British champions series - fantasy racing 2015

A mixed bag of results for our stable at Goodwood last week.

In the Qatar Sussex Stakes trainer Richard Fahey did well for us by earning 220 points for Gabrial's (50/1) third place.

In the same race Andrea Atzeni and Arod (6/1) earned 43 points for their second place.

It was bits and pieces in the Qatar Goodwood Cup - Graham Lee 40 points aboard Trip To Paris (5/1) and 10s and 20s for our other jockeys and trainers.

The Qatar Nassau Stakes only yielded 35 points in total.

But going into August we have passed 2,700 points and are just outside the top 300. Next up are four races at the York August festival.

Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival - Pick 6

The stakes have been raised for Friday's Pick 6 on York's evening card. There is now GB£ 10,000 to win for choosing the six winners.

It would be good to still be in the contest after the first race but it looks a tricky card, certainly more so than Sandown and Catterick earlier in the week.

18.00 Deerfield - 11/4
18.30 Mon Brav - 6/1
19.00 Mohab - 15/8
19.30 Pamona - 3/1
20.00 He's No Saint - 7/1
20.30 Luis Vaz De Torres - 11/2

British champions series: fantasy racing 2014

In an effort to move up the leaderboard we were trying to use our stable changes to get more horse-jockey-trainer combinations as our winning selections to earn the most points we could at York and beyond.

The plan worked beautifully in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday when Tapestry won (90 points), ridden by Ryan More (29 points) and trained by Aidan O'Brien (34 points). One of our stables had all three selected, earning over 150 points.

Richard Hughes was a good source of points too - earning over 60 points in combination with The Grey Gatsby for coming second to Australia in the Juddmonte International Stakes and 77 points for winning the Nunthorpe Stakes aboard Sole Power.

Our leading stable has now earned more than 2,000 points, whilst the other is approaching 1,800. But large leaps up the leaderboard are still eluding us.

Ebor 2013: Tiger Earns His Ebor Stripes

The TV cameras caught a definite puff of the cheeks from Tom Queally just after the winning post in the Ebor, as if to say ‘Phew! That was close.’ The jockey had just steered Tiger Cliff (5/1) to victory in the valuable heritage handicap but it had looked unlikely with just a few furlongs to go.

Tiger Cliff was still several lengths behind the leaders with two furlongs left to run. But Queally kept urging his partner onwards and hit the front with just a few strides left. The winning margin was half a length.

By contrast, Genzy (second at 11/1) perhaps hit the lead too soon and left himself open to just such a late attack as was launched by the winner.

Persistent, heavy overnight rain had softened the ground on the Knavesmire and resulted in a number of non-runners, reducing the field to 14. But softer ground was no concern to Lady Cecil’s gelding:
“He handled the ground well. We were happy to see the rain,” Queally said afterwards. “He always finishes he races well.”

The four-year-old has only raced seven times, which is not many for a gelding of his age. Indeed, he never saw the racecourse as a two-year-old, a product of Sir Henry Cecil’s patience and insistence on letting the horse tell him when he was ready. That patience was rewarded today.

Ebor 2013: Jwala Joy For Drowne

Jockey Steve Drowne continued his climb back up the professional ranks with victory in the valuable Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes aboard Jwala (40/1) at York’s Ebor Festival on Friday.

Drowne was forced to give up his jockey’s licence for over a year whilst a heart virus, which caused him dizzy spells, went undiagnosed.

But he showed that he is getting back to his best with a well-timed ride on Robert Cowell’s four-year-old in Friday’s feature race. He hit the front inside the final furlong and held off the fast-finishing Shea Shea (3/1f) and Sole Power (4/1).

Godolphin had had a quiet meeting until today but roared back with a hat-trick of wins. First up was Ahzeemah (4/1) in the Lonsdale Cup who had a ding-dong battle with Simenon (15/8f) over the final furlongs and won by just a head.

This win was followed by City Style (9/1) in the Strensall Stakes and Golden Town (4/1) in the 7f maiden stakes (16.20). All three were ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, giving the jockey a nice 249/1 treble.

Trainer David O’Meara added to yesterday’s tally by taking the opening staying handicap (13.55) with Chancery (7/1). The gelding was always travelling well and looked the likely winner a long way from home.

The Betfred Ebor Heritage Handicap is the betting highlight on the final day of the festival. There weather forecast is changeable overnight and it will pay to see how the ground changes and what happens in the earlier races on the card.

Ebor 2013: Ladies’ Day

The Fugue (2/1f) bounced back to form in the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, winning impressively from Venus de Milo (9/4) by four lengths.

John Gosden’s filly finished seventh of seven in the Coral-Eclipse last time out and suffered from an illness after the race which may have caused her poor run that day. But she was back to her best today on the fast going that she enjoys.

Speaking afterwards, her trainer said: "I'm happy for her as I thought she'd get very near to the colts in the Eclipse but she was very ill afterwards and that wasn't her running.”

Another smart filly is George Margarson’s Lucky Kristale (5/2jf) who quickened very well in the final furlongs to win the Group 2 Lowther Stakes. The two-year-old overcame the weight penalty she carried for winning the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) at Newmarket’s July meeting. Her only remaining entry this season is the Cheveley Park Stakes at the end of September but she was already being given quotes of around 25/1 for next year’s 1,000 Guineas.

Mont Ras (25/1) made every yard of the running in the mile handicap (15.05) and none of his rivals could get close enough to mount a serious challenge. It was a high-profile success for apprentice jockey David Bergin, claiming 5lbs.

Mont Ras’ trainer David O’Meara is having an excellent season, already having passed 100 winners, and the hot streak continued with victory for Dutch Rose (8/1) under Kieren Fallon in the closing fillies’ handicap (16.55).

Fallon had a good battle with Richard Hughes aboard Indignant (8/1) in the final strides and just prevailed by a neck. Dutch Rose made all the running to win this same race here last year and was always prominently positioned in this year’s renewal too.

Trainer William Haggas also had a good day with wins for Haikbidiac (9/1) in the opening yearling stakes (13.55) and Our Obsession (3/1f) in the fillies’ listed race (16.20).

It is speed to the fore on Friday for the 5 furlong Nunthorpe Stakes. Some familiar names go to post – the likes of Shea Shea (Mike De Kock), Sole Power (Edward Lynam), Kingsgate Native (Robert Cowell), and even Borderlescott (Robin Bastiman) back from retirement.

Ebor 2013: Juddmonte Goes To War

There were some race-hardened battlers in the 2013 running of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York but it was Declaration Of War (7/1) who showed the strength to defeat his rivals.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt was having his seventh race of the season and had already contested some of the season’s hottest races – the likes of the Lockinge Stakes, the Coral-Eclipse, and the Qipco Sussex Stakes. Not two weeks ago he had hopped over to Deauville for the Prix Du Haras De Fresnay Jacques Le Marois (Group 1).

But he showed no signs of fatigue and stayed on well to beat Trading Leather (5/1) and Al Kazeem (11/8f).

Toronado’s (9/4) exertions in beating Dawn Approach at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes at the end of July looked to have taken more out of him than was perhaps apparent. He was soon in trouble trying to keep pace with his rivals in the long home straight and eventually finished a distance last.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope (5/4f) put the disappointment of Haydock behind him by winning the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes in very good style. He seemed to be very keen in the early stages but jockey Ryan Moore said afterwards it was more to do with his long stride than any particular keenness that means he has to try and hold him in check.

It was the first part of a double for Moore, who also won aboard Clive Brittain’s Bahamian Heights (12/1) in the closing nursery race (16.55).

Telescope’s victory also marked Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s 400th winner, which is a fine achievement for the racing syndicate.

The opening sprint handicap on the card (13.55) gave a welcome win for Kevin Ryan’s Bogart (7/1). On his last run at York in July the saddle had slipped on him and gave jockey Amy Ryan an horrific high-speed fall. Ridden today by Neil Callan while Amy recovers, there was no such drama as he sprinted up the stands side to win from Goldream (9/1). It was good to see Amy in the winner’s enclosure to applaud him back.

The fillies take centre stage in Thursday with the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) over 1 mile 4f. John Gosden’s The Fugue is favourite but faces some younger rivals in the shape of Epsom Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture and Riposte, winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Racing Preview: York’s Ebor Festival

York’s Ebor Festival begins on Wednesday and provides four days of good racing and entertainment.

Wednesday’s card includes the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) and Sir Michael Stoute’s much vaunted Telescope is favourite. The colt was beaten by a length in the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park last time when 4/9f.

In the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes Al Kazeem faces five rivals in his bid to go five races unbeaten this season.

Roger Charlton’s horse has already won three Group One races this season: the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1), the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1), and the Coral-Eclipse (Group 1).

His rivals include Toronado, winner of the Qipco Sussex Stakes last time, and Irish Derby winner Trading Leather.

The rest of the week features the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup, Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes, and the Betfred Ebor Heritage Handicap.

Telegraph Fantasy Racing Update

Glorious Goodwood was not that ‘glorious’ for our fantasy racing stables. This was mainly because we completely forgot to make selections in the Sussex Stakes and Goodwood Cup, which didn’t help our points tally. So we have slipped to around 4,100th and 14,000th with our two stables.

But it is onwards to York next week for the Ebor meeting and there are four races in the Qipco British Champions Series to be tackled. Before then we also have the chance to make a few changes to our underperforming jockeys and/or trainers.

Horse Tales Of The Unexpected

A variety of events on the racetrack on Saturday afternoon should serve as a valuable lesson to any gambler that no matter how much form study you do, how many race videos you watch, how diligently you compile your speed stats, when you place a bet you do so with no more realistic chance of knowing what is going to happen than knowing what lies in the centre of a black hole.

In the opening handicap race on Haydock’s card Classic Colori (10/1) came to challenge the leader, and favourite, Albaqaa in the last 200 metres. It looked like Classic Colori would pass the favourite and go on to win the race. That was until apprentice jockey David Bergin first dropped his whip and then mistook the half furlong marker for the winning post, stopped riding, and began easing his horse up. Classic Colori was only beaten by a head, much to the frustration of its backers and to the relief of favourite backers as Albaqaa held on to win.

Then in the very next race at York the appropriately named Mad Moose refused to race (RR). He went into the starting stalls but when they opened he simply ambled forwards a few paces then rooted himself to the spot. Mildly amusing to see but, again, not if he was carrying your money.

Mad Moose’s form figures this calendar year read: 2 RR RR 1 2 RR. But with his prices of 50/1, 28/1 and 20/1 when he does complete a race, you would be comfortably in profit if you backed him each way on all six runs this year.

Then back at Haydock Van Percy looked certain to be an unlucky loser when he was boxed in on the rails and unable to find a gap to get out. A gap appeared in the last five strides and jockey Cathy Gannon made one late last lunge to get her mount up by a nose.

It would have been hard to predict such a manner of victory beforehand and was owed in large part to good fortune. Similarly if you had backed Mark Johnston’s Blue Wave (9/1) to grind out a battling win from the front (as he had done on his last two wins – the notes both read ‘made all’) you were correct for every stride of the 1 mile 3 furlong 200 yard race, bar the last one.

The events that unfurl between starting stalls and winning post often lie beyond the prediction of the mortal mind.

Racing Preview: York Dante Meeting

The Dante Meeting takes place over three days from 15 – 17 May 2013 at York racecourse, also known as the Knavesmire.

As well as being a very enjoyable early summer Flat meeting, the three days’ racing at York provides some useful clues to the upcoming Classics races at Epsom in June, namely the Oaks and the Derby.

The two key trials races at the Dante Meeting are the Betfred Dante Stakes for three-year-old colts and the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes for three-year-old fillies. Both are run over 1 mile 2 furlongs and act as trials for the Epsom Derby and Oaks respectively.

The Dante Stakes has proved a good trial for the Epsom Derby and several recent winners have gone on from York to win at Epsom in June, including North Light (2004), Motivator (2005), and Authorized (2007).

2012 Dante winner Bonfire finished sixth in the Epsom Derby, whilst Carlton House was third in 2011, and Tartan Bearer (2008) finished second to New Approach.

For 2013’s running of the Dante it was expected that Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope would feature prominently because the colt was a leading contender for the Epsom Derby. But on Tuesday Telescope was withdrawn from the Betfred Dante Stakes after suffering a minor infection in some cuts on his legs.

Eight horses remain in Thursday’s race including Aidan O’Brien’s Indian Chief. The trainer has been winning many of the Epsom Derby trial races. Mark Johnston’s unbeaten Windhoek is also still in the line up.

Away from the Epsom trial races, another highlight of the Dante Meeting at York is the Qipco Yorkshire Cup, a Group 2 race for Flat staying horses over 1 mile 6 furlongs. The Yorkshire Cup is part of the Qipco British Champions Series.

O’Brien Dominates Derby Trials

In the months before the Epsom Derby, which takes place over 1 mile 4 furlongs, 10 yards on Saturday 1 June 2013 there is a number of races which act as trials for the Classic race and help sort out which horses may or may not take their place in the starting stalls at Epsom.

In 2013 the recognised trials races have been dominated by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Derby contenders.

In mid-April Battle Of Marengo won the Ballysax Stakes over 1 mile 2 furlongs at Leopardstown and O’Brien has subsequently won the Chester Vase (1m 4f 110y) with Ruler Of The World, the Dee Stakes (Chester) (1m 2f 110y with Magician, and the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (1m 4f) with Nevis.

Later this afternoon Battle Of Marengo will contest the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, which will reveal more about his Derby credentials.

Still to come next week is a key Derby trial in the form of the Dante Stakes at York (1m 2f 110y).

Of course, winning the trials does not mean you win the Derby and there is certainly a question about the quality of competition in the trial races and the relevance of Derby trials in the modern racing calendar.

Despite all of these winners for Aidan O’Brien, Jim Bolger’s Dawn Approach, winner of May’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, remains 13/8 favourite with William Hill for the Epsom Derby.