The temperature has hit 29c here and I am writing this week’s column in shorts and a t-shirt, as it should be though given that it’s June and we reach midsummer this week. Hopefully the hot and sunny weather will continue this week, as tomorrow sees the start of the best flat racing festival in the world Royal Ascot. Oh, how time flies so fast these days doesn’t seem that long that I was getting excited at the start of the flat season. It must be age! Well plenty to get through this week. So let’s get cracking.

Double Delight For Horse Tracker Followers!

The racing on Saturday was low on quality but high on quantity in particular with competitive big field handicaps at Musselburgh and York. The William Hill Sprint Cup over 5f at Musselburgh was arguably the betting race of the weekend and was won by the Paul Midgley trained Line of Reason who completed a notable double for the trainer as his Orient Class also took the consolation race earlier on the card.

Line of Reason was well backed before the off, some 16/1 was available earlier in the day, and was sent off at odds of 11/1. It was also a good day for those of you who follow my One for the Tracker feature in this column as I had highlighted his claims for a win here a couple of weeks ago:

“Line Of Reason may not be the horse he was but the seven year old is now dropping down the handicap. Well backed before the race, he wouldn’t have liked the rain that fell just before and during the race as he has always been at his best on good to firm ground. He was just making some decent headway when he met trouble in running inside the final furlong. The gelding had to settle for a 3 ¾ length 7th at the finish but would have finished much closer with a better passage. There is a race in him when he gets his ground on the evidence of this run”.

The drying weather just came in time for the gelding who was given a fine hold up ride by jockey Joe Fanning to mow down Harry Hurricane who had looked the most likely winner inside the final furlong.

Another previous One for the Tracker horse Mamillius trained by George Baker won at Leicester on Saturday evening to give us a nice double on the day. This is what I wrote about the horse after his seasonal reappearance at the same course:

“..Was having his first start since last September and his first start since a gelding operation. A winner last year at Salisbury over 7f, he was a 3 length 4th of 18 in this Class 4 7f handicap. Given the three who finished in front of him were drawn on the far side he did well to finish as close as he did from the stands side. The four year old has only had six career starts so he remains open to a bit more progress this year and with this race under his belt looks capable of getting back into the winners enclosure sooner than later”.

The other big race of the weekend was the 6f, Class 2 Handicap for the three year old which attracted a field of 18 runners for the valuable prize on offer to the winner. The race was won by the Tim Easterby trained Golden Apollo who was sent off at odds of 5/1, I had advised my subscribers to back this one at 9/1 on the morning of the race. All in all a good weekend betting wise and let’s hope it can continue through Royal Ascot.

One For The Tracker:

Mazyoun trained by Hugo Palmer is this week’s horse for your trackers. The three year old has now had 9 career starts but just the one win in an all weather maiden to his name on his last start as a juvenile. Didn’t enjoy the rain softened ground when slightly below par at York on his previous start but the return to quick ground suited the gelding. He was beaten 2 ½ lengths into 5th in this York 7f Class 2 Handicap but still ran his best race of the season so far. He was settled at the rear, was arguably given too much to do, but was making noticeable headway when not getting the best of runs coming to the final furlong. Hadn’t looked a particularly well handicapped horse coming into the race but on the evidence of this run is capable of landing a handicap when gets his decent ground and he might be worth a second try at a mile.

Aiden O’Brien Group 3 & Listed Runners At Royal Ascot

Last week I shared some Royal Ascot favourite stats with you and as promised here are some more stats for Royal Ascot. This time I am focusing on Aiden O’Brien and his runners in Group 3 and Listed races at the meeting.

Last year the Irish Maestro had his best ever number of winners with seven and there is a chance he could match or even beat last years tally this time around. In the past 5 years he has had 20 winners from 115 runners 17% +61.42 A/E 1.01 52 placed 45% (profit to Betfair SP of 113.12). However, if we focus in on his runners in Group 3 & Listed races that had finished in the first three on their last start he has delivered – 9 winners from 25 runners 36% +73.98 A/E 2.09 13 places 52% +85.50 (profit to Betfair SP of 102.44)

Hopefully the above angle will be a profitable one again this year.

Stat Corner:

Nottingham

Trainer Richard Fahey’s juvenile newcomers should always be respected at Nottingham. Since 2014 he is 6 winners from 16 runners 38% +20.75 A/E 2.37 9 places 56% +33.35 with such runners so his runner in the 6:00 – Just For Fun could be worth supporting.

The tracker horses have been going well so it’s about time that the Monday selections step up too the plate and provide us with a winner.

Monday Selection:

Windsor

8:45 – Hawridge Glory – Made a pleasing seasonal reappearance when a running on 5th here three weeks ago, The step up in trip 1m 2f should be fine on the evidence of that run. Of slightly more concern would be the likely good to firm going, it was good to soft last time and on his only run on quick ground as a juvenile he was 11th of 14 at Salisbury. If he handles the quicker surface he faces here I am sure he will go close. His trainer Rod Millman has been among the winners recently which is always a good sign and he is also 3 winners from 8 runners 38% +4 in Class 5 handicaps, for three year olds, at the course since 2014.

8:45 – Hawridge Glory – 6/1 or better.

All that’s left now is to wish you a profitable weeks betting at Royal Ascot.

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