Explained: Our Betting Approach...

First of all: This site is supposed to be a betting site, providing betting tips on a regular basis, even though not on a daily one. Our aim is simple: Finding winners. Our approach is simple too: Finding value to be a winner in the long term. How do we do that: We watch as much racing as possible. This enables us to find so called eye-catchers. This means: Horses that are running better than the bare result suggest.

This is a quite unique approach, even though there are others out there who do their selections based on visual performance as well. Let's be quite honest: I'm not really good in relentless form study, which is tiring and kind of boring after a while. I love to watch racing though, and think I have an eye and understanding of why a race is run- and did unfold in a certain way. The watching of races again and again, and certain parts of races in particular, is tiring as well but it's something I really love to put in the effort and it's always rewarding if you see something that not everyone has seen and therefore gives you an edge. In the end watching racing and drawing conclusions on the evidence of visual impression is very much a subjective thing. Obviously you can't do this entirely without form study though. After finding an "eye-catcher" it's very much about getting to know the horse's form, preferences etc. to get a clearer picture about the run and future prospects.

After all it has to be the visual performance which  is convincing and interesting. It's the decisive and essential part in the betting approach of this site. In football they say "The truth lies on the pitch". This is true and it's pretty much the same in racing. Obviously, the last but also very important part of successful betting on horses is the finding of value. It's the big buzzword in betting. And it's very subjective. What is value for me, doesn't has to be value for someone else. But that makes it interesting, right?

To summarize: This is a betting blog. Tips are based on visual performance and on value of the odds. These two things are very subjective and a matter of opinion. That says if you want to follow our tips then we're happy to provide you with quality selections. But bear in mind, success can not be guaranteed and loosing runs are part of the game. Also remember: Winning is about the long term. It's a marathon, not a sprint. But  a constant Return Of Investment of 20% plus in the last ten month shows we're winners in the long term.


Our main betting principles:

• Bet with confidence - Quality selected bets lead to confidence
• Stay away from a bet if you have any doubt
• Think twice before you make a selection
• Visual performance is key to determine a horses form
• Be controversial - different opinions give an edge 
• All that matters is to be a long term winner

Verrazano pulverizes rivals in Haskell Invitational!

What an amazing show by Verrazano in the Haskell Invitational Stakes yesterday at Monmouth Park! The three year old colt pulverized his rivals in the $1 million event in a way that can only be described as impressive. Verrazano started as the 11/10 favourite for the 9f contest, with Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow thought to be the biggest danger. Oxbow faded early this time and had no answer when Verrazano kicked on at the end of the back stretch. Johnny Velazquez must have known at this point he's sitting on the winner and indeed he had loads of horse beneath turning for home. Once answering Verrazano for a full effort the response was immediate. The colt kicked away from his rivals with a brutal consequence to win the Grade 1 contest by almost ten lengths in the end!

The Todd Pletcher trained Verrazano is unbeaten in six starts bar the Kentucky Derby, which is a run to draw a line through. He's a multiple Grade 1 winner now, and his future looks more than bright. He looked a complete superstar yesterday and Coolmore probably knew why they purchased an interest in this exciting colt a couple of month ago. 

Sit back and enjoy the race replay of the Haskell Invitational Stakes 2013:

Patience and discipline is key - We're long time winners!

Comedy House (pictured above) was a big winner for us yesterday evening at Lingfield's All-Weather track. The selection was advised @ 8/1, which felt already too big, but thanks to a nice drift before the off he paid 16/1 SP (Best odds guaranteed) eventually! He was throughout the race in a nice position, looked under pressure from 3f out though, made then a big move soon on the outside and was not to catch once straighten up in the home straight.

While July wasn't an easy month for us in terms of the sheer amount of successful bets, it was still another profitable month with 23.50 points profit after all. We had 13 bets and only 2 winners, but these two winners paid some good money. That brings the overall profit for the Blog to an all time high of 126.37 points - which is something to be proud of! But profit is not all, the ROI tells its own story: An overall ROI of 21.64% is a pretty decent figure as well. Ten month ago we started this new chapter. It was a challenging time, with many ups but also a couple of downs. But as stated in our Betting Approach it's the long term success we're interested in. It needs patience and discipline in order to achieve this. This game is difficult enough to make it pay. But we make it pay in a way not too many are able to make it pay. Long may it continue...

Overview - Stats July 2013:

Click here for all past results 

Racing Around The Globe - July III...

Another episode of Racing Around The Globe! A couple of exciting days are behind us. Highlight was clearly the King George at Ascot. An amazing performance saw the Germans scoring a second victory in a row. If we stay with German racing then a look to Hoppegarten (Berlin) brings us to the fairytale of a young amateur rider, who won a Group 1 by doing it all from the front. South Africa had some great racing on offer as well, with two big Grade 1's and the comeback of Jackson in the winners circle. All this and more in this weeks edition of Racing Around The Globe. Sit back and enjoy some great racing!

Germany: Großer Preis von Berlin - Winner: Nymphea

What a story! A fairytale, romantic and wonderful in a way only horse racing can deliver. The 18 year old amateur rider Dennis Schiergen wins the Großer Preis von Berlin on his mount Nymphea, one of the most important races of the German racing calender. It was not only the fact that he became the first amateur rider ever to win a Group 1 in Europe, which made this story so amazing, but also the way the young jockey executed the instructions given by trainer - and his father - Peter Schiergen in a cool, calm and intelligent fashion. Nymphea made all from the front, leading the field up to 30 lengths, and looked to go way to fast off from the front. In the end the young Schiergen judged it all right, his more experienced jockey colleagues looked like schoolboys in contrast, so that Nymphea won the race comfortably in the end.

Germany: Jump Racing - Winner: Indian Sun

You probably don't see too often jump racing from Germany, as the scene is quite small over there and the races not up to the quality you usually would find in Ireland or the UK. But still here and there there are a couple of races om. Particularly popular are races where the horses have to pass a pond during the race, which is quite spectacular, as happened in this particular race, the Lauf zum Bad Harzburger Seekönig. 

South Africa: Champions Cup - Winner: Jackson

The big horse is back! Jackson won on his second start after break the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 2000 meter at Greyville on Saturday and he did so in really nice style. Jackson was once the favourite for the J&B Met and highly regarded by connections and the general racing public, but couldn't quite fulfil his potential. It's good to see him back and it looks as if the 9f trip is close to his ideal distance as the way he blizzed a strong G1 field can only be described as impressive! 

South Africa: R1,25 Million Gold Cup - Winner: Jeppe's Reef

The seven year old Jeppe's Reef caused a huge upset in the 3.200m long Gold Cup on Saturday. The 25/1 shot didn't have too much form in the book to suggest he would be up to the required standard in this race, but his response to the step up in trip was immense and he wasn't to stop once in the clear. He got the perfect ride by jockey Robbie Fradd, who had his mount in a perfect position throughout the race and ensured Jeppe's Reef  would get a clear run in the closing stages.

Ireland: Tyros Stakes - Winner:  Exogenesis

Two year old  Exogenesis, lightly raced and trained by Ger Lyons, made rapid progress when winning the Group 3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday in good style. He travelled really well up to the one furlong marker, but it took him then a while to pass the gutsy long time leader  Home School. The Coventry Stakes 3rd Sir John Hawkins finished only third here as well. 

Ireland: Jockey Club Of Turkey Meld Stakes - Winner: Scintillula

Mars, the early Epsom Derby favourite at this stage last year, disappointed as the clear odds-on favourite in this Group 3. He dropped in class after running with credit in the Guineas, Derby and Eclipse Stakes, but didn't find much when asked for an effort in the closing stages. Instead Irish Oaks 4th Scintillula, who dropped 3f in trip, made all from the front and was not to pass. The Bolger filly is clearly improved and finally shows what a good horse she is as she promised allot when finishing 2nd to Sky Lantern in a Group 1 at the Curragh last September.

France: Grand Prix de Maisons-Laffitte - Winner: Triple Threat

The Andre Fabre trained Triple Threat scores again on Group level. He won the Group 3 Prix la Force at Longchamp earlier this year, ran then 3rd in another G3 and was successful in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Maisons-Laffitte last weekend. He is clearly an improved horse now as a three year old and it would be interesting to see this son of Monsun stepping up to 1m 4f, where more improvement is expected. 

England: King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Winner: Novellist

Novellist followed in the footsteps of Dandedream. The Arc winning filly was a winner of the King George by the narrowest of margins last year. Novellist in contrast, trained in Germany by Andreas Wöhler, won the Mid-Summer highlight very easily this year. Johnny Murtagh gave the four year old a peach of a ride, had him in the right position, and once asked for full effort, the colt wasn't to stop. The biggest problem for Murtagh was to pull Novellist up after the race as he was so full of running that he simply didn't want to stop at all. Novellist who was runners-up in the German Derby last year, landed later in 2012 his first Group 1 with a convincing win in the Gran Premio Del Jockey Club Italiano, started the new season with a Group 2 win at Baden-Baden and followed up with an impressive Group 1 success in France in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, where he beat Cirrus Des Aigles, who was on his comeback run that day. Everyone expected the highest rated horse in training to improve dramatically for this outing, but that didn't happen, and neither the Irish Derby winner Trading Leather nor the rapidly improving Stoute colt Hillstar were able to match the turn of foot of Novellist. He's now the new favourite for the Arc in October.

Special video: Tribute to St Nicholas Abbey

It was a huge tragedy this week when it emerged that St Nicholas Abbey suffered a nasty injury during a routine piece of work. His racing career was suddenly over, while preparing for the King George. An intensive and long surgery was needed to save him, which resulted in a positive outcome. Unfortunately St Nic subsequently suffered from a colic and another surgery was required. Thankfully the six year old is a real fighter and he pulled through. He is now on a long road to full recovery and we all from Horseracing -International . COM wish him all the best for tough challenge. Fingers crossed!  

Horseracing Selections: Saturday 27th of July...

15.50 Ascot: Ducal @ 40/1 Bet365 - 1pt win

Still a turf maiden but I thought he ran with credit on a couple of occasions, particularly in his last two starts when he really caught my eye. He was unlucky at Newmarket in his penultimate start, when not getting the clearest of runs in the closing stages, but had absolutely everything against himself at Haydock three weeks ago in a hugely competitive Handicap. He travelled like a dream that day, poised for a big challenge, but didn't get a run through whatsoever. While the eventual winner and 2nd also had to sit and suffer, they got out over 1f out though, Ducal had no real chance in contrast, yet once in a clear, which was very late indeed then, he finished easily in a way that suggests he's well handicapped. So in terms of that, I think he could reverse the form with Ashaadd, who is 2nd favourite for this race here today, while Ducal is a huge 40/1 chance. Bit of luck is required in such a huge Handicap, and usually this is not my cup of tea, but Ducal is way too big in my mind and if things pan out for him today, he'll be right up in the shake-up.


20.00 Lingfield: Comedy House @ 8/1 Betfair - 2 pts win

Frustrating sort this Comedy House but interesting here today back over 2m on the All-Weather on the back of an impressive performance at Newbury three weeks ago. He travelled well in rear but was left with a bit to do turning for home and looked slightly outpaced when the pace increased over 3f out, he stayed on really well though, was unlucky then to have a bunch of horses in front of the nose over 2f out and couldn't get a run through. He switched to the outside 1f out, a manoeuvre that cost ground, but ran on strongly there to finish 2nd in the end. The 3rd of this race won since then a Handicap and the winner went close, so form looks solid.

Racing Around The Globe...

Time for a roundup of last weeks action. The biggest news probably were that super mare Snow Fairy had to be retired after suffering another injury. Find further down the page a couple of her big race successes. On the racetrack itself spectacular things happened yet again. Andre Fabre looks to have another exciting prospect on his hands, while his French fellow man Alain de Royer-Dupre celebrated a big win over in Ireland. This week saw also the comeback of Sir Michael Stoute's Telescope...

France: Grand Prix De Paris - Winner: Flintshire 

The Andre Fabre trained Flintshire won the big Group 1 last Saturday at Longchamp in really impressive style. Sent off the 5/4 favourite the 3yo Dansili pulled hard in the early stages of the race due  to a slow pace but produced a tremendous turn of foot once asked for a full effort over 2f out. Hands and heels in the end, an easy victory and the future look bright for Flintshire. Ocovango, fifth in the Epsom Derby, finished 3rd here, while Aiden O'Brien's Battle Of Marengo, fitted with Blinkers- and held-up in rear for the first time, showed a lacklustre performance.

France: Grand Prix De Vichy-Auvergne - Winner: Saga Dream

The seven year old Saga Dream made all from the front to prevail in a wild finish in the Group 3 Grand Prix De Vichy on Wednesday. This gelding developed relatively late into a pattern class horse and used to perform in Handicap company until reaching his fifth year of age. He's now a three times Group winner, and won already earlier this year a Group 3.

England: Leicester Conditions Stakes - Winner: Telescope

Te highly regarded Telescope made an impressive return to the racetrack with a 24 lengths success in a Conditions Stakes race at Leicester on Thursday. He was once thought to be a potential Derby winner, but pulled out of the big race after a poor racecourse gallop at Lingfield a week before the race. Telescope had his injury problems but looks back to his best judged on this run. He didn't beat much that day but the visual performance was impressive and his winning time was just shy of the course record. He should prove to be even better over further than 10 furlongs and a Group 1 success looks very much on the cards. The King George, Arc or St. Leger... there are many opportunities out for this exciting colt, trained my Sir Michael Stoute.  

Ireland: Irish Oaks - Winner: Chicquita 

An impressive victory for the French raider Chicquita in the Irish Oaks on Saturday. The Alain de Royer-Dupre trained filly is a real character and makes life tough for trainer and jockey, yet she has loads of talent and showed that yesterday at the Curragh. She finished 2nd in the French Oaks to the exciting Treve, so was entitled to go close if she would run straight. With the Cecil trained Riposte and Epsom Oaks winner Talent in the line-up this was going to be an epic Irish Oaks. Chicquita travelled well throughout the race, never too far off the pace, in the perfect position turning for home. Jockey Johnny Murtagh gave her a peach of a ride. He held her together and covered until the 2f marker, when the race really unfolded and helped her then to run a straight as possible in the closing stages while she was slightly hanging though. But she got up on the line, to win in impressive style and one can only hope that the filly learned from this run as she's exciting no doubt. Breaking the maiden tag in a Classic is also something you don't see too often. Second and third place went to Aiden O'Brien with Just Pretending running a huge race from the front as well as Venus De Milo who looks a bright prospect as she had way too much to do coming from way off the pace. She finished like a train on what was only her third start. Royal Ascot winner Riposte finished only fifth in a wild finish, while Epsom Oaks winner Talent was a big disappointment finishing down the field in last. 

Ireland: Minstrel Stakes - Winner: Darwin

Red hot favourite Darwin won the Minstrel Stakes in good style, beating in Gordon Lord Byron a former Group 1 winner. Darwin started his career in the US and looked smart on his debut, which came as no surprise as he's been a US$1.3 million yearling. After a 2nd start over there he was shipped to Ireland to Aiden O'Brien and made a winning debut for his new trainer at Naas. He followed up with this impressive Group win yesterday and there is no doubt that he has a bright future ahead of him. 

England: Super mare Snow Fairy retired

Sad news emerged last week when trainer Ed Dunlop announced that super mare Snow Fairy was retired with immediate effect. Unfortunately she suffered another injury during training and trainer and connections felt left with only one decision in the end. Snow Fairy retires to stud now and one can only wish her all the best. Surely she'll be a lovely mum. She was a very special horse, much loved by many in the world. She conquered the globe, won almost £4 million in prize money, was successful in six Group 1's, made the English and Irish Oaks double in 2010, won the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup in Kyoto, Japan twice, she won the Hong Kong Cup and the Irish Champion Stakes. Snow Fairy was a true champion, one we will remember for a very long time. 

Snow Fairy in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup 2010:

Snow Fairy wins the Irish Okas 2010:

Snow Fairy's win in the Irish Champion Stakes 2012: 

The Eye-Catcher: Friday the 19th of July...

15.15 Haydock: Teetotal @ 11/2 Bet365 - 2pts win

Haydock Park - Two big chances on Friday over there

Teetotal looks still capable of improvement and ran two fine races within the last four weeks. He travelled well at Doncaster but didn't get the clearest of runs there over 1f out, had to switch in the closing stages and quicken again, something he wasn't really capable off as he's not a Group horse, yet he finished a good 3rd eventually. I was really impressed with the most recent performance at Pontefract though, a track that usually doesn't advantages hold-up runners. So was Teetotal in a bad position when the field turned home as he was at the back of the field. He found some trouble over 1f out again, his jockey made quite a dramatic manoeuvre in the closing stages to switch him to the outside and it was impressive to see how quickly Teetotal got balanced again and finished like a train eventually. Think back over 6f and as the bottom weight he has a good chance to go really close in this small field.


17.30 Haydock: Silvas Romana @ 12/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Travelled really well in rear of the field the last time but was then just stuck in traffic with bunch of horses in front of the nose. She tried desperately to find a gap and it looked as if she would have done so she would have probably gone very close that day, but it wasn't to be and she was eased down eventually. Her mark drops 2lb for this, she can race now off a mark of 4lb below her last winning mark, and has the good assistance of an apprentice who claims 3lb. She is more home on slower ground obviously, but got placed on good to firm and ran - as mentioned - well lto on fast ground as well, so it might no be the biggest issue. Think she is dangerously well handicapped tomorrow.

The Eye-Catcher: Thursday the 18th of July...

Boooom! Our NAP of the day was a successful one. Mighty Yar won the 8.15 at Sandown in really good style. He had everything against himself, from a poor position at the back of the field, over signs of greenness, to a slow pace and an easy lead for the eventual second. Mighty Yar had loads to do turning for home and for many horses it would have been a forlorn hope. Not so for Mighty Yar, who made ground in the home straight in impressive fashion thanks to his great, elegant and long stride . He took over the lead from 1f out eventually and galloped all the way to the line to win with authority in the end. This horse can go on to bigger targets now and looks really talented.

20.50 Epsom: Hawaiian Dream @ 8/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Epsom Racecourse - a difficult place for inexperienced horses

Missed the 10/1 offered by PP but still think this is a big price for arguably the least exposed horse in the field. She had only five starts to date, did not too badly in her maidens, finished a respectable 2nd (even though a good deal beaten) to subsequent Group 3 placed Jathabah on her Handicap debut and was then a rather unlucky horse here at Epsom recently, when she travelled well but was still green in the closing stages. She got visibly irritated when she got the whip in her face of a jockey of a rival who was travelling beside her. She drifted towards the rails, and got unbalanced soon after again which cost her every chance, while she galloped all the way to the line once straighten up again.

She should have learnt plenty from this experience, as well as from the fact that this was her first start at Epsom where she appears tomorrow again. Promising young apprentice Oisin Murphy is booked for the ride who is well worth his 7lb claim as he's flying at the moment and riding with confidence. So while the rest of the field doesn't make much appeal I think Hawaiian Dream has a good chance to get finally off the mark.

NAP of the Day...

Our Nap of the day runs in Sandown Park this evening, in a competitive looking Handicap for three year olds over 10 furlongs. It might be competitive, yes, but after all it is easy to bring the race down to pretty much four horses with a winning chance.

Mount Tiger looks a solid favourite. He won very well indeed a Wolverhampton maiden a couple of weeks ago over 9f. He travelled well in a prominent position and while they went a decent clip he looked comfortable all the way through the race. He kicked on 3f out and never stopped to win with authority in the end in impressive style. He should improve for the step up in trip to 10f today but it has to be said his opening mark of 79 looks stiff enough and while he could be very much capable of this handicap mark I feel he is only a fair price, best priced at 7/2 at the moment. The Kieron Fallon ridden Pleasure Bent is on a hat-rick. He won on his second start at Warwick and followed up with a hard fought win at Newbury, when he didn't have the run of the race. He might improve further for the step up in trip, but he also has to defy a new mark and steps up in class. He could get found out for this combination tonight. Leitrim Pass didn't disappoint in his last two outings in Handicap company and should be better over the new trip as he looked pretty one paced in all his starts. He has a chance, but he has to raise his game substantially to win I feel, as his mark got up 1lb for his most recent effort and he's therefore rather a fair price, but no value in my mind.

This brings me to our NAP of the Day: Mighty Yar! The Henry/Lady Cecil trained grey colt has been off the track for a good while, but this shouldn't hinder him to run a big race. He won first time out on his debut last November and Lady Cecil is flying at the moment. Tom Queally on board speaks volumes as well. Mighty Yar was hugely impressive winning on his racecourse debut at Lingfield, when he overcame greenness as well as a wide draw and a trip probably probably too sharp for him. He made a big move from 4f out on the outside of the field, travelling four or five wide for a while. As a result he also had to turn wide but once he found his stride he was never to stop and won very well going away from the rest of the field pretty easily in the closing stages. The step up to 10f looks very much in his favoure today and his opening mark could be lenient. He's therefore a really good price in my mind and should be shorter in the betting market. 

 20.15 Sandown Park: Nr. 4 - Mighty Yar 

Bets: 3pts win @ 7/2 BetVictor

Racing Around The Globe: Horse Racing in Barbados...

Barbados, a small Island - actually the easternmost island - in the Lesser Antilles. The weather is usually good, it never gets really cold and this is certainly not a place you would normally associate with horse racing. But in fact the sport is hugely popular at this small island! 

All happens at the Garrison Savannah Racetrack, just outside of the capital of Barbados Bridgetown. It is a clockwise turf course and race days are big social events. The most important race of the racing calender is the Barbados Gold Cup. Thoroughbreds aged three or older compete over the distance of 1.800m. The race is run annually in late February/early March and is worth over €76.000! For more detailed information I recommend to visit the excellent website of the Barbados Turf Club. 

I stumbled over the following BBC documentary which takes a look behind the scenes of the small Barbados racing world. It provides a unique insight, with beautiful shots of the island and the races. Watch and enjoy and dive into the unknown world of Barbados horse racing...

You like our site and work? That's cool. You may want to share this article with your friends or simply like our site. You also can leave us a small donation if you want:

Racing Around The Globe...

I'd like to introduce this new part of Horseracing -International . COM: Racing Around The Globe. Our name is our aim, and racing is a truly international and global sport. That makes it so exciting. You may already know that on our Official Facebook Page you can always watch many races from all over the world, from the bigger racing nations as well as the smaller ones. This won't change. But watch out in the future for this little weekly column on Horseracing - International . COM -  Racing Around The Globe. All the global racing highlights from now on summarized and centralized in one place! 

We start with a couple of top class races from South Africa, Sweden, UK, Singapore and Germany. The last week delivered some exciting finishes and controversial results, as happened in the Falmount Stakes at Newmarket on Friday. South Africa's highest rated horse and world best sprinter What A Winter produced another big display in his farewell run - but was it good enough to bow out with a win? US racing looks to have a new star filly which could follow in the footsteps of Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. And a "Lethal Force" is dominating the European sprinting scene. You'll find all this and more in  Racing Around The Globe...

England: Darley July Cup - Winner: Lethal Force

Leathal Force followed up on his impressive Diamond Jubilee win at Ascot with another huge performance, winning the most important sprint race in Europe, the July Cup at Newmarket. His phenomenal gate speed helped him to secure the best possible position in front close to the rails and when he kicked for home it was simply game over! A potential career in Australia is now looming, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Singapore: Singapore Derby - Winner: Better Life

The filly Better Life won the S$1.15 million (£603.500) Singapore Derby. She started as the favourite in to the race and had the benefit of a good draw. She overcame a slow start and secured a good position eventually but needed a bit of luck in the closing stages when she was craving for a gap which, opened up in the end and then she wasn't to stop. 

USA: Landaluce Stakes - Winner: She's a Tiger

She's a Tiger is one of the hottest prospects in US racing at the moment. The 2yo filly was hugely impressive on her debut and she didn't disappoint in the Landaluce Stakes where she went off a warm favourite. Despite setting a crazy pace she won pretty easily in the end. Her trainer says she's the real deal and in fact it looks like that, indeed!

South Africa: The Mercury Sprint - Winner: All Is Secret

It's been What A Winter's final race and everyone expected the sprint star to bow out with a win. He had every chance and ran a huge race but got a bit tired in the end, which played they strong finishing filly All Is Secret in the hands. The winner stays further, is a Grade 1 winner over 1.600m, so the strong pace was sure to suit.

Sweden: Svenskt Oaks - Winner: Whistle

Whistle won the Svenskt Oaks in good style last weekend. She was prominent throughout the race and kicked on 600m out to lead the field turning for home. She was galloping all the way to the line to win the 368.800 SEK (€42.200) contest  with authority, which is run on the dirt track .

Germany: Meilen Trophy - Winner: Felician

The 5yo Felician won the Group 2 Meilen Trophy on Sunday and looks to be still improving. The gelding had a bit to do turning for home but made easily ground on the outside racing widest of all and drew away from his opponents in the closing stages. 

England: Summer Mile - Winner: Aljamaaheer 

Aljamaaheer was a bit of a frustrating horse but one has to say his big run at Royal Ascot entitled him to be a hot favourite in the Summer Mile and he couldn't have been more impressive in winning this Group 2 contest. He was perfectly suited to the strong pace and the gaps opened for him at the right time. A straightforward win. Connections always held him in high regards and he looks well capable of winning a Group 1. 

England: Falmount Stakes: Winner: Elusive Kate 

Elusive Kate won the highly controversial Falmount Stakes on Friday and it is not sure if she will retain the Group 1, as connections of runner-up Sky Lantern will appeal the decision of the stewards. Elusive Kate was badly hanging to her left side in the closing stages which cost Sky Lantern, the odds-on favourite, a bit of ground, as well as the grey filly got the whip of  Elusive Kate's rider William Buick slapped twice in her face. The stewards decided after the race that the result remains unaltered, as they weren't sure that all this cost Sky Lantern enough ground to win. A difficult case, highly controversial and it'll be interesting to see what's happening next.

Bonus Video: Yorkshire Summer Festival Promo

This clip is amazing. It really shows the beauty of our sport, the beauty of racing. The horses, the speed, the drama, the excitement, the fun and enjoyment... it's all there and this two minutes long video takes us deep into the fascinating world of horse racing.

Horse Racing: It's an Amazing Sport...

The following video is truly amazing and beautiful. It brings it all together what makes our sport simply the most amazing one in the world. It's not all about the betting, not at all. It's about the beauty of the thoroughbred, the speed, elegance and power, about the excitement, drama and passion. No more words needed at this point, I let the pictures speak for itself. Sit back, relax, and remember why you love this sport, as for that reason you might have ended up on this website...

Monday Bets - 15th of July...

They all not running too badly at the moment, often getting placed, but still no winner this month...


16.00 Ayr: Fieldgunner Kirkup @ 17/2 VC - 2pts win

This looks a huge price for a horse that gives the impression to be well handicapped as he was very unlucky not to win here at Ayr only seven days ago. The five year old looks as good as never before this year, won a class 4 handicap at Redcar in good style in April, was found out for class in subsequent class 2 handicaps, but stepped down in class again and delivered a very eye-catching performance lto. He Travelled super well, looked in with big chance over 3f out and the jockey appeared to have loads of horse beneath. But then he didn't get racing room at with bunch horses in front of the nose and beside and a gap simply didn't open wide enough to slip through. He just got out very late and finished then easily 3rd hands and heels ridden, without being asked a serious question the whole race. Tomorrow isn't an easy race, it looks like a competitive handicap, but Fieldgunner Kirkup looks well in the weights of the current mark as well as in serious form. Bold bid expected and price too big in my mind.

Thursday the 11th of July...

Really looking forward to the three races at Kempton later on, but want to put one up for tomorrow already...


16.40 Warwick: Crystal Mist @ 7/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

This lightly raced Dalakhani filly looks a real stayer to my eyes, and therefore I'm really happy to see her stepping up in trip. It was interesting that connections didn't waste time with her in maiden races last year, so that she ended up in a big sales race on debut, her only run in 2012, and she started this season with another big sales races again. She didn't have a chance on both occasions though. One unsuccessful maiden start later and she had a Handicap mark, and ran at Newbury over 12f on handicap debut eventually. She got under pressure and outpaced from 4f out and was eased down 1f out, but it was interesting to see that the filly galloped well to the line, even gaining a bit of ground in the closing stages while not being asked anything at all actually. So from a visual point this gave me the impression that she could be a real stayer but the pedigree is backing up this suspicion as well as she is out of a multiple G1 winning sire over 12f, who sired a St. Leger winner, while the dam had only two starts and won over 7f but is by of a sire who sired a St. Leger winner too. So stepping up to the Leger trip for the first time tomorrow I think Crystal Mist could go very well.

Coral Eclipse Day 2013...

The imposing Al Kazeem - winner of the Coral Eclipse 2013

I have been to Sandown Park for the Eclipse Day last Saturday. It's only a short trip from Dublin with the plane in the morning, and it's no joke that you would find it more difficult to go racing at Navan, a track in the proximity of Dublin, actually. The journey was absolutely relaxed and easy, no problems at all, Sandown Park is easily accessible via Gatwick airport. 

The racing was top class on this special day, of course, because it was Coral Eclipse day. The weather turned out to be the nicest I've experienced for a very long time with temperatures up to 30 degrees. Sandown Park was packed, but it never felt overcrowded, the atmosphere was very relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable. Al Kazeem won the Eclipse thanks to another fantastic display. His third Group 1 win in a row. He's the best horse in training at the moment, no doubt. The sky is the limit for this horse I suppose, and the Arc a realistic target now. A couple of other excellent performances rounded up a day of top class sport. And that was it for what I was there to see: horse racing at its best and cracking atmosphere. Didn't have a single bet that day, but loved every minute of my trip. Below you do find a slideshow with a couple of pictures from the day. Enjoy!

Wednesday the 10th of July...

Mabait ran a huge race on Saturday at Haydock, as he finished a very close 2nd. He got out late, and finished strongly when finally in the clear, it's fair to say the best horse won, though. The winner was all on top in the closing stages and was a bit too strong, as he got even later out to challenge for the win.


20.20 Kempton: Boobyscot @ 14/1 Ladbrokes - 2pts win

Evening racing at Kempton Park

This is a very interesting horse. Was keen the last time on him already, which turned out to be not the day for letting off the handbrake. Tomorrow could be the day though, with 2lb off the mark and Ryan Moore on board. Wrote the following the last time, which largely applies tomorrow again:

This is a very interesting horse and I waited half a year to see it again on the racetrack, following a hugely impressive display at Kempton in December. It might be the case that tomorrow is not the day to release the handbrake, but this horse is so well handicapped now and a tasty price either so it's worth a chance here. Otherwise, he might be of even greater interest in his following start. The case I want to make for this horse is this one anyway: He is a generally lightly raced horse for a 6yo. He was a promising juvenile as well as through his classic season. His probably best performance ever came in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh in May 2010 when he finished runners-up to subsequent Derby favourite Jan Vermeer which brought him a career highest rating of 103. He had his problems afterwards, changed yards and appeared on a racetrack more than two years later again, then in the UK. He raced four times since his move to Britain, including this mentioned start at Kempton as the latest one. He worked his mark down to 75 now. I have no doubts that this horse is better than a mark like that. In the race at Kempton he showed clearly signs of retaining some ability, despite not being ridden to finish in the best possible position. He travelled in rear that day over 10f at Kempton, a trip where it's usually way better to be close to the pace due to the short run-in. No surprise to see him having loads to do turning for home. Only a few stayed really on from off the pace in this race, in fact the race was dominated by the pair that lead the field the whole way. Bobbyscot then made his impressive run through the field, running on under a light hands and heels ride, finishing the race really well in a manner of a horse that is actually ahead of its mark. The 2nd in this race won two better races subsequently on the All-Weather. So this form is decent as well. So after all I feel this horse is dangerously well handicapped and will be able to pick up a few wins sooner rather than later. I hope he starts tomorrow to do this, if not, there will be surly another day.



21.20 Kempton: Lisa's Legacy @ 10/1 Bet365 - 1pt win

Very interesting runner on his second start this season and his second start for the new yard. I thought he was crying out for a step up intrip last year, particularly in his final start in 2012, when he ran on strongly over 6f at Kempton while finishing widest of all. He made his seasonal debut at Windsor in a competitive 3yo Handicap ten days ago, which looked stronger than this race here tomorrow, where Lisa's Legacy will be racing against older horses, while dropping in class. He encountered a real nightmare run at Windsor, when he got several times hampered pretty much all the way to the finish line from under 3f out. He got hampered, and was short of room on many occasions, with horses in front of his noes, closing gaps again and again as well as shifting horses, he tried to finish widest of all, but even inside the final furlong when he tried to switch as wide as possible he got slightly hampered by a shifting horse. Yet he was galloping all the way to the line to finish 4th. Now back at Kempton, with this run under his belt, in this rather poor class 6 handicap, with many exposed types, of a low mark off 65, with Barzelona booked interestingly, I really feel he can go really close.



--- Update: 10/07/13, 10:12---


19.50 Kempton: Robin Hood @ 16/1 Bet365 - 1pt win

A couple of weeks ago I was keen on this horse after he showed a fine performance in a competitive Handicap at Newbury over 10f. On that day he was outpaced from 4f out, and looked likely to finish at the back of the field. But he kept going and ran on really well in the final furlong to finish a decent 5th in the end. He followed up with a performance that I'd consider as rather decent in a class 3 Handicap at Ascot then, where he probably just was found out for class but also wasn't in the best position when the pace increased that day. These performances indicated to me that the sparkle is still there, but he didn't run over his best trip subsequently in two handicaps then, when contesting in 10f races, which is too short for him. He got outpaced early on both occasions, while staying on at least in his most recent run. It's very interesting to see him now stepping up to 2m. I think if this horse has a big run still in him, then probably over this sort of long trip. He always looked to me like a real stayer. He's by Galileo, so plenty of stamina on the sire side, but even more so on the dam side, with his dam Banquise being a winner over 2m in France! As Robin Hood slips further down the mark as well, I feel he could really run a big race. It's probably his last chance anyway. 

Saturday the 6th of July...

16.40 Haydock: Mabait @ 16/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Was very keen on Mabait's chance at Salisbury recently, but the race wasn't ran to suit him due to a very slow pace and then he was very keen, travelling without cover on the outside in rear and had absolutely no chance from that position. As a result he dropped a couple of pounds in the mark and looks now super well handicapped of a mark off 85, judged on his penultimate run at York. Wrote the following before his last race which largely still applies tomorrow:

 I'm a bit excited about this chance as I feel Mabait could be very, very well handicapped tomorrow, coming down a long way in the mark and showing an impressive return to form at Newbury in a competitive Handicap recently. He travelled like a dream for a very long time, and the jockey looked to have loads of horse beneath but then when it mattered he couldn't find a gap and was short of room over 2f out. Mabait showed then something that you don't see that often or only from horses who are in really fine form or have something in hand, as he switched to the left, found quickly back his balance and quickened in a matter of strides - just to find himself short of room around the 1f marker again. Race over obviously then, but it was a hugely impressive performance in my mind and this goes along with his current handicap mark which hasn't been as low since 2009! Of course his last win dates back a couple of years too, but he ran in top class races and had to shoulder big weights. He steps up to 1m tomorrow again, which is perfectly fine as well as he gets his beloved fast ground. Slight worry is the jockey booking with Laura Pike not being an overly strong apprentice but she rides okay actually and her 5lb claim is well worth. I would think if Mabait gets a clear run the little girl doesn't need to do much anyway except of avoiding a fall.

Tuesday the 2nd of July...

16.00 Hamilton: Beacon Lodge @ 5/1 Paddy Power - 2pts win 

Beacon Lodge doesn't get any younger but this small field might play into his hands. I thought he showed a very impressive return to form at Ayr recently over 1m, when he travelled very well in the middle of the pack and looked to have a huge chance of winning the race but he found himself in a very difficult position where he couldn't get out and had to sit and suffer until very late when finally a bit of room emerged and he finished very strongly indeed. I think he would have taken this race with a clear run. So I think he can give the very short favourite a real race here tomorrow. Quick Wit looks to prefer a bit further actually and it is a possiblity that there won't be too much of pace on here tomorrow, which should then be in favour of Beacon Lodge i would like to think. Of course he has loads to find on ratings with the favourite, but for me it doesn't look all that clear as the odds are suggesting.