2025 Champions Day E/W Lucky 15

Last weekend was another disaster. Killavia and Loz Vegas finished out the back of the TV, Saba Desert did likewise and the day was fittingly capped off with modest runs from Gweedore and Bashful Boy in the big handicaps. This is probably the worst run I’ve endured for the best part of two years, hopefully we can turn it around with this 2025 Champions Day E/W Lucky 15.

Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)

No prizes for guessing who I am backing here. Run To Freedom hasn’t won yet for us but he’s been placed for us at 28s, 40s and at 150s in this race in 2022 so he owes us nothing and I’d imagine he’ll be heading to stud after this race, win, lose or draw.

It looks like the ground is going to be decent at Ascot on Saturday and that’s a plus for this 7yo son of Muhaarar. It was good to soft when he ran second in this in 2022 and it was also good to soft when he chased home Shaquille in the July Cup in 2023. It was good to firm when he ran third in the July Cup this year, so once there is good in the ground description Henry Candy’s charge will be fine.

Run To Freedom has run well on plenty of occasions at Ascot so there are no concerns regarding the track. If he can reproduce the form he showed on his penultimate start at Newmarket, he is capable of making a mockery of his massive odds of 50/1.

2025 Champions Day E/W Lucky 15 Tip: Run To Freedom e/w @ 50/1

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1)

In our Royal Ascot lucky 15 Docklands got us off to a perfect start in the Queen Anne at 25/1. My main angle for tipping him was his love for Ascot and his liking for quick ground and, if the weather forecast is correct, he is going to get his optimum conditions again here.

In the Queen Anne he beat Rosallion by a nose and it is important to remember that Mark Zahra dropped his whip a furlong out too that day. Since then, Docklands has run just twice and on his last start, in the Jacques le Marois, he ran a massive race to finish a close fourth behind Diego Velazquez, Notable Speech and Dancing Gemini.

He’s had a nice two month break to recover from those exertions and he is back at his beloved Ascot. I’d imagine this has long been the plan given his C&D form figures of 1132221, hopefully he can add another 1, 2 or 3 to that sequence on Saturday at odds of 14/1.

2025 Champions Day E/W Lucky 15 Tip: Docklands e/w @ 14/1

Champion Stakes (Group 1)

The value here surely lies with Ed Walker’s son of Lope De Vega, Almaqam. An ultra-consistent horse, he has had a fine campaign. The undoubtable highlight was his all the way win at Sandown (1m2f, good) in the Brigadier Gerard when he lowered the colours of Ombudsman, the 7/4 jolly here.

Now, to be fair to Ombudsman, he did lack a run whereas Almaqam had one under his belt but even so, he still beat him. Perhaps more patient tactics didn’t suit when Almaqam was beaten by Royal Champion in the York Stakes and it looked like he didn’t stay 1m4f when third at Longchamp last time.

The drop back to 1m2f is a huge plus for this horse and the ground should be ideal for him too. Walker has always said this race was the ultimate aim for this horse, fingers crossed he proves him right at odds of 12/1.

2025 Champions Day E/W Lucky 15 Tip: Almaqam e/w @ 12/1

Balmoral Handicap (Heritage)

Last year Michael Bell landed this valuable prize with Carrytheone. This year, he relies on his 5yo son of Kingman Greek Order and he is capable of running a massive race off a mark of 96.

Formerly trained in the US by William Mott (previous to that by Roger & Harry Charlton), this horse seems to act on any ground. As a 3yo he won on good and good to soft, he was placed in the Cambridgeshire on good to firm and then he ran third in a listed race on heavy.

Since returning to Britain, his best effort came on his first start for Bell in the Hunt Cup at the Royal Meeting. Ridden by Soumillon (who rode Carrytheone to victory here last year), Greek Order was beaten just 1.5l for the win in fourth off 95 and he again ran well at Sandown on his next start off a mark of 97.

He never landed a blow on his last two starts but I am hoping that this race has been the plan ever since that Hunt Cup effort. He’s only 1lb higher here and I am also hoping to see Soumillon jocked up when declarations are made on Thursday. At odds of 25/1, Greek Order is the each way selection.

2025 Champions Day E/W Lucky 15 Tip: Greek Order e/w @ 25/1

-DaveStevos

2025 Newmarket Friday Preview

Arc day saw us land just one place. I tipped the wrong Graffard horse in the big one, Ain’t Nobody was a length off a place in the Abbaye and my NAP Grand Stars probably should have won but a wide trip cost him a place. Onwards we go to HQ on Friday, my 2025 Newmarket Friday preview is below.

1.15 – Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3)

Brussels is the 5/4 favourite here for Ballydoyle. Runner up in the Middle Park last time out, he drops back to the minimum trip for the first time and he will most likely have enough pace to get the job done.

If you take him out of the race, it looks rather open and in the hope that they go a breakneck early gallop, I am going to take a chance on the Havana Grey filly, Palmeira. Zavateri has been the flagbearer for Eve Johnson-Houghton’s juvenile team this year but this filly has had a good season too and she has already picked up some black type.

That came on her penultimate start in a listed heat at Newbury when she was just touched off by Hollywood Treasure after not getting the smoothest of passages. Last time out she finished 4l behind Revival Power in a G2 at Donny.

The winner had the run of the race that day and if he gets taken on for the lead here (hopefully by Aspect Island) and goes too quick, Palmeira may be able to close that gap, stay on late and sneak a place at odds of 66/1.

2025 Newmarket Friday Tip: Palmeira e/w @ 66/1

1.50 – Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3)

This is a big step up from the conditions race she contested last time and she came up short in listed company on her second start at Sandown but even so, I don’t think Tavana should be as big as 25/1 here.

This Havana Grey filly has raced keenly in all three of her starts but it hasn’t stopped her from winning two of them. On debut, she was sent off at 28/1 at Haydock but she made a mockery of those odds to win decisively. She had Evolutionist (since fourth in a Curragh G2) and Isle Of Fernandez (since third in an Ayr G3) back in third and fourth so there is substance to that form.

At Sandown in that listed race it looked like she was ridden to get black type but she just had too much ground to make up. At Newbury last time she showed a willing attitude to get up to beat the 90 rated True Test and I think she is well worth another go in stakes company. If Georgia Dobie can time her challenge right, hopefully Tavana can nick some precious black type at odds of 25/1.

2025 Newmarket Friday Tip: Tavana e/w @ 25/1

2.57 – Fillies’ Mile (Group 1)

With the step up to a mile almost certain to suit, I’m going to take the market leaders on with the beautifully bred Cracksman filly, Moon Target. Trained by the inimitable Sir Mark Prescott, this filly finished just 0.75l behind Precise (15/8 here) on her first run in stakes company at Goodwood.

I think if that race was a furlong further, which this one is, she may have got the better of that rival. Her next run in the May Hill over 1m was admittedly disappointing but she may not have enjoyed the ease in the ground.

Prescott kept her at 7f for her next start in the Rockfel at this venue and again, she ran on well after getting outpaced, shaping like a mile would suit. Her dam, a half-sister to crack miler Inspiral, won at 9.5f and her half-sister won at 1m2f so everything points towards this step back up in trip bringing about more improvement. At odds of 12/1, Moon Target is the e/w selection.

2025 Newmarket Friday Tip: Moon Target e/w @ 12/1 NAP

3.30 – Old Rowley Cup Handicap (Heritage)

Maybe Ismael Mohammed’s C&D maiden winner Minhad can go well at a price here. By Universal, this 3yo has run four times since that C&D success. He was outclassed in a G2 at Ascot (1m4f) then probably didn’t handle soft ground in a Racing League handicap at Yarmouth.

Mohammed stuck blinkers on and dropped his charge back to 1m2f in a Newbury handicap next time and was rewarded with an improved performance. A visor was tried over 1m6f at Chester four weeks ago and he ran another fine race, not quite getting home but holding on for second.

This horse is unexposed in handicaps on good or quicker at this 1m4f trip and given how he has been campaigned, there is every chance this has been a long term plan. With his rider’s 5lb claim he’s effectively in off 76 here and the horse he beat by a head over C&D here is now rated 90. At odds of 22/1, back Minhad e/w.

2025 Newmarket Friday Tip: Minhad e/w @ 22/1 (4 places) NB

-DaveStevos 

2025 Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe Revisited

Unfortunately, our ante-post bet on Map Of Stars has fallen by the wayside. I was hoping he’d run a huge race in his final prep but he never figured after stumbling at the start and Graffard has decided he isn’t ready for the race this year.

Now that the final field is confirmed and the draw has been done, I am going to go in on another Graffard contender. I was tempted by Daryz who has been handed a lovely starting berth in stall 2 but he’s shortening up and at much tastier odds, I think Quisisana is a live contender.

This 5yo daughter of Le Havre has reportedly been hard to keep right. That explains why she has only run eight times in her career (won six of those starts) but Graffard has had a clear run with her this season and she has shown how good a racemare she is.

Hat Trick

She comes into this year’s Arc on the back of a hat-trick of wins at around 1m2f. It was a minor race she won on her reappearance at Compiegne (1m2f, vry soft) but she made short work of her rivals in a 1m2f Chantilly listed race on soft on her next start.

For her next start, Quisisana was pitched into G1 company for the first time in the Prix Romanet and again, she put a quality field to the sword, this time on better ground. The way she quickened to put daylight between herself and the rest of the field was impressive and the gap wasn’t closing as she hit the line strongly.

Unlike her stablemate Daryz, she has raced over 1m4f before and it resulted in a 5l Listed victory at Chantilly. Now, the one worry is the fact that Graffard has stated she is fragile so that has dissuaded me from making her a NAP bet. However, if she is 100% and at her best, Quisisana is more than capable of outrunning her odds of 33/1 from a decent draw in stall 7.

2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Tip: Quisisana e/w @ 33/1 (4 places W Hill)

-DaveStevos

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tips

We managed to nick a few places at Doncaster and Leopardstown on Saturday. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a winner and our NAP East Hampton ran a stinker but overall it wasn’t an awful day. I'm hoping to get a winner on the board on Sunday, 2025 Champions Weekend Curragh tips are below.

1.30 – Bold Lad Sprint Handicap (Premier)

We are already on Tango Flare at 25s for this race and he’s been on the drift. Given that he has been drawn low in stall 7, I am going to back another one from a higher draw just in case there is a track bias.

The horse that fits the bill from stall 17 is John James Feane’s mare, Greek Flower. Yes, she is 7lb wrong but the up-and-coming claimer Nicola Burns will offset most of that with her claim (possible 2lb overweight).

This daughter of Australia hasn’t won since landing a C&D handicap off 70 in October 2023 but she has run some crackers in defeat, including when forcing a dead heat for fifth in the Scurry here back in July. She has shaped well enough in both starts since in lesser races and I’d imagine the big pot on offer here might bring about an even better run.

She was only beaten 2.5l when denied a clear run in this race last year off 87 so she is more than capable off her mark of 83, even if she is out of the handicap. Fingers crossed Nicola Burns can chart a clear passage, if she does Greek Flower can go close at odds of 16/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Greek Flower e/w @ 16/1 (6 places) NAP; Tango Flare already advised e/w @ 25/1 (4 places 1/4 odds)

2.05 – Tattersalls Super Auction Sales Stakes (2yo)

I always end up getting tempted by one at big odds in these sales races and they always run crap races. Not this time. No bet.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: No Bet

2.40 – Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1)

Just seven runners and no extra places on offer. The bookies essentially make this a match, with Composing chalked up at 6/4 and the unbeaten Venetian Sun at 15/8. Given Karl Burke’s form on Saturday, I’d marginally side with his horse but I have no interest in betting on him at the prices. I’m happy to just watch and enjoy this race. No bet.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: No bet

3.15 – Flying Five Stakes (Group 1)

We have a pretty good record in this race when it comes to getting places (Makarova 28s last year, Get Ahead 66s in 2023), hopefully we can find the winner in this year’s renewal.

The one that looks most overpriced, especially with rain forecast before racing tomorrow, is the 7yo mare Vadream. How can I tip up a sprinter that has been beaten a cumulative distance of over 50L on her last three starts I hear you ask? Well, she has had valid excuses for those runs (upset in stalls Haydock, ground Ascot, track Goodwood) and her run at Newmarket in May when just over 2l behind Frost At Dawn suggests that she still retains ability.

She ran poorly in this last year, but the ground was good. This time there should be a nice bit of an ease and she comes into the race a fresher horse than she was last year. If she can reproduce the form she showed when a 1.75l fourth in the Sprint Cup at Haydock a year ago she is capable of running on late into a place here, so a small e/w interest on Vadream is advised at odds of 66/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Vadream e/w @ 66/1 (4 places)

3.50 – National Stakes (Group 1)

Another small field. I’d love to see Zavateri win this for Eve Johnson Houghton but odds of 11/2 aren’t big enough and you’d have to be concerned about the easy ground. No bet.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: No Bet

4.25 – Irish St Leger (Group 1)

A field of nine are due to go to post for this 1m6f G1 and Al Riffa, Illinois and Amiloc are at the head of the market. Easy ground and the trip are an unknown for the latter horse so one of the bigger priced ones might be able to sneak into the money. The one that makes most appeal is the winner of the trial for this race, Leinster.

Al Riffa’s stablemate has been deserted by McMonagle but he’s had an excellent season and he took his form to a new level here last time when beating Dallas Star by over four lengths. His three previous runs this term came in handicaps, including a 1m4f win here on soft, a solid fourth in the Chester Cup and another fine fourth in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal Meeting.

Obviously, this represents a big step up in class but he has won his last two visits to this venue, he acts on soft ground and given that this is just his eighth start, there could still be more improvement to come from the son of Camelot. Billy Lee is 2/11 with three top 3s when riding for this owner, hopefully he can nick another place at least here at odds of 22/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Leinster e/w @ 22/1

5.00 – Blandford Stakes (Group 2)

Now that she is back on an easier surface, perhaps Higher Leaves can hit the frame at a price in this 1m2f Group 2. Trained by Henry De Bromhead, this daughter of Golden Horn found G1 company too hot on her first two starts of 2025.

She ran a better race last time out when fifth in a C&D G3 on good to yielding behind One Look and, once the forecast rain comes, she may be able to close the gap to that rival on a softer surface.

Her last start on properly soft ground saw her bolt up in a Group 3 at Toulouse last November and she hit top form at this time last year. She sports a hood for the first time, which will hopefully help her to settle better and if the new equipment works, Higher Leaves can make a bold bid from the front at odds of 20/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Higher Leaves e/w @ 20/1

5.35 – Northfields Handicap (Premier)

Crown Of Oaks has been backed off the boards for this and he looked like a horse going places when hacking up at Ascot last time out (1m2f, soft). He’s only 8lb higher here and if he avoids traffic problems in this huge field, he is likely going to be very hard to beat.

One horse that is capable of a big run off his current mark of 94 is Ado McGuinness’ 7yo Star Harbour. His last handicap win came at this venue over 1m4f in June 2024 off 96 on good ground but he is effective on easier ground too.

Star Harbour has had an up and down 2025. He ran a cracker at Dundalk in August but he wasn’t quite as good at Naas last time, though he wasn’t beaten that far in fourth after suffering interference.

His best effort of this campaign came over C&D in May when he was beaten 0.5l off 97, if he can repeat that off 3lb lower he may be able to land the place money for us at odds of 33/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Star Harbour e/w @ 33/1 (6 places) NB

-DaveStevos

2025 Irish Champions Weekend E/w Lucky 15

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best weekends of the Flat season. Not only do we have Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh, we also have the St Leger Festival at Doncaster. Dave Stevos has been studying the form and he has come up with four horses at big odds for a 2025 Irish Champions Weekend & Doncaster Leger meeting e/w lucky 15 (and four e/w singles), find out who he fancies below.

1.50 Doncaster Friday – Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed)

Hopefully, Sunset On Leros can get us off to a flier in the Flying Scotsman. Trained by Marco Botti, this son of Almanzor didn’t show a huge amount when a pretty well beaten fourth of five on debut at Newmarket in June. However, he left that run well behind on his second start in a class 2 novice over this C&D a month later.

Drawn in stall 1, Sunset On Leros bounced out, travelled strongly close to the pace and when Benoit De La Sayette asked him to go and win his race around 1.5f out, he quickened up in the manner of a smart horse and surged clear to win by almost three lengths.

Back in second was a horse called Allegresse and he went on to win a novice at Kempton by 9.5l on his next start so there is some substance to the form. This is obviously a step up in class but I think 20/1 looks a shade generous given the manner of his win here last time out. At those odds, Sunset On Leros is the each way selection. Hopefully he enhances Marco Botti’s fine frame hitting strike rate with 2yos at this venue (12/72 with 30 top 4s).

2025 Irish Champions Weekend Tip: Sunset On Leros e/w @ 20/1

1.50 Doncaster Saturday – Champagne Stakes (Group 2)

Usually, I leave small field races well alone but I am making an exception here. There was plenty of bullish chatter about St Mark’s Basilica’s first crop of foals before the season began and while he made a pretty slow start, in the last couple of months he has had some nice winners, none more so than Cape Ashizuri who ran out a 2l winner on his debut at Ayr (6f, gd-sft) in July.

That was a six-runner race and four of the five horses that finished behind have won since. The only horse that has failed to win from that contest is now rated 84 so it looks solid form. Cape Ashizuri got badly outpaced before picking up late and running on strongly in that contest and it was a very encouraging debut effort.

This colt is out of Muravka, a High Chaparral mare that has already produced the Japanese G3 and G1 placed Unicorn Lion, the Coventry and Prix Morny winner The Wow Signal and the French Listed winner Miss Infinity. He is bred to be a stakes horse and on the evidence of that debut win, he looks like he is. On breeding and run style the step up to 7f should really suit and he won’t mind a bit of an ease in the ground. At odds of 14/1, back Cape Ashizuri e/w.

2025 Irish Champions Weekend Tip: Cape Ashizuri e/w @ 14/1

3.50 Leopardstown Saturday – CMG Group Stakes (Group 3)

If Al Aasy runs to his rating of 115, he is clearly going to be hard to beat here. However, he’s an 8yo now and he’s had an up and down season so far, so he is not guaranteed to repeat the level of form he showed when landing a Goodwood G3 in fine style early last month.

3yos have an okay record in this race and I think It’s A Heartbeat may be capable of outrunning her odds of 50/1 for John O’Donoghue and Nathan Crosse. This filly first came to my attention when I did the spotlights for her 1m4f Curragh maiden win (good) in June. Thankfully, I tipped her to win and despite being weak in the market, she did exactly that.

After a short break, she was sent off at 11/1 for her handicap debut at the same venue (good) three weeks ago and she made a mockery of her mark of 89 to hose up by over 3l. She showed she handled an ease when a shade unlucky in running on debut at Naas (1m2f, yielding) so if the track doesn’t dry out, the ground shouldn’t be a big issue.

I think if this unexposed filly were trained in a more fashionable yard, she would probably be half her current price of 50/1 so at the odds, she is worth chancing e/w.

2025 Irish Champions Weekend Tip: It’s A Heartbeat e/w @ 50/1

1.30 Curragh Sunday – Bold Lad Sprint Handicap (Premier)

I tipped up Tango Flare for a couple of races this season to no avail. He probably should have gone close to winning in a premier handicap here in May off a mark of 97 and since then, I reckon all roads have led to this race.

Three of his last four starts have come in either listed or rated races and at Fairyhouse in June in a 6f rated race, he finished just 2.5l behind the now 104 rated King Cuan off level weights. 7f was never likely to suit in a listed race at Cork last time and I’d imagine that run was designed to keep him ticking over for another crack at this huge pot.

In last year’s renewal Pat Foley’s son of Fulbright ran a blinder to finish a 1.5l third behind My Mate Alfie off a mark of 99. He is 8lb lower now and if the 6yo gets back to the form he showed in this last season, he has to have a right chance off his current mark. At odds of 25/1, Tango Flare is the each way pick.

2025 Irish Champions Weekend Tip: Tango Flare e/w @ 25/1

-DaveStevos

Map A Mad Price For The Arc

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is one of the highlights of the racing year. It is also one of my favourite ante-post races thanks to Waldgeist landing the spoils for us at 20/1 a few years ago.

This year’s renewal looks a particularly open affair right now and I think the 50/1 available about Francis-Henri Graffard’s Sea The Stars colt, Map Of Stars, is a mad old price. Yes, he has been beaten on his last three starts (his first three goes at G1 level) but they all came over 1m2f and I don’t think we are going to see the best of this lad until he steps up to a mile.

Obviously, his sire was one of the best 1m4f horses of all time and his dam, Bateel, wasn’t too shabby herself at the distance (won the G1 Prix Vermeille at Chantilly over 1m4f). His pedigree is screaming that he wants this longer trip and the manner of his last three runs over 1m2f suggest he’ll improve for it too.

Like Waldgeist, Map of Stars has now had experience in Group 1s in England, Germany and on home turf so he should be prepared for all tactical scenarios, be it a slowly or fast run race. He has also won on all sorts of ground, including on heavy, and that is always a huge plus when backing a horse ante-post for any race given the unpredictable nature of the weather.

I’d imagine Map Of Stars will have one more run before the big one, maybe in the G2 Prix Foy the month before. If he does win that 1m4f contest, there is no way he’ll still be available at odds of 50/1 for the Arc so I think he’s worth a small e/w investment at that price. Fingers crossed he gets there in one piece. 

2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Ante-Post Tip: Map Of Stars e/w @ 50/1

-DaveStevos

2025 Glorious Goodwood Friday Tips

The rain arrived after the first race at Goodwood which was unfortunate for Thunder Wonder but he ran better than his finishing position suggests. Unfortunately, Tamam Desert wasn’t ridden as we hoped and it looks like old father time may have caught up with Winter Fog. Two blanks in a row, now it is really starting to feel like Goodwood and Galway! Check out Dave’s 2025 Glorious Goodwood Friday fancies below.

2.30 Goodwood – Golden Mile Handicap (Heritage)

It is hard to believe it is three years since we backed Orbaan to win this at 33/1. David O’Meara’s horses are always worth keeping onside in this race but I am going to side with a horse who is going to hopefully relish the testing conditions at Goodwood.

Star Anthem was placed when we backed him in the G3 Horris Hill on heavy ground at Newbury last season. He also wasn’t beaten far in a 6f G2 at the same track on heavy on his previous start so clearly, he is a horse that enjoys getting his toe in.

After two moderate efforts on good-good to firm at the start of this season, he showed signs of life when returned to soft ground at Chester last time out. In that extended 7f handicap he was beaten just 2.5l into third off 99 and he is now 1lb lower.

He has a high draw here but when the ground is testing they tend to tack across to the near side so that may not be too much of a hindrance. In that last Chester race it looked like Star Anthem was ready to step up to 1m and if he stays, he will hopefully outrun his odds of 50/1.

 2025 Glorious Goodwood Friday Tip: Star Anthem e/w @ 50/1 (6 places)

3.05 Goodwood – Qatar Stakes (Group 2)

John Quinn won this race in 2023 with Highfield Princess, who was a 4-9 fav on the day. He runs JM Jungle this year and while a rating of 102 leaves the son of Bungle Inthejungle with a fair bit to find, he has a couple of pieces of form this year that suggest he may be able to rate a bit higher.

Six runs ago, his last start on good to soft, he was beaten 1l by American Affair in a 5f handicap at Musselburgh off 93 when in receipt of 1lb. Jim Goldie’s horse has since gone on to win the King Charles at Ascot and is now rated 114.

JM Jungle had his first start in stakes company at York last time out and was beaten just over a length into third in that 5f listed heat on good to firm. His only start over this C&D on soft saw him win a handicap off 87 in 2023 and overall, his form figures on softer than good read 3154232442 so he doesn’t mind a bit of cut.

Quite a few of the shorter priced ones in here would prefer quicker conditions and in the hope that the rain softened ground slows them down, JM Jungle is the e/w selection at odds of 25/1.

2025 Glorious Goodwood Friday Tip: JM Jungle e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)

-DaveStevos

Vicario Might Sneak Black Type At York

Royal Dubai rewarded our loyalty with a superb win last weekend, advised at 28/1 (R4 applied). Unfortunately, that was as good as it got. Tango Flare blew the start, Ardisia ran respectably but missed a place and I have no explanation for Ain’t Nobody’s dire effort.

The King George is the main event this weekend but there’ll be no Goliath priced winner in this renewal with just five declared. We are also racing on the Knavesmire on Friday and Saturday and an Ed Walker trained filly might be able to sneak some black type at massive odds in the Listed Lyric Fillies’ Stakes on Friday evening.

Ready To Step Up In Trip

This filly is a half-sister to our old pal Makarova, a mare we backed at tasty odds when she won the Abbaye. She’s also a full sister to Nina Bailarina, who was placed in a 6f G3 for this yard. Hardly a candidate for 10.5f on breeding but on the evidence of her last two runs over 1m, including in a listed heat at Pontefract 17 days ago, she looks ready for this longer trip.

The first of those runs over 1m was a staying on third in a handicap at this venue off 83. She raced a bit keenly that day but last time at Pontefract she settled a lot better and she ran on well from the back to nick fifth, 6.25l behind the winner Royal Dress but only 0.75l behind the third Imperial Quarter, a 14/1 shot here. Vicario is 66s.

PJ McDonald takes the ride and he is 6/41 with another 17 top 4 finishes when riding for Ed Walker. That’s a frame hitting strike rate of over 50%, hopefully he can enhance that on Vicario and nick some precious black type in the process at odds of 66/1.

7.48 York Tip: Vicario e/w @ 66/1

-DaveStevos

2025 Newmarket July Meeting Thursday Tip

Last weekend was finished off in fitting fashion by Daylight. She wasn’t disgraced in the Jean Prat, she just didn’t quite see out the 7f. I was going to preview the live ITV races at Newmarket tomorrow but after looking at the card, no thanks. However, at least there is one decent betting heat, the sprint handicap at 3.00, and I am going to chance two in that at decent prices.

3.00 Newmarket - bet365 Handicap (Heritage)

There are two that interest me here and the first one is The Strikin Viking. Trained by Newmarket based handler Hamad Al Jehani, this horse is making his handicap debut. Highly tried last year, his two best efforts were a 0.5l second to Henri Matisse in the G2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh (6f, gd-sft) and a 0.5l second in the G2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood (6f, gd-fm). 

His last two starts of 2024 weren’t up to much and he also disappointed when nearer last than first in a 5.5f Chantilly G3 on his sole run of 2025. He now switches to handicaps off a mark of 103 and while it is hard to argue he is thrown in on recent performances, I think odds of 40/1 are a bit dismissive of his chance.

However, given that he ran so well at Goodwood last year, my fear is that this might be a tune up for the Stewards’ Cup at that venue next month. He’s 50s for that at the moment with one firm, if he wins or runs well here, those odds will tumble. I’ll have a small e/w bet on him just in case, but the other one that looks a shade too big in here is Kevin Ryan’s American Style.

Style Can Strike

By Washington DC, this gelding is having a fine season. A winner off 78 at Ripon on his reappearance, he has backed that up with solid efforts on the Rowley course at Newmarket (twice) and last time out at York when fifth behind Hucklesbrook. He is now 11lb better off with that rival so he may well be able to close the 3.75l gap.

On his previous start he finished 1l behind Marchogian on the Rowley course, from whom he was getting 2lb. He gets 7lb from him here and he has already reversed the form (at York last time), yet he is 22/1 and Marchogian is 14/1. Go figure.

Josephine Gordon got a good tune out of this lad that day at Newmarket and she is back in the plate today. Now, it must be said that American Style does need to pull out a bit more to win this off his current mark but from what we have seen so far this season, he is almost guaranteed to run his race and if he does, it should be good enough for a place and you never know, he might even win.

At odds of 22/1, he is well worth backing e/w and I’ll also be having a half-stakes e/w bet on The Strikin Viking at 40s. Hopefully we can nick some place money.

2025 Newmarket July Meeting Thursday Tip: American Style e/w @ 22/1 NAP; 0.5pt e/w The Strikin Viking e/w @ 40/1 (both 5 places)

-DaveStevos

Daylight Could Shine At Deauville

Saturday was an unmitigated disaster. It was a complete and utter shitshow with absolutely zero positives. To be fair, we’ve had a decent few weeks so we were due a dud of a day.

In an attempt to salvage some dignity from the weekend, I am going to back Daylight in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville. Trained by Patrice Cottier, this horse can be backed at 33/1 but I’m not sure she should be as big as that, especially if the forecast rain materialises.

Last season, this daughter of Earthlight posted some rock solid efforts in defeat at the top table. Campaigned exclusively at 6f, she won two of her first three starts, including a G3 at Deauville. She then finished a 1.5l third behind Whistlejacket and Rashabar in the G1 Prix Morny, again at Deauville, and followed that up with a fine 3l second behind superstar filly Lake Victoria in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket.

Two Runs

This season, she has had two runs. In the first one, her first try at 7f over this C&D, Cottier used her stablemate Kaadi as a ‘pacemaker’. However, the entire field basically ignored her and sat 8-10 lengths behind and I think Barzalona mistimed his challenge and got to the front way too soon. Daylight subsequently faded into third in the last 100 yards.

On her second start of the season, Daylight ran in the French 1000 Guineas and the 1m trip probably just stretched her. She wasn’t disgraced in seventh and in the end, she was just over 4l behind the first two. The bookies weren’t impressed by that run though and she has been completely written off by them.

Optimum Trip

It looks like seven furlongs is this filly’s optimum distance and that is what she gets today. Her course form figures read 133 and looking at how she has been campaigned, I’d imagine her whole season has been geared towards this race.

Mickael Barzalona is back on board and hopefully, he has learned his lesson from hitting the front far too early the last time he rode. If he can time his challenge right, and get a clear run, Daylight can hopefully hit the frame at odds of 33/1.

2025 Prix Jean Prat Tip: Daylight e/w @ 33/1

-DaveStevos