Sport is made for betting

Huge day of racing at Ascot tomorrow, just a shame the rain has come and the forecast tomorrow is for 45-50mph winds. Hats off to the BHA for creating this fabulous race meeting within a very busy end-of-season period. Great racing all day, capped off by the Champion Stakes, the richest race on the card. Taking on the feature race is international racing aficionado, Luke Humphreys,  @WorldRacingLuke .   ========================== Qipco Champion Stakes Group 1, £1,300,000, 10f (2011m) Ascot 1550 BST, 0150 AES T ODDS LISTED ARE BEST AVAILABLE (FRIDAY AFTERNOON) 1 Desert Encounter (25/1): Got up in the closing stages to win a G3 level in the Legacy Cup at Newbury last time, a deserved win. Disappointed in the King George, on similar ground prior however three weeks before that was third in the Eclipse. Best runs have been on ground good or better, that is not the case here. They should be running the race on the inner track, where the ground is firm, in my opinion, disgra

A smattering of good races tonight at Woodbine in Toronto, a track that regularly attracts European visitors when the cash is on the table. Previewing his highlight of the night in his own inimitable style, it's Jon da Silva,  @creamontop . --------------------------------------------- E P Taylor Stakes   US$500,000, Grade 1 for F&M 3&Up 10 Furlongs, Turf, Woodbine 1548 local, 2048 BST It's a measure of reality for Canadian Racing that the once $2Mn [CAD] Pattison Canadian International is now worth $800,000 Canadian. Anyway looks a dull affair with Erupt and Idaho among European 'stars' racing. However of more interest to me is the E P Taylor for fillies and mares of 3 years old and upwards. It has some UK&I contingent and frankly I don't want to assess Idaho ever again.... Thus in a blow against Hollywood I will cover the Ladies of the Turf in a race worth 500,000 Loonies or 300 Large in the old country's currency. Incidentally

The highlight of the day at Caulfield is the stallion-maker race, the Caulfield Guineas. Traditionally a battle between the best 3yo males (not just colts) from both sides of the Murray River, this year we've got a very good filly in there as well to make the race that little bit trickier. Lining up for the preview is international racing aficionado, Luke Humphreys,  @WorldCallingLuke . --------------------------------- Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Group 1, $2,000,000 1600m Caulfield 0630 BST, 1630 AEST ODDS LISTED ARE CROWNBET (FRIDAY MORNING BST) 1 The Mission (40/1): Definitely one of the pace angles. Likely to be one of the leaders and then weaken if form is anything to go by. No chance if ridden desperately early. 2 Summer Passage (SCRATCHED): 3 Azazel (40/1): Has been running to the line well of late but looks up against it at this class. Likely to come with one run, especially with question mark over the distance. 4 Sircconi (33/1): Has been running we

Well, it's finally here. The big dream of Racing NSW has come to fruition. It might not have attracted any overseas runners this year, yet it is as deep a field as you could possibly get at 1200m from the local contingent. From a UK perspective, there's been plenty of media interest in this part of the world, which can only be good for the future. Locally, the argument that it's been the most hyped race ever in Sydney could be rebutted with "so why haven't they been doing this in the autumn for the past 50 years?", and "Of course it has, they've written blank cheques galore to pay for it!". It's when the excitement isn't self-seeded that it really counts. The proof will be in the pudding. The Pegasus in the US, the race which inspired this one, seems to be in a bit of trouble (although you have to take the comments from the controversial owner of California Chrome with a grain of salt), so hopefully they've learned lessons and pl

A huge weekend of racing across the globe and in this part of the world, it's Future Champions weekend at Newmarket with plenty of promising (and expensive) juveniles on show. International racing aficionado Luke Humphreys,  @WorldRacingLuke steps in to preview the G1 Fillies' Mile. And a reminder for anyone ever interested in typing a few words. This blog runs on providing the opportunity for aspiring writers to have an outlet for their work. It need not be exclusive and I'm more than happy to point to more of your work/original source/your site . At the very least it should improve your punting as you have to get organised to construct the preview! Note available prices have obviously changed significantly with the favourite not going to post. =========================== Bet365 Fillies’ Mile Group 1, £567,500 1600m Newmarket 1535 BST, 0135 AEST ODDS LISTED ARE BEST AVAILABLE (FRIDAY MORNING) 1 Efaadah (14/1): French filly prepared by Freddy Head for Sheik