Race meetings at courses including York, Sandown and Chester offer decent fare for horse racing enthusiasts this weekend but many will already be looking forward to Royal Ascot’s five-day extravaganza beginning on Tuesday.
York, in particular, stages some competitive handicaps tomorrow including the 22-runner Churchill Tyres Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap (3.35 p.m.) over a distance of six furlongs.
Ed Walker’s Golden Brown, who is a nice ride for an apprentice, looks overpriced for this contest. The three-year-old gelding has been slowly getting better with racing, finally scoring on his ninth run when victorious at Salisbury last month from a poor draw.
Walker reports that this race, worth nearly £65,000 to the winner, has been Golden Brown’s target for some time so back him 1 point each way at 18-1 with bet365, paying six places. The long list of dangers is headed by Fortification, who has run two big races at York on his last two starts and he looks likely to improve again for the step up in distance from the minimum trip.
In the earlier Sky Bet Supporting Macmillan Handicap (2.25 p.m.) over seven furlongs, I can see the Ian Williams trained Aalto returning to form although he is tricky customer to catch right.
His best run last season was undoubtedly when he was runner up, off a mark of 92, to More Thunder in the bet365 Bunbury Cup at Newmarket in July. The winner, who was giving the second just 6 lbs, has gone on to far loftier things, yet Aalto will race tomorrow off an official mark 5lbs lower than 11 months ago.
I much preferred the 16-1 that was on offer with some bookmakers three days ago but he looks a well-handicapped horse, while both the distance and the likely ‘good to firm’ ground will be ideal for him.
Once again this is a 22-runner maximum field handicap but back Aalto 1 point each way at 11-2 with William Hill, paying five places. This time the long list of dangers is headed by Akkadian Thunder if – a big if – he can recapture the form of his second at Royal Ascot a year ago in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.
Looking forward to this year’s Royal Ascot, I have already put up two tips ante-post, notably Rahiebb for the Ascot Gold Cup each way at 14-1 and that bet is looking promising given he is now 4-1 second favourite.
My other tip was Rogue Diplomat for the ultra-competitive Royal Hunt Cup each way at 25-1. He has drifted out to 33-1 with one bookmaker, bet365, after a moderate run in France last time out but that was in a small-field listed race, whereas he is much better suited to the hustle and bustle of a big-field handicap. I doubt that he will go off at 33-1 next week provided he makes the final field.
I will add one horse to my modest Royal Ascot ante-post portfolio and that is the Richard Hughes-trained SAYIDAH DARIYAN in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes a week tomorrow (June 20).
The Australian-trained Joliestar, the 9-4 ante-post favourite, is going to be tough to beat in this race but Sayidah Dariyan can outrun her odds because she is an improving four-year-old filly who had been aimed at this race for some time.
We know that she likes Ascot and quick ground after her big run when fourth to Time for Sandals in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at the royal meeting a year ago. There will be more places on offer in a week’s time but I doubt she will still be 50-1 by then. Back her 1 point each way at those odds with Bet Victor, Ladbrokes, Coral and other bookies, all paying just the three places.
Unlike at Epsom a week ago, the sun will be shining at Royal Ascot next week. Good luck to one and all for the best five days of flat racing this year in Britain and arguably anywhere in the world.
Pending:
1 point each way Aalto at 11-2 for the Supporting Macmillan Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 5places.
1 point each way Golden Brown at 18-1 for the Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Rogue Diplomat at 25-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Rahiebb at 14-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Sayidah Dariyan at 50-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
Last weekend: – 1.75 points.
1 point each way Venetian Lace at 12-1 for the Oaks, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2 points win Lexington Blitz at 7-1 for the “Dash”. 3rd. – 2 points.
1 point each way Bay of Brilliance at 14-1 for the Derby, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 4th but Rule 4 25p in the £ reduction. +1.35 points.
1 point each way James J Braddock at 11-1 for the Derby, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 3rdbut Rule 4 25p in the £ reduction. + 0.9 points.
2026 flat season running total: – 11.825 points.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for seven full seasons of tipping: + 68.215 points
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