he was just beaten last time at Newmarket in one of the closest finishes of the year- 4th in a 5-way photo-finish and this looks easier.
Coolmore obviously want to win the Gowran Park race at 19.55 as they have 4 of the 9 runners, including the top-rated Chrysanthemum (David Wachman/ Wayne Lordan), who however must give away a lot of weight and possibly would prefer softer ground. We therefore prefer Aidan O´B´rien´s 3 runners, of whom Devotion (Seamus Heffernan) and Twirl (Pat Smullen) both ran in the Irish Oaks, finishing 5th and last of 7 respectively. The ground that day was desperate and our choice is Twirl, who ran some good races earlier - second in the Musidora for example, although she is not ridden by one of the stable´s regular jockeys.
The other meetings are very low grade. At Beverley, Mick Easterby and jockey Paul Mulrennan have a chance of winning both divisions of the 10 furlongs handicap at 17.25 with Kalk Bay, who won at Redcar at fortnight ago, and with top-weight Barren Brook at 19.00, who is taking a big drop in class. The two evening meetings are both on the all-weather; Sir Mark Prescott has his string in good form and Position (Chris Catlin) can win the mile handicap at 19.15 at Southwell.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Jillnextdoor - King Oliver - Saint Jerome
2. Race: Black Monk - Pira Palace - Al Muntazah
3. Race: Discoverer - Kaafel - Dare To Dream
4. Race: Emirates Queen - Rumh - Oojooba
5. Race: Monopoli - Langley - South Cape
6. Race: George Thisby - Tidal`S Baby - The Name Is Frank

6 more poor meetings today

after yesterday´s Group One excitements it s back to basics today with low level racing all round, and a very wintry look as well, as 3 of the 5 U.K. meetings are all on the all-weather.
regular readers will know that we are a great fan of oldtimers, and one of our favourite racehorses runs today: Cape Royal (Milton Bradley/Cathy Gannon), who has top weight in the 5 furlongs handicap at 16.50 CET. The 12yo is running for the 180trh time (!!!) ad he has 13 wins and 46 places in his record. he is no longer as reliable or as fast as he used to be, but he can certainly play a leading role in this very lowly grade. An hour later Toughness Danon IBrendan Powell/ Darren Egan) runs in a 12 furlongs handicap, and he could run well at a big orice. he was third in the 2009 German Derby, when he was rated at GAG 96, and noiw runs off a BHB rating of 71! Admkittedly he has shown very little in his British races, but he must have a chance in this poor race with this hot apprentice on board.
Milton Bradley seems to specialise in sprinters and we think that his Invincible Lad (Tom Queally) ,a mere youngster at 8, must also have a chance under top weight in the 5 furlongs handiccap at 17.40 at Lingfield.
At Kemptpn we like Jamarjo (Steve Gollings/ Richard Hughes) in the 2 mile handicap at 18.00; he is not especially well handicapped, but he is consistent, stays well and acts on polytrack.
At Thirsk our main fancy is Elusive Bonus (David O´Meara/ DN Bergin), who is much improved and has won 3 of her last 4 races, all with this apprentice on board; she is still nicely handicapped and win again at 18.50
At Wolverhampton German-bred Goldmädchen (Philip Hobbs/ Jamie Spencer) much have a chance in a very bad race at 19.10. She has not yet lived up to her name, but had some fair form on the flat in France last ysar, although her 4 starts over hurdles for her present trainer were all terrible. However today´s opposition is so weak that she is actually top-rated here..
In Ireland there is a mixed meeting at Ballinrobe where the first 3 races are on te flat and the last 4 over hurdles. Best bet here is Font Of Wisdom (Dermot Weld/ Paul Townend) who makes his debut over sticks in the maiden hurdle at 20.00. He was a fair handicapper on the flat and Weld is a trainer who always has his horses ready to run, whether on the flat or aver jumps.

Betting forecast at Ffos Las:
1. Race: It`s Taboo - Jubilant Queen - Almalekiah
2. Race: Alraased - Miss Cap Estel - Gold Show
3. Race: Croeso Mawr - Wind Star - Putin
4. Race: Red Rhythm - My Meteor - Ficelle
5. Race: Only Ten Per Cent - Rigolleto - Jack My Boy
6. Race: Astra Hall - Hamilton Hill - Circle Of Angels
7. Race: Anginola - Filatore - Alborz

Excellent card at the Curragh

Thetre has been a brief lull in the Irish racing scene, but top class flat racing is back with a vengeance today at the Curragh with a strong card headed by four group races. Main feature is the Group One Phoenix Stakes for 2yo´s over 6 furlongs at 16.50 CET, always one of the top 2yo races of the year and already won 11 times by Aidan O´Brien. He saddles 3 of the 9 runners with his son Joseph aboard Cristoforo Colombo, presumably the best of the trio. He ran a good race at Royal Ascot but was then surprisingly beaten here by another Coolmore runner Probably (David Wachman/ Wayne Lordan), who reopposes on the same terms today. However the ground was very bad that day and on this better going we expect Aidan´s runner to take his revenge. Bungle Inthejungle (Mick Channon/ Martin Harley) won the Molecomb at Glorious Goodwood, but we do not think he beat the Irish cracks over this trip, while Wexford Opera (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning), a promising runner-up on his debut and not s een since, is the one for a possible surprise.

The Group Two Royal Whip over 10 furlongs at 15.50 has only 4 runners but is still a good race, with the amazingly consistent 7yo Famous Name (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) opposed by the 3yo Born to Sea (John Oxx/ Johnny Murtagh). Famous Name has won18 races including a dozen Group Threes, but has failed to win at Group One or Two level, despite some smart performances. Admirable though he is, we think he will fail again as the task of giving 9 lbs to Born to Sea, the last foal out of Urban Sea and thus a half-brother to Sea the Stars and Galileo, will prove too much. He is possibly not quite as good as his brothers, but his second place in the Irish Derby shows that he is no slouch and this distance may be more suitable.

The Debutante Stakes over 7 furlongs for 2yo fillies at 16.20 is another Group Two and Oxx and Murtagh cam complete a double here with the unbeaten Harasiya. She is probably the best jubenile filly in Ireland and has won both her starts in excellent style. Magical Dream (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien) and Diamond Sky (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning) were first and selond in a hot Galway maiden and are probably quite smart, but will have to show dramatic improvement to trouble the Aga Khan´s filly.

The final group race is the Phoenix Sprint over 6 furlongs at 17.20. The interesting runner here is the Australian-bred Starspangledbanner (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien), who was champion sprinter on 2010 after winning the Golden Jubilee and July Cup. He has been brought back into training after an abortive effort at stud. It is always difficult to predict how they will react after these problems and a break from racing of two years, but if he is anywhere near his old form he has to win here.

There is also an all-hurdles card at Downpatrick as well as flat racing in England at Leicester and Folkestone, but these are all of very modest quality, and frankly we would rather concentrate on the top level cards at the Curragh and in Deauville and leave these cards alone.

Fantastic field at Deauville

A fantastic race is in store this afternoon, where the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois over a mile at 15.40 has attrracted a very strong field - 9 of the 11 runners are Group One winners. The two who have not done so are the German raider Indomito (Andreas Wöhler/ Olivier Peslier) and this season´s German 2,000 Guineas winner Caspar Netscher (Alan McCabe/ Shane Kelly) and, much as we would like to see these run well, it is almost impoossible to imagine that they will be involved the finish. The opposition is simply too stroing, and is headed by last year´s German 2,000 Guineas winner Excelebration (Aidan O´Brien/ Ryan Moore), who went on to prove himself as Europe´s second-best miler. The best of course is Frankel, who has beaten Excelebration almost out of sight on the five occasions they have met, and Frankel´s absence today is no doubt the reason for such a strong field.

However the Irish colt may not have things all his own way. There are 4 British runners all with high class form - Cityscape (Roger Charlton/ James Doyle), winner of the Dubai Duty Free, Most Improved (Brian Meehan/ Kieren Fallon), winner of the St. James´s Palace Stakes, and John Gosden´s two 3yo fillies Fallen For You, winner of the Coronation Stakes and the choice of stable jockey William Buick, and Elusive Kate (Frankie Dettori), winner of the Prix Rothschild here a fortnight ago, where she beat the German-owned Golden Lilac (André Fabre/ Maxime Guyon) into second. Immortal Verse (Robert Collet/ Gerald Mossé) was only fifth there, but she should be judged on her great win from Goldikova in this race last year and her shrewd trainer has certainly trained her just for today´s race.

However the one we fancy most is another filly, Moonlight Verse (Freddie Head/ Thierry Jarnet), whlose zttrainer has an excellent terclord at tjhisd meezting. Moonlight Verse herself is 3 from 3 here, including winning the Maurice de Gheest twice, most recently last Sunday. That race is over 1300 metres and in fact she has only ever run once over a mile - when well beaten in last year´s 1,000 Guineas, but the way she won last week suggests that the distance should be no problem for her now.

There is also a German runner in the other group race at Deauville today, the Prix Minerve for 3yo fillies at 16.10 -Geatüt Görlsdorf´s Registara (Markus Klug/ James Doyle). She ran well against Imagery in a listed trace at Hanover last time, but will do well to be placed in this company. Our fancy is the Aga Khan´s Mandinista (Alain de Royer-Dupré/ Christophe Lemaire)

Group races at Newmarket and Haydock

there is racing all over today. with both Newmarket and Haydock putting on strong cards. At Newmarket it is German day and the German Thoroughbred Sweet Solera Stakes, a Group Three event for 2yo fillies at 16.35 CET, is the main feature. This has attracted a strong field, with four of the runners unbeaten. Godolphin have won the last 3 runnings and we think they can make it four with Certify (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Mikael Barzalona) who won in good style over 6 furlongs here and should have no problem with the extra furlong; she is already quoted as one of the favourites for next year´s 1,000 Guineas.

Also at Newmarket we like course specialist Classic Punch (David Elsworth/ Ian Mongan) in the opening 10 furlongs handicap at 15.25, a race he won last ysear, even though he is held on recent form by Unex El Greco (John Gosden/ Rab Havlin). Another fancy here is Highland Colori (Andrew Balding/ David Probert) in the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.00; he was 5th in a huge field at Ascot last time and before that had won 3 races in succession.

At Haydock the main event is the Group Three Rose of Lancaster Stakes over 10 furlongs at 15.55. Gabrial (Richard Fahey/ Jamie Spencer) had no chance against Frankel last time, and also on his previous start in a Group One at Royal Ascot, but in this lesser company he could be good enough; he won over a mile here earlier and his trainer expects him to get this extra distance. Jet Away (Sir Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally) looks the obvious danger.

The 3yo handicap here at 15.30 looks really hot and 6 of the 7 runners are last-time-out winners. The exception is Godolphin´ s Anjaz (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa), but he looked very promising last season and can feature here. Ryan Moore rides the main danger, Sir Michael Stoute´s Gospel Choir and looks set for a good afternoon.

Listed races in Tipperary

Once again the best races of the day come from Ireland, with a listed race over 5 furlongs at 19.00 CET and another one for 2yo´s over 7 1/2 furlongs at 20.05 at Tipperary this evening. 7 runners here, and the highest-rated is Reglisse (Eddie Lynam/ Shane Foley),the only filly in the field, who has already run respectably in group races,. but in our opinion to two to concentrate on are the Aga Khan´s Dibayani (Michael Halford/ Johnny Murtagh) and Coolmore´s King George River (Aidan O´Brien/ Colm O´Donoghue), both easy maiden winners last time and both with lots of potential.The sprint race features Inxile (David and Adrian Nicholls), who won this race last year and has a good record in Irish sprints, but seems to be out of form this year, so we prefer Nocturnal Affair (David Marnane/ Fergal Lynch) and After (Aidan O´Brien/ Seamus Heffernan), who is brought back in distance.

Brighton ends its 3 day meeting today with another very tricky handicap, this time over 6 furlongs at 16.40. Prodigality (Ron Harris/ Darren Egan) has been runner-up on both starts this season and looks certain to be involved, while Peter Island (Jeff Gallagher/ Pat Cosgrave) won here yesterday, but bottom-weight Another Citizen (Tim Easterby/ Ted Durcan) looks the one to beat. He has been kept very busy, running 4 times in July, then winning last week at Thirsk and running again at Wolverhampton on Monday - beaten a head- but he seems to stand up to this rigorous routine very well and is still on a very reasonable mark and the stable is in great form.
Luke Morris is having a good season and can win both the main races at Musselburgh - at 16.00 on Sir Mark Prescott´s Liber in the 2yo conditions race, and an hour later on Robin Bastiman´ s Green Howard in the 7 furlongs handicap; this one has won 4 of his 9 starts and could well improve further.

Our best bet at this evenihg´s U.K.meetings is Askaud (Scott Dixon/ Robert Winston), who has top-weight in the fillies handicap over a mile at 21.00 at Haydock. She looked very unlucky at Goodwood last week and can gain recompence here, but the lightly-raced Burke´s Rock (Jeremy Noseda/ Richard Hughes) and the bottom-weight Magic Destiny (Elaine Burke/ Martin Harley), who has already won 3 races this year, including this CD twice, look very dangerous.

listed races at Newbury and Chester

today´s cards are better than usual for a Sunday, with a decent N.H. card at Market Rasen and listed races at both Chester and Newbury. At the latter track, we expect the Queen´s Set to Music (Michael Bell/ Hayley Turner) to gtake the 1 1/2 mile race for fillies and mares at 17.20 CET. She has top weight here but has plenty of form to suggest she should be good enough - winning the Warwickshire Oaks and last time third to the top class Great Heavens in the Lancashire Oaks. Ambivalent (Roger Varian/ Andrea Atzeni), third in a simlar event at Newmarket, the nobly-bred Albamara (Sir Mark Prescott/ Luke Morris) and the improving Khione (Luca Cumani/ Kieren Fallon) should scrap it out for the places.
At Chester, the listed race is a 6 furlongs sprint at 16.05. Mark Johnston is having a tremendous run and we expect him to take this with the 3yo Van Ellis (Joe Fanning) despite the outside draw. The form he showed when winning York´s valuable Sky Dash last Saturday is well up to listed class, although he has been running so far in handicaps. Hitchens (David Barron/ Silvestre de Sousa), penalised for winning a valuable race in Meydan, and Inxile (David and Adrian Nicholls) are both tough and experienced 7yo´s with plenty of listed and group form to their credit, but Van Ellis looks to be a young sprinter going places.
In Ireland the week long Galway meeting finishes today, like many fixtures this year spoilt by the weather. For the 26th time Dermot Weld is the leading trainer here, although he will come nowhere near to last year´s record of 17 wins. Today he has just 3 runners, Toreros (Mark Enright) in the handicap hurdle at 15.15, Sweet Mystery (LF Roche) in a handicap at 17.25 and Train of Thought (LF Roche) in another flat handicap in the last race of the meeting at 18.00. It is quite conceivable that all three could win.
Stable jockey Pat Smullen, and probably the trainer himself, will however be at Cork (weather permitting), where the stable´s run of success can continue with Tameer in the listed race at 16.30 and Sapphire in the fillies Group Three at 17.05. However racing is not certain to go ahead here and an inspection will be held later.

Betting forecast at Chester:
1. Race: Penny Garcia - The Sixties - Dream Maker
2. Race: Black Monk - Romantic Settings - Arlecchino
3. Race: Hitchens - Inxile - Masamah
4. Race: White Frost - My Kingdom - Galician
5. Race: Ashaadd - Tickle Time - Flyman
6. Race: Grandiloquent - Gold Rules - Spanish Plume
7. Race: Elkhart - Edraaq - Mcvicar

Rest of Glorious Goodwood (fifth day)

The big betting race, and one of the hottest handicaps of the entire year, is the Stewards Cup over six furlongs at 16.55 CET. There appears to be no draw advantage over this tricky straight track, and many of these horses have met reach other before, either in this race last year or in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. It is a very tough race for 3yo´s, so we are rightly or wrongly leaving them out of calculations. Older and experienced runners with course experience are the ones to look for in this cavalry charge, and we are therefore dubious about Waffle /David Barron/ Fran Berry), twice runner-up in the Wokingham, and Imperial Guest (George Margarson/ Ashley Hamblett), as both seem to be Ascot specialists. We are probably miles off, but our four against the field are oldtimer Borderlescott (Robin Bastiman/ Robert Winston), who has an excellent course record, Lui Rey (Robert Cowell/ Darren Egan), from a stable that was in great form yesterday and with the season´s hottest appr entice aboard, Mac´s Power (James Fanshawe/ Ryan Moore), third last year, and Victoire de Lyphar (David and Adrian Nicholls), well beaten last year but now much better handicapped and from a stable that seems to be coming back to form after a long quiet spell.

The six furlongs handicap that opens the card at 15.05 is basically the consolation race and also has 28 runners declared. The same principles apply and the three against the field here are the Nicholls´ 10yo Tax Free, runner-up in the Stewards Cup last year, Nasri (Milton Bradley/ Jim Crowley), fourth in that race, and Valery Borsov (Richard Fahey/ Fran Berry), third here last year.

The handicap over 1 3/4 miles at 15.40 has only 14 runners but looks equally difficult. We would have picked Harlestone Times, but we are worried about John Dunlop´s stable form. Petara Bay (Robert Mills/ Jim Crowley) has a good course record and won this last year/; he has a huge weight but still goes on the short list, together with The Betchworth Kid (Alan King/ Hayley Turner) , also a smart hurdler, and Life and Soul (Amanda Perrett/ William Buick), who has run two good races here.

Richard Hannon´s 2yo´s have been running well here this week, and the unraced Wentworth (Richard Hughes) is supposed to be smart; the 200,000 guineas yearling runs in the 7 furlongs maiden at 17.30. Hannon also has two runners in the 2yo handicap at 18.05, but we prefer top-weight New Pearl (David Brown/ Harry Bentley).

However Ryan Moore is always dangerous when riding for his father, and Dutch Masterpiece, impossible for the handicapper to assess after winning a minor event on the all-weather on his only start, has to be the selection.
Mark Johnston has been mopping up the handicaps at this meeting and has plenty of runners today. His best chance in our opinion is top-weight Landaman (MJM Murphy), penalised 6 lbs for an easy win over this CD on Tuesday, in the apprentice race which closes the meeting at 18.40

Glorious Goodwood: final day with Nassau Stakes

The big Goodwood meeting ends today, with the Group One Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares over 10 furlongs at 16.15 CET the main event. This has been won for the past three years by Khalid Abdullah´s Midday, trained by Henry Cecil and ridden by Tom Queally; this team has had another great week here and are now represented by Timepiece, but with the best will in the world we cannot imagine that she is good enough to win this very strong renewal. Our idea of the winner is Zizi Top (John Gosden/ William Buick), from another team having an excellent season.She was third in the Oaks last year but is unbeaten since, and has finished well in front of several of today´s opponents. The only other older filly with a chance in our opinion is Nahrain (Roger Varian/ Neil Callan), who is actually top-rated as a result of her success in last year´s Prix de l´Opera, followed by a good second at the Breeders Cup. However she was well beaten on her only start this season and it is not clear to what form she can now run.
The two three-year-olds look very dangerous. The Fugue (Gosden/ Richard Hughes), owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, was third in the Oaks after not getting much of a run and ran another good race when runner-up at Royal Ascot. However on jockey bookings she looks the stable second string. She is in any case held on Oaks form by the winner of that race Was (Aidan O´ Brien/ Ryan Moore), who was then hampered when only fourth on terrible ground in the Irish Oaks. O´Brien´s three-year-olds are having a fantastic season and Was clearly looks the main threat to Zizi Top, even though this trip might be short of her best.

rest of Glorious Goodwood (fourth day)

top race at Goodwood today is the Group Two King George Stakes over 5 furlongs at 16.45 CET. Many of the top distance specialists around are entered here and the race is sure to be fast and furious: if you blink, you´ll miss it. Most of them have met already this season, for example in the King´s Stand at Royal Ascot or in the July Cup. Australian hope Ortensia (Paul Messara/ William Buick) ran in both those races and though unplaced both times we think he is the one to beat here, despite a penalty for winning a top sprint at Meydan.Tangerine Trees (Bryan Smart/ Tom Eaves) won the Abbaye last year, and was just in front of Ortensia at Royal Ascot, so is an obvious danger.
Another group race is for 3yo´s over a mile at 15.35 and the clear form choice here is Gregorian (John Gosden/ Buick), third at Royal Ascot and runner-up in the Jean Prat. We don´t believe that Trumpet Major (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes), penalised for winning the Craven Stakes in April, can concede him weight. More dangerous are Stipulate, representing the in-form team of Sir Henry Cecil and Tom Queally - four group wins already at this meeting - and Red Duke (John Quinn/ Johnny Murtagh), third in the German 2000 Guineas.
The opening Group Three over 1 1/2 miles at 15.00 looks very tricky, with several runners moving up in grade or distance, such as the likely favourite Gatewood (Gosden/ Buick). We fancy Dandino (James Fanshawe/ Murtagh) here, as we have not forgotten how well he ran for a long way in the Grosser Preis von Berlin last year.
The mile handicap at 16.10 is the big betting race of the day and even without ante-post favourite Trade Commissioner, a non-runner, it looks really competitive with 20 runners, every one of which has a chance. Our 3 against the field are Excellent Guest (Gerorge Margarson/ Queally), Decent Fella (Andrew Balding/ Jimmy Fortune) and Sir Reginald (Richard Fahey/ Paul Hanagan), although all 3 are arguably better at 7 furlongs. In the concluding 5 furlongs handicap we go for Larwood (Henry Candy/ Martin Dwyer), named after the fastest and best of all, and Swan Song (Balding/ Fortune), who has a superb sprint pedigree, being by Green Desert out of champion Lochsong.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Songcraft - Gatewood - Dubai Prince
2. Race: Gregorian - Aljamaaheer - Trumpet Major
3. Race: Excellent Guest - Prince Of Johanne - Fulbright
4. Race: Ortensia - Hamish Mcgonagall - Tangerine Trees
5. Race: Janoub Nibras - Oasis Cannes - A Certain Romance
6. Race: Gamilati - Gracia Directa - Dysphonia
7. Race: Place In My Heart - Larwood - Swan Song

German runners at Glorious Goodwood

there was a German winner at Goodwood yesterday, although admittedly Gdestüt Röttgen´s Wild Coco is trained at Newmarket by Sir Henry Cecil, and we are hoping for another victory in the Group Three Oak Tree Stakes for fillies and mares over 7 furlongs at 17.50 CET. Two of the 15 runners are trained in Germany, Gloria Directa (Dominik Moser/ Robert Winston) and Survey (Mario Hofer/ Tom Queally) and we expect them both to run well. Gloria Directa is much improved this season and has won her last 3 races, including a fillies Group Three at York with this jockey; however she is penalised for that success and all those races were over 6 furlongs, although her trainer does not expect the extra furlong to be a problem. We certainly expect Survey, who is better drawn and has the services of the meeting´s leading jockey to have the better chance of the German fillies. She has not run a bad race all season and is clearly one of the best German fillies over a mile or less, having only b een beaten just over a length by the smart Cherry Danon at Hamburg. The main dangers could be the two Godolphin fillies, Dysphonia (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa) and especially Galimati (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Frankie Dettori), who had smart form in the spring at Meydan but has not run since. Regal Realm (Jeremy Noseda/ Ryan Moore) is also coming off a break but looks a threat, while Sioux Rising (Richard Fahey/ Tony Hamilton) was runner-up to Gloria Directa at York and now meets her on better terms. The problem for Survey could be the going as she does not like it soft, but if the rain stays away we think she has an excellent each-way chance.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Songcraft - Gatewood - Dubai Prince
2. Race: Gregorian - Aljamaaheer - Trumpet Major
3. Race: Excellent Guest - Prince Of Johanne - Fulbright
4. Race: Ortensia - Hamish Mcgonagall - Tangerine Trees
5. Race: Janoub Nibras - Oasis Cannes - A Certain Romance
6. Race: Gamilati - Gracia Directa - Dysphonia
7. Race: Place In My Heart - Larwood - Swan Song

Glorious Goodwood: day three

Glorious Goodwood goes into its third day when the Goodwood Cup over 2 miles at 16.15 CET is the main feature. This is almost a re-run of the Ascot Gold Cup, which is however run over half a mile further and was won this year by Godolphin´s Colour Vision (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori), with Saddler´s Rock (John Oxx/ Johnny Murtagh) a close third, Askar Tau (Marcus Tregoning/ George Baker) fifth and Nehaam (John Gosden/ Paul Hanagan) sixth. As Colour Vision now carries a 4 lbs penalty, that result is not certain to be confirmed and we expect Saddlers Rock to win this time and also hope to see Askat Tau (out of a German mare) to be placed. Simenon (Willie Mullins/ Ryan Moore - expected to be riding again today after his heavy fall yesterday) won twice at the Royal meeting, but in much lower grade, while Aaim to Prosper (Brian Meehan/ Neil Callan) finished in front of Askar Tau last time on soft ground, which Askar Tau dislikes, and is not sure to do so now. Lost in the Mom ent (bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa) looks very much Godolphin´s second string here. Obviously Colour Vision, much improved this season, is the one to beat despite the extra weight, but our fancy is Saddlers Rock.

The Richmond Stakes for 2yo´s at 15.45 is also a Group Two, although the field does not seem as strong as usual. The two runners in the colours of Qatar Racing, Ahern (David Barron/ Jamie Spencer). third in the July Stakes last time, and Cay Verde (Mick Channon/ Martin Harley) are the highest rated here, although Master of War (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes), from the stable that had won this race for the past four seasons, is an obvious danger. Ahern carries the first colours and as he finished just in front of Cay Verde at Royal Ascot, he is also the logical choice, although the Channon juveniles are running so well that Cay Verde must also come into the reckoning.

The Group Three Lillie Langtry Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 3/4 miles at 16.45 is very interesting from the German point of view. The likely favourite Estimate (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore), who won the Queen´s Vase at Royal Ascot is a daughter of Monsun, as is Bolivia (Lucy Wadham/ Jim Crowley), although the ex-Peter Schiergen mare does not look up to this standard. Gestrür Röttgen´s Wild Coco (Sir Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally) and Good Morning Star (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning) are both by Shirocco, while Cecil´s second string Amaraja (Eddie Ahern) is also German-bred. We hope Estimate wins, although Irish raider Midnight Soprano (Peter Deegan/ Hughes) looks very dangerous after finishing runner-up in the Curragh Cup after 5 successive victories.

In big fields over 7 furlongs here an inside draw is a huge advantage, and for that reason we take Botanica (Hannon/ Hughes) and Supernova Heights (Meehan/ Kieren Fallon) as our two against the field in the 2yo fillies maiden at 17.20, and Arnold Lane (Channon/ Harley) and Mr. Red Clubs (Tim Pitt/ Shane Kelly) in the handicap at 17.55