THE WINNING LINE UK BLOG

The Sunday post-Royal Ascot is truly a day of rest, but not in the name of our Lord (Sir Michael Stoute??), rather in the name of sensory overload. The five days of racing, preening and form reading leave even the most hardy of punters crying enough. That's not to say we don't enjoy the whole spectacle. As punters and horse racing enthusiasts we revel in it, it’s why we follow this glorious sport. The highs, the lows, the rollercoaster of emotions help us escape into a world of possibility.

Emotions can be linked to results, this is a results business after all, and from the point of view of TheWinningLineUK we feel this year’s Royal Ascot was a joyous affair. The +8.88pts profit we achieved over the five days is pleasing but the quality of racing, the equine performances and the human stories made this year's Royal Ascot truly special.

TUESDAY

The Queen Anne Stakes kicked off the meeting and Paco Boy proved without doubt that he stays a strongly run mile. It was a great performance and it will take a good horse to lower his colours over a mile this season. Gladiatorius, previously the highest rated horse in the World, bombed out and questions must be asked as to how he improved so much in Dubai when this week a Sheikh Mohammed owned horse tested positive for banned substance. In the King’s Stand Stakes Australian sprinters once again proved they're the best in the World, and if Scenic Blast had been held on to longer he would have been more impressive. In the St James’ Palace Stakes Mastercraftsman battled back well to defeat Delegator. While Mastercraftsman would probably stay further, Delegator’s best chance of Group 1 glory over a mile would appear to be over an easy mile in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. In the Coventry Stakes Canford Cliffs produced a monster performance to beat the field by 6l, he’s going to be very hard to beat this season.

WEDNESDAY

Richard Hills got it wrong in the opening race, as Tadgh O’Shea carried the owners 2^nd colours to victory in the Jersey Stakes, aboard Ouqba. It looked a weak renewal and it remains to be seen if he can follow it up, the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood is the logical step. In the Windsor Forest Stakes Lush Lashes was a big disappointment and she appears to be paying the price for a long season last year. The winner, Spacious, appeared to return to form with forcing tactics and those tactics should serve her well in the Falmouth Stakes. The feature race was a close affair and last season’s Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe 5^th Vision D’Etat just got the better of Tartan Bearer, who’s probably more effective over further. Forgotten Voice looked a Group horse in a the handicap when he dotted up in the Royal Hunt Cup and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Sandringham Handicap winner Moneycantbuymelove go on to win at a higher level. Sandwiched in between the two handicaps was the Queen Mary Stakes and Jealous Again became the 2^nd juvenile winner of the meeting for American trainer Wesley A Ward. She made our fillies look pedestrian and she could take some beating in the Cheveley Park Stakes

THURSDAY

Radiohead deserves plenty of credit for overcoming some serious interference in the Norfolk Stakes and still going on to win. He showed a sharp turn of foot and he should be respected wherever he goes, including in the Nunthorpe Stakes. On Ladies Day there was a fine performance from Flying Cloud to win the Ribbelsdale and Glass Harmonium appears to be progressing after an improved effort when winning the Hampton Court Stakes in good style. Undoubtedly though the highlight of the entire week was Yeats’ record breaking fourth straight victory in the Gold Cup, it was a tremendous feat achieved by both the horse and his much lauded trainer Aiden O’Brien. Will he be back next year to make it a fifth win on the bounce?

FRIDAY

The penultimate day of the meeting was a day of poignant winners, with stalwarts of the game Henry Cecil and Barry Hills both training winners having had recent battles with cancer. Father Time stayed on well to win the King Edward VII Stakes for Henry Cecil and the St Leger seems a likely target. Richard Hills was victorious on his father’s horse Ghanaati in the Coronation Stakes and she could be a real force against the colts this season. In the Queen’s Vase Holberg continued Mark Johnson’s excellent record in the race and the way he powered clear was impressive, he could be winning top staying events in the not too distant future.

SATURDAY

An international field assembled for the Golden Jubilee Stakes but it was the home challenger Art Connoisseur who emerged victorious. Last year’s Coventry Stakes winner returned to form in great fashion and he should be a force in the top sprints this season. The Queen Alexandra Stakes brought the curtain down on this year’s Royal meeting and the winner Caracciola entered the record books by becoming the oldest horse to ever win at Royal Ascot, he possibly heads for the Melbourne Cup.

Next stop, Newmarket’s July meeting.

Be lucky

As we head into the weekend, and on the eve of the Investec Derby, we can look back at the first seven days of the relaunched The Winning Line UK. New content has been added each day (this will continue for a few weeks), whilst the daily previews have been adding profit on an ever increasing level. A profit of 15.8pts for the first seven days is encouraging and hopefully this form will continue into the foreseeable future. 

The short term future of The Winning Line UK revolves around the biggest race of the UK racing calendar, the Investec Derby. O'Brien is mob handed and although that normally suggests he doesn't have an outstanding challenger he does saddle two horses who'll be challenging for favouritism, Fame And Glory and Rip Van Winkle. Both have outstanding claims but it would be foolhardy to rule out Black Bear Island, Masterofthehorse, Age Of Aquarius and Golden Sword on the strength of their jockey bookings. 

The Irish have a firm grip in the Investec Derby and the main threat to the Ballydoyle juggernaut comes in the shape of 2000 Guineas victor, Sea The Stars. He looked a high class individual when winning the first Classic of the season at Newmarket and although he may be the best horse in the race his stamina for the Derby trip is untested.

Jim Bolger is returning to Epsom twelve months after his controversial victory with New Approach and he saddles another Galileo colt, Gam Amhras, who finished third in the 2000 Guineas. He should improve for the trip but he’ll have to if he wants to emulate the fabulous New Approach.

Crowded House leads the home challenge and given his current price it’s easy to forget he was favourite for the Investec Derby throughout the winter. He had an excuse when disappointing in the Dante and if he returned to the form which saw him destroy the field in the Racing Post Trophy then he could be a serious challenger to the raiders from the Emerald Isle.

All-in-all this year’s renewal of the Investec Derby looks a competitive and enthralling race. Team tactics from the Ballydoyle sextet could have an influence on the outcome of the race and the winner may not be the best horse in the race. One thing that is sure though is that the winner will be a high class individual who’s sure to go on and make a mark in other Group 1s latter on in the season.

Hopefully the form of The Winning Line UK will continue and we’ll be celebrating along with connections in the winner’s enclosure.

Be lucky.