Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Ascot and York on Saturday. View selections
Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Chepstow, Kempton and Wetherby on Saturday. View selections below.
Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet up to £50, with bet365’s ITV 4/1 Offer
SIR Michael Stoute appears to have a stranglehold on this year’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, with POET’S WORD (3.40) getting the nod over stablemate Crystal Ocean.
The five-year-old was always travelling all over a below-par Cracksman at Royal Ascot and this step up to 1m 4f should not prove to be an inconvenience. Poet’s Word won over this longer trip at Glorious Goodwood last August, mastering Second Step quite comfortably on testing ground. Hawkbill was eight lengths adrift at the Royal meeting and has since run an honourable fourth to Roaring Lion in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
Crystal Ocean is unbeaten in three starts this season, his latest victory coming in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal fixture when slamming Red Verdon and Cliffs Of Mohar. He had earlier toyed with Second Step at Newbury before easing six lengths clear.
He is clearly a formidable opponent along with Cracksman. Rab Havlin deputises for banned Frankie Dettori and Cracksman had seven lengths to spare over Poet’s Word in last October’s Qipco Champion Stakes. He was in receipt of 4lb on very testing ground that day and Cracksman is a big price if he can bounce back from that flat Royal Ascot performance.
ESCALATOR (2.25) is on the up and occupies pole position in the one-mile Porsche Handicap betting. Charlie Fellowes has an improving three-year-old on his hands judging by the way Escalator put the race to bed so ruthlessly at Newmarket (runner-up won easily next time). He hasn’t been seen since the end of June, so his handicap mark has been protected with this race in mind.
Crack On Crack On has plenty of power under the bonnet but he blew the start in the Royal Hunt Cup so comes with risks.
The significance of the draw may be revealed in the 2.25 and, hopefully, stall 26 will prove to be an advantage to MAKZEEM (3.00) in the Gigaset International over seven furlongs.
Makzeem ran a stormer in this event 12 months ago, finishing sixth from a poor draw out in a limb from stall one. Roger Charlton’s gelding found the Newmarket hill just finding him out close home
when fifth to Burnt Sugar in the Bunbury Cup and seems to go well at Ascot. Ryan Moore takes the reins.
GET KNOTTED (2.05) is fancied to repeat last year’s clear-cut victory in York’s opening 7f handicap. The ground will likely be a bit quicker this time round but Michael Dods’ gelding ran well over course and distance a fortnight ago when hunting up useful Wadilsafa.
ELARQAM (3.15) bids to get his season back on track after two abortive Group 1 attempts in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas. Mark Johnston’s son of Frankel ran fourth to Saxon Warrior at Newmarket before a slightly disappointing sixth to Romanised at the Curragh. This looks a good bit easier now tackling some useful but fairly exposed older rivals.
Compare horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Tally Ho
Alan
To compare the odds on all today’s horse racing, click here
NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
