Make sure to check this weekend’s preview titled, Guineas Gold and Plenty More!
Spectacular racing on turf spearheaded by the first two Classics of the year on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket this Saturday and Sunday is proof positive that the Flat season is properly up and running, with a bountiful offering of further major Group races on the close horizon in the UK.
The Qipco Guineas Festival is the place to be at the weekend and a first tester for punters the unravelling of what has been a hugely complicated puzzle for Saturday’s Qipco 2000 Guineas.
It’s been something of an ante-post bonanza for the book, with first the winter favourite TOO DARN HOT crashing out with a splint problem and then another of John Gosden’s colts, CALYX, falling by the wayside after not showing connections enough in some work under Frankie Dettori on the Rowley Mile to justify a tilt at the big one.
That was swiftly followed by Marcus Tregoning ruling out his Greenham Stakes winner MOHAATHER who was found to be lame after exercise.
All that carnage left Aidan O’Brien dominating the market with Hollywoodbets finding it hard to split Coolmore raiders MAGNA GRECIA and TEN SOVEREIGNS.
Of the two, Magna Grecia doesn’t have to prove his stamina as he’s already a Group 1 winner of the Racing Post Trophy over a mile, but Ten Sovereigns has a big question to ask on the stamina front as he’s far from guaranteed to get the trip. It’s typical of the ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ policy of O’Brien that he is fielding him and sending into completely uncharted waters.
Leading the home challenge on a race won by such legends as Tudor Minstrel, Brigadier Gerard, Sir Ivor, Nijinsky, Sea The Stars and Frankel is the William Haggas-trained SKARDU who has the experience card to play after landing the Craven Stakes three weeks ago. For an inexperienced horse, he got the job done in matter of factly manner.
Kevin Prendergast saddled Nebbiolo to win this in 1977 so it would be fairytale stuff if his MADHMOON could deliver in similar style after a 42-year break. Certainly, there is no lack of confidence behind this general 10-1 shot.
The Qipco 1000 Guineas picture hasn’t seen so many ‘exiteers’ but there is no question that the filly people have latched onto is QABALA who produced impressive sectionals in both her triumphs at Newmarket, especially the Nell Gwyn, and stands out in a field that lacks an obvious top notcher.
SKITTER SCATTER has a Group 1 under her belt and has to go out and show she is ready to win a Classic on her seasonal reappearance while FAIRYLAND brings an experience card to the table for the Coolmore operation and that streetwise quality could stand her in good stead.
Another course winner and at Group 1 level is IRIDESSA who almost certainly needed her comeback run at Leopardstown where she looked to carry a bit of condition. The drop back to seven furlongs and a wide draw didn’t help her either, but things will be different on Sunday as she will be more forward.
It’s a while since the North triumphed in this, but EAST has a solid chance of reviving memories of Mrs McArdy as she produced the goods in three countries last year, scoring on her debut in Scotland at Hamilton, winning a Group 3 in France and signing off with a superb second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf at Churchill Downs.
For Kevin Ryan’s filly the instruction is ‘go East, young lady’.
In South Africa, a bumper weekend lies ahead with 16 features races spread over three days from Friday to Sunday.
The launch of SA Champions Season at Greyville on Friday evening sees the return to action of Sun Met winner RAINBOW BRIDGE who lines up in the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m. The Eric Sands’ trained gelding has won at Gr3 level over the trip and commences his preparation for the Vodacom Durban July. While it will be his first run on a left-handed track he rates as the horse to beat.
The two local Guineas will be run on the evening and the appearance of Mike de Kock star 3yo SOQRAT is set to liven up matters dramatically. The Australian-bred son of Epaulette won the Horse Chestnut Stakes recently and strips a fit candidate set for higher honours this term.
Champions Day – the Highveld’s premier raceday of the season – will be held at Turffontein on Saturday and it is another Mike de Kock bomb that looks to light up the sky for punters. Dramatic SA Derby late withdrawal HAWWAAM takes on a class field in the 2000m Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge where the evergreen presence of our dual Horse Of The Year LEGAL EAGLE looks to be the only obstacle to glory.
In the USA, 20 thoroughbreds will get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run in the 145th Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
The Gr1 Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the US Triple Crown, followed by the Gr1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and the third is the Gr1 Belmont Stakes run at Belmont Park.
Over 150 000 fans will pack the hallowed grounds to shout home the popular OMAHA BEACH, the current Joint favourite.
Trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by Mike Smith, he has earned his fancied status after impressive performances in the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes. Bob Baffert’s Roadster is also listed at 7-2 after besting Game Winner in the Santa Anita Derby.
In total, there are five horses with likely single figure odds which could make the field difficult to handicap.
So a great weekend in both hemispheres and lots to get excited about.
Till next time – enjoy the winners.
Football: English Premier League
We head into the penultimate weekend of Premier League action with it all still to play for at the top of the pile. Manchester City and Liverpool are busy slugging it out in what has been one of the more memorable title races in recent history. Meanwhile, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all appear to be faltering in the race for the last two remaining Champions League spots. At the other end of the table, Fulham and Huddersfield have been relegated already while anything less than a win for Cardiff will probably see them go down.
The two fixtures that everyone will be keeping their eyes on this weekend will be Liverpool’s trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle and Manchester City’s home tie against Leicester. It’s the Reds who will go first this week. They face a Newcastle outfit who haven’t lost in their last three league fixtures, picking up excellent wins against Leicester and Southampton before a somewhat disappointing draw away at Brighton last week. Still, you can’t write off Rafa Benítez and his dogmatic approach… after all his side did inflict one of Manchester City’s four defeats in the league this season. They’ll face a Liverpool outfit who just seem to be peaking at the business end of the campaign illustrated by their 5-0 demolition of Huddersfield last week, still this won’t be easy. If this fixture wasn’t tricky enough for Klopp and his men already, consider the fact that it is sandwiched in-between two Champions League semi-final ties against Barcelona.
Manchester City will only be in action two days later when they welcome a confident Leicester City to the Etihad. The Foxes have been on a decent run of late, only tasting defeat once in their last seven outings, drawing once and winning five. They romped to a 3-0 win at home against Arsenal last week thanks to a goal from Yoeri Tielemans and double by Jamie Vardy. Manchester City, meanwhile, showed incredible character to come away from Turf Moor last week with three points after Sergio Aguero’s second half strike sealed the win. It’ll be interesting to see how City deal with the challenge should Liverpool claim the points against Newcastle.
Tottenham will face off against Bournemouth on the South Coast in what should be an interesting affair. Spurs head into this off the back of a rather tame showing at home against West Ham. A win for the North London outfit will secure Champions League football next season.
Elsewhere in the league this weekend, Chelsea and Arsenal are both at home against Watford and Brighton respectively while Manchester United travel to Yorkshire to face off against already relegated Huddersfield Town.
Betgames – Bet on Poker
“Bet on Poker” is a real-time game that puts an exciting twist on a classic game like “Texas Hold’em Poker”. Although the rules and procedures are similar to this well-known game, “Bet on Poker” is simpler than Texas Hold’Em, and you can win by betting on any hand you want!
Best of all the lovely dealers are available around the clock to keep you company during every round.
Lucky Numbers
Did you know Hollywoodbets offers EIGHT different draws from Canada? These draws may all close late and result early in the morning but this just means that players can strike their bets before bedtime and wake up winners!
Our Canadian lottos on offer are:
Canada Lotto 6/49 Draw
Atlantic 6/49 Draw
British Columbia 6/49 Draw
Ontario 49 Draw
Quebec 49 Draw
Western 6/49 Draw
Daily Grand 5/49
Lotto Max 7/49
The Canada Lotto 6/49 Draw, Atlantic, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Western 6/49 Draw all close for betting at 22:59 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Results are usually made available on Thursday and Sunday mornings before 06:00. These draws consist of six numbers drawn from sets of 49 after which a bonus number is drawn from the same set.
Odds are:
1 number (main set & bonus): 11/2
2 numbers (main set & bonus): 52/1
3 numbers (main set & bonus): 400/1
4 numbers (main set & bonus): 4 000/1
Bonus: 45/1
Despite its name, the Daily Grand 5/49 takes place on Mondays and Thursdays, closing for betting at 22:59. This draw consists of five numbers drawn from a set of 49 numbers after which a bonus is drawn from a separate set of seven numbers.
Odds are:
1 number (main set): 8/1
2 numbers (main set): 100/1
3 numbers (main set): 1 500/1
4 numbers (main set): 25 000/1
2 numbers (1 main set & 1 bonus): 55/1
3 numbers (2 main set & 1 bonus): 650/1
4 numbers (3 main set & 1 bonus): 10 000/1
Bonus: 11/2
The Lotto Max 7/49 takes place every Friday, closing for betting at 22:59. This draws consists of seven numbers drawn from a set of 49 after which a bonus number is drawn from the same set.
Odds are:
1 number (main set & bonus): 9/2
2 numbers (main set & bonus): 44/1
3 numbers (main set & bonus): 275/1
4 numbers (main set & bonus): 2 500/1
5 numbers (main set & bonus): 25 000/1
Bonus: 44/1
