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Spectator
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Spectator
Five bets for day one of Royal Ascot
The two staying handicaps on day one of Royal Ascot – the Ascot Stakes and the Copper Horse Stakes – are always among my favourite betting races of the week. In both of today's races, I first look out for a horse that is well handicapped on the flat compared with its hurdles form. Willie Mullins' Poniros most certainly ticks that box having won the JCB Triumph Hurdle at 100-1 before showing that was no fluke being second to his old rival Luamba in the equivalent Grade 1 event at the Punchestown festival early last month. Poniros undoubtedly has a big chance of landing the Ascot Stakes (5 p.m.) but odds of no bigger than 11-2 are too skinny for this competitive 20-runner race, especially given the fact that he can be very keen and so he may not stay this marathon trip of two miles four furlongs. Willie Mullins other runner, Reaching High, is the likely favourite and would be a popular winner as he is owned by the King and Queen, while East India Dock is also still well handicapped on his hurdles form, notably when third to Poniros is the Triumph Hurdle in March. However, once again odds of no bigger than 7-2 on Reaching High and no bigger than 11-2 on East India Dock make little appeal. At double-figure odds, I prefer to back NURBURGRING for the Joseph O'Brien/Colin Keane trainer/jockey combination. This five-year-old gelding has been disappointing a few times on the flat but if he can produce the form of his win in the Galway Hurdle last August, he has a real chance of landing this pot off a flat rating of just 93. Back him 1 point each way at 14-1 with bet365, paying five places. I was tempted to go in double-handed with my old friend Zoffee but, aged nine, he is back to a near career-high flat mark of 94 after his run when third in the Chester Cup early last month. He's also better around Chester's twists and turns than Ascot so, even with the benefit of Oisin Murphy in the saddle, I will resist the temptation to back him too. In the Copper Horse (6.10 p.m.), the horse well handicapped on his hurdles form is the Irish raider JESSE EVANS, trained by Noel Meade. He is nine years old now and shouldn't, in theory, be improving but there was plenty to like about his victory over hurdles last month at Ballinrobe. Oisin Orr takes the ride and so back this horse too, one point each way at 12-1 with bet365, BetVictor or Unibet, all paying five places. Once again, this is a very open betting race. Willie Mullins' runner Charlus has to be respected given he is the Irish maestro's only runner in the race. Father and son training team John and Thady Gosden have an improving four-year-old in the form of French Master and he is likely to go off favourite today while My Mate Mozzie, aided by a 5lb allowance claimed by top apprentice Warren Fentiman, could also be in the shake-up as he was third in this race last year off a similar mark. Of the outsiders, Champagne Prince is well handicapped on turf if he can translate his all-weather form to grass and he has been well supported in the market too. However, I have long been sweet on the chances of CABALLO DE MAR in this race for the George Scott/Callum Shepherd trainer/jockey team. This horse ran a cracker when second to the impossibly-well-handicapped East India Dock in the Chester Cup. That was his only defeat in his last seven starts and since then he has come out and won at Haydock in order to go up a few lbs in the ratings so that he would make the cut for this race. This is a tough and improving four-year-old who might just appreciate a slightly longer trip than this one mile six furlongs. However, back him two points win at 13-2 with 888sport. In the King Charles III Stakes (3.40 p.m.) for the speedsters over five furlongs, Asfoora and Regional, first and second in this contest a year ago, re-oppose and both have strong chances of winning. However, I am going to give AMERICAN AFFAIR one last chance of proving that he is up to this Group 1 class as a sprinter. After a couple of comfortable handicap wins, Jim Goldie's five-year-old gelding was slightly disappointing last time out when only fifth at Haydock in the Group 2 Betfred Temple Stakes. However, he got baulked at a crucial time in that contest. As a hold-up horse, he will always need luck in running especially in this 22-runner race but 1 point each way at 16-1 is the recommendation, those odds are being offered by Ladbrokes, paying four places. But, once again, I am going to go in double-handed in the race with MGHEERA who is unbeaten in her two starts for Ed Walker's high-flying Lambourn yard. As when landing the Temple Stakes at Haydock, she will have William Buick in the saddle. Back her one point each way at 9-1 with Willliam Hill, again paying four places. She is also a hold-up horse so she will need luck in running too. As of Friday, I put up two horses for day one: Docklands each way at 25-1 in the Queen Anne Stakes (2.30 p.m.) and Rashagar each way at 25-1 in the St James's Palaces Stakes (4.20 p.m.). This latter race has cut up to seven runners so the advantage of betting ante-post was to get three places on Brian Meehan's horse not two as now offered by the bookies. The Coventry Stakes (3.05 p.m.) and the Wolferton Stakes (5.05 p.m.) are too hard for me to have a view on but I will be back tomorrow morning with tips for day two of Royal Ascot. Pending: 1 point each way Docklands at 25-1 for the Queen Anne, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 1 point each way American Affair at 16-1 for the King Charles III, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 1 point each way Mgheera at 9-1 for the King Charles III, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 1 point each way Rashabar at 25-1 for the St James's Palace, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 1 point each way Nurburgring at 14-1 for the Ascot Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 1 point each way Jesse Evans at 12-1 for the Copper Horse, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 2 points win Caballo de Mar at 13-2 for the Copper Horse. 1 point each way Spicy Marg at 16-1 for the Queen Mary, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 1 point each way Native Warrior at 50-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. 1 point each way Trawlerman at 8-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 1 point each way Elite Status at 25-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 1 point each way Duke of Oxford at 33-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places. 1 point each way Who's Glen at 16-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places. 2025 flat season running total: – 5 points. 2024-5 jump season: – 47.61 points. 2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips. 2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips. 2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips. 2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Spectator
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Spectator
Bets for Chester and Ascot
Today's Ladbrokes Chester Cup (3.05 p.m.), run over a distance of more than two miles and two furlongs, is an intriguing affair with 15 runners competing for a first prize of more than £86,000. The best handicapped horse on the basis of his hurdles form is the likely favourite East India Dock, who was third in the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March and can run off a lenient official flat mark of 89 today. The slight downsides to his chances are that he is untried at such a marathon trip as this on the flat and he has no experience of the unique twists and turns of Chester. East India Dock is the most likely winner of the race but at odds of 7-2 I am happy to look elsewhere. Hot Fuss, the selection of two top tipsters in Tom Segal (Pricewise in the Racing Post) and Matt Brocklebank ( also ran a cracker at the Cheltenham Festival when fourth, despite being too close to a red-hot pace, in the Fred Winter juvenile handicap hurdle.
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shock Triumph winner Poniros poised for Punchestown
Poniros and Lulamba are set for a rematch in the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown. The latter, trained by Nicky Henderson, was the second-favourite when the two horses met previously in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with Willie Mullins' Poniros sent off a 100-1 shot on his hurdling bow. It was therefore a major surprise when he pounced to score by a neck from Lulamba and now the two cross paths again. Henderson said of his runner: "He's only had two runs this season so he can afford another one. He's very, very fresh and well in himself so we'd thought we would give it a go and try to end the season on a high. "I think he's improving, but there is every reason to believe Willie's horse will improve as well, but we'll have the rematch and see if we can get them to flip-flop." Sean Graham, racing manager to Poniros' owner Tony Bloom, said of their gelding: "It's not going to be easy, it looks tough enough without Lulamba and with him in there we will have to be on our A game to win it. "Lulamba had one run in France and won so easily that he probably didn't really have a race, the first time he's been asked to come off the bridle was probably in the Triumph Hurdle and we beat him a neck. "The fancied horses in the Triumph were at each other's necks a long way out and maybe that's why we were able to pick them off and come through to win. "Poniros will have to improve from that, but we are very hopeful." Hello Neighbour was sixth in the Triumph, and like Poniros and Lulamba lines up a fresh horse having skipped the Grand National meeting at Aintree. "He just didn't work well enough for us in his last bit of work before Aintree, so that's why he didn't travel over there," said trainer Gavin Cromwell. "I suppose he had a hard race at Cheltenham and it was off the back of the Grade Two win on his debut at Christmas and then the Dublin Racing Festival. We just said we'd give him a chance. "It was a very quick turnaround this year from Cheltenham to Aintree and when you're borderline on sending him, I'm glad we didn't as that might have left a mark on him and we have Punchestown to look forward to now." On the same card Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead looks to return to form in the SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle. The six-year-old was a considered a real threat to the headline acts in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but along with Constitution Hill and State Man, her luck was not in and she could only finish a well-beaten fourth. Aintree was bypassed and she arrives at Punchestown fresh and ready to put her uncharacteristic Cheltenham run behind her. "Hopefully she's well, she hasn't done an awful lot since Cheltenham, but Gordon is happy with her and we hope she'll be lucky," said Eddie O'Leary of owners Gigginstown House Stud. "She wasn't right after Cheltenham, that was wasn't her at all, so hopefully we'll see a better effort here." Watch the Punchestown Festival from Tuesday to Saturday with RTÉ Sport. Coverage begins at 3.30pm for first three days and on Friday at 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Watch on Saturday from 3pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cheltenham: All eyes on Galopin Des Champs on Gold Cup day
All eyes are on Galopin Des Champs, who is aiming for a third successive Gold Cup at the climax of the Cheltenham admission for the Gold Cup has sold out, with nearly 70,000 spectators gathered at Prestbury total attendance for the week is still expected to pass 200,000 but will be significantly down on the record 280,000 that attended the first post-Covid meeting open to spectators in Des Champs is bidding to become the fifth horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times. Going for gold: Galopin des Champs, trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins, is aiming to join just four other horses who have managed to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times. Action shot: Kargese and jockey Paul Townend looked victorious after they won the William Hill County Handicap. Triumphant: Jonjo O'Neill Jr aboard Poniros after winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle on day four of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. A-list racegoers: Actor Henry Cavill was among some of the celebrities watching the races. He is pictured here with his girlfriend Natalie Viscuso and British equestrian and member of the royal family, Zara Tindall. Trackside thrills: Henry Cavill reacts as he watches the JCB Triumph Hurdle. Famous faces: Jeremy Clarkson enjoying the last day of the Cheltenham Festival with his girlfriend Lisa Hogan. Baking queen: Dame Mary Berry was also spotted at the fourth day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Hunt returns to airwaves at Cheltenham to shame gutless crossbow killer
As he returned to the BBC airwaves without a crackle of emotion in his voice, John Hunt did not hint at the unimaginable horrors he has faced of late. Yet the esteemed broadcaster's appearance in Cheltenham's commentary box above the winning post on Wednesday was nevertheless an emphatic message to Kyle Clifford. Hunt had been delivering on a pledge he sent just 72 hours earlier to Clifford, the crossbow killer. 'I want you to see what real courage is,' Hunt had told Clifford, who was gutlessly absent from Cambridge Crown Court as a judge handed down three whole-life sentences. In contrast to Clifford's cowardice, Hunt vowed on Tuesday to carry on 'no matter what' to honour his murdered wife and two daughters. 'You failed,' he had told Clifford. Returning to the Radio Five Live airwaves at 1pm on Wednesday, and simply exchanging a friendly discussion with presenter Mark Chapman, Hunt gave another example of his pure class. Introducing him to listeners, Chapman said: 'John is in his usual commentary position yet again.' Hunt responded by saying: 'Yeah, absolutely. I am just thinking about the individuals who illuminate this sport. Nothing else matters Mark. Galopin des Champs is the Antoine Dupont of horse racing. He has looked magnificent. His form is rock solid.' Chapman then said: 'This is your 30th Festival, John. Your first Gold Cup was Best Mate.' Hunt responded: 'It really does take me back. Everything about Best Mate was geared to Cheltenham. I think Galopin is even better than Best Mate. The weight of history can prove too heavy a toll. Strange things can happen – he's still got 22 fences ahead. If he's cherry ripe he will bring this home.' And Chapman added: 'And John will call them home as only John can.' Clifford's failure to face up to what he had done this week could not have felt more stark as Hunt returned to the day job in unthinkably difficult circumstances. Colleagues knew the consummate professional would not want a fuss. There was barely a whisper in the Alastair Down press room as he pulled the headphones back on and with minimal fanfare returned to the airwaves ahead of the first race of the day, the JCB Triumph Hurdle. 'I am lucky,' Hunt had insisted on Tuesday, a barely conceivable sentence after three-quarters of his family – wife Carol along with daughters Louise and Hannah – were murdered by Clifford at the family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July last year. However, his moving 1,900-word courtroom statement – after sitting through horrifying details of the case last week – made plain that life must go on, beginning with Cheltenham's famous Gold Cup day. 'As you are consigned to a fate far greater than death, I can draw on the love and strength that I still feel from the girls in every moment of every day,' he had said. His statement on Tuesday had moved a courtroom to tears, but Hunt has now said his piece. Friends, BBC colleagues and contemporaries in the press box at Cheltenham described Friday as a chance for him to start turning the page. There was little surprise too that Hunt, as he had done after initially returning to call races last autumn, made no reference on air to the horrors he had endured. Tributes flowed at the racecourse for Hunt's refusal to let Clifford break him. Those to express admiration include Cornelius Lysaght, the former BBC racing correspondent who had recommended him to corporation bosses in the early 2000s. Hunt, who worked for the police before beginning his broadcasting career with Ladbrokes in the 1980s, 'just loves' Cheltenham and will have felt a duty to listeners, Lysaght explained. 'Because so many people listen to the radio who don't necessarily switch on a racing TV programme, his voice has become absolutely synonymous with some of the great Cheltenham events of the last 20 years or so,' Lysaght said as he welcomed Hunt back. 'People love his voice at Cheltenham, and he so obviously loves Cheltenham. The timing of everything at the moment is just unimaginable, but he loves this place – he knows the importance of this place to so many people, and I think that he will want to be part of it yet again, and people who listen to the radio will want him to be part of it, but all the time, thinking of the absolutely unimaginable things that he's going through at the moment.' Hunt had confirmed with BBC colleagues in midweek that he was ready to return. Darren Owen, who had been deputising for Hunt as lead commentator on the opening three days, described how the racing 'family' had rallied behind him. 'All of us are behind him 100 per cent of the way,' he said. 'You can't put into words what actually happened. He is the most lovely, lovely individual.' Such sentiments are shared by Rupert Bell, the Talksport commentator who has also been in text message contact with Hunt in recent weeks. 'He is a remarkable human being,' said Bell. 'I know how desperate it's been but it's great that he's been able to get back, even in keeping a low profile on racecourses. It's just wonderful to hear him out doing his job. He's so good at it. 'There's no one who would remotely have a bad word to say about him. Everyone just always enjoys him being around. He always seems to have a charming smile on his face.' Admiration and messages of support for Hunt are not just reserved for racing. Chapman had paid a tearful on-air tribute last summer on the day the horror unfolded. Mark Pougatch, Dan Walker, Jacqui Oatley and former England striker Michael Owen, a keen horse-racing enthusiast, also sent messages of support. Those at the course on Friday point out the wave of well-wishers was not just out of sympathy, but out of genuine admiration for a commentator at the top of the trade. Months before the murders, clips of Hunt's thrilling calling of the Grand National had gone viral. A BBC Instagram post described it as 'racing commentary at its finest'. Bell said the entire broadcast world is in admiration of his professionalism. 'Even to hear him now on commentary, you wouldn't think anything had gone on. He is an outstanding commentator, not just in racing. His swimming commentaries are as good as anyone in the past. I just hope Cheltenham is a great opportunity for him to go out and do his day job and be able to feel the love and appreciation of everyone around him, because it's obviously been a wretched year. I have nothing but admiration for him and always have.' Nick Luck, the former Channel 4 Racing presenter who now hosts the Nick Luck Daily podcast, added: 'John's not only the most exemplary professional, brilliant at his job, but he has always been someone that everyone in the press room has looked up to. Old and young alike and from every walk of life – he would treat everybody in exactly the same way. He is somebody that you'd always feel that if you had something on your mind, you could go and speak to. The strength of feeling for him over the last few months has been immense.' It came as little surprise to those who admire his work that his witness statement in court on Tuesday was so well crafted. To put Clifford in his place, the commentator had quoted Harper Lee. 'Louise's favourite novel from her schooldays was Harper Lee's classic, To Kill a Mockingbird,' he had told the court. 'She was captivated by the goodness of Atticus Finch both as a father and a lawyer. She would often quote lines from the novel to match life's challenges... All their lives Carol, Hannah and Louise similarly spent their time bringing joy and colour and happiness to other people's lives. You killed three beautiful Mockingbirds, Kyle.' Hunt again cited the book while giving an insight into his own determination to carry on. 'Even though the days are difficult and feel on many occasions, impossible, I will channel my inner Atticus Finch at all times. He said, 'I want you to see what real courage is. Instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you are licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what'.' That courage was evident in bucket loads at Cheltenham. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
