Re: Even more betting here : Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:12 pm
Wire - I'm not Ahmed Ajtebi's biggest fan, his ride on Calming Influence was classic Ajtebi.Only had a look at the one race thus far and one stands out at a HUGE price in this
Royal Hunt Cup
Please Sing - Traditionally one of the two big betting races of the whole of Royal Ascot and tbh it's normally a bit of a lottery unless you're onto something that's miles ahead of the handicapper. Our old friend Dandy Boy turns up in this but the handicapper may have caught up with him and at 8/1 he represents no value. The one I like in this is Mick Channon's 4yo filly Please Sing who has sneaked in at the bottom of the weights in this big handicap. Please Sing had useful form as a Juvenile, most notably when winning a Group 2 at Newmarkets July meeting over 6f. Her career has been pretty hit and miss since, mainly miss but there were signs of a major revival last time out when chasing home Godolphin's German filly Antara (contests the Group 2 fillies race earlier in the afternoon) and prior to that she chased home Richard Hannon's Shamwari Lodge (also contests the fillies race) twice - at Goodwood and on the AW surface at Kempton. A win for either of those two will prove a major boost to Please Sing's chances. The nature of the race means that entries and weights were published back in May - prior to Please Sing's most recent start when she pulled hard in a small field Group 3 at Epsom (behind Antara), she did herself no favours that day and was slightly hampered at a crucial time so there's reason to suggest she ran a bit better than the bare form shows. She has good solid Ascot handicap form having finished third to a couple of useful fillies (clear of the remainder) when racing off a mark of 100 in the Sandringham Handicap on this day in 2009, she races off 92 today but is due to be raised to a mark of 98 (roughly 2 1/2 lengths at this distance) as a result of her Epsom run. The larger field in todays race is likely to help her given the way she pulled last time out whilst the other major factor in big field Ascot handicaps is the luck of the draw. Sadly there have been no really big field races down the straight course and they came stands side for both the Kings Stand and the Queen Anne, however the Coventry Stakes and the closing Windsor Castle were both run primarily up the centre of the track and the Kings Stand runner-up Markab seemed to run above himself (relative to previous form at the trip) when racing up the centre of the course in his race. There's an old US racing adage "pace makes the race" and it would be pointless backing a horse racing on the far side if he or she is going to have to make his or her own running - the horse could be 4 lengths clear of the far side group and still finish seventh or eighth. Being drawn in 31 of 33 horses means that Alan Munro on Please Sing will have no choice about which side he races on and he's fortunate that he has the early pace setting St Moritz for company, along with fellow horses Tryst, Balcarce Nov and Decembe Draw who have all run well when ridden close to the pace whilst trainer Mick Channon is in decent form having had 7 winners in the last 14 days. With many bookmakers offering 5 places I believe that Please Sing is a decent bet each-way for the big betting race on day 2 of Royal Ascot.
Advice: Please Sing, 2pts Win, 1pt Place @ 40/1 (Bet365, Paddy Power, Stan James)
Some great winners on here today so good luck all and lets kick on with bashing the bookies tomorrow
