I used to love ante-post betting. It was one of the perks of holding a press badge because, if you were working on the track, you had access to the prices offered by the bookmakers’ representatives, clustered around the connections, … Read More »

The focus of the racing media’s attention over the weekend was, inevitably, the performance of Constitution Hill in the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton. Beforehand, I readily admit that I didn’t have great clarity of vision on the outcome. … Read More »

Life is never dull when you’ve got people like Emmet Mullins around. I say ‘like’, but I’m not actually sure there is anyone around who is quite like him. What makes him different is the unconventional way in which he … Read More »

There has been much to take out from the racing programme over the last few days. One surprising feature was the defeat of all bar one of Aidan O’Brien’s Group-race runners at York and Deauville. A week ago, who would … Read More »

I have visited this subject before, but once again I find myself asking who the backers are behind some of the market moves that we have witnessed these last few weeks. The most extreme example this weekend was the plunge … Read More »

In past years I have steered away from betting seriously on older horse maiden races from around July-time. This is based on my belief that if horses aged three or older are still maidens at that stage of their career … Read More »

There was much to take away from last week’s Glorious Goodwood meeting, but I want to start with a horse who is highly unlikely to arouse the interest of the post-race analysts. Avalon Queen is a two-year-old daughter of Derby … Read More »

I want to start this week with a look back at the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Although heralded as one of the best renewals of recent years, I’m not sure that all the horses ran to form. The … Read More »

Although these are early days to be looking towards next year’s Classics, I’ll be disappointed if Victorious doesn’t figure in the early reckoning. The daughter of Wootton Bassett has won each of her three starts, notably last time when beating … Read More »

Looking back to last week’s July Meeting at Newmarket, I was mightily impressed with the performance of Senorita Bonita in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes. The daughter of Starspangledbanner had looked very smart at the Craven Breeze-Up sale … Read More »

I have to admit that I am a little confused about the pecking order of this season’s three-year-olds. The Coral-Eclipse on Saturday was the first Group 1 test against older horses but, on form, this did not strike me as … Read More »

I’ve recently come to the conclusion that Aidan O’Brien starts the season without a clear idea of the pecking order of his horses. He is admirably forthcoming in the previews and on open days, and there is no doubting his … Read More »