2019 Flat Issue 6 - Big week ahead

Headlines

Rakan lands cup at Leopardstown

Dan Buris Rivals at Windsor

Report

We start at Leopardstown last Thursday where in the 1m 4f listed stakes Rakan ( Tony), went to post, settled behind leader in 2^nd, pushed along in to straight, and improved on outer going best to lead 1 out, soon ridden and narrow advantage inside last, kept on well close home, winning by ¾ l. He gets 27.2 points.

At Lingfield on Saturday in the 6f handicap, Buridan (Cod), took his chance, held up in touch, ridden and progress on outer to lead just over 1 out, soon hard pressed and ran on well and always just holding on, winning by a neck. He gets 26 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 June                    Total

Neil        00                    401.2

Cliff          00                270.6

Steve         00                     200.2

Bob            00                  177.1

Tony      27.2                     173.2

Cod        26                     163.2

Martin    00                     122.8

Peej           00               114.2

News

Grand Slam Extras

Tony       Inns of Court

Neil        Hermosa

Cliff      Shaman

Cod     Hermosa

Bob  Matterhorn

Peej  Flag of Honour

The punter spoke to a representative of John Gosden this week, and got the following update

Coronet is likely to skip the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot next week in favour of the Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh later this month.

Private Secretary goes in the King Edward," "He won at Goodwood very nicely, coming from the back again. It was a well-timed run by Frankie (Dettori), and you'd have to think he has a good chance - although it looks a very tough race, with all the Derby horses in there.

Just Wonderful and Siyarfina have entries in Sunday's Prix de Diane,

Charlie Fellowes hopes a drop in trip can help King Ottokar get his career back on track in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A decision on which race last year's Derby winner Masar will run in at Royal Ascot will be made in the next 48 hours. Trainer Charlie Appleby was happy with him in a routine gallop on Wednesday, after a racecourse spin at Newmarket on Saturday - but whether he lines up over 10 furlongs in the Prince of Wales's Stakes or the Hardwicke over two furlongs further has still not been finalised.

Appleby said: "I was delighted with the way he came out of Saturday. He did a routine bit of work, but rain stopped play in allowing us to get over the road on to the Limekilns. I couldn't have been happier with his work.

"In regards to whether he runs in the Prince of Wales's or Hardwicke, a decision will be made in the next 48 hours. I don't want to put it further back, but there plenty of calculations that need to be made, especially with the way the ground is with the rain.

The Charlie Hills-trained Phoenix Of Spain heads 16 three-year-old colts in line for Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Hills told the punter We're now aiming him at the St James's Palace Stakes next week and I couldn't be happier with him. "Obviously he was pretty fit to win at the Curragh, but it's brought him on again, he didn't lose much weight and he's nice and fresh.  "All being well, we'd then look at the Sussex Stakes and see where we go, but I wouldn't mind trying him over 1m2f later in the campaign." Champion juvenile Too Darn Hot chased him home in Ireland will reoppose at Ascot for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, while Newmarket hero Magna Grecia was the principal absentee from the St James's Palace six-day confirmations, he pulled a muscle in the Irish Guineas. Line of Duty and Skardu also hold entries.