 |
Tanya Stevenson's Racing UK Blog |
| Saturday 21st June 2014 |
My feet are shot but I’m looking to get a Spring in my step
Friday wasn’t great on the punting front, plus my feet are in agony courtesy of high heels, I’ve spread a plate big time.
There is a need to line the pockets to pay for my gym membership and to recoup, Arab Spring can help in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes perhaps?
His has been brought through slowly just like stable companion Cannock Chase. Both have all the makings of being a Group horse but are not being rushed.
Arab Spring was one of the best backed horses at the Dante Meeting at York and I’m sure most of you watched him bully his way to the fore and fend off all challengers.
He is a horse who won’t be flashy in his races but he gets the job done.
Standing in the betting ring and in close proximity to the rails bookmakers, including David Power you can’t help be swept up by the enthusiasm for both Sole and Slade Power.
We’ve seen a Sole Power land his second King’s Stand Stakes. Can it be a dreamy week for Edward Lynam and his team with Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes? I think so.
Seeking Magic reverts to type and six furlongs having closed in on Caspian Prince at Epsom over five. He has a fortuitous draw and can keep an eye on Rocky Ground.
Royal Ascot has had everything, sunshine, hot temperatures, plenty of favourites, adrenalin pumping finishes, hard luck stories and fairytale first wins for trainers and jockeys.
The heartening factor with regards to bookmakers was that the turnover was up, the slippage was up, but was that only related to the Royal meeting? I’ll wait for Newmarket’s July meeting before I start screaming renaissance.
There have been many hefty wagers but remember most, if not all, are not cash. We now live in a cashless society and wagers such as £110,000 will become extinct until Royal Ascot next year, with the exception of Cheltenham Festival and Aintree.
At the other meetings today and come Sunday bookmakers on the rails and in Tatts will at times struggle to take four figures on a race let alone a four-figure bet! Such is the exuberance of these wildly outlandish wagers that they mask the underlying problem that the betting rings on-course are but a whimper to the roar the sounded out almost 20 years ago.
Next week I’ll be at Newcastle, a course I love, for the Northumberland Plate, but even there on their biggest day of the year for the track the bookmakers will flinch at a bet of a £1000. That’s if they see one. The majority of investments will be £2.50 each-way, £5, £10.
What I do take exception to is the fact that only six bookmakers on the Thursday at Royal Ascot offered a 1/4 of the odds a place on the 18-runner King George V handicap. Come on boys and girls its Royal Ascot!
As for the performance of the week, that has got to be everyone coming through the turnstile as they created the atmosphere and made the meeting. Equine performance had to be Sole Power for me. If only we knew just before the 2010 Nunthorpe when he won at 100-1 what we know now!
Tanya Stevenson's Royal Ascot tips:
3.05 Royal Ascot: Arab Spring at 3-1 with bet365, William Hill and Paddy Power
4.25 Royal Ascot: Slade Power at 4-1 with Ladbrokes
5.00 Royal Ascot: Seeking Magic at 12-1 with Ladbrokes
Tanya Stevenson's pointers:
Only two favourites have won since it became a Group One race in 2002
In 2003 Choisir completed the King’s Stand Stakes/Golden Jubilee Stakes double
Since 2002 only two three-year-olds have won – 27 have tried (2008 Kingsgate Native, 2009 Art Conniseur)
Since 2002 only one horse older than six has won – 33 have tried (2005 Cape Of Good Hope)
Eleven of the last 12 winners had all raced over seven furlongs or further (seven had won)
Seven of the last 12 winners had previously run at Royal Ascot
Over the last 12 years stalls 14, 15 & 16 have accrued three wins, four seconds and four thirds
Since 2002 all but one of the winners had run in a Group One (Five had won)
Seven of the last ten winners of the Wokingham came from the first six in the betting
Eight of the last ten winners of the Wokingham finished in the first four on their most recent run
Only two of the last ten winners had previously run at Royal Ascot
None of the last ten winners had previously run in the Wokingham Stakes
Eight of the last ten winners had run over seven furlongs
Only six favourites have won in the last 30 years
Over the last ten years 52 horses aged seven or older have tried to win the Wokingham all have failed
Only two three-year-olds have won in the last 30 years (1985 Bel Byou, 1986 Touch Of Grey)
Only one horse older than six has won since 1960 (Selhurstpark Flyer 1998)
Four horses have won the race twice latest Selhurstpark Flyer 1997, 1998
(Today York Glory & Dandy Boy will attempt to equal them)
