Tom Roper's Weblog

Royal Ascot: second day, Prince of Wales Stakes

230 Jersey Stakes: Major Cadeaux
305 Windsor Forest Stakes: Satwa Queen
345 Prince of Wales's Stakes: Notnowcato 
420 Royal Hunt Cup: Trafalgar Square
455 Queen Mary Stakes: Sweepstake 
530 Sandringham Rated Fillies Handicap: Lady Grace

Royal Ascot: first day, St James's Palace Stakes

230 Coventry Stakes: Declaration of War
305 King's Stand Stakes: Dandy Man
345 St James's Palace Stakes: Creachadoir
420 Queen Anne Stakes: Cesare
455 Ascot Handicap: Raucous
530 Windsor Castle Stakes: Fat Boy

Derby Day

What weather for Derby Day! I cannot read the hyperbole about Authorized without some suspicion. Therefore I have backed Eagle Mountain. which seems to me the best chance of Aidan O'Brien's eight entries. I take one of Dettori's mounts, Bond City, for the earlier Dash Stakes,
Epsom 200: Zaham
Epsom 300: Blythe Knight
Epsom 330: Bond City
420: Eagle Mountain

Irish 2000 Guineas

320 Newmarket: Makshoof
340 Haydock: Regal Parade
345 The Curragh: Duke of Marmalade

Ascot and Haydock

I missed the Chester meeting in the week. Today I select the following:
Ascot 110: Apply Dapply
Ascot 145: Mountain High
Haydock 200: Emmpat
Ascot 220: King of Argos

2000 Guineas sans Teofilo

It's a strange race without the strongly-backed ante-post favourite.
Here's what I go for at Newmarket today; the small matter of a marathon will prevent me making any selections for the 1000 Guineas tomorrow.
245: Abisheka
325: Major Cadeau
400: Burning Insence

The sound of desperation

I would not touch it, thinking all-weather racing to be bent and run solely for the benefit of the bookies, but my eye was caught by the desperation inherent in the full name of one of tonight's races at Wolverhampton, the Name a Race to Enhance your Brand Handicap.

Sandown

240: Dempsey
320: Alderburn
355: Jeremy
425: Petara Bay

Cheltenham and Newmarket

In London for the London Book Fair, (report to follow) I find that it is one of those interesting days when National Hunt and flat racing are equally interesting. While Newmarket has the Nell Gwyn Stakes, Cheltenham has the less romantically named Faucets For Mira Showers Silver Trophy Chase.
I take the following:
Newmarket 310: Hamoody
Newmarket 345: Sander Camillo
Cheltenham 405: Madison du Berlais
Newmarket 420: Fishforcompliments

Grand National Day

The headline news first. My selection for the National is Point Barrow
In other Aintree races:
1.45: Orcadian
2.15: Don't Push It
2.50: Detroit City
3.25: Alberta's Run
5.00: Ofarel d'Airy
5.35: Chestnut Charlie

Postscript: this is all theoretical at the moment (12.20). Paddy Power's site is down. I hope it comes back soon.