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Horseracing Betting Briefing: June 14-20

Events RSS / / 13 June 2009 /

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It's all about Royal Ascot in the world of racing next week, as Andrew Hughes explains...

Sunday June 14

The week is dominated by the goings on in Berkshire, but it opens with some high class action from Chantilly. The Prix de Diane is the French equivalent of the Oaks, though a furlong or so shorter. J-C Rouget has never trained the winner of this prestigious Group One for three-year-old fillies, but has an excellent chance with Stacelita, winner of the Prix Saint-Alary last month. Supporting the main event there are two other Group contests worth noting: the Prix du Lys, run over a mile-and-a-half for three-year-old colts, in which Andre Fabre has saddled the winner an astonishing 11 times and the Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord, a mile contest for which the best of the British raiders is probably Clive Cox's Beacon Lodge.

On the west coast of Ireland there's also a decent meeting at Cork, featuring the Noblesse Stakes, a Group Three for fillies and mares in which three-year-old horses take on their elders over a mile and a half and the Listed Rochestown Stakes for two-year-olds in which the pick of the entries is probably Ger Lyons's Love Lockdown.

Tuesday June 16

The Royal meeting gets underway with the high calibre Queen Anne Stakes for the best of the older milers. Godolphin's Gladiatorus will take some beating after his Dubai successes and can be backed at [3.15]. After that classy opener, there is the first of many big field challenges for punters as some of the world's best sprinters come together in the Kings Stand Stakes. Race of the day has to be the prestigious St James's Palace Stakes, in which Guineas contenders from three nations lock horns and for which Mastercraftsman [2.0] is the current favourite.

Wednesday June 17

Classiest race on the card is the Prince of Wales' Stakes, an illustrious middle distance contest for which last year's Derby runner up and ultra-consistent Tartan Bearer is a the ante-post favourite at [2.4]. But the Royal Hunt Cup is an equally popular betting event, an ultra competitive Heritage Handicap on the straight mile with an enormous field. And if that isn't enough for you, there's the tricky puzzle of the Queen Mary Stakes for two-year-old fillies and the equally fiendish opening race of the day, the Jersey Stakes, run over of seven furlongs.

Thursday June 18

Stand-out race of the day is that grand old event, the Gold Cup, the most prestigious staying contest in Europe, run over a gruelling two-and-a-half miles. And it's no surprise to see Yeats, three times winner of this is once again favourite at [3.3]. Away from the main event, it's a day for younger types with the frenetic speed test of the Norfolk Stakes for two-year-olds and a couple of intriguing events for three-year-olds: the Ribblesdale over 12 furlongs and the Hampton Court Stakes over ten.

Friday June 19

Big race of the day is the Coronation Stakes, a Group One that can be considered the fillies' equivalent of the St James Palace Stakes, for which 1,000 Guineas winner Ghaanati is sure to be popular in the market. There is also the Albany Stakes, a competitive six furlong tussle for promising two-year-old fillies and a brace of venerable staying contests in the King Edward VII, which takes place over a mile and a half and the Queen's Vase, run over two miles.

Saturday June 20

The last day of this festival of Flat racing is dominated by two popular cavalry charges. The Golden Jubilee Stakes is the meeting's most valuable sprint contest and is always fiercely contested by a truly international field, which this year includes old Aussie favourite Takeover Target and Mike de Kock's South African contender, JJ the Jet Plane. It is complemented by the Wokingham, the oldest handicap at the meeting and a frenetic betting event. You should also take a look at the Hardwicke Stakes for older staying types, the Chesham Stakes, which offers a stiff test for two year olds and the meeting's closing event, the uniquely gruelling Queen Alexandra Stakes, the longest flat race of its kind at just under three miles.

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