ADVISED FRIDAY NIGHT 26th JULY
Racecourse & Time
York – 14:05
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Starlight Romance
Current Odds:
9/1 Boylesports else 8/1 generally, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Starlight Romance is better off at weights with Get Knotted to the tune of 4lbs on their meeting in this race last season. That weight advantage can help Starlight Romance return to winning ways after hitting the bar with a nose defeat to Agincourt over course and distance in May. Seven furlongs is her best trip and the forecast of heavy showers possibly changing the ground to soft will not prevent her from winning if bringing her “A” game.
Racecourse & Time
York – 14:40
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Golden Apollo
Current Odds:
11/1 William Hill 5 places else 11/1 Betvictor 4 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
The forecast is for rain and that will not trouble Golden Apollo too much so long as the ground remains soft or better. He ran really well in this race last season when drawn in stall 1. This year he is drawn high in stall 14 with pace close by thanks to Flying Pursuit and Dakota Gold. His form this season has been a bit hot and cold with the result he races from a 4lb lower mark than when touched off by Flying Pursuit last season. Golden Apollo ran very well when third to Gulliver over course and distance last month with the softer going in his favour tomorrow.
Racecourse & Time
York – 14:40
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Dakota Gold
Current Odds:
14/1 generally, look for bookies paying 5 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Flying Pursuit whom we backed last year was high on the list but has been heavily backed all day and is too short now. Instead we back Dakota Gold who arrives here fresh and well following his seasonal appearance at Newcastle last month when racing over 5 furlongs. The key is for this tricky customer to settle well and break good as he might just get things his own way up front . The draw in stall 9 gives his jockey Conor Beasley options depending on the ground. Dakota Gold looks well treated on a mark of 96 and we know he likes his quick course having won and finished second albeit two seasons ago. Dakota Gold is worth a chance at double the odds of Flying Pursuit.
Racecourse & Time
Ascot – 15:00
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Ripp Orf
Current Odds:
11/1 Paddy Power and Betfair SB both 6 places else 10/1 William Hill 7 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Ripp Orf is a course specialist with two wins a second and third from five Ascot runs. He ran a cracker in the Bunbury Cup over this trip where they split into two groups and the far group edged it. Ripp Orf finished off his race well enough that day however trainer David Elsworth runs Ripp Orf in a first time tongue tie here. Hayley Turner is back in the plate and enjoys a great partnership with this horse. A rating of 93 is good with the handicapper giving him a chance as he started the season rated 5lbs higher off 98. Last season, Ripp Orf finished a close third off a pound lower mark and later that year landed the Cunard handicap over course and distance. He is a reliable enough sort and it’s a case of horses for courses as we saw with Tis Marvellous winning at Ascot a few weeks ago.
Racecourse & Time
Ascot – 15:00
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Island Of Life
Current Odds:
20/1 William Hill 7 places else 20/1 generally look for bookies paying 6 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Island Of Life had been totally ignored by the betting market but has some pieces of form that give her a good shot of getting involved in this race. Firstly, she is a hold up mare so a big field handicap with plenty of pace up front and a stiff finish should suit her ideally. Her only run at Ascot a year ago when runner up over five furlongs so we know she can handle this course considering most believe her an all-weather horse. The sand based straight course at Ascot is handled well by “all- weather” horses which is a positive. Island of Life was sent off favourite to win at the Lingfield All-Weather finals at Easter.
Island of Life was held up out the back but once into the clear quickened smartly, just failing to reel in the winner who stole the race off the front end. She brings proper pattern form having placed third behind Invincible Army over a trip on the sharp side. Drawn nicely in stall 10 the icing on the cake is the booking of ace 5lb claimer Cieren Fallon reducing her weight to carry from 8-13 to 8-8. Cieran is enjoying a fantastic season with 30 winners chalked up and great value for his claim. Island Of Life is worth chancing to get involved at a massive price.
Racecourse & Time
Ascot – 15:40
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1 Point Win
Name of Horse to Back
Crystal Ocean
Current Odds:
7/2 William Hill else 10/3 Paddy Power and Betfair SB, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
What a race to savour with Sir Michael Stoute holding a potential “ace” thanks to his star horse Crystal Ocean. The mare Enable is the one to beat of course. There are dangers in Waldgeist and the 3yo Derby winner Anthony Van Dyke but in my opinion they need the top two to run below their best which is unlikely. Instead we take a good look at the super mare Enable and Crystal Ocean. Enable enjoys a 3lb sex allowance and arrives off the back of an impressive Eclipse stakes win over magical.
Magical provides a good line of form with Crystal Ocean having finished a length behind Crystal Ocean in the Prince of Wales stakes at the royal meeting over 1m2f. The step up in trip to a mile and a half will suit both horses and there should be little between them on their best form with Crystal Ocean an improved performer this season. The only reason we side with Crystal Ocean is the prices. Crystal Ocean looks too big at 3/1 relative to his chance of winning having hit the front too soon last season losing out to Poet’s Word by a neck.
**Next Update Monday Afternoon 29th July ~13:00
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