Tuesday, May 27, 2003

LATEST LADBROKES ANTE-POST PRICES

"The Derby market is very much a bull market at present with plenty of horses coming in for support," said Balthazar Fabricius of Ladbrokes.

The Vodafone Derby
1m4f, Epsom, Sat 7th June 2003
11/4 Refuse To Bend, 4 Alamshar, 4 Brian Boru, 12 Alberto Giacometti, 14 The Great Gatsby, 16 Dutch Gold, 16 Magistretti, 20 Hold That Tiger, 20 (from 25) Norse Dancer, 20 Shield, 25 Franklins Gardens, 25 Lateen Sails, 33 Dunhill Star, 33 Graikos, 33 Let Me Try Again, 33 New South Wales, 40 Balestrini, 40 Unigold, 50 Summerland, 66 Abunawwas, 66 Lundy's Lane, 66 Strength 'N Honour, 100 Prince Nureyev, 100 Titurel, 500 Skelligs Rock (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

The Vodafone Oaks
1m4f, Epsom, Fri 6th June 2003
7/4 Yesterday, 9/2 Hi Dubai, 7 Hanami, 7 Hammiya*, 12 Halawanda, 12 Casual Look, 14 Ocean Silk, 20 Geminiani, 20 Mezzo Soprano, 20 Waldmark, 25 Snippet, 25 Spanish Sun, 33 Gonfilla, 33 L'Ancresse, 33 Summitville, 40 Lady Catherine, 50 High Praise, 66 Hearts N' Minds, 66 Thingmebob, 66 Moonsprite, 100 Inchberry, 100 Magnificent Bell (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

*Needs to be supplemented

Flat Jockey's Championship
1/7 K Fallon, 3/1 D Holland (Win Only)

Champion Hurdle
2m, Cheltenham, March 2004
5 Rooster Booster, 6 Back In Front, 10 Rhinestone Cowboy, 12 Sacundai, 16 Davenport Milenium, 20 Intersky Falcon, 20 Spectroscope, 25 Flame Creek, 26 Kicking King, 25 Liberman, 25 Spirit Leader, 25 Well Chief, 25 Westender, 33 Landing Light (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Gold Cup
3m2f, Cheltenham, March 2004
6/4 Best Mate, 10 Beef or Salmon, 12 First Gold, 20 La Landiere, 25 Hussard Collonges, 25 Irish Hussar, 25 Jair Du Cochet, 25 Truckers Tavern, 25 Valley Henry, 33 Harbour Pilot, 33 Kingscliff, 33 One Knight (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Queen Mother Champion Chase
2m, Cheltenham, March 2004
3 Moscow Flyer, 4 Azertyuiop, 14 Native Upmanship, 16 Tuitchev, 16 Cenkos, 16 Flagship Uberalles, 16 Impek, 16 Le Roi Miguel, 20 Kadarann, 20 Adamant Approach, 20 Seebald, 25 Isio, 25 Geos, 25 Latalomne, 33 Farmer Jack (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

York odds on favourite to host Royal Ascot 2005

Ladbrokes has installed York Racecourse as it's 1/2 favourite to be chosen as the racecourse of choice by the Ascot executive to host the Royal meeting in 2005 should redevelopment plans hinder Ascot from staging the meeting themselves.

Newmarket, already host to the 1000 and 2000 Guineas Classics is quoted 3/1 second favourite with Newbury and Cheltenham, the home of national hunt racing, 7/1 and 10/1 shots respectively. The rank outsider of those quoted is Folkstone at 1000/1.

Explaining why York was such a firm favourite Ladbrokes' Balthazar Fabricius said, "York seems to tick all the right boxes, both for the horses and the crowd."

"Their facilities are first class and as a track it is characteristic for it's total lack of undulation ensuring an equal surface for all types of race-horse. I was unsure whether the course could stage the Ascot Gold Cup and the Queen Alexandria Stakes, both over 2 miles, but William Derby plans to upgrade the track's run-off area to meet the required race conditions," added Fabricius.

The full betting is as follows:

1/2 York
3/1 Newmarket
7/1 Newbury
10/1 Cheltenham
1000/1 Folkstone
(Win Only)

NEWMARKET COUNTRYSIDE RACEDAY TAKES LIMELIGHT ON SATURDAY

There are 25 entries for the six-furlong £40,000 Coral Sprint (3.40pm), which often serves as a stepping stone to bigger things. Last year's race was won by Just James, who went on to win the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot for trainer Jeremy Noseda.

The likes of champion sprinter Cadeaux Genereux as well as very smart performers such as Mitcham, who subsequently landed the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, Perryston View and Splice have also won the Coral Sprint in recent years.

One-time leading Sagitta 2000 Guineas fancy Trade Fair is set to make his eagerly-awaited seasonal debut in the Listed Cheveley Park Stud King Charles II Stakes (3.05pm), in which there are 23 entries including Sagitta 2000 Guineas sixth Monsieur Bond and Godolphin's Winisk River.

Entries for the 10-furlong £32,000 Listed Haven And British Holidays Fairways Stakes (2.30pm) include Henry Cecil's Tuning Fork, who was beaten half a length in the Group 2 Tote Dante Stakes at York last time out, while the European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes (4.15pm), like all Newmarket's two-year-old events, could well feature some stars of the future.

Aidan O'Brien has six blue-blooded entries in the six-furlong event, none more so than Rock Of Cashel and Tumblebrutus, respectively full-brothers to the brilliant duo Rock Of Gibraltar and Giant's Causeway.

Countryside Day, which this year will raise funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Marie Curie Cancer Care, is always a fun-packed occasion with demonstrations of a whole range of country pursuits taking place before racing.

The action kicks off at 11am with gun-dog training and is followed by the likes of a lurcher display, free-flying birds of prey, terrier racing, fly-casting as well as parades of foxhounds, beagles and coursing dogs. The first race is at 2pm, while the last of the seven contests is due off at 5.20pm.

Lisa Hancock, Newmarket's Managing Director, said today: "Countryside Day is one of our most successful family Saturdays on the Rowley Mile course and we look forward to welcoming racegoers to a day that always has a great atmosphere and good racing."

With a warm week in prospect, Newmarket's Clerk of the Course Michael Prosser, said today: "The going is currently good to firm and the forecast is for a dry week so we will begin watering tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. The temperature could get up to 28 degrees later in the week and we be aiming to provide good to firm ground with no jar in it."

There is also a good card at Newmarket on Friday with six races beginning at 2.10pm.

STRATFORD HOSTS HUNTER SEASON FINALE

The 3m4f Intrum Justitia Cup (formerly known as the Horse & Hound Cup) is a fitting end of term finale featuring, among its 16 entries, several of the year's leading Hunters.

Probable favourite will be the Paul Nicholl's trained 12 year-old EARTHMOVER, who bids to add yet another big prize to an already impressive list of career victories which includes the 1998 Christies Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival.

Although only fourth in this year's Christies Foxhunters EARTHMOVER has been unbeatable since having won at Ayr, twice at Cheltenham and most recently at Uttoxeter under his big race rider Rilly Goschen.

EARTHMOVER has already won at this Stratford meeting - he took the Novice Hunters' Campionship (the John Corbet Cup) in 1997 - and speaking after his recent win at Cheltenham owner Roger Penny declared, "It has always been my ambition to take him back to Stratford, where it all really started for him, and win the Intrum Justitia and this year I think he can".

Saturday's big race will be no stroll in the park however with main rivals likely to include BRIGHT APPROACH and COUNTY DERRY.

The grey BRIGHT APPROACH, trained by Ollie Bush, is an out-and-out stayer (he has twice won Cheltenham's 4 mile Hunters' Chase) but he ran his best ever race, in defeat, this March when 2½ lengths second to KINGSCLIFF in the Christies Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival finishing just 1¼ lengths ahead of EARTHMOVER. There should not be much between the two again this weekend.

Five lengths further back in the Cheltenham Foxhunters', finishing fifth, was COUNTY DERRY. Jeremy Scott's 10 year-old finished fourth in last year's Intrum Justitia but in his current form he can also be given a major chance. Last week he ploughed through heavy ground at Uttoxeter to win the Land Rover Men's Open Championship Final for the second year - the first horse to win that Championship in back-to-back years since URSER in 1984/85.

BITOFAMIXUP (runner-up in the Intrum Justia way back in 1997 as a Novice and a winner Folkestone last week), PHILTRE (the 2001 John Corbet Cup Novice Championship winner), REAL VALUE (a former runner-up in the Cheltenham Foxhunters') and inform pointer SHERIFF'S FRIEND are other notable entries.

Feature race on the first evening of the meeting (Stratford's only two day fixture of the year) is the Chase Publications Champion Novices' Hunters' Chase - the John Corbet Cup (8.20, Friday) which has attracted a quality 24-strong entry.

This could be the chosen engagement for Jenny Gordon's Intrum Justia entry SHERIFF'S FRIEND. If lining up the 8 year-old would be one of the favourites alongside Charlie Egerton's Irish import EXECUTIVE PARK who won on his British debut at Bangor but who fell two out at Stratford last time when holding every chance of winning his "prep" race.

Another for the short list will be Alan Tizzard's West Country raider CHEROKEE RUN, who beat much more experienced rivals at Wincanton last time, while Folkestone winner SEA HAITCH EM is another interesting contender as the possible mount of leading amateur Christian Williams.

Stratford's two day meeting marks the end of the Amateur National Hunt season with the Men's and Ladies' amateur riders championships finally decided.

The Men's title could not be closer as (after racing on Bank Holiday Monday 26th May when they both rode a winner) South West-based Christian Williams lead Yorkshire-based Gino Carenza by a single victory - 20 to 19. Both jockeys will ride during the week and plan to have as many rides as possible during the Stratford meeting. The title race could go right down to the wire.

Polly Gundry is certain of retaining the Lady riders Championship but she will still be in action at Stratford where her mounts may include BRIGHT APPROACH in the Intrum Justitia and likely favourite MRS BE in the Mission Foods Ladies' Hunters' Chase also on Saturday.

With four top class Hunter Chases spread over the two-day meeting, two on Friday evening and two on Saturday afternoon, this is a meeting no Hunt racing enthusiast can afford to miss.

IRISH THOROUGHBRED NEWS

A daughter of Sadler's Wells, Yesterday is a full sister to the very smart uarter Moon and she held off the late surge of long odds-on favourite Six Perfections to win.

Dimitrova, unbeaten in her previous two starts this year, ran well to take third place while L'Ancresse, also trained by Aidan O'Brien was fourth and Plume Rouge (Pivitol) emerged as the best of Kevin Prendergast's three runners to finish fifth.

Not surprisingly, Yesterday consolidated her position at the head of the ante-post betting market for the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom early next month with her winning display.

CROSS-CHANNEL SUCCESS AS HAVEN WINS 2,000

Indian Haven, out of luck in running when unplaced behind Refuse To Bend in the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, broke Aidan O'Brien's stranglehold on the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.

The son of Indian Ridge ran on well to account for the O'Brien-trained France (Desert Prince) in the Entenmanns's sponsored EUR400,000 Group 1 event for trainer Paul d'Arcy and Irish-born jockey John Egan.

Irish-bred horses filled the next five places home, with the remarkably consistent Tout Seul (Ali-Royal) taking third place. He enjoyed another big Curragh payday with winnings of EUR37,200. Winner of the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October and fourth behind Refuse To Bend at Newmarket last time. Saturn (Marju) was fourth, the Danehill colt Great Pyramid was fifth, Napper Tandy, a son of Spectrum, was sixth and Abunawwas (In The Wings) seventh.

Indian Haven is now a likely contender for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

GOLDEN DISPLAY BY BELLAMY IN TATTERSALLS CUP

Black Sam Bellamy held off a strong British raiding party with a stunning display to win the EUR260,000 Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

Although a little disappointing in the Prix Ganay last time, Aidan O'Brien's Sadler's Wells colt, a full brother to the great Galileo, bounced right back to form with an eight-length success over the Godolphin-trained pair Highdown (Selkirk) and Narrative (Sadler's Wells).

Michael Kinane, who rode the winner said, "He's not the same model as Galileo, but he has come together with age and I was mad about him when he won at Leopardstown.

"I think the Ganay is best forgotten because he was a good horse today. There were a lot of horses in trouble a long way out, but he picked up really well and flew home. Going a mile and a half won't hurt him."

IRISH RACING TO GET WEEKLY TELEVISION SHOW

Horse Racing Ireland is to sponsor a television programme dedicated to Irish racing, it has been announced. The series, which will run for 13 weeks, is titled "Go Racing" and will be shown on TV3 at 10.30pm on Fridays from June 6.

Michael O'Rourke, Horse Racing Ireland's director of marketing and communications said, "Go Racing will bring out some of the most informed and entertaining viewpoints in Irish racing today. We are delighted to be involved with TV3 in bringing a new type of racing programme to the public. Talking about horses and the people behind them is a national pastime."

Go Racing is the first programme of its type in Ireland dedicated to racing. As well as its peak-time Friday night slot, the 30-minute show will be repeated on Saturday mornings at 10am.

IRISH-BREDS REMAIN DOMINANT IN DERBY BETTING

Refuse To Bend and Alamshar continue to head the ante-post betting market for the Vodafone Derby at Epsom on June 7.

Dermot Weld's son of Sadler's Wells, who is due to have a serious workout next Friday morning, and the John Oxx-trained Key Of Luck colt topped the list of 31entries for the race, with 11 of those trained in Ireland.

Aidan O'Brien has no fewer than seven horses left in the race and he could run five. Irish-trained colts currently fill the first five places in the betting market.

The Aga Khan-owned Dalakhani, champion two-year-old in France last year, is reportedly being aimed at the Prix du Jockey-Club, but the Irish-bred son of Darshaan was a surprise acceptor.

SUPPLEMENENTARY BOOST FOR MISS EMMA

Miss Emma, second to Vettriano in the Irish Breeders Foal Levy 2-y-o Stakes at the Curragh last October and a winner on her reappearance in the EUR50,000 Listed Woodlands Stakes at Naas earlier this month, gained a notable success at the Curragh on Saturday.

The speedy daughter of Key Of Luck readily won the EUR75,000 Group 3 Weatherbys Ireland Greenland Stakes, quickening clear inside the final furlong to win from British-raider Captain Rio. Full marks to the connections of the winning filly whose decision to supplement the filly last Tuesday morning paid handsome dividends, beginning with a winner's cheque for EUR48,750.

Trainer Michael Halford bought Miss Emma for just IR18,000 at the Goffs Challenge Sale in 2001.

"I am going to discuss plans with the owner but there is every possibility that she will go to Royal Ascot if there is an ease in the ground. She settles well and should be as good over seven furlongs."

Halford added to this important success when landing the EUR60,000 Listed Airlie Stud Silver Stakes with Tipperary All Star at the same course on Sunday.

NEWTON MAKES IT TWO IN THE MARBLE HILL STAKES

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Newton made it two wins from three starts in the EUR60,000 Listed Isabel Morris Memorial Marble Hill Stakes.

Run in the memory of Isabel Morris, breeder Derby winner Oath, the race attracted seven previous winners and in a tight finish Newton just edged out Moon Unit, with English challenger Holborn fourth. Newton is a son of Danehill and Elite Guest and is bred on the same Danehill - Be My Guest cross as Rock of Gibraltar.

PLEASURE PLACE CONTINUES WINNING RUN

The John and Bill Dwan bred filly Pleasure Place, continued her impressive winning run when showing blistering pace to lead all the way for an eased down ½ length success in the Group 3 Premio Tudini.

This very speedy filly, winner of the Group 3 Prix d'Arenberg last season, looks set to play a big role in the leading sprints this season.

KALAMAN LOOKS STAR OF THE FUTURE

Kalaman looked very much a colt to follow when running out a highly impressive winner of the Listed Pacemaker Heron Stakes at Kempton.

A son of Irish National Stud stallion Desert Prince, Kalaman is a half-brother to Newmarket Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf winner Kalanisi and is owned and bred by HH The Aga Khan.

Kalaman quickened well inside the final furlong to beat Ikhtyar (Unfuwain) by a length-and-a-half and now heads for Royal Ascot where the St James's Palace Stakes looks a likely target.

ASTRID IS BROWNE'S QUEEN

Queen Astrid, one of five horses in training on the Curragh with Liam Browne, ran out the brave winner of the EUR50,000 Listed Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown.

Under Cork teenager Helen Keohane, the son of Morristown Lattin Stud's Revoque made every yard of the running to win by four-lengths and will now be put away for an autumn campaign.

ZAREWITSCH WINS SECOND GERMAN GROUP 3

The Night Shift colt Zarewitsch, winner of the Deutscher Herold-Preis at Hamburg last June, landed his second German Group 3 event at Baden-Baden this weekend.

He led well inside the final furlong to win the Group 3 Badener Meile by half-a-length from Areias for owner/breeder Gestut Bona.

THE KIDDYKID WINS AT HAYDOCK

The Kiddykid made all the running to win the Listed Purely Scottish Mineral Water Rated Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

Bred by Knocklong House Stud, this son of Danetime showed plenty of determination to hold off the late flourish of Coconut Penang (Night Shift) and will now be considered for the William Hill Sprint Trophy at York next month.

Another Irish-bred Listed winner over the weekend was the Aga Khan-owned Tashkandi (Polish Precedent) who won the Prix de Pontarme at Chantilly on Friday.

NATIONAL HUNT AWARDS PRESENTED IN ADARE

Aintree Grand National heroes Jimmy Mangan and Barry Geraghty were among those honoured at the Irish National Hunt Awards at Adare, County Limerick on Saturday night.

Geraghty, the former champion jockey, was presented with the Special Achievement Award while popular trainer Mangan was voted National Hunt Personality of the Year.

Paul Carberry and Noel Meade received awards for leading jockey and trainer, while Irish Thoroughbred Marketing presented JP McManus with the season's champion owner award.

Keith Hadnett was the leading Claiming rider while Alan Crowe became Champion Amateur and Louisa Williams was leading Lady Rider of the Year.

Charlie Swan, who announced his retirement at Aintree in April, was honoured with the "Distinguished Services" Award.

BETFAIR FLAGSHIP SPONSORSHIP AT SANDOWN PARK

In 2002, Betfair was the fourth biggest sponsor of UK horse racing in terms of races covered. Going forward, the company plans to improve the quality of its sponsored events with racing becoming the principal focus for the betting exchange.

Betfair's marketing department are planning to 'paint the course blue' with the usual Betfair roadshow designed to introduce punters to exchange betting.

A special feature will be the cover band, Blow, who will provide entertainment during and after racing. Racing starts at 6.10pm, with the last race due off at 8.45pm.

Mark Davies, Betfair's Director of Communications, said, "Racing is our most important market and we are delighted to be able to increase our sponsorship spend this year.

"This is always a good fixture with the Listed betfair.com National Stakes the best two-year-old race of the season so far and the Brigadier Gerard always attracting a high class field."

TOTE TO OFFER 5% BETTER RETURNS ON THE INTERNET

"This is a really good offer for punters," said Tote PR Director Andy Clifton. "Most Internet deals have all kinds of conditions attached and only apply to new customers, but this one is available to anybody and everybody - and there is no maximum stake!

"Equally, we'll be picking a high-profile race each day and guarantee to choose one meeting every Saturday at which the offer applies to every race on the card and another meeting during the week for which the same applies."

"Tote Win now beats SP well over 50% of the time following the reduction in take out from the pool from 18% to 13.5% in March - add a 5% bonus to the return on top of that and even your average Big Brother contestant could work out that Tote pool betting is great value!"

The selected race will be displayed on tote.co.uk from 10am each day. A banner on the homepage will direct customers to the race and/or meeting chosen for the bonus.

The Tote reduced Win Pool deductions from 18% to 13.5% and Place Pool deductions from 24% to 18% on March 22. Tote win now beats SP in around 54% of races and is the same as SP in a further 4%.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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