DERMOT'S DAMES TO DELIVER

The Irish 1000 Guineas is the feature race today, taking place at the Curragh. The race took a big blow with the defection of My Titania, but there are still some high class fillies taking their place in the field. Both of Dermot Weld's representatives have a solid chance with VOTE OFTEN having the ground she loves and TESTED looking like a filly who is still improving.

Vote Often was a horse who I picked as one to follow after her win at the Curragh a couple of months ago. She travelled nicely yet still showed the battling qualities needed to hold off a decent horse in Karl Burke's Odeliz. In truth, she is likely to excel over a distance further than today's trip, although the soft ground will make it a challenge for some of these so that should be no problem.

Vote Often (light pink cap)

Dermot Weld's and Prince Khalid Abdullah's other hopeful is Tested. She is said to have been working very well at home, this following an easy victory in a race at Gowran Park. Her trainer's horses are flying at the moment, which is a positive for both of my selections. If she can act on the surface, which shouldn't be a massive problem, then she has a massive chance of extending her unbeaten record to three.

Tested (pink cap)

In the Gallinule, Edelmira would have been the selection, but she is a non runner. Instead, the selection is BLUE HUSSAR. He ran a decent race at Lingfield last time out after an absence, being held up last all the way round. A more positive ride today will see him go very close.

Happy Punting!

CURLIN TO CONQUER CHROME

The second leg of the American Triple Crown takes place today at Pimlico Racecourse, in the form of the Preakness Stakes. The hot favourite is Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, but recent renewals of this race suggest that he might not have everything his own way. Many Kentucky Derby winners who have gone on to this have been beaten; Orb, Animal Kingdom, Super Saver, Mine That Bird and Street Sense all have encountered this fate in recent years. There are however, some horses that have done the double, such as I'll Have Another, Big Brown and Smarty Jones. In truth, California Chrome should be good enough to join that illustrious role of honour, but at the price he is, opposing him makes sense. 

Trainer Art Sherman has said that California Chrome has been coughing in the two weeks since his Churchill Downs victory, which although Sherman's said that should not prove a problem, it's something to be aware off. 

If anything is going to beat him, it may be a horse comes late. He was in the lead a long way from home in the Derby and although he always looked fairly comfortable, Commanding Curve did begin to make late gains on him. Perhaps if there was a horse who came with a surging run, they could catch California Chrome in the dying strides...

A horse who did make late gains in the Kentucky Derby was RIDE ON CURLIN, despite having a torrid run all the way round. His draw was poor, having to be pulled across from stall 19 all the way to the inside rail and as a result, was a back marker throughout. Once in the straight, he was bustled about, being knocked left right and centre. Once he had some free running room, he made up quite a lot of ground, finishing a respectable second. You would be very surprised if he suffered any interference this time around and he should go a lot closer. 

He may not prove good enough to be reverse the form with California Chrome, but Kentucky Derby also rans have a decent record in this, with Oxbow, Shackleford, Lookin At Lucky and Curlin, Ride On Curlin's (aptly named) sire all having won the Preakness in recent years following defeat at Churchill Downs.

Ride On Curlin looking to emulate his father's success in 2007.

Another horse who could go well is BAYERN, so called after his owner's favourite football club, Bayern Munich. He has some decent form in the book, finishing first past the post in a Kentucky Derby trial (only to lose it in the Stewards' Room). He has a very wise trainer in Bob Baffert and arguably the best female jockey in the world aboard in Rosie Napravnik. 

Bob Baffert's representative looking to hold the opposition at Bay...ern.

Once again, I'll reiterate the point that California Chrome ought to be winning this, but if there are any chinks in his armour, these two should have what it takes to expose them and win the Preakness Stakes.

Good luck to everybody

Happy Punting!

ICE IS NICE IN MUSIDORA

York's three day Dante Festival commences on Wednesday, which provides the last chance for trainers to run their Classic hopefuls one more time before Epsom arrives. To accompany these trials for the Oaks and the Derby, there are some competitive handicaps to wet the appetite too.

Wednesday's feature is the Musidora stakes, a race which has thrown up Oaks winners in the past like Sariska and Reams of Verse plus horses who have won this race and gone on to run respectably in the Epsom Classic, such as The Fugue and Liber Nauticus. The selection for this race probably wont be adding her name to that particular role of honour as connections have said that she is unlikely to go for the English Oaks. This horse is QUEEN OF ICE. A race that, in the past few years, has been won by a horse who has had two runs or less; she fits the bill there. The ground should hold her back in anyway as she won her maiden on a softer surface. The Kempton race she won last time out looked decent, beating a decent yardstick of Richard Hannon's in Midnite Angel. Her won was comfortable that day and a replication of that will see her go very close. A win in the this race could see her lined up for a tilt at the French Oaks. As for the opposition, Shama looks useful although she's not bred to appreciate cut and Cambridge has yet to prove that she's worthy of her lofty reputation. Madame Chiang could run a good race, but Queen Of Ice has a very big chance.

Queen Of Ice

The Duke Of York looks a nice renewal, with many horses having a chance. As the three main front-runners are all drawn fairly low, Astaire (2), Es Que Love (5) and Eton Rifles (6), it may be wise to look at the horses drawn low too. Also, a horse who has form on ground with a little cut in are likely to have more of a chance than those who don't. MAAREK must have a chance, based on his Group winning form previous and his recent second to smart prospect Guerre. He should be primed for this alongside HEERAAT, who will also have come on for this most recent run and will appreciate the step up in trip to six furlongs. He usually runs a solid race at York, which only enhances his claims.

Finally, the 2:15. In this race, in stark contrast to the last race, highly drawn horses need to be looked at. This is because a lot of the previous winners of this race have been drawn high. A horse who is in the form of his life (chasing a hat-trick) is FAST SHOT. If he continues to improve, he'll be there or thereabouts. Another horse with a big chance, unbeaten at York, is BLAINE. If he can find the form which saw him win his first two races, including the Group 2 Gimcrack, he is another who has a big chance. Richard Hughes as a jockey booking is interesting too. Biggest dangers are Royal Rascal, who also loves it on the Knavesmire and Aetna, who will relish the underfoot conditions.

Good luck to everybody

Happy Punting!

RAZA AT THE ROODEE

Chester's May meeting is the first chance in Britain to get a proper look at horses who are going to be campaigned solely over middle distances this year, with both the Classic generation and the older horses going on trial in order to determine what they are likely to be aimed at in the months that follow. The three days also contain some competitive handicaps, with the highlight of Day 1, the Chester Cup, being one of these.

The draw for the Chester Cup is often pivotal in deciding whether or not a horse will win or not. It would seem the horses drawn low have the best chance, so these are the one's that have been looked at in my analysis. Many of the recent winners have won at 2 miles or further, so a strong stayer is also paramount. A horse who meets both of those requirements and one who looks open to improvement is MUBARAZA. He looks a classy sort judging by his placed efforts behind smart stayers such as Tiger Cliff, Well Sharp and Tomiantor, plus it shows that he can stay all day. He is likely to improve following on from his reappearance, as he'd been absent for quite some time and so many of his trainer's horse do. On this occasion, he finished second behind Angel Gabrial, who re-opposes in this race. He is weighted more favourably than Angel Gabrial then he was on his reappearance, so a reversal in the placings is to be expected. Plus, it could be argued that Mubaraza may have finished closer than the bare result suggests, if it were not for being hampered near the finish. He seems to have a lot in his favour, including a jockey on fire, and should run a mighty race.

Mubaraza

Another horse who has a solid chance is Ian Williams' mare BODY LANGUAGE, who has form over a trip similar to this and has a nice draw. She's also put in some useful performances in her most recent runs, including placed efforts behind the likes of Caucus and Oriental Fox.

In the first race of the day, the Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes (1:45), speed's going to be the aim of the game, over a frenetic five furlongs. A quick start is paramount for this, as it is hard to come from behind at Chester, so it may be worth looking at the horses with more experience. This is proven when looking at previous renewals of the race, where most winners have had at least two races. Fillies also have a good record, with the last 3 winners of this being being female. A low draw is also vital, something which CHARLIE'S STAR has. She fits the bill as a winner of this race and he has some decent form to back his chances up with. Filling up the runners up spot behind current leading juveniles Tiggy Wiggy and Kasb look the best form on offer, with these placed efforts being consolidated by a facile victory at Yarmouth. Franny Norton is a positive booking too, as not many jockeys ride Chester better than him. Big chance.

The Cheshire Oaks (2:15) should go the way of Bright Approach in my opinion, but the value about her has gone. A horse who may outrun her massive odds is ANIPA, who has won both of her starts this season. I saw her win at Wolverhampton on her seasonal debut where she won despite looking as though she would come on for the run. She backed that up with a victory in a lowly handicap at Windsor over 11 furlongs, just shy of distance she will face in this. Although the bare form may not be good enough to contend with some of these, the distance she won at proves the trip is no issue. Her attitude cannot be faulted either, she is a very game individual. Her sire, Sea The Stars' progeny are seemingly doing better at three years of age than two, as did he himself, so maybe she will carry on improving.

Best of luck to everybody

Happy Punting!

O'BRIEN'S PAIR OR EURO STAR?

The 1000 Guineas take place today at Newmarket, 24 hours after the colts equivalent. Many people were left unsatisfied after the 2000 Guineas, citing the splitting of the pack as the reason for this. Night of Thunder was an impressive winner in truth, winning races on both the near and far side of the track due to severe drifting on the track. The people who felt that race was messy will hope for a fairer of the fillies Classic today.

Aidan O'Brien's horses always have to be feared and this year is no different. BRACELET won the same Guineas trial that O'Brien's Virginia Waters and Homecoming Queen won before gaining Guineas victory, so it's a tried and tested route used effectively previously. She showed a nice turn of foot that day, winning nicely and she did most of her work in the final furlong. That race was over 7 furlongs, implying that the step up to a mile should pose no problems whatsoever. This beautifully bred filly has a big chance.

Bracelet (orange and blue)

The other O'Brien horse is TAPESTRY. She won her first two races as a 2 year old nice before being promoted from third to second in Moyglare. She is another impeccably bred filly and another who should relish the step up in trip. She has form on the ground, also has a great chance.

Tapestry (left)

And my final selection for this race is EURO CHARLINE. She's been a favourite of mine since I witnessed her demolition job of an admittedly average bunch at Wolverhampton, but she was clearly one to follow. She probably deserved to win the Nell Gwyn, having her path blocked more than once at vital points of the race. The race would've definitely been hers if it was ran over a mile, so the trip today is no worry. She's proven she handles the track, given that the Nell Gwyn was ran at Newmarket and it seems interesting that she was supplemented at a hefty sum for this. I'd love to see her win; if she did it would really put All Weather racing on the map following Toast Of New York plying his trade at Dunstall Park before winning the UAE Derby.

Euro Charline (foreground)

The Dahlia Stakes (2:40) at Newmarket is being dominated by the returning Integral. She looked top class at three and she will no doubt improve at four. However, her trainer's horses usually come on for the run, I believe he's had no winners from horses first time out this season. Horses who have had a run include ESOTERIQUE, who has ran a couple of average races so far this season but did finish second in the French 1000 Guineas, so has the class and ZURIGHA, who won nicely at Kempton when beating the useful Ribbons. Course form is in her favour too, she has a good chance, as does Esoterique.

In the maiden at 4:25, the speedily bred KASSBAAN looks to have a good chance. He is by Kodiac, who had plenty of juvenile winners last year, and out of a mare by Champion Sprinter Oasis Dream, so this minimum trip should be right up his street. He is a half brother to a horse who won at five furlongs as a 2 year old, further enhancing his claims. Support in market for him at the time of writing this is significant, he should go well. The Godolphin filly Elite Gardens may prove to be the main danger.

Finally, SNOW TROUBLE looks to have an awesome chance in the concluding race at 5:35. He won a decent maiden at the Goodwood Festival last year, with jockey that day Johnny Murtagh being quite sweet on him after the race. He got beaten by the narrowest of margins at Kempton on his reappearance this season, coming very late over a mile. Therefore, the step to 10 furlongs today should suit him nicely. The firm ground is in his favour, as is Ryan Moore doing the steering. His trainer Marcus Tregoning is also said to be a massive admirer of his, he should go very close today. As for the rest, there are a couple who may be a danger off a low weight, Lungarno Palace could go well at a price and as for Miner's Lamp, who he is vying for favouritism with, he will probably come on for the run, as so many have shown for  trainer Charlie Appleby this season.

Enjoy your Sunday

Happy Punting!

WICKED A STRONG DERBY HOPE

The race that is billed as being the "Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sport" takes place this evening. That race is the Kentucky Derby. Now I don't profess to being an expert in American racing (my only winner across the Atlantic being Fort Larned in the 2012 Breeder's Cup Classic), but I've had a look at previous renewals and a lot of the horses meet this criteria.

KENTUCKY DERBY CRITERIA

• Won at 9 Furlongs
• Last race no further back than March
• Group race victory
• High draw (which is unusual, as you'd think a lower draw would be preferable)
• Horse has won it's last race

From what I'm aware of, most horses in the field suit the first three points mentioned. However, not many of them suit the last two. One that does is WICKED STRONG. He won the Wood Memorial Stakes cosily last time out. He needed to be cajoled along a little early on in the straight but once he hit top gear he flew home and scored impressively. The 10 furlong trip should pose no problems and he would seem to have a good chance.

Wicked Strong

Another horse who put in a top performance last time out was DANCE WITH FATE. He won the Blue Glass Stakes at Keeneland that day and is another who shouldn't be fazed by today's distance. 18/1 about this horse seems very generous, he should be there or thereabouts.

Dance With Fate

The main danger in my opinion is Chitu, who won the Sunland Derby last time out. The worry with him is that he seems more of a slogger than a stylish horse, that's what his his last run suggests anyway. To me, if he entered the straight in the lead, as game as he is, chances are that he may be overtaken a horse with more tactical speed towards the end, perhaps either of my selections.

As for the favourite, California Chrome, 2/1 appears far too short given it's a twenty runner race that will no doubt be a messy affair. He may prove to be the best horse in the race but he's not for me at the price.

Good luck to everybody

Happy Punting Y'All!

TIPS COME FROM A LAND DOWN UNDER

Today is a great day to be a racing fan. Top class action on the flat from Newmarket, who host the first Classic of the season in the 2000 Guineas.We also have the culmination of five brilliant days National Hunt racing at Punchestown and the "Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sport" with the Kentucky Derby. Lots to preview today, so without further ado...

As the title suggests, some of my tips have an Australian theme to them. Most obvious horse that would spring to mind is AUSTRALIA, but I also like an old favourite of mine, SIZING AUSTRALIA, to run a big race.

Firstly Australia in the 2000 Guineas. A beautifully bred colt, being by a Derby winner out of an Oaks winner, he may improve over further, most likely in the Derby itself. However, I've fancied him for the Derby for a long time but the price now doesn't appeal to me. Today may be the only day that he can be backed at a reasonable price this season, so to me he had to be picked. His trainer thinks a lot of him, building him up to be the best he's ever trained. That hype may be a little "pie in the sky", as he's said that about other horses he's trained previously, but if he can live up to that, he has a massive chance. Camelot did the double, as did Sea The Stars; if he wins this, he'll be stupendously good.

And Sizing Australia in Punchestown's 2:30. One of my favourite horses in training, as he was my first winner at the Cheltenham Festival. The field doesn't look overly strong today, Be Positive only ran 4 days ago which is a worry and Star Neuville would appear to want softer ground than this. Age isn't on his side, but he's reliable and will like the ground. He always puts in a bold showing, hopefully this legend will come back safely.

Australia

Sizing Australia (right)

A couple more I like in the Guineas are WAR COMMAND, who won the Coventry and the Dewhurst as a 2 year old, will love the firm ground and has a great jockey on board in Ryan Moore and CHARM SPIRIT, who again will love the ground, representing a trainer who is bullish about his chances. 25/1 is far too big for a horse who won the Prix Djebel, the same race won by Makfi before Guineas glory in 2010. Spanish raider Noohzoh Canarias is the main danger in my opinion.

Another horse who should run a good race at Punchestown is GUITAR PETE, in the 4:20. Tiger Roll probalby should win in truth, but at the prices, Guitar Pete is the one that catches the eye the most. He'll love the ground and is in good heart, as shown by his victory at Aintree under a masterful ride by Paul Carberry. You could argue that he could reverse the Cheltenham form with Tiger Roll, as it was the second time Guitar Pete got beat at the course, suggesting he maybe wasn't at one with Prestbury Park's daunting hill. Abbyssial may prove to be a danger too.

In the 2:05 at Newmarket, I'm keen on ROCK CHOIR. He seems to have a lot in his favour in this whereas other's havent. For instance, Bold Sniper may need the run given his trainer's record with horse's first time out.

In the 2:40 at Newmarket, SOLE POWER will love the ground, Ryan Moore rides and his rivals Pearl Secret and Hot Streak would appear to be better on a surface with more give in it.

In Newmarket's 5:00, MUTAKAYYEF has a massive chance. He's been mentioned as a horse who could have a decent season, finishing a solid second on his only start at 2 before another second on his re-appearance. He'll be sharper for that run and will appreciate the step up in trip and the firmer ground. Big chance.

Kentucky Derby tips to follow later...

Although it pains me to say it (being an Aston Villa fan), congratulations to Birmingham City for staying up, they usually find a way to battle out of trouble. Credit where credit is due following a torrid season.

Have a good Bank Holiday Weekend.

Happy Punting!