Tag Archive for: Tips

More Oaks glory beckons for Minnie Hauk

Minnie Hauk can be expected to swoop on yet more prey to claim York’s Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

Aidan O’Brien’s daughter of Frankel has proved tough as teak this season and took her winning run to four when adding to her Oaks success at Epsom in the Irish equivalent last month.

Having worn down high-class stablemate Whirl – herself a dual Group one scorer since – late in the day at Epsom, Minnie Hauk again showed her staying prowess when doubling her Classic tally at the Curragh.

With O’Brien holding all the aces in this Group One he has won nine times, Minnie Hauk is his trump card and it is difficult to see any of her rivals having both the class and resolve to outlast this outstanding filly up the Knavesmire’s long home straight.

She can add a third Oaks of the year here and begin dreams of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory for her ever-dominant team.

The action begins with a red-hot renewal of the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes where the intertwining form lines of the six-furlong juvenile division will be put to the test.

Ed Walker’s Royal Fixation and Tim Easterby’s Argentine Tango both represent the high-class Venetian Sun form from Newmarket’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, with the latter – who would be a popular local winner – also chasing home Nunthorpe favourite Lady Iman at Goodwood.

However, it was hard not to be impresses with the way America Queen breezed her way to victory on debut at Haydock last month in the manner of an ultra-smart animal.

Holes can easily be picked in the form of that race, but judged on visuals, Richard Hughes’ youngster was one of the most impressive of the season to date and with Ryan Moore booked to take the ride a bold bid is predicted.

Clive Cox is the man to follow in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs where Song Of The Clyde can follow in the footsteps of Dragon Leader and Diligently to land the huge bounty for a third year in a row.

Yet to be dipped into deep waters, the Middleham Park Racing-owned colt beat a subsequent winner when opening his account at Chester on his second start and was not asked any serious questions when chasing home Ralph Beckett’s Gimcrack hope Egoli at Newbury most recently.

The owners also run Rod Millman’s Anthelia who is sure to be shorter in the betting following her Super Sprint triumph at Newbury, but while she may have already enjoyed her moment in the sun, there is a chance Song Of The Clyde has his best days ahead of him.

Remmooz enjoyed stepping up to a mile when scoring over course and distance last month and looks good value for just a 4lb raise in the Clipper Handicap.

The only defeat of his career has come when a respectable fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and it would be no surprise to see Owen Burrows’ colt return to stakes company before the year is out.

Paddy Twomey’s Irish raider Bonus Time is another progressive performer to keep onside in the British EBF Fillies’ Handicap after scooping a valuable prize at Naas at the beginning of the month.

SELECTIONS:

CHELMSFORD: 5.30 Harswell Duke, 6.00 Isambard Kingdom, 6.30 Parole Officer, 7.00 Reliable Ricki, 7.30 Brother Dave, 8.00 Invincible Love, 8.30 Poetic Jack, 9.00 Pebble Island.

KILLARNEY: 4.32 Urgent Whisper, 5.07 Bowensonfire, 5.37 Emily Love, 6.07 What’s Up Darling, 6.37 Gaelic Des Chastys, 7.07 Pride Of Place, 7.37 Wonleg, 8.07 Max Goodwin.

LINGFIELD: 2.00 Merci Monsieur, 2.35 Mezcala, 3.10 So Sassy, 3.45 Fram Castle, 4.20 Harpsichord, 4.55 Sugar Kane.

LEOPARDSTOWN: 4.50 Josh’s Joy, 5.25 Saxon Grace, 5.55 Clever And Classy, 6.25 Defiantly, 6.55 Colpe Cross, 7.25 Take Me, 7.55 Tachos.

NEWCASTLE: 5.45 Road To Wembley, 6.15 Ribble Vibe, 6.45 Bragbor, 7.15 Streets Of Gold, 7.45 Pixie Diva, 8.15 Believe The Storm, 8.45 Arctic Voyage

NEWTON ABBOT: 2.10 Three Pikes, 2.45 Lady Henrietta, 3.20 Cave Article, 3.55 Hope Rising, 4.25 Fringill Dike, 5.00 Faded Fantasy, 5.35 Magic Seven.

YORK: 1.50 America Queen, 2.25 SONG OF THE CLYDE (NAP), 3.00 Remmooz, 3.35 Minnie Hauk, 4.10 Alice Monet, 4.45 Ballistic Missile, 5.20 Bonus Time.

DOUBLE: Song Of The Clyde and Bonus Time.

Cinderella’s time for the spotlight

Cinderella’s Dream can reverse Royal Ascot form and claim Group One glory in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

The Godolphin runner found the reopposing Crimson Advocate just under two lengths too good in last month’s Duke of Cambridge Stakes but there are valid reasons to think she can turn that verdict around.

Firstly, Charlie Appleby’s charge was conceding 3lb to the winner that day and they are off level weights this time, while jockey William Buick also felt a straight track is a better fit for this daughter of Shamardal.

Cinderella’s Dream had previously impressed over nine furlongs in the Dahlia Stakes on the Rowley Mile course and while she is at a weights disadvantage with the likes of January, it has been honours even between the older fillies and the three-year-olds over the last 20 years so perhaps that is not too much of an obstacle to overcome.

Appleby and Buick also have an eyecatching newcomer later on the card as €1.9million breeze-up buy Distant Storm makes his racecourse bow in the Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes.

Venetian Sun was very impressive in victory at Ascot and trainer Karl Burke follows a familiar route by now tackling the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

Burke successfully took this route with Dandalla in 2020 and while Venetian Sun did not match that filly’s six-length verdict in the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting, her one-and-a-half-length win was more than good enough.

Having won on debut at Carlisle – beating Argentine Tango who tries her luck again – Burke headed to Ascot with plenty of confidence and Venetian Sun justified that faith with a comfortable verdict that hinted at much more to come.

Story Horse can gain compensation for the narrowest of defeats last time by landing the bet365 Trophy.

A short-head winner on the Rowley Mile at the Guineas meeting, he then clashed with French Master at Goodwood at the end of May, beaten just a neck.

The winner gave a huge boost to the form when landing the Copper Horse Stakes at Ascot and Story Horse should have every chance of adding his own flourish.

Nighteyes can emerge best in a really classy renewal of the William Hill Summer Stakes at York.

She outran her 100-1 odds to finish fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last month, beaten just over four lengths by impressive winner Lazzat.

David O’Meara’s charge had plenty to find on the ratings that day and a similar effort should see her involved in the finish here.

Ghaiyya can bring up her hat-trick in the Investec Out Of The Ordinary EBF Fillies’ Handicap at Ascot.

Stepping up to a mile and a half has been the making of this Ghaiyyath filly, with victories at Thirsk and Chester in recent weeks, and a 4lb rise may not be enough to stop her.

SELECTIONS

ASCOT: 2.00 Lady Of Arabia, 2.35 Better And Better, 3.10 Sea Force, 3.45 Ghaiyya, 4.20 Ride The Thunder, 4.55 Fast Track Harry.

CHEPSTOW: 5.35 Happy Chandler, 6.10 Blooming Legend, 6.40 Miakoda, 7.10 Abundance, 7.40 Ajrad, 8.10 Darkened Edge, 8.40 Douglas Dc.

CHESTER: 5.55 Steel Drum, 6.25 Wicksey, 6.55 Annsar, 7.25 Brielle, 7.55 Love Beach, 8.25 Never Dark, 8.55 Petra Celera.

CORK: 5.12 Speakasyoufind, 5.45 Harry’s Legacy, 6.15 Prince Of Air, 6.45 Killinure Lass, 7.15 Empire Succes, 7.45 Tag Man, 8.15 Beir Bua.

KILBEGGAN: 4.25 Eye Of A Tiger, 5.00 Saint Peregrine, 5.30 Boston Rajj, 6.00 Freddie Robdal, 6.30 To The Wire, 7.00 County Champs, 7.30 Flash De Touzaine, 8.00 Luckinthecity.

NEWMARKET: 1.50 Marharba Ghaiyyath, 2.25 VENETIAN SUN (NAP), 3.00 Story Horse, 3.35 Cinderella’s Dream, 4.10 Distant Storm, 4.45 Leadman, 5.20 Nogo’s Dream.

YORK: 2.10 Sword, 2.45 Nighteyes, 3.20 Secret Echo, 3.55 Yokohama, 4.32 Perfidia, 5.07 Brazen Bolt, 5.40 Sir Edward Lear.

DOUBLE: Venetian Sun and Nighteyes.