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thetote.com GALWAY PLATE 2m6f Handicap Chase Galway by Sam Preen, @sampreen , originally published here So for today’s post, I’ve decided to jump ship, away from the fashion-infested week of Glorious Goodwood, to Glorious Galway. By the time you’re reading this, Kingman will have probably beaten Toronado by about four lengths, and all eyes will be on the Galway Plate, which has attracted a hefty field, as usual. Here’s the line-up… Kid Cassidy Form; 7/177-. Jockey; Jody McGarvey (5). Trainer; Christy Roche. Aside from his exploits over fences, including claiming the notable scalp of Sire De Grugy last November, Kid Cassidy will forever be known as one of the horses to be electrocuted at Newbury, way back in 2011. He’s only been seen once on the course this year, in the Champion Chase, when a detached seventh behind old foe Sire De Grugy, in what was to be his final start for Nicky Henderson. It’s interesting to see if Christy’s got him primed for this, having being off since M...

Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes Group Two, 7f Glorious Goodwood Preview by @twoyearoldtips , originally published here . Ahlan Emarati - Ready winner on debut at Bath and has followed that up with two creditable placed efforts in Group company since, his second to Kool Kompany having been well franked by that horse taking the Papin on his next start. As likeable as he is, he is no megastar and it would a touch disappointing were he to prove good enough. Looks short enough in the market, and opposable. Chadic - Won impressively from the front at the third time of asking at Ayr but the form is modest in the context of this race. Jockey bookings suggest he is the weaker of the Johnston pair and looks to have it all to do. Dr No - Richard Hannon-trained individual who was all the rage on debut before running disappointingly at Nottingham. Has proved that form to be all wrong since however, firstly when besting the July Stakes runner up at the same venue and then with a solid 7th in ...

Bet365 Lennox Stakes Group 2, 7f Glorious Goodwood by Sam Preen, @sampreen , originally published here Amarillo Form; 28-191. Jockey; Adrie de Vries. Trainer; Peter Schiergen. I tried so hard not to make an “Is This The Way To Amarillo” pun… Making his fourth trip to the UK to tackle a Group race, he heads here with a stylish Group 3 win under his belt (6f, good). The step back up to 7f will go in his favour, as with the current ground conditions, but if the rain should fall, he’s best left alone, as he last won with soft in the going back in 2012. Boom And Bust Form; 225-96. Jockey; Martin Dwyer. Trainer; Marcus Tregoning. Not the force of old, Boom and Bust heads here after running in a Listed event at Chester, which saw him finishing a staying on sixth, two lengths behind Glory Awaits. A Betfred Mile winner in his prime, he’s been winless for nearly two years, and has been running over a variety of distances as of late. Fairly interesting that connections have opted to r...

Bet 365 Molecomb Stakes Group 3, 2yo, 5f Glorious Goodwood Preview by @twoyearoldtips , originally published here . Beacon - Highclere-owned colt who arrives here bidding for a four-timer. Was very impressive when slamming today's rival Mukhmal by four lengths in a listed event last time and Team Hannon have been responsible for three of the past five winners of this race. Looks the one to beat, but is priced up accordingly. Burning The Clocks - Three race maiden who is rated 79. Needs to improve a couple of stone if he is to take this. Cotai Glory - Finished last at 50/1 in a moderate Nottingham maiden on debut but now finds himself rated 104 after four starts. Got within 1.25 lengths of the mighty Limato last time and although that likely flattered him, it was still a highly commendable display. The main threat to Beacon on ratings and appears the value play at the current odds. Dougal - Son of Zebedee, winner of this race in these colours in 2010, who has won two of hi...

KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (3:50 ASCOT – SATURDAY 26TH JULY 2014) by Sam Preen, @sampreen , originally published here Running through the field: Leitir Mor Form; 9-6825. Jockey; Ronan Whelan. Trainer; Jim Bolger. Only has two wins to date, both times in Group 3 company, but has been the shadow of his former self since then. Ran a personal best for some time in a Listed event in June, and kept on to finish a fair fifth in a Group 3 a week later. Needs a personal best if he’s to hit the frame upped in class and trip. Presumably only here for pacemaking duties for Trading Leather. Magician Form; 1-6122. Jockey; Joseph O’Brien. Trainer; Aidan O’Brien. Bidding to get back into the winners enclosure is Magician, who flopped when favourite in less than ideal ground at the Curragh, before finishing behind The Fugue at Royal Ascot, sporting a tongue tie for the first time. Previously won over this trip, and has the ideal ground, so no surprise to see him running a big...

I hadn't planned on doing a race preview this weekend but I do love the format of this race, so it'd be wrong of me not to promote it. A race for 2yos sold publicly for £50k or less(ruling out virtually all of the Coolmore and Godolphin stables), it's an allowance race where weights are allocated based on their sale price. It's nigh on impossible to have a high-grade handicap for the juveniles as most of them would be too unexposed, I love this format. With a 15lb spread in the weights, in theory they've all got a chance! One complaint though - it's run over the ridiculous distance of 5f34yds. Why not a round number? How the hell are you supposed line up times over such a stupid journey in their form in future months? 1. Tiggy Wiggy - the obvious one to beat. Trained by the son of the man who helped devise this race and won it a record seven times, and this is clearly the best of his quintet. this filly has run five times for three wins and two narrow defeats...

Night Two - Queensland Winter Trotting Carnival preview by Darren Clayton, Racing Queensland handicapper, @dashman01 Night Two of the #qldwinterracing carnival from Albion Park has bought together a cavalcade of stars. Across three different races fans will have the opportunity to witness Australia's best horse Im Themightyquinn, best mare Forever Gold and best 3YO Bling It On. The @AlbionparkHRC have two great initiatives related to Quinny and Yank (Bling It On) where the opportunity for two people to win a percentage ownership with full owners privileges for the final night of the Albion Park component of the carnival exists. With the two horses being aimed at the Group 1 Blacks A Fake and Group 1 Queensland Derby respectively, this is an outstanding prize. Head to the Albion Park website for details. This Saturday’s action sees four Group races on the program. At Group 3 level will see the running of the Gold Coast Derby, the Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes and perhaps ...

2014 Vodacom Durban July Betting Preview Written by Alan Moscrop, @alanmoscrop Courtesy of Goodforthegame.za The 2014 Vodacom Durban July takes place at Greyville on Saturday, and Alan Moscrop previews all the runners and shares his selections on this years big race. The KZN winter racing season is in full flow and excitement will reach fever-pitch come Saturday as the field line up for the Grade One Vodacom Durban July, to be run over 2200m around the Greyville track. Twelve months ago history was made when leading rider S'manga Khumalo became the first black jockey to ride the winner of South Africa's biggest race, partnering the Sean Tarry trained Heavy Metal to success with a powerful run up the Greyville run-in. Khumalo, or 'Bling' as his nickname goes, again takes a ride for the Tarry yard and will be bidding to land the race for the stable for the third year running, with the yard having been successful in 2012 with Pomodoro. The draw was made last week an...

Vicbred Super Series Finals preview Saturday July 5 by Trent Orwin, @themightytrent3 Race 2 – EMPIRE STALLIONS VICBRED SUPER SERIES (2YO COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL (Group 1) (2240m) This is a really tough race to decipher. I am not the greatest fan of betting on two-year-olds as they are still learning the caper. Ricimer ($5.50) should have enough gate speed to hold out Captain Bronzie ($61.00) and Waves Of Fire ($5.00) early on. Waves Of Fire and Feeling Arty ($17.00) are most likely to be looking for the front and it will be interesting to see whether the lead is on offer. Show Me The Bling ($3.10) looks extremely talented and may be the horse that has to face the breeze once again. The ever consistent Wemen Sporty ($21.00) continues to finish in the placings from wide-front row draws and he is a chance once again to fill a top 3 placing. Iceobar ($3.40) is too good to ignore despite the poor draw, while Morior Invictus ($13.00) and Virgil Hilts ($15.00) are both last start ...

Wheeliebets Yellow Jersey preview Bismarck Froome & Contador, look elsewhere for Maillot Jaune Posted here JUN 30, sent to subscribers earlier. Posted by Bryan Geary, @wheelie1977 This time 12 months ago no one would have considered backing against Chris Froome for the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France even though he had but the bare Grand Tour experience. After a Spring and early Summer campaign which netted wins in Oman, Criterium International, Romandie and finally Criterium du Dauphine, few were surprised at his odds-on tag one week before the Tour start. His backers had an armchair ride from the first real mountain test to Ax 3 Domaines, putting 1 minute 45 into Contador and Quintana with ease, the platform provided for a runaway opening two weeks. Some may have been concerned how he seemed to wilt in the final week as Quintana proved the star climber but with so much in hand, his victory was never really in doubt. One year on and Froome has questions to answ...

Coral Eclipse preview by Chris Day, @chrisday100 The Coral Eclipse Stakes, run over 10 furlongs at Sandown in early July is undeniably one of the Premier Group 1 races in the calendar and this year’s renewal, the 40th in total, promises to be as good as any to have gone before. My personal favourite was Muis Morris driving Mtoto down the outside to beat Steve Cauthen on that year’s Derby winner, Slip Anchor in 1987 but Giants Causeway’s never say die effort to deny Kalanisi in 2000 will take come beating from the point of view of class and guts in a thoroughbred race horse. Anyway, on to Saturday’s renewal and, at this stage, the potential ground conditions are as big a conundrum as finding the winner itself. As usual, this is the first opportunity at Grade 1 level for the classic generation to take on their elders at middle distances and the 11lb they receive from their elders, 8lb from fillies, is a generous incentive for trainers to pitch their best 3 year olds into battle, w...

Vicbred Super Series Finals preview Friday July 4 by @ thepunter80 Race 2: 2yo trotting colts and geldings A no bet race for me but should be a good clash between two top quality juvenile trotters here. Eljaykay Phoenix and Illawong Armstrong have both been super impressive in their short careers to date. The barrier draw has advantaged Eljaykay Phoenix so that probably makes it the top pick, but I don’t really have an opinion either way as to which one is the better horse. Neither of them are foolproof, so don’t look enticing betting propositions to me. Black Valley is still a maiden after eight starts but has been racing really well and will be thereabouts at the finish. Fabrication has only had two starts but has good gate speed and could put itself into the race early. Race 3: 3yo trotting colts and geldings A more open race here, but the favourite Spidergrace is still probably the horse to beat. Has got good gate speed and looks the likely leader, but I don’t want to be...

2014 Garrards Sunshine Sprint preview by Darren Clayton, Racing Queensland handicapper, @dashman01 As the #qldwinterracing carnival wraps up for the thoroughbreds and greyhounds, it is time for the trotters to take centre stage. Whilst there has been some lead up events heading into this Saturday night, the official Winter Trotting Carnival begins with a two-week window over three successive Saturday nights of action @AlbionParkHRC . The highlight on Night 1 does not get any bigger than Im Themightyquinn . As many frequent flyer miles as both Quinny and trainer Gary Hall Snr may have, this is one journey that neither has experienced. With over 1,800 training wins to his name, he is yet to saddle up a race starter in Queensland. Amazingly, son, Gary Hall Jnr has over 1,900 race wins as a driver and only ever had three race drives in Queensland which came last year in an Invitational driver series. Hall Snr just loves the sport and he has embarked on this journey to showcase his ...