Hugh - Best Sportsbook Promotions

Royal Ascot tips: Hugh Taylor’s selections for day five | Racing News

On: June 22, 2024 By: admin

Hugh Taylor has four selections for the final day of Royal Ascot on Saturday – watch all seven races live on Sky Sports Racing.

Karl Burke’s two-year-olds have had a terrific week, and Motawahij looks overpriced in the Chesham Stakes (2.30).

He made a promising debut at Hamilton earlier this month, shaping in typical fashion for one sourced from the breeze-up sales, knowing his job but over-racing slightly and unable to go with a speedier rival, who subsequently ran creditably in the Coventry Stakes, finishing third of eight in the far-side group and 12th of 24 overall.

Burke has only had three previous runners in this race but one of them, Markyg, had a very similar profile to that of Motawahij, as he was a US-bred breeze-up purchase who also ran at Hamilton on debut (finishing fourth of six) before finding tons of improvement to finish third in the 2008 Chesham at 22/1. His two other runners produced a mid-division finish at 66/1 and, famously, Holloway Boy’s 40/1 debut win two years ago.

Bedtime Story is clearly the right favourite after doing well to overhaul her better-fancied stablemate on her debut at Leopardstown, and that looks the best form on offer, but Motawahij appeals as the best each-way alternative.

Middle Earth was a smart horse last year, but he shaped like a much-improved performer on his seasonal debut at Newbury, and, with a run under his belt and conditions in his favour, he looks to have a valid chance of turning the tables on St Leger winner Continuous – who is the only one of Aidan O’Brien’s 40 runners at Royal Ascot this week to be making his seasonal debut – in the Hardwicke Stakes (3.05).

On his seasonal debut at Newbury over 1m 4f, he wasn’t well positioned off a steady pace, especially considering his best form last year came over 1m 6f, but he produced a terrific, sustained burst of speed to run down King Of Conquest, who very much enjoyed first run on him and went on to win a Listed race in emphatic style next time.

Middle Earth’s closing sectionals that day were eye-catching to say the least – for instance, his final two-furlong time was much quicker than the impressive finish produced by King’s Gambit in the 1m 2f race, and he was also faster over the closing two furlongs than Elite Status in the 6f Carnarvon Stakes or Audience and Charyn in the Lockinge Stakes.

Those figures in isolation don’t actually mean much, as regular followers of sectional times will be aware that it’s not unusual for middle-distance races to produced faster finishing times than races over shorter depending on the respective paces of the races. However, they do highlight how fast he had to go to overhaul a smart rival (now rated 114) who himself was pulling well clear of the remainder.

Continuous is obviously the one to beat, having had Middle Earth over 15 lengths behind when winning the St Leger on softish ground, and if he returns at the top of his game, he’ll be hard to beat. O’Brien stated in a recent At The Races stable tour that they didn’t feel there was a suitable prep race for him and that he had been for two “away” workouts.

However, as well as the very different underfoot conditions, the fact that Middle Earth has had a run and shown what appeared to be much-improved form are plausible reasons for thinking it should be much closer between them this time.

Fivethousandtoone has run shockers in his previous three starts at Ascot, but they were in his pre-headgear days during a period when he was very much in the doldrums, and he’s no forlorn hope in the Wokingham Stakes (5.05) despite his big weight.

He has gone from strength to strength since headgear was fitted and was extremely impressive when overcoming a poor track position to beat Misty Grey, who won subsequently over course and distance in a lightning-fast time before winning a hot Class Two handicap at Epsom.

With hindsight, Fivethousandtoone faced a very stiff task in the Duke Of York Stakes last time, especially as he raced away from where the contest unfolded, and he performed with plenty of credit in a hot race – six of the eight horses that beat him run in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes earlier on the card and he wasn’t that far behind them.

His style ought to lend itself well to the straight track here and he might leave his previous Ascot form behind in the headgear.

Primo Lara has improved significantly since being stepped up to 1m 2f, unsurprisingly given his pedigree, and he still looks a big player despite the 9lb rise for his latest win at York in the Golden Gates Stakes (5.40).

His dam was Listed placed over 1m 4f and 1m 6f, and having been handicapped on three runs over 7f, he has proved a different proposition over 1m 2f on his last two starts.

He came from last to first in great style, recording some fast sectionals, to win at Chelmsford on his handicap debut, and again impressed with the strength of his finish at York last time, having an ordinary field well strung out behind him.

That performance hasn’t been missed by the handicapper, but he started off such a lowly mark that he remains difficult to assess, and a truly-run, big-field race (which he hasn’t yet encountered) might see further improvement.

Hugh’s best bets (1 to 5 points)

2.30 ROYAL ASCOT – 1pt each-way MOTAWAHIJ

3.05 ROYAL ASCOT – 1pt win MIDDLE EARTH

5.05 ROYAL ASCOT – 1pt each-way FIVETHOUSANDTOONE

5.40 ROYAL ASCOT – 1pt win PRIMO LARA

Watch every race from Royal Ascot live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday.

Royal Ascot tips: Hugh Taylor’s three picks for Day Three | Racing News

On: June 20, 2024 By: admin

Hugh Taylor has three selections for Day Three at Royal Ascot, including a two points play in the Hampton Court Stakes – watch all seven races live on Sky Sports Racing.

GILDED WATER took a big step forward on his first start over 1m2f at Chepstow last time, and he might find further improvement over 1m 4f in the King George V Handicap (3.05).

He made his debut only two months ago but left his first two runs a fair way behind at Chepstow, readily pulling clear from a Sir Michael Stoute colt who had showed plenty of promise on debut.

He was still extending his advantage at the line despite being eased, and gives the impression he’ll improve again over 1m 4f, which wouldn’t be a surprise as his half-brother Circle Of Fire, who also runs in the Royal colours, won the Grade One Sydney Cup over 2m earlier this year.

Gilded Water does lack experience for a race of this nature, but probably makes up for it in potential and there’s every chance he could progress into being better than a handicapper.

The progeny of Farhh have a notably better record as three-year-olds than as juveniles, so it probably shouldn’t be surprising that VOLTERRA showed much-improved from when winning on his seasonal debut at Newmarket, and despite his subsequent 9lb rise he still looks of interest in the Britannia Handicap (5.05), as there might be further improvement to come.

That reappearance win was forewarned by the market, but he probably deserves extra credit because he took a strong hold during the early stages of the race and in the circumstances did well to see out his race strongly, well on top at the line.

The runner-up won in good style next time over the same course and distance but had the benefit of a previous run this season when he faced Volterra and is only 2lb better off with him here.

Volterra did win at a modest level as a two-year-old, but Farhh’s record with juveniles – 20 wins from 192 runs (10.42 per cent), 0.85 actual over expected, and a level stakes loss of 85 points – doesn’t come close to the record of his three-year-old progeny – 99 wins from 457 runs (21.66 per cent), 1.35 actual over expected, and a level stakes profit of 120 points.

It seems unlikely we have seen the best of him after just four career runs, and he’s drawn next to a couple of horses who have made the running or raced prominently recently, so he might be able to get a lead if connections wish.

KING’S GAMBIT looks set to emulate some of his stable’s previous London Gold Cup winners by going on to much better things and he looks very much the one to beat in the Hampton Court Stakes (5.40).

He was ultimately a very impressive winner on that Newbury seasonal and handicap debut, briefly looking as if he might struggle to pick up the leaders approaching the two-furlong pole but picking up once he found a gap and then surging clear in great style in the final 100 yards.

His final furlong was faster according to the Total Performance Data sectionals than that of Diamond Rain, favourite for the Ribblesdale Stakes earlier on this card, who herself finished strongly to win a much more steadily-run race later in the day, the fact that she was slower than King’s Gambit in that final furlong despite recording an overall time more than two-and-a-half seconds slower paying a big compliment to the colt’s performance.

The Charlton stable’s London Gold Cup winners have done extremely well subsequently, including at Group One and Group Two level, and King’s Gambit can take this as his next step on the ladder.

Hugh’s best bets (1-5 points)

3.05 ROYAL ASCOT – 1pt win GILDED WATER

5.05 ROYAL ASCOT – 1pt win VOLTERRA

5.40 ROYAL ASCOT – 2pts win KING’S GAMBIT

Watch every race from Royal Ascot live on Sky Sports Racing this week.

Royal Ascot tips: Hugh Taylor’s three picks for day two | Racing News

On: June 19, 2024 By: admin

Hugh Taylor has four Wednesday selections for day two of Royal Ascot – live on Sky Sports Racing – including a pair for the Kensington Palace Stakes.

It goes against the grain somewhat to oppose the Ryan Moore-ridden favourite in the Queen’s Vase (3.05) with another from the Aidan O’Brien stable, but that ploy would have proved successful in last year’s Jersey Stakes. Although Highbury only won a maiden last time, it was a much more likeable performance than that produced by stablemate Illinois in the Lingfield Derby Trial.

Highbury ran creditably when third behind Birdman on debut at Cork in April, but he left that run well behind on his second start at Leopardstown. Always prominent in a race run at a true gallop, he looked set to be challenged approaching the furlong pole, but stretched right away in the closing stages, seeming to relish the ground and leaving the impression he would be well suited by a step-up in trip.

Illinois will be ridden by Ryan Moore, as he was at Lingfield, but although on a bare reading of the form he ran well there, I didn’t like his head carriage at all in that race. It was hanging right but seeming to consent to knuckle down only in the closing stages, and he looks short enough here on what might be the fastest ground he has encountered.

Birdman is obviously another to consider having beaten Highbury on debut before following up in a Listed race next time, but I was more impressed by Highbury, albeit at a lower level, and Wayne Lordan, who has ridden him on both starts to date, might be able to follow up his Jersey Stakes win on Age Of Kings in the same colours last year.

I’ve had the Royal Hunt Cup (5.05) in mind for Real Gain since last July, when he produced a quality performance in a good time figure on just his second career start at Chelmsford over 1m2f.

He was carrying a penalty that day and so conceding 12lb to Lady Boba, who is now rated 104, with Intinso, who has run well on all four starts on the all-weather, back in third, that trio pulling a long way clear of the remainder.

Real Gain bolted up by a wide margin at Newmarket later in the year and wasn’t seen to best effect when sent off 3-1 favourite for a Group 3 event on his final three-year-old start at the same track, making the running in the smaller group of four towards the centre of the track and faring best of that quartet, not looking out of place at that level.

He left the impression his seasonal debut run at Newbury in the Spring Cup didn’t get to the bottom of him, switched from his low draw, meeting trouble in running and never landing a blow.

He now has William Buick on board for the first time. It will be interesting what tactics are adopted as he was ridden more patiently than previously at Newbury, but he looks the type to win a big handicap such as this before perhaps reverting to minor Pattern company.

In the Kensington Palace Stakes (5.40) there are any number of interesting fillies, but the two I like are Summer Of Love and Elim.

Summer Of Love made most of the running on her reappearance at Kempton and that’s not an easy task to pull off over the straight mile here, but she does look to have been let in on a potentially lenient mark based on that latest run, which was over 7f.

She was allowed a relatively uncontested lead that day, but she kicked clear in the straight under a hands-and-heels ride and never looked like being caught, and although she appeared to be tiring slightly in the final 100 yards, there have been multiple comments from connections suggesting that they had expected her to be in need of the run somewhat.

She was conceding 12lb to the four three-year-olds who filled the next four places, and both her overall time and her final 3f time were faster than that of Local Hero, who ran out a clear-cut winner of the Class 4 handicap later on the card off a mark of 85.

Summer Of Love was carrying 7lb more than Local Hero and given that was her seasonal reappearance, she probably ran to a level that suggests she’ll be up to contesting level-weights Listed events if translating that level of form to turf, so she makes a fair bit of appeal here off a mark of just 88.

Elim has been on my radar as a well-handicapped filly for over a year, having won in impressive style at Newcastle and Musselburgh in the early part of the 2023 season, and she appeals as the type to take well to the demands of this track after shaping as if in need of the run on her seasonal debut at Redcar.

She was selected in this column a year ago at Musselburgh because I thought the handicapper had been decidedly generous in giving her an opening mark of 77, and I thought he was generous again when only raising her 6lb following that race, as she travelled as if a long way ahead of her rating that day, even though she was closed down by the runner-up late on, the performance backed up by the clock.

She was a little keen in the early stages at Redcar and ultimately shaped as if needing the race for fitness after an absence of over a year.

Jamie Spencer looks the perfect rider for this strong-travelling hold-up performer, and she’s a serious contender off a mark of just 83.

Hugh’s best bets

3.05 – HIGHBURY

5.05 – REAL GAIN

5.40 – SUMMER OF LOVE

Watch every race from Royal Ascot live on Sky Sports Racing from 18-22 June.