Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC
Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
The glass jungle that is my adopted home this week was yesterday an aviary of parrots. Gaudy parakeets squawking and sparkling betwixt the grey and black tails signifying the males, punctuated by trees of posturing posh fools satisfying more their vanity and lust for attention rather than the exploits of pure thoroughbred flesh.
And what exploits they were.
Yeats produced the performance of the meeting so far, for the purists at least. Four and a half minutes is a long time to wait for a result, but my god it is worth it. In accomplishing his hat-trick in this infamous Group 1 – for plenty the pinnacle of the entire week – he matched the great Sagaro’s achievements. Who is to argue that Yeats won’t be back for a fourth next year? The champion named after William Butler Yeats also turned us a nice profit, a fact that I’m sure didn’t escape your notice.
W. B. Yeats once said, “I am of a healthy long lived race, and our minds improve with age.” The words are so befitting they could have come straight from the equine Yeats’ mouth, the first 7 year old winner in 15 years.
Whilst cheering the record breaker into the parade ring I felt this single moment was the most characteristically ‘Royal Ascot’ moment of them all. The paddock looked like a spilt box of Quality Street – yet was paying tribute to one of racing’s true greats. It is this juxtaposition of the sublime and the ridiculous which personifies the royal meeting.
Racegoers flock to catch a glimpse of the Queen as she parades down the track, in the royal enclosure it is the done thing to stand, take off your hat and apparently capture the moment on your 3G camera phone. The royal enclosure itself looks like a ‘Where’s Wally?’ spread, while in the grandstand thirty-somethings sip an early afternoon Pimm’s – it’s their fourth already, all from the same plastic cup.
There are clearly two types of punter here. Those who have been drinking since eleven, and can be in the bar after the last, those who have come ‘to be seen’ – invariably sporting this season’s colour, cut and crimps.
Then there’s the rest of us. I don’t give a chit for chic, I’m here for the champions, I’m here for the class, I’m here for the racing.
I’m here for Yeats.
The Duke of York is still marching the bookies up to the top of the hill, three profitable days from three has him now recording a blinding £48.95 profit on the meeting.
Friday’s curtain raiser is the Albany Stakes, a 2 year old fillies Group 3. Not normally the sort of race that one would expect to invest much hard earned dough in, or find an 11/10 favourite. My question to J Bolger, who has now earned something of a negative reputation this year regarding entries his horses have held (he ‘forgot’ to withdraw the eventual Derby winner from the Derby), would be, ‘if this filly is really as special as she promises to be, why is she competing in the Albany and not the Queen Mary?’ She is crying out to be opposed, but this being the Albany, finding something isn’t easy. Channon’s nags look in good nick after a few strong runs yesterday and Silca’s Gift won this event for him in 2003. Today he saddles Please Sing, who could get the day off to a cracking start.
In the King Edward VII stakes Conduit’s form claims look increasingly solid after Colony’s convincing win here yesterday, but he was running off only 84 that day and might find things a lot tougher here today. Bronze Cannon and City Leader were ‘almost-rans’ in the Derby, bypassing that Classic for a shot here. However, it is Hebridean who has the Group form in the book – showing that he will thrive in today’s conditions. All the Aces looks a stout stayer and will be thereabouts at the finish, but his form with Doctor Freemantle keeps him at the same level as a few others here. Campanologist is a live outsider and is strongly fancied by his stable to overcome severe stamina doubts. This all makes for a very open race where it’s tricky to find one who will stand tall above his rivals, perhaps Hebridean has the best claims this time. O’Brien and Murtagh have been a class above at this meeting so far and the 4/1 Ladbrokes offer should be taken while it’s still available.
The race of the day today is the Coronation stakes. It is traditionally the match up between 1,000 Guineas winners from three countries, normally with a runner or two who missed the original dates. This year is a little unusual however. There are no winners of the Irish, French or English 1,000 Guineas present and there is a lack of fresh blood, so instead we have a match up of the ‘also-rans’ – 9 of the 11 lining up finished between second and eighth in a Guineas. So which Guineas is the strongest form? The Newmarket contest looks increasingly muddled, while the French 1,000 guineas third won the Irish event, ahead of representatives of the English classic (Saoirse Abu and Nahoodh). This suggests that French guineas fourth Modern Look has outstanding claims, especially considering his encouraging win since then.
Spacious and Infallible look to have the best prospects of those beaten in the English event, the former especially so considering that was her seasonal debut. But she has plenty to prove and at the current prices Modern Look has to be the value selection. Pairing the selection and that filly in a reverse exacta might not prove to be a bad bet.
Throughout the week The Yorker will be publishing George's profit and loss for the meeting, at the recommended £10 per point. Only bet what you can afford to lose.
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