Tom Roper's Weblog

Royal Ascot: Thursday: Gold Cup

Looking back, I see that I backed Yeats last year for his third victory over the marathon distance. This year I'm not convinced. Again I had the winner of yesterday's big race, though was disappointed to have my choice in the Royal Hunt Cup, Roaring Forte, removed after the fracas at the start. I now have had three winners from twelve selections, a 25% strike rate.
2:30 Norfolk Stakes (5f): Royal Chevalier
3:05 Ribblesdale Stakes (1m 4f): Leocorno
3:45 Gold Cup (2m 4f): Patkai
4:20 Britannia Stakes (1m): Brief Encounter
4:55 Hampton Court Stakes (1m 2f): Freemantle
5:30 King George V Stakes (1m 4f): Highland Glen

Royal Ascot: Wednesday: Prince of Wales's Stakes

I made a good start with the Royal Ascot meeting yesterday with the winner of the first race, and of the St James' Palace Stakes. Richard Hughes rode an impressive double, including Paco Boy. On to today

2:30 Jersey Stakes (7f): Gallagher
3:05 Windsor Forest Stakes (1m): Lush Lashes
3:45 Prince of Wales's Stakes (1m 2f) : Vision d'Etat
4:20 Royal Hunt Cup (1m): Roaring Forte
4:55 Queen Mary Stakes (5f): Don't Tell Mary
5:30 Sandringham Handicap (1m) : Photographic

Royal Ascot: Tuesday

2:30 Queen Anne Stakes (1m): Paco Boy
3:05 King's Stand Stakes (5f): Amour Propre
3:45 St James's Palace Stakes (1m): Mastercraftsman
4:20 Coventry Stakes (6f): No Hubris
4:55 Ascot Stakes (2m4f): Always Bold
5:30 Windsor Castle Stakes (5f): Angel's Pursuit

The big race today, the St James's Palace Stakes, is a contest between two colts, Mastercraftsman and Delegator. I go for the former, one of Aidan O'Brien's three entries in the race.

Derby Day

I doubt if Epsom today will look as William Powell Frith saw it over a century ago. And I have no idea if I would have been better at finding winners in late-Victorian racing.

For today:

Epsom 125: London Bridge
Epsom 225: Spacious
Epsom 300: Wi Dud
Epsom 345: Sea the Stars

The Oaks

For this afternoon's Epsom meeting I go for the following:
140: General Eliott
245: Youmzain
325: Seeking the Buck
405: Perfect Trim
450: Croisultan

Newbury and Newmarket

A brief stay in hospital stopped me taking an interest in the Dante meeting at York. I return to the fray with today's Juddmonte meeting at Newbury.

Newbury 210: All the aces
Newbury 240: Aqlaam
Newbury 310: Legislate
Newmarket 330: Taikoo
Newbury 345: Exclamation

Ascot and Haydock

105 Ascot: Steele Tango
140 Ascot: Trumpet Lily
155 Haydock: Ellerslie Tom
215 Ascot: Evens and Odds
305 Haydock: Ordnance Row
Like many, I had picked Prescription for the Victoria Cup. Prescription doesn't run, so I go for Evens and Odds. Six days after a fine Newmarket win, the horse carries a penalty, and this is an extra furlong, but Sunday's performance suggested more to come.

The Guineas

I didn't have time to post my selection for yesterday's 2000 Guineas. Now of only historical interest, it was Delegator. Today:

235 Newmarket: Barshiba
315 Newmarket: Lahaleeb
350 Newmarket: Evens and Odds

Grand National Day

Here we are again. And I choose Rambling Minster; my children go for My Will, in my son's case, as he's a Will, and my daughter for Darkness, I think for the goth-cum-emo connotations of the name. There are worse criteria for picking a horse.

To my eye, the race two races before the National, the Aintree Hurdle is as interesting, with a fine field, and I take Catch me who I think stands a very good chance against the favourite Celestial Halo and the strongly fancied Al Eile.

Aintree:
145: Ainama
215: Song of Songs
250: Chase Me
325: According to John
415: Rambling Minster
500: Hot Diamond
535: City Theatre

The Flat

I leave Nad Al Sheba well alone. It's hard enough to find winners among British and Irish horses, never mind at events with entries from all over the world. Then again, it's hard to find a winner on the first day of the flat season, with few clues. Nevertheless:
245 Doncaster: Spectait
320 Doncaster: Inxile
355 Doncaster: Flipando