28th May 2015
Hi %%First Name%%,
Quest For More was a good (9/2 Max bet) for Betfan subscribers on Saturday at Goodwood taking the 1m6f handicap for Roger Charlton. Horsted Valley is a gutsy sort winning for us at Fontwell last weekend, the 2/1 favorite has a pleasing attitude and looks sure to win more races. Secret Tale almost won for us in the 2yo race on the Friday at the Sussex track 8/1 from 12/1, Jamie Osborne's filly traveled better than the winner for most of the way and looks a juvenile to follow.
At Leicester on Bank Holiday Monday Mistrusting having just her third start ran a big race to finish second in the 6f handicap after being edged right inside the final furlong by the winner, one for the note book we will get a return on her very soon. Cirrus Des Aigles and Flintshire, who were first and second in last year's £375,000 Group One Investec Coronation Cup, feature among 13 horses going forward for this year's renewal, one of the highlights of Investec Derby at Epsom next month.
The pair feature among a particularly potent French-trained trio, with this season's Dubai Sheema Classic heroine Dolniya (Alain de Royer Dupre) also in contention for the 12-furlong contest.
Cirrus Des Aigles scored by two lengths from Flintshire last season and Corine Barande-Barbe's hugely popular nine-year-old made a winning start to his 2015 campaign with an easy success in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on May 3 - his seventh Group One victory.
The son of Even Top ran at Longchamp in the Prix d'Ispahan on Sunday and finished fourth to Solow after losing a shoe during the Group 1 race he can be forgiven this average run under these circumstances but is not certain to defend his crown next month at Epsom in the Coronation Stakes they are not rushing a decision with the stable star.
Flintshire followed up his second in the Investec Coronation Cup with a string of fine efforts, including finishing runner-up in both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders' Cup Turf, before capturing the Group One Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December.
The Andre Fabre-trained five-year-old has finished second to Dolniya on both his starts so far this year, including when going down by two and a quarter lengths in the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 28.
Aidan O'Brien is the most successful trainer in the Investec Coronation Cup and Ireland's champion trainer could bid for an eighth success with Tapestry, who lowered the colours of Taghrooda in the Group One Yorkshire Oaks last season. Further Irish interest may be provided by Champion Stakes thirdFree Eagle, from the stable of Dermot Weld.
Arab Spring (Sir Michael Stoute) is set to make his Group One bow following a length success over Pether's Moon (Richard Hannon) in a Newbury Group Three on his seasonal return, while Romsdal(John Gosden) may return to Epsom Downs after finishing third in last year's Investec Derby.
Secret Gesture (Ralph Beckett) was runner-up in the 2013 Investec Oaks and her part-owners Qatar Racing may also be represented by Just The Judge (Charlie Hills), who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas in the same year.
Red Cadeaux (Ed Dunlop), second to St Nicholas Abbey in the 2012 Investec Coronation Cup, has been performing admirably in Hong Kong and Australia over the winter, including filling the runner-up position in the Group One Melbourne Cup for a third time.
Ed Dunlop reported: "Red Cadeaux could possibly go for the Investec Coronation Cup."
"It is a race under consideration - his next run is likely to be at either Epsom or Royal Ascot. We will see how he is nearer the time."
"He is on the comeback trail at the moment after returning from his latest world travels."
Canadian Grade One scorer Sheikhzayedroad (David Simcock) and Ayrad (Roger Varian) complete those going forward.
Investec Derby Day also includes the £100,000 Investec Corporate Banking "Dash", run over the fastest five-furlong course in the world, and the 40 horses still after the heritage handicap prize include last year's winner Caspian Prince (Tony Carroll), who is 7/1 joint-favourite with Coral, along with Irish challenger Chiclet (Tracey Collins).
Prince Charles and Camilla made a historic visit to Sligo racecourse last week as part of the Royal visit to Ireland.
Good news that Barry Geraghty, who is side lined with a hairline fracture of his left tibia after a fall at Downpatrick back in March is expected to be back race-riding next month.
The news from HQ is that the the six-times champion jockey Kieran Fallon is planning to return to the US to race ride. The 50 year old jockey is believed to have taken time out to weigh up his racing options given the horse Kieran is still one of the best jockeys in the world, just a complex person at times like all of us.
Al Kazeem was magical winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday for Roger Charlton and is now 8/1 for the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
The 10/11 with Boyles Sport about Richard Hannon to win the GB flat trainers' championship 2015 looks the bet of the year he has already won some serious prize money and the flat season has only just started.
The Sir Michael Stoute trained Angel Vision is one to be on at Newmarket on Saturday in the 1m handicap.
Yours in sport
Back Next Thursday.
Kevan Minter - The Colonel.
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