Horseracing Betting Briefing: All the top races to watch form June 8th through to the 14th

Events / Andrew Hughes / 08 June 2008 / Leave a Comment

Andrew Hughes pulls out the betting highlights in horesracing this week from Chantilly to Leopardstown via York

This week's contest to find the most incongruous themed race meeting was a tight affair. Making the early running was Chepstow's Country and Western evening, a concept they clearly felt was not quite hideous enough and so added the manky cherry on the ugly cake by booking a Take That tribute act. However, though it sounds less inviting than a romantic weekend with John Prescott, Chepstow's effort wasn't quite enough to haul in the eventual winner.

Now I want you to imagine yourself in charge of entertainment at Uttoxeter racecourse. What would you come up with as a suitable way to celebrate racing at this fine old Staffordshire racecourse, with its proud tradition of jumps racing? What springs to mind? Why, a Caribbean Night of course! We are told that the evening promises cocktails, authentic (as opposed, presumably to plastic) food and the inevitable tinnitus-inducing wibbling of a steel band. Still it could have been much, much worse. 'Please note', their website sadly informs us, 'Thursday is no longer X Factor Night'. You can almost hear the howls of disappointment across the north Midlands.

But whilst the brave patrons of Uttoxeter struggle not to get curried goat all over their wellies, there is plenty elsewhere to excite the betting public and as always, Betfair give you the chance to back and lay every horse in every race.

Sunday 8th June

Off to France again for the French Oaks (Prix de Diane) in the gorgeous surroundings of the Chateau de Chantillly. This prestigious Group One for fillies of the classic generation may not have the lustre of the real Oaks but a large field featuring some of Europe's best middle distance types is sure to inspire even the most jaded punter. And besides the main event, there are the small but perfectly formed fields of the Prix de Chemin de Fer du Nord and the Prix Paul de Moussac to pick over.

Monday 9th June

From champagne and foie gras to bitter and Pontefract cakes as the West Yorkshire course holds a decent little evening meeting featuring the Listed Pipalong Stakes for fillies and mares. Racing at Ponte is a unique test for horses, jockeys and punters, as this two mile oval track includes some tight bends, steep undulations and a rapid two-furlong finish. The meeting offers a genuine challenge with some earthy betting heats.

Wednesday 11th June

Over the Irish Sea there's a decent meeting at Leopardstown, featuring the Grade Three Ballycorus Stakes over seven furlongs. This race always produces a mixed field made up of specialists at the distance and one or two who get further and hope the galloping nature of the course will suit. Besides the main race, there are a couple of handicaps worth taking a look at from a betting perspective too, most notably, the Kilternan Handicap over a mile.

Thursday 12th June

Newbury's apparently ordinary meeting today has the bonus of the Ballymacoll Stud Stakes, a Listed event for three-year-old fillies over ten furlongs. As per usual for these fillies contests, expect a wide range of abilities, but this is a race that very often includes a few unexposed sorts with decent potential who should be worth noting for later in the season.

Saturday 14th June

The second day of York's June Meeting is by far the best and features three challenging betting heats. The Betfair Sprint is a thunderous big field charge over six furlongs with the hefty prize expected to attract a high quality field of speedy three-year-olds. As ever at this top class course, those who are able to race prominently will be favoured. Two other Class Two handicaps, the nine furlong Cadogan Silver Salver Stakes and the ten furlong Yorkshire Stakes provide equally stiff tests for punters who love to get their teeth into the big prices on offer in these Saturday handicaps.

And in between the action from York, you can enjoy Sandown's Irish Day. There is a good honest card to get stuck into, headed by the Listed Scurry Stakes, a five furlong dash for three year olds and some inviting looking handicaps to weigh up, whilst of course, supping a Guinness or two to enter into the spirit of the occasion.