BHA Handicapper's view of Royal Ascot

The BHA handicapper has published his thoughts on the performance of various runners and Royal Ascot 2015.

His thoughts can be found here:

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/royal-delights/

British Champions Series - fantasy racing 2015

Royal Ascot 2015 review

65 points was the rather measly return for Gleneagles' (8/15) victory in the St James's Palace Stakes with jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Aidan O'Brien earning just 6.5 points each for the win.

Much more healthy was the 325 points that trainer Robert Cowell earned for Goldream's (20/1) first place in the King's Stand Stakes.

Jockeys Graham Lee (164 points) and Frankie Dettori (94 points) also made good contributions to our tally for the week for their wins aboard Trip To Paris (12/1, The Gold Cup) and Undrafted (14/1, The Diamond Jubilee Stakes) respectively.

The next race in the British Champions Series' calendar is the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on 4 July 2015.

Europe's sprint programme shaken up

The European Pattern Committee (EPC) has revealed details of substantial changes to the European sprint race programme from 2015.

The aim seems to be to create a high-class, competitive sprint dedicated sprint programme for younger horses to help them compete with their international rivals.

Part of the changes will include the running of a new Group 1 race over six furlongs for three-year-olds only at Royal Ascot.

 Chairman of the EPC Brian Kavanagh explained:

“The strategic objective in reviewing the sprint programme was to implement measures that will have a long-term, positive impact, delivering meaningful benefits both for European racing and for the European horse population.

“For horses performing at every distance other than sprinting, the European Pattern provides a three-year-old only programme until mid summer ... there is a definite lack of top class European three-year-old sprinters."

"... we have introduced a limited number of Pattern races restricted to three-year-olds in the first half of the European season, culminating in a new Group 1 race at Royal Ascot, and secondly, we have sought to deliver a more balanced overall sprint programme, providing better opportunities and greater incentives to run high class sprinters in Europe." 

“We acknowledge the steps we have taken are bold, some may consider them radical. However, the Committee believes they are warranted and that they will be of considerable benefit to European horseracing and breeding.”

Top 10 horse races by betting turnover - April to June 2014

Top 10 races by betting turnover in Q2 2014, according to HBLB data:

1. Crabbie's Grand National
2. Investec Derby
3. Coral Scottish Grand National
4. Qipco 2000 Guineas
5. Investec Oaks
6. Ascot Gold Cup (Royal Ascot)
7. Prince of Wales's Stakes (Royal Ascot)
8. Qipco 1000 Guineas
9. St James's Palace Stakes (Royal Ascot)
10. Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Royal Ascot)

British Champions Series: fantasy racing 2014

Royal Ascot and the Coral Eclipse have produced quite reasonable returns for both of our stables and each has now comfortably passed 1,200 points - admittedly still some way off the leaders.

One stable picked out Mukhadram as the winner of the Coral Eclipse at Sandown, earning 120 points, whilst the other accumulated nearly 400 points in the one race thanks to Mark Johnston's Somewhat clinging on for third place at 100/1!

Some stable highlights from Royal Ascot a few weeks back are:

• Earning over 100 points for picking out The Fugue (77.5) and Magician (32) as the first two home in the Prince of Wales's Stakes
• Sole Power and Richard Hughes earned a combined 95 points in winning the King's Stand Stakes
• 90 points earned by Leading Light (54.5) and Estimate (36) as the first two finishers in the Gold Cup

The next chance to continue the good run comes with a couple of races at Newmarket's July meeting next week in the Falmouth Stakes and July Cup.

Royal Ascot 2013: A New Generation Of Jockeys

With the likes of Kieren Fallon and Frankie Dettori failing to notch a winner at the Royal Ascot meeting in 2013 it did have the feel of a changing of the guard in the jockeys’ ranks, as some of the younger names came to the fore.

Joseph O’Brien is still only 20 years old but has already won a host of big international races. At the Royal meeting in 2013 he recorded three wins, finishing second in the top jockey table behind Johnny Murtagh.

25-year-old James Doyle matched O’Brien’s three wins in the space of just three rides, with an incredible hat-trick of victories on the second afternoon of the Royal meeting. Al Kazeem’s win in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes was the jockey’s first Royal Ascot winner.

It was also good to see some recent champion apprentices be successful at the Royal Meeting. The likes of William Buick (champion apprentice 2008), Tom Queally (2004), and Martin Harley (2011) all had a winner each.

Adam Kirby, Richard Kingscote, and Billy Lee were three more young jockeys who put in notable winning performances at Royal Ascot 2013.

Telegraph Fantasy Racing Update

A hectic week of selections at Royal Ascot with moderate success for our fantasy stables. Our leading stable has slipped backed to around 4,700th place with the other languishing in mid-13,000s.

Tom Queally picked us up 42 points for third place on Gregorian (16/1) in the Queen Anne Stakes. The Hannon-Hughes-Toronado (5/1) combination earned a total of 50 points for the runner-up spot in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The Gold Cup and the Coronation Stakes were the most profitable races for us because we picked both Estimate (7/2) and Top Trip (7/1) in the former and Sky Lantern (9/2) in the latter.

Onwards to the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

Royal Ascot 2013: Day 5

The final day of Royal Ascot 2013 saw both triumph and tragedy. Lady Cecil’s Thomas Chippendale (8/1) had fought his way to a tough victory in the Hardwicke Stakes but collapsed yards after the winning post with a suspected heart attack. The joy of the celebrating connections quickly turned to despair and it was strange to watch them collect the trophies for what had become a hollow success.

Jockey Frankie Dettori had the frustration of finishing in second place three times during the course of the afternoon aboard Dandino (10/1), Stencive (5/1f) and Shahwardi (3/1f). He finished the Royal meeting without a win to his name.

Johnny Murtagh claimed the top jockey title for Royal Ascot 2013 with four winning rides and Aidan O’Brien was the leading trainer also with four wins across the week.

Royal Ascot 2013: Day 4

Richard Hughes’ ride aboard Sky Lantern (9/2 jf) in the Coronation Stakes was the highlight of day four of Royal Ascot 2013.

Hughes had a wide draw on the 1000 Guineas winner and decided to drop in at the back of the field in the early stages. In the home straight he took the filly wide of the field to pass her rivals. She quickened her pace very well in the closing furlong and drew away to win by four lengths. It was a ride of great confidence, especially as Hughes had endured a frustrating week to that point.

The Queen’s Vase was run in memory of Sir Henry Cecil but Disclaimer was not able to win the race for Lady Jane. Instead, Leading Light (5/4f) for Aidan O’Brien was the well-backed winner.

O’Brien had endured disappointment earlier on the card when the odds-on favourite Battle Of Marengo (10/11f) was defeated by Sir Michael Stoute’s Hillstar (15/2) in the King Edward VII Stakes.

Champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson saddled Forgotten Voice to win the Wolferton Handicap at 12/1 on a day on which the bookmakers just had the upper hand.

Royal Ascot 2013: Day 3

The Americans struck in the opening Group 2 Norfolk Stakes with the Wesley Ward-trained No Nay Never (4/1). The lack of rain at Ascot meant the going was good to firm and the colt set a course record for two-year-olds over five furlongs (58.80 seconds).

Lady Cecil carried on Sir Henry’s great record at Royal Ascot by sending Riposte (9/2) out to win the Ribblesdale Stakes, just over a week after he passed away. Tom Queally asked the filly for her effort over a furlong from home and she responded with a good burst of speed that her rivals could not match. She ran out a comfortable winner by two and a quarter lengths.

Her Majesty the Queen then became the first reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup when her runner Estimate (7/2f), trained by Sir Michael Stoute, took the prize. The filly had a real battle with Simenon and Top Trip in the final furlong and just prevailed by a neck. The result gave great delight to Her Majesty and she received the Gold Cup, which she usually presents, from her son Prince Andrew, Duke of York.

Bookmakers got some respite in the Britannia Stakes after paying out on some well-backed horse in the earlier races because Roca Tumu was the winner at 20/1. Tariki (33/1), Queensberry Rules (16/1), and Wentworth (7/2f) filled the places in behind.

But the bookies suffered again in the Tercentenary Stakes when the strongly fancied Remote (9/4f) took the honours for John Gosden and William Buick. At the start of June Remote was winning a Class 2 Handicap at Doncaster and before that a maiden stakes at Newbury.

Her Majesty was not able to make it a double on the day as favourite Bold Sniper was unable to get to the winner Elidor (20/1) (Mick Channon) in the King George V Stakes. Elidor gave jockey Martin Harley his first Royal Ascot winner and he showed his elation as he passed the winning post.

Surprisingly, the award for nonsense phrase of the day on Channel 4 Racing went not to Brix Smith but Clare Balding for her assertion that “you cannot predict history” in the aftermath of the Queen’s Gold Cup win.

Royal Ascot 2013: Day 2

Day two of Royal Ascot began in the same manner as the first day with the opening race going to Aidan O’Brien and Ballydoyle. This time it was Gale Force Ten (9/2f) in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes, showing great resilience to win by a head from Montiridge (15/2) for Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes.

The newly named Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (formerly the Windsor Forest Stakes) went the way of Duntle (10/3) for David Wachman. There was no sentimental win for Lady Cecil’s Chigun (11/4f) who finished back in sixth.

Jockey James Doyle rode his first Royal Ascot winner in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes – not a bad way to start – aboard Al Kazeem (11/4). Doyle was quickly alert to the threat from Paul Hanagan aboard Mukhadram (14/1) who had stolen an easy lead on his rivals and was trying to steal the race from the front. But Al Kazeem gradually caught up to him and was ahead by a neck at the line.

Doyle then immediately doubled his tally of Royal Ascot winners by following up in the Royal Hunt Cup aboard Belgian Bill (33/1) with Premio Loco (40/1) in second.

The jockey completed an amazing 891/1 treble by riding Rizeena (6/1) to victory in the Queen Mary Stakes for Clive Brittain.

"I'd have taken one [win] but three is unbelievable!" the delighted Doyle told Channel 4 Racing.

The concluding handicap for fillies, the Sandringham Handicap, went to Annecdote (11/1) in a close four-way finish. The win gave trainer Jonathan Portman his first victory at the Royal meeting. Ed Dunlop's Auction (16/1) was the runner-up by a neck with Woodland Aria (7/1) a further neck back in third.

Royal Ascot 2013: Day 1

Declaration Of War (15/2) for Aidan O'Brien won the opening Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot as the favourite Animal Kingdom failed to get involved in the Group 1 contest.

Joseph O'Brien had trouble in running on the winner and had to wait for a gap to emerge in the runners in front of him but got to the lead with relative ease in the end.

Roger Varian's Aljamaaheer (8/1) and John Gosden's Gregorian (16/1) finished second and third.

Bookmakers had been keen to lay Animal Kingdom immediately before the race and his price drifted from even money out to 11/8. He ran keenly early on and then faded quickly as the pace quickened.

Speaking to Channel 4 Racing after the race trainer Graham Motion suggested Animal Kingdom would now be retired.

Winning trainer O'Brien explained his charge had progressed well after the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury (when fifth) and he was delighted with the victory.

Sole Power (8/1) blasted his way to victory in the King's Stand Stakes over five furlongs, beating South African raider Shea Shea (11/4f) by a neck. It was a late, devastating burst of speed from Sole Power in the final furlong that saw him overhaul the favourite, who was well clear in his 'race' of the runners on the far side of the track.

The St James's Palace Stakes went to a photo between Dawn Approach (5/4f) and Toronado (5/1) after the two rivals had an epic battle down the home straight. Dawn Approach prevailed by just a nose from Richard Hannon's colt.

Just as in the Epsom Derby, Dawn Approach pulled hard again in the early stages but Kevin Manning managed to get him under control this time and he battled hard to see off Toronado. There was some serious bumping and interference in the last furlong which affected both horses and Richard Hughes might have felt his horse would have won without it.

Speaking afterwards Sheikh Mohammed said Dawn Approach's win confirmed for him that he is the best mile horse in the world. Trainer Jim Bolger said he knew his colt would not let him down on this occasion.

Aidan O'Brien was victorious again when War Command (20/1) won the Coventry Stakes by a comfortable six length margin from Parbold (16/1) and Sir John Hawkins (6/1). War Command looked to be the stable's third choice of its three runners, at least by betting, but belied his odds to win impressively.

Well Sharp (9/1) denied Lady Cecil's Tiger Cliff (4/1f) a win in the Ascot Stakes. The victory gave Jonjo O'Neill, a trainer more known for his jumps successes, his second Royal Ascot winner.

Johnny Murtagh completed 152/1 double when Extortionist (16/1) won the closing Windsor Castle Stakes, following up on his win earlier aboard Sole Power.

It was a good day for the Irish.

Racing Preview: Royal Ascot 2013

Royal Ascot 2013 begins with Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby and the 2013 Dubai World Cup, aiming for victory in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.

Graham Motion’s 5-year-old is as short as even money for the contest, largely as a result of the lack of perceived serious competition amongst his rivals. Paddy Power is offering to pay money back on all losers if Animal Kingdom wins, so one way to play it would be to look for an each-way selection at bigger prices such as Elusive Kate (John Gosden) or Trade Storm (David Simcock). Under Paddy Power’s offer, if Animal Kingdom does win then the win part of the each-way bet will be refunded, whilst you would pick up the place bet winnings if the selection makes second or third place.

Shea Shea, trained by South African Mike De Kock, has travelled over for the King’s Stand Stakes after a successful spell at Meydan, Dubai earlier in the year. Kingsgate Native, Swiss Spirit, Reckless Abandon and Sole Power all contested the Temple Stakes at Haydock last month but the places could be reversed here.

Jim Bolger’s Dawn Approach is 6/4 favourite for the St James’s Palace Stakes as the colt goes back to a mile after his antics in the Epsom Derby last time. He had several of his rivals well behind him in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket – including Glory Awaits and Toronado – and his nearest rival in the betting, Magician, reportedly had a minor setback last week.

Betting Offers

Betfair: Cash back specials on selection finishing second to Shea Shea in the King’s Stand Stakes

Paddy Power: Money back on all losers if Animal Kingdom wins the Queen Anne Stakes

Skybet: Paying four places on the King’s Stand Stakes and Windsor Castle Stakes

*terms and conditions apply to all offers

Sir Henry Cecil: 1943 – 2013

Few of us will get the chance to go out at the top, not least because few of us will ever reach the top. We will simply bumble along in mediocrity, decline, and then stop.

The fact that Sir Henry Cecil died not only when he was at the top of his profession but also when he had just seen Frankel, the best racehorse of a generation, successfully into retirement after an unbeaten career afforded the end of his life a dignity and completeness that his achievements deserved.

Sir Henry was often viewed as a dandy, immaculately turned out at the racecourse, a man of refinement. But there must have been steel core to the man who had to endure personal tragedy and severe health problems but still had the fire to haul his professional career back from the deepest depths up to the glorious heights.

The sadness came from seeing Sir Henry’s physical decline mirrored against the imposing strength of Frankel as the two stood side-by-side in the winner’s enclosure last season.

Brough Scott’s recent biography of the 10-time champion trainer is sitting on my table waiting to be read. With Sir Henry’s passing it will be read with a greater sense of poignancy and emotion now.

It will be a Royal Ascot tinged with sadness next week.

Sir Henry Cecil:
Training career: 1969 – 2013
Champion trainer 10 times
75 Royal Ascot winners
4 Derby wins, 8 Oaks wins
Trainer of Frankel, 14 races unbeaten, including 2000 Guineas, St James’ Palace Stakes, Champion Stakes

The Horse In Art

Racing and the racehorse have long been a fertile subject matter for artists. One up and coming equine artist in this field is Nichola Eddery and she is due to display an exhibition of her work at the Osborne Studio Gallery from 18 June 2013 – 5 July 2013 just as Royal Ascot begins.

Find out more about the artist’s portfolio and the exhibition here:

http://www.nicholaeddery.co.uk/

http://www.osg.uk.com/index.shtml

Newmarket Qipco Guineas Meeting Review

The firm ground ensured some fast times were recorded by several winners over the two days of the Qipco Guineas meeting at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course.

Sole Power (7/2 jf), trained by Edward Lynam, powered to a time of 57 seconds for the five furlongs in the Group 3 Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes.

Kevin Ryan’s Hamza (5/1 jf) was simply too quick for his rivals in the six furlong Harbour Watch Handicap and he made every yard of the running under Neil Callan to win by 2 ¾ lengths in a time of 1 minute 10 seconds.

The trainer was also delighted by the run of Glory Awaits, who finished second at 150/1 in the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

There was a celestial connection in the names of the Guineas winners with Dawn Approach (Jim Bolger) winning the 2000 Guineas and Sky Lantern (Richard Hannon) the 1000 Guineas. Sky Lantern’s victory gave jockey Richard Hughes with his first British Classic winner.

Aidan O’Brien’s Moth finished third in the 1000 Guineas, showing on the racecourse some of the potential connections knew she had. As a result, the Galileo filly is now just 7/2 for the Epsom Oaks at the end of May.

Mark Johnston’s Windhoek looks a fine horse and is now unbeaten in three races after taking the Listed Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes. The colt was successful in the 200,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy over the same course and distance in April. The colt holds an entry for the Betfred Dante Stakes at York in a couple of weeks, as well as for the King Edward VII Stakes (Royal Ascot) and Sandown's Coral-Eclipse in July.

The appropriately named Talent won the Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies. Ralph Beckett’s filly is sired by New Approach and could certainly be one to follow during the season. She holds entries in the Epsom Oaks (Group 1), the Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2 ) at Royal Ascot, and the Irish Oaks (Group 1).

Qipco British Champions Series - Fantasy Racing Game

There is still plenty of time to submit a stable for the Daily Telegraph's Fantasy Racing game, which runs throughout the Qipco British Champions Series over the summer.

The game begins on Saturday 4 May with the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and finishes on Saturday 19 October with Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot.

Over the six months the Qipco British Champions Series takes in the 2000 and 1000 Guineas, the Yorkshire Cup at York, the Epsom Derby and Oaks, seven races at the Royal Ascot Meeting, and the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, to name but a few.

Enter the competition here: http://fantasyracing.telegraph.co.uk/

Flat Or Jumps?

Horseracing in the UK is divided into two ‘codes’ or types: flat racing and jump racing (also called National Hunt racing).

Most horseracing enthusiasts have a preference for one code or another and each code has its own characteristics.

In theory flat racing is the summer racing code and jump racing is a winter sport. But with the advent of all-weather flat racing at tracks like Wolverhampton, Southwell, Lingfield, and Kempton and summer jumps racing, the reality is that both codes now take place year-round. It is, however, still generally the case that the most valuable (measured by prize money) flat races take place during the ‘summer’ (April to October) whilst the most valuable jumps races take place in the ‘winter’ (November to April).

Flat racing is characterised by:
• Speed
• Glamour
• Warm summer days

Flat races take place from a minimum distance of five furlongs (5f) (a furlong equates to about 200 metres, or 1/8th of a mile) up to 2 miles 5 furlongs 159 yard for the Queen Alexandra Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting in June.

Breeding and bloodstock are a more influential aspect of flat racing than they are in jump racing. A successful horse on the flat can be retired to stud duties as young as four years of age, or after just three seasons’ racing.

For example, Frankel, the wonder horse of the current generation, ran 14 times in his racing career between 13 August 2010 and 20 October 2012 (winning them all) before being retired to stud duties. It was announced in March 2013 that German filly Danedream (winner of the 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France) is in foal to Frankel. The fee to have Frankel mate with or ‘cover’ your filly is GB£ 125,000.

So it is easy to appreciate why the owners of good flat horses wish to retire them to stud rather than risk an injury or a tarnished reputation by prolonging their careers.

Important races in the UK Flat racing season include: the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas (Newmarket), the Derby (Epsom Downs) the Oaks (Epsom Downs), the St James’ Palace Stakes (Royal Ascot), Prince of Wales’ Stakes (Royal Ascot), and the St Leger (Doncaster).

Jump racing is characterised by:
• An emphasis on stamina and jumping ability rather than speed (by comparison to the flat)
• Association with the countryside pursuits such as hunting
• Cold, crisp winter’s afternoons

Jump races can be over hurdles or the bigger fences (steeplechase races) and range from two miles to four miles plus (like the Grand National at Aintree which is 4 miles and four furlongs).

There are even flat races run under the jumps code called National Hunt Flat races or ‘bumpers’.
There is less emphasis on breeding in the jumping code. This means that good horses have longer racing careers and can return for several consecutive seasons to contest the same races. The benefit of a longer career is that racing enthusiasts get to know a horse and a favoured horse can develop quite a following amongst the race-going public.

In the jumping code the Cheltenham Festival, held over four days in mid-March, has become the focal point of the season. Almost as soon as the season gets properly underway in November there will be talk of which horses will go to Cheltenham and which race they will contest. But there are, of course, other valuable races throughout the season such as: the Paddy Power Gold Cup (Cheltenham), the Lancashire Chase (Haydock Park), The Hennessy Gold Cup Chase (Newbury), the Tingle Creek Steeple Chase (Sandown Park), the King George VI Steeple Chase (Kempton Park), and of course the Grand National Steeple Chase (Aintree).

Royal Ascot Raises The Stakes

Ascot racecourse has announced that total prize money to be won at the Royal meeting in June 2013 will reach £5 million for the first time. There is now a minimum prize pool of £60,000 across all races at the five-day Royal meeting.

On the Tuesday the St James’ Palace Stakes now has prize money of £350,000, an increase of £100,000 from 2012, whilst the Coventry Stakes has risen from £85,000 to £120,000 in 2013.

The Windsor Forest Stakes has been renamed the Duke of Cambridge Stakes and has had the prize money increased by £25,000 to £125,000.

On the Friday the Coronation Stakes is also now worth £350,000.

The Diamond Jubilee Stakes remains the most valuable race at the Royal Ascot meeting with a prize pool of £500,000.

Charles Barnett, Chief Executive at Ascot, explained:
“We have worked hard to make the international races competitive globally in recent years and our focus this year has been to enhance the top three-year-old races, the feature handicaps, the two-year-old championships and the programme generally. It is very important to us to have a significant minimum amount on offer, and we have set that at £60,000.”

“We have seen some remarkable racing at Ascot in recent years and whilst the importance of winning at Royal Ascot both in terms of prestige and in value to the bloodstock industry can't be denied, increasing prize money is equally crucial to attracting the best horses to run in a highly competitive market.”