England Vs Australia – 4th Test Trent Bridge – August 6th – 10th

England ar Trent_Bridge_MMB_01_England_vs_New_Zealand e currently 2-1 up in the series after a 3rd day victory at Edgbaston. With a out of form batting line up, Australia must get their act together to even have a chance to win the next test. However with James Anderson’s side strain injury which has ruled him out of the 4th test, this may boost Australia’s confidence coming into the next test, as Australians struggled against the England attack. England are playing to win the series but for Australia its a must win game to have any chance of holding the Ashes trophy. This test match is going to be one to watch as you are guaranteed to see high intensity, aggressive cricket which is always exciting for any sports fan!

Our tips for this test will be up the day before the game

The two tips for the previous our followers cleaned up which were

3 units win England at 3/1 with Sportingbet

1 unit Ian Bell to be top England batsman @ 6/1 with Boylesports

Sunday Rugby League Preview

Its a miserable day outside so lets see if we can make a few bob on the Rugby League this afternoon.

All games kick off at 3.30pm and there are some interesting match ups.

Huddersfield vs Wakefield

Not much in this for the leagues most successful defensive team. They are at home and they will not be wanting injuries before the Super 8’s. Wakefield however really need to build on some improved performances of late – small I know but we are looking for an angle. Huddersfield beat them by 30 when the Wildcats were hopeless and I think they have improved since then. The Giants are without two key playmakers today and whilst I dont expect them to gift Wakefield any easy tries they may not pile on the points

Our bet 4 units win Wakefield + 28 points at Evens with Betvictor

Leeds vs Catalan

Again, at another time the league leaders would be looking to put a big score past the Dragons but its not as important today. It is however to Catalan who have both Carney and Tonga available for the first time since Game 3. They will of course be a little rusty but with points being carried through to the Super 8’s Catalan need to get on level terms with teams above them so they will be trying.

Our bet 4 units win Catalan + 18 @ 10/11 with Sky

and 2 units to win the game Catalan @ 7/1 with Bet 365

Widnes vs Salford

Salford are one of the poorest teams defensively and that makes things tough for them every week. Widnes are a good team who just seem to shoot themselves in the foot but they are starting to believe. True they will miss Kevin Brown and Salford will welcome back the mercurial Rangi Chase but I think across the park Widnes will just be too strong and Dennis Betts has the makings of being an exceptionally good coach. They look more settled than Salford who are creaking in every area.

Our bet 4 units win Widnes – 6 @ 10/11 with Betfred.

Castleford vs Warrington

Could be the game of the day. I like watching both teams play and there is no doubting Toni Smith’s Wolves team are peaking at exactly the right time. However I cant help feeling they will have half an eye on next weeks Challenge Cup semi final. Castleford however will be so focused and that is what Daryl Powell is so good at and they can score points, particularly with Justin Carney back after injury and scoring tries for fun. Teams seem to have forgotten how to defend against this wrecking ball of muscle and the Tigers now seem to have a settled, well organised pack. On ability I think the Wolves have the edge but in desire today and need to win the Tigers may just want it more and this could be the start of a big Super 8 push.

Our bet 4 units win Catsleford @ 8/11 with Skybet.

Lords – The 2nd Test

This is the test that every player wants to play in. English or Australian you dream of it as a child and you see yourself taking the winning wicket or hitting the winning run on the hallowed turf of the home of cricket.

They have had the warm up test and England have triumphed in Wales, now they will be desperate to return to “Fortress Lords” as it used to be. This is, whatever any other ground says, England home fixture and they will be trying to defend it with everything they have.

Problem is, England don’t need to create more pressure on themselves. Since they have started playing with a more care free, aggressive attitude, they have triumphed and everyone is benefiting. Even the press have got off their backs and interestingly for the first time in 20 years the Australina press are on the back of their team. The furore surrounding Shane Watson and the public sacking of him is akin to something we normally see here. I think we can take it that Watson wont play although I’m not sure that changes the game in any way.

I can’t deny that we were very bullish about Australia before the first test and it has been a lot of soul searching to work out why we got it so wrong and how we lost so much. I think it boils down to this going in to Lords – and as I see it we can learn and benefit now from our mistakes.

1. On a wicket like Cardiff the pace and bounce of Mitchell Stark and Mitchell Johnston (why have they got the same name – have they run out of names in Australia) was completely nullified. In fact Johnston’s performance in the UK to date in his career is poor. He doesn’t look a match winner under our conditions and Stark can not be completely recovered after his injury of the first test so perhaps that much vaunted pace attack is being carried by Josh Hazlewood, who I think is very good.

2. Smith’s run is over? – he had it good for a long time but he simply cant get away with such poor foot movement over here when the ball moves off the straight. Surely I will pay for that statement He has made all their runs for them and the rest of them are just sloggers – Maybe, just maybe England’s batting line-up, under our conditions are simply better and more reliable than theirs? Massive theory I know but give it some thought. If it’s right we have some thinking to do and we might just get there before the crowd.

3. Neither team has a match winning spinner – although that might change if Moen cant play and Rashid does, so a slower wicket again helps England.

4. Will the ball swing – it didnt in Cardiff, might it do at Lords? Forecast doesn’t look like it will. If it does, again we could argue that without bounce and pace England’s bowlers are the equal if not better at swinging the ball and England’s batters may cope better than the Aussies with the swinging ball.Word has it that if he wins the toss Cooke wants to bat, again. It was nearly his undoing in Cardiff I guess it is all wicket dependent.

So why am I writing all this. Mainly because I have some deep scars from what I am about to write and that is that I think England will win again – or should I say they wont lose. Why do I say they wont lose because I genuinely don’t think this will be the same pitch after England have won a test as it would have been if they were one down and its a pitch that I think suits the home team. If i am wrong then all of this means nothing. If groundsman Mich Hunt prepares a green seamer then he needs sacking and we will lose.

However at the moment, things just seem to be going England’s way. Root dropped when they could have been four for spit and all out 125 in the first innings. Stark getting injured (same thing happened when McGrath stood on the ball at Edgbaston). I also think Moen Ali’s injury is a blessing and as well as he played the forced replacement of him with Rashid is a positive bonus on a slower wicket. Watson’s replacement, March is a good player but I dont think he has the discipline to win a test for his country yet.The press pressure on the Aussies who all think they should blast through England as they are rubbish.

So as hard as it is to write it we have to back England.

Our bet : 4 units win @ 15-8 England with Sportingbet

and

6.5 units win @ 8/13 England/Draw – Double Chance with Boylesports

The Ashes – 1st Test – Cardiff

Somehow the idea of playing a test match in Cardiff just because they are skint seems to devalue the whole history of this epic battle and we don’t like it. I think its pretty sad that we kick off what should be a series full of excitement, fear and tension on a pitch that will be lifeless and dull in front of a crowd who really don’t care that much about cricket, as is shown by the parlous nature of the finances associated with Welsh cricket. They don’t get it so why keep forcing it on them and paying for it. Especially with an ashes series and especially with the first game.

Moaning aside there is a match on and our job is to work out how to make a few bob out of the contest. I am not going to predict the series (Australia win) result because any bookmaker hanging on to your money for that long should be ashamed of themselves, so we will simply take it match by match and see if we can find an in.

The first one is this test. Australia are almost even money to win and that seems to be a good starting point. Bowlers win matches and if England don’t play both Wood and Rashid, they will lose comfortably as Australia’s bowlers are simply better. England’s only hope is that atmospheric conditions favour swing bowling, in which case Anderson will be a handful – if fit. Trouble is it might just swing a bit for Starc and Johnson as well, who bowl quicker and bounce it more and if you are a batsman that isn’t a pleasant thought.

I am really impressed with Wood – he is bouncy quick and will develop if he stays fit, I so hope he plays as he is the new breed. It was also apparent that New Zealand didn’t know which way the bowl was going when Rashid bowled and he is, on his day, a much better spinner than Moen but it appears he wont play either, more is the pity, perhaps he isn’t ready yet. No doubt the Aussies would target Rashid but so what, leggies get hit but they get wickets.

So which England will turn out – the new aggressive style, confident England or the one that struggled against the West Indies, who Australia simply tore apart. I think they will opt for the latter and for that reason you cant be with England in this match. Maybe later but not this one.

I don’t really think it matters too much which England turn up, its just the spectacle that will be different. Either way Australia win.

Our bets:

10 unit win Australia @ 19-20 to win the mtach with Boylesports

10 units win – Double Chance – England or Australia to win @ 1/3 with Bet 365

5 unit win Adam Lyth to score less than 25.5 runs @ 17/20 with Betway

Wimbledon 2015, The Worlds greatest show on Turf

Tennis lovers around the world wait all year for this amazing tournament, so do the players and so do those who only watch one tennis tournament a year. Its this one – Wimbledon. Now the only Grand slam played on grass and the one where despite his protestations we are bound to have a massive dose of “Murraymania.

Andy Murray is bidding to become the first British man to win multiple Wimbledon titles since Fred Perry, who won the title from 1934-36. Murray ended a 77-year wait for a British men’s singles champion when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final at 2013 Wimbledon. British men have won the title here more times (36) than any other nation and Wimbledon has the most recent resident national champion compared to the other 3 Grand Slam events. He also comes here in just about the best form of his life and as he is now seeded 3 he would normally be assured of a quarter finals berth at least, something he has achieved in 6 of the last 7 years.

This year is different. Bizzarely in order to get to the final he may have to beat Nadal, Federer and Djokovic if the seedings go to plan. Somehow I don’t think they will. I have my eyes on some dream wreckers who may be about to show a new order in 2015 and as Murray says, you have to beat everyone at some stage in order to win the title.

The glory days for Rafa, when he won two Wimbledons in 2008 and 2010 are now five years ago and whilst we underestimate him at our peril I think his seeding of 10 is about right. He will annoy a few in his quarter of the draw but he just doesn’t seem to be able to hurt people with pace and power anymore. He is looking more like Ferrer than Federer these days.

Roger has been given the number 2 seed and as good as some of his performances have been this year he seems to have to work so hard to achieve them and whilst really quick courts may help his amazing ground strokes again I think his time might be over as well. If I am right then Rogers quarter looks good for Stan Wawrinka who is seeded 4 but again, other than last year when he made it to the quarters, Stan has bowed out early every year. That may of course change now that he has another major to his name with the French Open. I just wonder if this quick surface allows him enough time to get himself in to position. If it does and he attacks then he may prove to be a real handful.

Players to watch who regularly play well and are improving every year and who must be supported as part of multiples in the early rounds are :

Mikhail Kukuskkin from Kazikstan will beat a few and should make it to the 3rd round at least, Milos Raonic and Tommy Robredo could create upsets in week 2. Feliciano Lopez from Spain has a liking for Wimbledon now as has the rapidly improving American, John Isner. Marin Cilic and Grigor Dimitrov will also be looking to get deep in to week two and will also be a handful for the ailing bones of one or two.

So who wins.

It looks tailor made for Novak and that is why he is a best priced 7/5. Murray has it all to do but the 11/4 with Sportingbet looks tempting with home ground advantage, the ability to return better than most and confidence that he can beat anyone (Novak aside). If there is an upset I think it will be Milos Roanic who will supply it at 45/1.

Our pre tournament best are

4 units e/w Murray @ 11/4

1 unit e/w Roanic @ 45/1

Then a Quarter final 4 timer

Djokovic 1/3, Roanic 9/4, Murray 8/15 and Berdych 100/30 to all win their quarter finals.

All bets with Sportingbet who have guaranteed to go best price every player.

Royal Ascot – Day 5 Preview

Four feasting courses of a Royal racing banquet completed with just the dessert course to go. The question is what can our master chef serve up to cut through the rich taste of Ryan Moore and Aiden O’Brien who have flooded our palette this week and given us a Michelin starred dinner so far?

2.30 The Chesham – Listed – 7f

Two year olds running over 7 furlongs is always a test at this time of their lives. This is as few entered as I have seen for a while in this race and I am going to concentrate on just three, Ballydoyle first of all has to be considered. if you call yourself Ballydoyle you better be good. That didn’t apply with Pond House, but that’s another story. I will swerve this one as I couldn’t back a horse that looked like that in its first run and is now favourite. It may be a legend but I didn’t see it. I like Tonkinese whose third on debut was top notch and he improved on that performance when winning last time out. The other that a like is Love the Kitten. Bred for further he looks the type for Wesley Ward – already a winner this week.

1 unit e/w Tonkinese @ 4/1 with Sportingbet

3.05 Wolferton Handicap – Listed – 1 mile 2f

I have put a ring around 5 horses in this race. Collaboration, who looked a class horse when completing the hat trick at Chester, Mahsoob who created a similar impression with his win at York, although the proxmity of Master of Finance concerns me as little as much as I like the latter. First Flight looks interesting for Godolphin after his performance in coming 3rd to Mahsoob beaten 3/4l and Ayrad who was a good winner at Goodwood on his latest effort. There is no doubting Mahsoob is open to most improvement but I saw Andrew Balding’s, Collaboration put his race beyond that of his competitors at Chester in a furlong and a half and he seemed to do it so easily. He is also over 5 times the price of the favourite.

1 unit e/w Collaboration @ 10/1 with Skybet

3.40 The Hardwicke Group 2 1 mile 4 f

Eagle Top will be popular with quite few and there is not doubt John Gosden fancies his chances with his 4 yo but so far he hasnt quite been good enough, although his win against Adelaide really looks good in the context of this race. Postponed for Luca looks to have a similar profile but the horse I am taken by is Telescope. It was actually his second place first time out that was the most eye-catching for me. Ryan got it wrong and went too early on him on that day but the acceleration was really impressive and you need that in good races. He is now race fit and will account for these.

4 units win Telescope @ 7/4 with Skybet

4.20 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes Group 1 6f

Terrific sprinters all. A treat for us with the pen gathering around a group headed by the admirable Tropics, who may have run his best race already this year but deserves his time in the sun. Astaire too may have also peaked with a first time out demolition job. Casper Neitscher ran a blinder last time out and looks to be an improved horse and back to his best. Gordon Lord Byron may need 7 to be seen at his best but he is talented and now that jockey Pat Smullen has got his way and got Mustajeeb sprinting it could be that he becomes a sensation in this form of racing. The Australian sprinter, Brazen Beau will take some beating if he is at his best. He accounted for a good field easily in his last race in Australia and if at his best will win. My problem is that their wonder horse almost got beat when she came here for this race and I am not convinced by sprinters travelling long distances just yet. We are good at moving stayers and middle distance horses but by their very nature they relax better anyway. I just don’t know how much edge it takes off these highly sprung sprinters. I think I will have to err on the side of caution and take two in this race.

1 unit e/w Mustajeeb @ 11/2 with Bet 365

1 unit e/w Brazen Beau 7/2 with Bet 365

5.00 The Wokingham Handicap Class 2 6f

Tough as tough can be. I’m simply concentrating on two horses. Ninjago, who might be a little closer to the pace this time than he was at Goodwood and will appreciate this stiff 6 and strong pace. He was just caught out of his ground last time at Goodwood, a quick 6 furlongs and Kickboxer, who I have watched race since he was 2 and he looks to be finding his feet sprinting.

1 unit e/w Ninjago @ 20/1 with Bet 365

1 unit e/w Kickboxer @ 20/1 with Bet 365

5.35 The Queen Alexandra Stakes C2 2 mile 5f

A strange race this. The longest flat race of the festival. Like yesterday it could be that Ryan Moore swops riding with one Irish legend trainer for another as he partners Wicklow Brave, a horse who won for us at 25/1 at Cheltenham over timber. I like Marzocco in this race who brings the best flat form and may just relax enough to see this out better than the others

1 unit e/w Marzocco @ 6/1 with Bet 365

Royal Ascot – Day 4 Preview

The Royal Ryan Moore Show rolls on

It really has been three fabulous days of racing but so far its the Ryan Moore show, featuring Aiden O’Brien. Remember it was us who said it on Tuesday – the greatest jockey in the world – don’t believe it – go back and read it. How much more damage can he do – who knows. He could win on the stable cat at the moment, as long as that stable was Ballydoyle of course. On to day 4 and we think Mark Johnston could have a big day today

2.30 Albany Stakes Group Fillies 6f

For 2 yo’s running 6f with a stiff finish it takes some doing and for that reason we are looking for pace and stamina. Wesley Ward knows about pace and his two are well fancied. Laxfield Road hacked up by 11 lengths on debut and has stamina a plenty on the dam side of her pedigree, her stablemate Back at the Ranch was also impressive at Belmont and may be strong enough to see out the trip. Spanish Romance for Eoghan O’Neil has produced stunning figures in her two runs in France and she looks to have a favourite’s chance if she takes to the quicker ground. Kevin Ryan has a good horse in Ashadihan but is she good enough? I like the look of Tutu Nguru who won on debut for Wiiliam Haggas but the Hannons have an angle on that form as it was one of theirs that she beat and that brings us nicely to Richard Hannon whose filly Illuminate will be very popular after winning at Salisbury and then the second from the same yard winning a listed race next time out. Most difficult race of the week in my eyes. In the last ten years we have had 3 favourites, 3 11/2 or bigger winners and one 50/1 shot. Tread warily

Our bets:

1 unit e/w Laxfield Road @ 7/1 with Skybet

1 unit e/w Spanish Romance @ 9/1 with Skybet

3.05 King Edward Vll Group 2 3yo 12f

Without being superstars some good horses have won this in the past, Eagle Top, Nathaniel, Campanologist, Hillstar. Good but not great and thats how this line-up looks. Balios for David Simcock won his maiden then went better finishing 2nd next time over 10f and this extra trip could be ideal, Magic Dancers second to Kiliminjaro at Lingfield in the Derby trial also looks a decent effort. Festive Fare for the boys in blue, Godolphin, got within 2.5l of Golden Hand at Newmarket over 10f and that now looks pretty good doesn’t it and I’m not sure what to make of Old Man River but he has a mile run back a bit which is better on form figures than anything this lot of done by about 8lbs. Maybe god – O’Brien can coax that figure out of him over 12f, that would be enough I think oh and of course Ryan is on board!!!

1 unit e/w Festive fare @ 9/2 with bet 365

Tiggy Wiggy beating Anthem Alexander – this time!

3.40 Commonwealth Cup Group 1 3yo 6f

This might be the best race on the card this week. A newly created race for 3yo sprinters over 6f it brings together the best 2yo sprinters from 2014 including some Royal winners and let’s them get on with it. Limato would have been all the rage had this particular bubble not burst at Haydock recently where his trainer suggested he may not have grown enough to be the force of 2014 and of course the ground being quicker, which it will be (expect her not to run unless rain comes). Anthem Alexander was superb here last year and she resumes battle with Tiggy Wiggy after a good opening win at Naas this year. Tiggy Wiggy has been tried over 7f and 8f this year but thankfully her trainer reverts to sprinting where she had few peers and she must be feared. Hootenanny returns to these shores after success here in 2014 and a winning pipe opener at Keeneland already in 2015. He must be respected. Adaay looked the real deal when beating both Limato and Jungle Cat in his last two races and there may still be more to come. Jungle Cat is no slouch but as yet we haven’t seen the form of the aforementioned but he is close and could still come on. There are still another 10 horses who also line-up to consider in what is just a great race. We need to get involved and so we go as follows

1 unit e/w Tiggy Wiggy @ 6/1 Bet 365

1 unit e/w Anthem Alexander @ 8/1 with Sportingbet

4.20 Coronation Stakes Group 1 Fillies 1 mile

All the best fillies have run in and won this race. This year is not long on quantity but may have quite a bit of quality amongst the runners. Ervedya from France has won a Grp 1 already in 2015 and in doing so beat Martyn Meades impressive filly Irish Rookie who looks to be improving but I cant help thinking that these two are just below top class. Found was too good for Evedrya last year by 2.5 lengths and she seems to have held her form this year and is as good as ever so she should finish in front of those two. Arabian Queen’s Group 3 win at Epsom was impressive winning by 4 lengths and she only has to improve another 4-5 lbs to be in the mix for David Elsworth but for me the one they have to catch is Lucida who was just denied by Legattisimo in the Guineas and looks to be just a bit better than the rest in this race. Found of course now looks even stronger in the betting having got so close to Pleascach but my problem is, she was beaten by a 1 mile 4f horse – that cant be right. We stay with Lucida.

Our bet: 3 units e/w Lucida @ 100/30 with Bet 365

5.00 Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Hcp Class 2 1mile 4f

Some decent horses have won this and I suppose you could argue that they were relatively unexposed when winning this race. Its perhaps the reason why we wouldn’t normally be tipping up Sennockian Star, although this time his latest performance at Chester showed he is now in top notch order and having won off 106 he now races off 97 and must be considered against the trend. The average SP of this race over 10 years has been 10/1 and only 2 favs have won in that time. There is a form line covering Arab Dawn, Watersmeet and Astronereus that will take some sorting out and my gut instinct says these are the others to concentrate on with the addition of Dashing Star and Forgotten Hero. I think I have named the winner in that lot, its just knowing which one it is. I need two and whilst Sennockian Star is going to be one of them I think the other is going to be Arab Dawn. More 4 yr olds have won this race than any other age group and only 5 year old’s have featured otherwise in the last 10 years. Arab Dawn (4) had just the one run and was kept for this race and he gets the second birth to make it an Arab uprising for two years running with Arab Spring winning last year.

1 unit e/w Sennockian Star @ 16/1 with Skybet

1 unit e/w Arab Dawn @ 6/1 with Skybet

5.35 Queens Vase Listed Race 2 miles

Aloft will be all the rage, with Aiden and Ryan dominating. His form figures suggest he is a cut above these but my concern is no run in 2015 and he moves from 1 mile to 2. That’s a big jump. Even for god to achieve. Bantry Bay is another from the same stable and he gets the assistance of son Joseph and is more likely for me. He only has to go 4 more furlongs on what we have seen so far and he was clearly slow as a 2yo. Fabricate for the Queen might just be her first Royal winner this year and I love Adam Kirby in the plate. Vive Ma Fille may not have the class to win on paper but she has the heart and I think she will love this extra few furlongs for Mark Johnston and against the odds, she is the selection.

Our Bet :

1 unit e/w Vive Ma Fille @ 25/1 with Bet 365

Royal Ascot – Day 3 Preview

Gm Hopkins did the business for us in the Royal Hunt Cup and I cant believe that James Doyle, who I rave about, never switched his stick through and got our nap, Always Smile beaten in the last. Still, as they say that’s racing.

By the way, I know we were on GM Hopkins but people who think they can ride should watch Ryan Moore in that race, he is simply amazing. he never makes a mistake. His patience in that race was what won him the race and I know some would say, well he was travelling so what was the problem? Knowing when to push the button, that’s the clever bit and following the ones that wont fall back in your face. Just ask Jamie Spencer, who got The Grey Gatsby beat for us earlier.

Anyway on to Day 3 and more great racing

2.30 The Norfolk Stakes Group 2 5f

I have only been really dogmatic at Royal Ascot about one horse so far and that was Always Smile and somehow that got beat. Well I’m all in again with this one. King of Rooks from Richard Hannons in form yard is the real deal. Everything he beats wins or finishes second next time out – case in point – Buratino. I really cant make a case for Jazz Legend or Zebstar or Log Out Island, unless they have improved loads at hoe and I am not privileged to that information. I always say you are entitled to an opinion if you have put your money down and this is mine and I will be. Join me in our festival banker.

Out Bet : 6 units win King of Rooks @ even money with William Hill

3.05 Tercentenary Stakes – Group 3 1 mile 2f

We have to start with Time Test in this race. He was ultra impressive winning at Newbury in may beating Dissolution who runs as the favourite in our last race today.He looks nailed on to run a big race. Nafaqa shouldnt be underestimated from Barry Hills yard, who showed his horses are no back number with the running of his horse in the first on Wednesday. Disegno seems to be getting better each run and his conqueror, Not So Sleepy has to be respected as well. I have always liked Cape Clear island who has been highly tried and will prefer this fast ground and Maftool looks a good horse who is maturing.

Its hard to be overly confident about anything beating Time Test so sometimes you just have to go with the obvious

Our bet 2 units e/w Time Test @ 5/2 with William Hill

3.40 Ribblesdale Stakes – Group 2 Fillies 1 mile 4f

Jim Bolger is very confident of his horse Pleascach after her performance winning at the Curragh and beating Found and Devonshire. Curvy brings even more good Irish form to the table for his trainer David Wachman and John Gosden isnt one to tilt at rainbows with his once raced winner Gretchen who was ultra smart winning at Newmarket on good ground over 12f. Wedding Vow is the only Aiden Obrien entry but there is just a question about stamina with this one for me.

Its not where we like to be but again I can’t see past the favourite

4 units win Pleascach @ Evens with Skybet

4.20 Gold Cup Group 1 2m 4f

Can Trip to Paris simply keep improving. He has an outstanding turn of foot for a distance horse and if they dawdle he could take a hand but he has to improve about 7lbs to win this on what we have seen from the others. I’m not sure Tac de Boistron will like the trip or the ground but I do like him. Havanna Beat has some class for Andrew Balding, will he stay the extra 4 furlongs – maybe this time, he appeared not to last year. Kingfisher comes from the man who knows more about winning this race than most – Aiden O’Brien and what about Mizzou from Luca Cumani who seems to have been forgotten about despite having won already around here over 2 miles and only needs to improve slightly over the longer trip to take a hand. Scotland was Baldings 12f hope in 2014 and he did nothing wrong when just 2l behind Australia and if he stays has class. Of course there is Forgotten Rules for Dermot Weld, Day 2 conqueror and bringing an unbeaten stayer who looks the real deal. Then there is the French raider Bathyrhon who has taken all before him in his home country and stays this trip.

Whoever wins will usher in a new era of stayers and a series of races that could be genuinely exciting. My two against the field are :

1 unit e/w Mizzou @ 5/1 with Boylesports

1 unit e/w Bathyrhon @ 11/1 with Betvictor

5.00 Britannia Stakes Class 2 Hcp 1m

I love Bow and Arrow, I keep backing him and he keeps winning and so do the horses he beats. That makes him top of my short list even if he is now off 96 and started his campaign of 80. He has had the break that refreshes (49 days) and he will have improved again. Im drawn to Capel Path who finished second staying on over 7f and has the extra furlong in this race to find his feet. He also has Graham Lee, who never panics. War Envoy should be a better horse than this race but he has a lot of weight to carry. I can also make a case for Ed Vaughans horse Bartel who also keeps improving and is at the right end of the weights. He should stay the 8 and in fact improve again with this trip.

Our three in this 30 runner field are

1 unit e/w Bow and Arrow @ 25/1 with Bet 365

1 uit e/w Bartel @ 25/1 with Bet 365

1 unit Sahaafy @ 10/1 with Bet 365

5.35 King George V Stakes Handicap Class 2 1mile 4 f.

For me this race boils down to 2 horse and one of them will look a whole lot better if Time Test hacks up in the first, that being Dissolution. He is the favourite and rightly so. Against him I like Scottish who on his handicap debut might just prove to be a well handicapped horse against this more exposed company.

1 unit e/w Dissolution @ 5/1 Bet 365

1 unit e/w Scottish @ 10/1 Bet 365

US Open – Chambers Bay

The toughest test in Golf – The US Open

Its here again and this time its being played on a course that Ian Poulter recently described on twitter as “a farce”. The USGA are renowned for tricking up the golf course for their feature event of the year and after some scathing comments they might just relent on the rough and the speed of the greens. It will still take a magician to get it around this demanding course without having a major blow-up somewhere but I think it will be possible for winning score in the region of 8-10 under.

So who are we looking for. Its simple. A master shot maker, a great putter, someone with loads of patience and someone who can hit it gun barrel straight off the tee. Ben Hogan, that’s who we need. Interestingly most of the players we considered are good at three of those but not the fourth. So lets see if we can find a few who might be slightly different players so that we can spread our basket across the field.

Our Golf Major tactic has always been to find four against the field and we have decided on the following four to bring home the bacon this weekend at the much maligned Chambers Bay links course.

Sergio Garcia – The Spaniard has found some consistent form this year. He hits it gun barrel straight off the tee and has a simply magic short game full of loads of imagination. His one weakness is his streaky putting under pressure but if he just has an OK week then he could be right up there in an event where putting may not separate the field.

1 unit e/w @ 40-1 with Sportingbet

Henrik Stenson – When in good form the big Swede has no peer and he has been hinting that a big performance is not far away. Three placed finishes early in this year and top 20’s in both Majors tell us his game is in a pretty good place. I also think Stenson plays better on the tougher courses and this one will certainly test him.

1 unit e/w @ 28-1 with Sportingbet

Justin Rose – Almost the complete tour pro these days. Take him anywhere, any course, and country and he plays well. He seems to be in contention every week and makes very few mistakes. I just dont know if he has that touch of brilliance and I think to win he needs an event where nobody really fires. He should be in the top 6 and get us a profit.

Phil Mickelson – I thought my days of writing about Phil were over but there is just something about him that makes you think there is one more major in him. Now that he seems to have control of his driver he becomes a whole new proposition. We know he is magic at scrambling and around the greens and so it seems right to be with him on this course.

1 unit e/w @ 16/1 with Sportingbet

Note: All prices are with Sportingbet who will open special accounts for our customers. They are also paying 6 places and 1/4 the odds.

Royal Ascot Day 2 Preview

Another brilliant day of Racing in store today after what was a stunning day 1. The equine star of which was the performance of Solow who put away the very best the world has to offer over a mile and of course, as we flagged up – the best jockey in the world, Ryan Moore riding an amazing treble. On to day two and more fireworks

2.30 The Jersey Stakes – Group 3 7 furlongs 3yo.

Barry Hills

This race revolves around Ivawood. Richard Hughes said it is his banker for the week. Hannon said it would be very hard to beat and finishing 1.5 lengths third behind Gleneagles looks the very best form on offer. So lets look for why he could get beat. Firstly the oppositon. I fancied Fadhayyil for Barry Hills in the Guineas and he didn’t look ready to run a big race that day. He hasnt raced since and probably needed the run and the time off. Mick Channon decided on the same course of action for his colt, Bossy Guest who ran to within 3.5l of Gleneagles in the Guineas. He would have to improve by 7lbs to take a hand in this race and who says he hasn’t – only Mick would know and the betting will give you an idea of his thoughts. He could be very good and is physically very impressive. Luck of the Kitten will stay and will probably set a blistering speed for Wesley Ward and Joel Rosario. His second to Hootenanny beaten 3/4l looks a very strong run after that horses win here last year and the run of Devonshire when finishing 2 lengths third to Pleasecach was his best run and looks very strong form. None of these three would surprise me as winners if the favourite doesnt perform. There wont be pilot error, Richard Hughes doesnt make mistakes in big races, the ground wont beat him but he did get closer to Gleneagles on slower ground than the Guineas at the Curragh. So do you want to take 6/4 about Ivawood? We didnt take it yesterday on Solow and it cost us. And I wont be taking it again with this one. My reason – just a gut instinct that there will be one too good today and i would kick myself taking 6/4 with so many good horses in the race.

Our bet : 2 units e/w Fadhayyil @ 10-1 with Boylesports

3.05 The Queen Mary Stakes Group 2, 2 yo Fillies 5 furlongs

Besharah brings some of the best visual clues to this race, her last two performances were very impressive. She needs to relax in the preliminaries and anyone backing her will want her to save her energy for the race. Rah Rah was impressive at Chester for Mark Johnston, when she won and she handled the crowds, the track and the ground with ease. She looks a real professional. Bruised Orange needs to be respected. She is so speedy there is a quuestion about the trip and hill combined but they might just not get to her on this quick ground. Its the same route Ward took with Jealous Again, except this one has had one less run. Will that prove to be important or will the Churchill Downs 4.5f Maiden Special Weight prove to be the perfect prep race for Royal Ascot? There has been a speed bias this week and prominent racers have done well on the straight track – this could suit. Delizia’s win in a listed race at York was very impressive as well and you could see Mark Johnston delivering yet another 2 year old winner this season. Easton Angel is the love of Michael Dodd’s yard after winning the Hilary Needler, although the second didn’t help that form much today. I need to have two against the field in this race and my two are :

1 unit e/w Bruised Orange @ 11/1 with Betvictor

1 unit e/w Delizia @ 12/1 with Betvictor

3.40 Duke of Cambridge Stakes Group 2 for Fillies and Mares 1 mile

Integral won this last year and then followed it up with the Sun Chariot stakes at the end of the season. She also had her prep race this year finishing a very good fourth against the boys in the Lockinge. She looks the real deal as favourite. However no-one made regular money at this game dismissing the opposition without considering who might beat her. Could Eurocharline improve further as she is only four and arguably her best run was on firm ground winning a Group 1 at Arlington last August, the problem is Marco Bottis simply isn’t firing yet. Maybe this one? Cladocera looked progressive to start in Meydan but that stopped and she has her limitations and Bragging was very disappointing at York. Perhaps the trip was too far and for that reason Sir Michael drops her back. So who beats Integral? Maybe Rizeena., she has her ground but she just hasn’t produced that outstanding form for some time now and Integral was too good for her when she was good. It all points to Integral and sometimes you cant get away from that.

Our bet : 5 units win Integral @ 11/10 with Sportingbet

4.20 Prince of Wales Stakes Group 1

Its a group one race but it doesnt feel like one. Maybe a horse will come out of this as a superstar but there isnt one going in to it. The Grey Gatsby is one I want to be that horse but I have this fear that at this trip he is slow and that if he is destined for stardom it is at 12 furlongs. I hope I am wrong. Free Eagle, I simply haven’t seen enough off. You can put a line through his last run as that was on heavy ground and he will prefer this offering and again may be the horse. Cannock Chase has been well beaten by Western Hymm so there is no obvious reason why he should finish in front this time and Western Hymm comes in to the reckoning although I think we would all feel a little flat if he won. Ectot was well beaten in the Arc but that could have been trip or the Treve factor and maybe the drop back is ideal. I would have preferred to see a prep race for this one but he has won first time out. That leaves me with Gailo Chop who every time I look at the form I keep liking more. Just behind Solow at a mile, thrashed Western Hymm – what’s not to like – 10-1 more like my prices.

My two agains the field are

1 units e./w Gailo Chop @ 11/1 with Betfair

1 unit e/w The Grey Gatsby @ 6/1 with Bet 365

5.00 Royal Hunt Cup Class 2 Hcp 1 mile

With the 30 runners spread right across the track, outside of Ireland there are very few races like this. When you think that the weights range from horses considered Group horses down to those who run in C2 races and win pots of £50,000+ regualrly, its a pretty special gathering. I wont profess to know the answer to this race but I do enjoy it and over the years I have had some success. My 7 for starters are Ayaaar who was convincing at Newbury in the Spring Mile and could kick on. Speculaitve Bid who showed his liking for this type of race winning the Victoria Cup over 7 furlongs here to make it four on the bounce – will 8f be ok? Breeding says yes. Big Baz comes into the reckoning on his 3rd to Ayaar. One of my favourite horses, Gabrial, who I think is an out and out miler and who has been tried over further, was narrowly denied on Saturday at York. Gm Hopkins whose second could be described as unlucky, to Spark Plug and who loves these big field races, as does Bronze Angel who simply never runs a bad race in these type and finally Baraweez for Brian Ellison wo looks like a winner waiting to happen.

You can’t be too bullish but I will back three in the race

1 unit e./w Baraweez @ 25/1 with Betvictor

1 unit e/w GM Hopkins @ 12/1 with Betfred

1 unit e/w Gabrial @ 25/1 with Betvictor

5.35 The Sandringham Hcp – Listed Rce for Fillies 1 mile 4 furlongs

This is my day 2 banker. I cant see past Always Smile. I have looked hard at the next 5 in the betting and with the exception of Kodiva, who makes her Handicap debut they all look exposed and lacking the progression to win a race of this type. I will keep it brief. This horse, despite its 11lb rise after beating two subsequent winners, is still well in and will win.

Our bet 4 units e/w Always Smile @ 11/4 with Bet 365

The 4th Test – Trent Bridge