Sportsman Racing Bulletin

The Sportsman Racing Recap: Excelebration time at Newbury

Posted on by Mike

In this regular Monday segment, racing expert Scott Armstrong rounds up the weekends racing action and examines just how well his analysis and suggested bets from his Friday column unfolded.

Excelebration routed the opposition to land the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday to reward backers who followed him from Friday’s column when priced 11-4. Excelebration was given the pace he required by stable mate Ceremonial Jad and two furlongs from home the race was settled with all his rivals off the bridle and struggling to keep pace. The final winning distance was a healthy six lengths to second placed Beacon Lodge. My other recommendation in the race – Musir drifted out to 10-1 on the day yet performed creditably to compensate each-way backers. Musir didn’t appear to be 100% race fit after a lengthy absence from the track and should go better next time, with a step up in trip likely to suit.

Excelbration’s win further franks the form of the insuperable Frankel, having already tasted defeat to Henry Cecil’s superstar on two occasions. Excelebration will face Frankel again in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in the Autumn with Frankel Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Bulletin: Can Keiron Fallon take the jockey’s championship?

Posted on by Mike

Welcome to our latest column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman tipster service.

Scott is a relatively new addition to the SBC family but already he is proving a popular addition – not least for his racing trading strategy as shared with members in recent SBC magazines.

Each Friday, Scott will be providing us with a rundown of all the best weekend racing action, the horses to follow and those to oppose. You can also find a recap from him each Monday on the SBC Blog with his reaction to the weekend’s events.

Scott is a proven racing expert, thanks to his work at  www.thesportsman.org.uk. Scott is renowned for possessing a keen eye for racing value, especially in the big feature races where he generally excels.

This week he takes in Saturday’s two feature races at Newbury and poses the question: Can Kieran Fallon really win the jockey’s championship in the wake of an injury to Ryan Moore? Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Bulletin: Can Keiron Fallon take the jockey's championship?

Posted on by Mike

Welcome to our latest column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman tipster service.

Scott is a relatively new addition to the SBC family but already he is proving a popular addition – not least for his racing trading strategy as shared with members in recent SBC magazines.

Each Friday, Scott will be providing us with a rundown of all the best weekend racing action, the horses to follow and those to oppose. You can also find a recap from him each Monday on the SBC Blog with his reaction to the weekend’s events.

Scott is a proven racing expert, thanks to his work at  www.thesportsman.org.uk. Scott is renowned for possessing a keen eye for racing value, especially in the big feature races where he generally excels.

This week he takes in Saturday’s two feature races at Newbury and poses the question: Can Kieran Fallon really win the jockey’s championship in the wake of an injury to Ryan Moore? Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Recap: 33/1 Surprise at the Curragh

Posted on by Mike

La Collina sprang a 33-1 surprise in the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes yesterday at the Curragh. Generally unconsidered for the race the filly put up a terrific performance against her male counterparts. Last of the nine runner field at the furlong pole La Collina demonstrated a blistering turn of foot to wear down Aidan O’Brien’s Power and triumph by a neck. Power had traded at 1.06 in running. I had mentioned Tough As Nails representing the each-way value and he ran admirably beaten by 1 ¾ lengths in finishing third to offer some recompense for each-way backers.

The unluckiest loser of the weekend was at Ascot and the horse I had suggested was worth backing at 10-3 on Friday – Medicean Man. Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Bulletin: Power Up For The Phoenix?

Posted on by Mike

Welcome to our new column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman, who will be providing a rundown of all the best weekend racing action every Friday. 

Scott is a proven racing expert, thanks to his work at http://www.thesportsman.org.uk/ and has a keen eye for racing value, especially in the big feature races.

UK racing hits a little lull over the course of the weekend after last week’s Glorious Goodwood meeting and therefore it’s to Ireland I turn for the weekends feature race. The six furlong Keeneland Phoenix Stakes contest for two year old fillies is worth a purse of 190,000 euros. Staged at the country’s premier racecourse the Curragh there is also some mouth-watering racing in prospect on the supporting card.

The Keeneland Phoenix Stakes witnesses Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten Power as current favourite, best priced at 2-1. The Ballydoyle trainer has won this Group One race for two-year-olds seven times from the last nine renewals finishing second on both other occasions . O’Brien is gunning for the crown again, accounting for half the field . Power has the best Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Bulletin: Midday at Goodwood

Posted on by Dan

Welcome to our new column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman, who will be providing a rundown of all the best weekend racing action every Friday. 

Scott is a proven racing expert, thanks to his work at http://www.thesportsman.org.uk/ and has a keen eye for racing value, especially in the big feature races.

Glorious Goodwood comes to an end tomorrow with another top class card. Nothing can compare however to the wonder of Frankel’s performance in the Susses Stakes on Wednesday who was advised at 5-6. Frankel is now the fourth best rated horse ever with Timeform on 142 behind only Sea-Bird (145), Brigadier Gerard (144) and Tudor Minstrel (144). It’s great news he will be kept in training by Henry Cecil as a four-year old.

The two biggest races of the day are the Class 1, Group 1 Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares at 3.10 and the Stewards Cup Handicap following on at 3.45. As a rule I don’t bet heavily on filles and mares Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Bulletin – New This Week!

Posted on by Mike

Welcome to our new column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman, who will be providing a rundown of all the best weekend racing action every Friday. He will also return each Monday with a follow-up analysis of how the weekend unfolded – look out for that on the SBC Blog.

Scott is a proven racing expert, thanks to his work at http://www.thesportsman.org.uk/ and has a keen eye for racing value, especially in the big feature races.

The Betfair King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes tomorrow hosts a field of top class middle-distance runners battling it out for the £567,000 prize.

Only five runners line up with Debussy set to be employed as a pacemaker so that narrows the field to four ‘live’ runners to peruse. Nathaniel has been supplemented to the tune of £75,000 to run and John Gosden is not one to throw money at forlorn causes. However Nathaniel would need to step up on previous efforts despite his three year old weight allowance, to take the crown having never competed in a Group 1 before. The stats here are that 80% of the last ten winners have all previously won a Group 1.The shrewd Gosden will also know even if Nathaniel finishes only third the supplementary fee will be covered with an 80k gain.

By a process of elimination that leaves the most likely winner belonging to the front three in the betting market, Workforce, St Nicholas Abbey and Rewilding.

Continue reading →