Friday, 20th June 2025
In ATC today….
…. I swing the bat in the handicaps on Day 5 at Royal Ascot….
I’m on ZOUM ZOUM in the Wokingham at 5.00 – he’s up at 18s & 16s….
…. and I’m on EL BURHAN at 12s, 11s & 10s in the Golden Gates at 5.35….
That’s the summary….
…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….
Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….
Read on….
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Yesterday – before racing – Jarraaf was my idea of the winner of this year’s Wokingham (5.00)….
…. but the price about him fell a bit overnight….
…. and – in any case – he doesn’t appear to be drawn on the right part of the track in stall 12….
The going stick reveals this morning that the stands side of the straight is now riding appreciably faster than the middle and the far side….
…. and you had to be drawn high and race on or close to the stands side rail to have any kind of chance at all in yesterday’s Britannia and Buckingham Palace….
It’s going to remain dry and warm through to the end of this week’s meeting and I don’t see that track bias altering over the next 36 hours….
Consequently, I’ve come down on the side of ZOUM ZOUM at the general 18s & 16s….
He’s in the right place on the track in stall 27 and could well improve for his one appearance this term – when chasing home Fair Angellica in the Listed class Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury last month….
…. with Jarraaf in behind – and seeming held – funnily enough….
Zoum Zoum raced on quick ground that day and showed up well on it – just as he did when confronted with similar conditions at this meeting last year – when 5/19 in the Jersey Stakes over 7f….
All his winning has been done on ground with ease – or worse – but nothing he’s done on quick ground puts me off….
…. and he stays 7f – ideal over this stiff 6f….
EL BURHAN – up at 12s, 11s & 10s – is the pick in the Golden Gates (5.35)….
He was a winner over the easy mile at Chester on seasonal reappearance – his first go since being gelded and wearing a first-time tongue-tie….
…. despite not enjoying the best start or the easiest passage through the race….
The reasonable expectation was that he’d be out next in yesterday’s Britannia over the mile….
…. but he shows up here over 10f instead….
It’s quite the step up….
…. but the extra yardage could bring about considerable improvement in a big horse bred to appreciate more of a test than he’s yet encountered….
He’s up just 2lb to 95 for that Chester victory and there’s more to come yet….
If he’s on his game tomorrow – and the trip suits as much as I anticipate – George Boughey’s charge is a player at a decent price….
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Now, just to recap….
The pick of the prices….To recap on my bets…. In the 5.00 @ Ascot….
e/w terms = Sky Bet pay 7 places. It’s 6 places generally…. In the 5.35 @ Ascot….
e/w terms = Sky Bet pay 6 places. It’s 5 places generally…. Advised prices are correct at the point of publication – but subject to fluctuation. Shop around – you may find better quotes and terms than advised…. |
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That’s all for today….
I’ll be back next week….
Win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….
Stay tuned….
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