Latest news with #SpicyMarg
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Royal Ascot TIPS: Newsboy's picks and 1-2-3 for every race on Wednesday on ITV
The top tipster names his 1-2-3 in a detailed analysis of all seven races on day two of the five day royal meeting of which the feature is the £1 million Prince of Wales's Stakes The biggest event in horse racing's Flat racing calendar, the five-day Royal Ascot meeting, is under way. The best horses, trainers and jockeys from Europe and others from around the world descend on the Berkshire track for the renowned occasion. Day two features one of the meeting's signature races, the £1 million Prince of Wales's Stakes, supported by one of the most competitive handicaps of the year, the 1m Royal Hunt Cup contested by 30 runners up the famous straight. 2.30 Queen Mary Stakes SPICY MARG impressed on her debut at Newmarket and should not be underestimated. The Michael Bell-trained filly is bred to be quick, being a daughter of champion sprinter Starspangledbanner and Main Desire, who won two Listed races for the Fitzroy House yard. She made her racecourse bow against three opponents in a five-furlong novice stakes for fillies on the 1,000 Guineas undercard, being sent off the 7-2 joint-second favourite in a market dominated by even-money favourite Twilight Star. Racing in third place under Kieran Shoemark, Spicy Marg made headway on the run to the final furlong and, once hitting the front, accounted for the. Market leader by two and three-quarter lengths. The performance earned rave reviews from the clock watchers and, with plenty of improvement to come on the second start of her life, Spicy Marg can show to the fore. In a large field of youngsters whose best days lie ahead, Revival Power, Society Kiss, and True Love all merit a second look. 3.05 Queen's Vase DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, with the best form and stamina in his pedigree, is well equipped to win the argument. John and Thady Gosden gave the son of Too Darn Hot his debut in a one-mile Newmarket maiden last September and, on the back of a promising third, Devil's Advocate went two better by seven and a half lengths over an additional two furlongs at Chelmsford City three weeks later. Sent off the 6-4 favourite for the Listed Blue Riband Trial in April on his return, but my selection was all at sea round Epsom's rollercoaster, returning sixth of seven behind Sea Scout. But Devil's Advocate was a different proposition as an 80-1 shot in York's Group 2 Dante Stakes - equipped with cheekpieces, he made the running and stuck to his task once headed a quarter of a mile from the finish to take fourth, beaten just over three lengths, to Pride Of Arras. With dam Precious Remotswe a Group 3 winner over a mile and six furlongs for the Clarehaven yard, William Buick's far-from-exposed partner should relish the step up in trip. The Aidan O'Brien pair Shackleton and Scandinavia are feared, with Asmarani another with a role to play. 3.40 Duke of Cambridge Stakes CINDERELLA'S DREAM is following a sharp upward curve and rates a worthy favourite to capture a second consecutive Group 2 prize in Britain. Unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile in 2023, the Charlie Appleby-trained daughter of Shamardal scored twice at Meydan last season before suffering a first career defeat with a seventh to Elmalka in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. My selection then went to America to capture the top-tier Belmont Oaks at Belmont At The Big A and Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks at Saratoga, rounding off the campaign with an unlucky second to Moira in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar. Cinderella's Dream suffered a shock reverse in a Group 2 at Meydan in February on her return but went one better in impressive style in the same-level Dahlia Stakes on Newmarket's 1,000 Guineas undercard. William Buick's mount stormed away to beat Elmalka by four and a half lengths and a 3lb penalty for that performance may not stop her from going in for the eighth time from 11 attempts. Fallen Angel, Elmalka and last year's winner Running Lion are the most convincing candidates for the podium places. NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3: 1 CINDERELLA'S DREAM, 2 FALLEN ANGEL, 3 RUNNING LION 4.20 Prince of Wales's Stakes LOS ANGELES is reinventing himself as a mile-and-a-quarter and is expected to pass his toughest test at the distance. This time last year, Camelot's son, third to City Of Troy in the Derby, was less than two weeks away from victory in the Irish equivalent, and talk was of the St Leger after he landed York's Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes in August. But Aidan O'Brien opted to come back to 10 furlongs for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown - a move that resulted in a fourth-of-eight finish behind Economics. On the back of a third to Bluestocking when returned to a mile and a half for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Los Angeles came back ninth of 11 behind Anmaat over today's course and distance - the run left a question mark over his suitability for the shorter trip - in October. But O'Brien has stuck to the plan and it is paying off. After holding White Birch by a neck for the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh at the beginning of last month, Ryan Moore's mount lifted his second Group 1 prize - and his first at 10 furlongs - with by a battling half length from Anmaat in the Tattersalls Gold Cup there 20 days later. The runner-up lacked race fitness and his connections will fancy their chances of revenge, but Los Angeles found more when it mattered and can maintain his superiority. See The Fire is the choice to edge out Map Of Stars and Ombudsman for the bronze medal. NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3: 1 LOS ANGELES, 2 ANMAAT, 3 SEE THE FIRE 5.00 Royal Hunt Cup BULLET POINT is proving a hard horse for the handicapper to get hold of - and may evade his grip once more. His first three outings of last year, in novice stakes at Newbury, Kempton Park and Windsor, suggested the William Haggas-saddled son of Advertised, unraced as a juvenile, had ability but wasn't the finished article. A gelding operation preceded Bullet Point's handicap debut, which yielded a fourth at Wolverhampton in September, but my selection then rounded off the campaign with scores at Newcastle and Newmarket. Haggas reintroduced the four-year-old in a valuable handicap over a mile at Newmarket's Craven fixture in April, and Bullet Point took another step forward, racking up the hat-trick with a three-and-a-quarter-length beating of Tribal Chief. There's an 8lb rise to deal with in a much tougher contest, but Tom Marquand's mount still looks a fair way from the bottom of the barrel. The Royal Hunt Cup short list is a long one, topped by My Cloud, Fox Legacy, Tony Montana and Sisyphean. NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3: 1 BULLET POINT, 2 TONY MONTANA, 3 FOX LEGACY 5.35 Kensington Palace Stakes ARISAIG rates the value play against last month's course-and-distance conqueror, and today's favourite, Rainbows Edge. The Charlie Johnston-trained filly was at the top of her game in high summer last year, gaining a fourth career success in a handicap for her gender at Glorious Goodwood. Arisaig didn't reproduce that form in her three subsequent outings of 2024 but there was promise in her return-to-action fifth behind Ebt's Guard in the Spring Cup at Newbury in April, and plenty went wrong when she finished a close fifth to Crimson Advocate in Goodwood's Listed Conqueror Fillies' Stakes three weeks later. Callum Shepherd's partner is 2lb better of with Rainbows Edge for a three-quarter-length beating on the Victoria Cup undercard last month - the winner was more advantageously placed throughout - and yet is available at more than double the odds. Rainbows Edge is lightly raced and has obvious claims, while Sky Safari, Serialise and Independent Expert are other names to throw into the mix. NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3: 1 ARISAIG, 2 RAINBOWS EDGE, 3 INDEPENDENT EXPERT 6.10 Windsor Castle Stakes UTMOST RESPECT is worthy of exactly that as he seeks to build on the promise of his racecourse debut at York's Dante Festival last month. Richard Fahey gave the son of Invincible Spirit his first start against five opponents in a valuable five-furlong novice stakes, for which Utmost Respect went off the 11-4 second favourite. In the event, my selection did everything bar win - racing with enthusiasm behind the leaders, Utmost Respect and Oisín Orr found their path blocked passing the halfway point. Switching out for daylight over a furlong from the finish, the Musley Bank youngster ran on strongly to get within half a length of Ballistic Missile. Clear water would have seen Utmost Respect go close - at the very least - and there is plenty more where that came from. Havana Hurricane, Rogue Supremacy, Gaga Mate and Azizam have all got their careers off to a promising start and are entitled to respect.
North Wales Chronicle
9 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Bell backing Spicy Marg to pack Ascot punch
The Starspangledbanner filly sparkled on her racecourse debut, coming home two and three-quarter lengths clear at Newmarket on Guineas weekend and Bell is delighted with preparations and the draw in Berkshire. Spicy Marg will be partnered by Kieran Shoemark, and Bell said: 'She's all locked and loaded and we're very happy with her well-being. 'It (the draw) looks good, we've got Staya on our inside and all the major players seem to be drawn between eight and 15, so I think they're all in our sights so I'm very happy with the draw. 'It is a step up but the clock seems to say that she deserves to be in the race and she looks smart at home, so we'll see what happens on the day.' The Karl Burke-trained Zelaina is another who made an impressive debut when scooting home by the same winning margin as Spicy Marg at Nottingham. Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan, said: 'We were delighted with Nottingham and we were excited the day we bought her, we were excited when we heard the reports from Karl, but she had had an interrupted prep going into Nottingham. 'She had banged a knee and she had missed 10 days so was definitely undercooked going there. 'We definitely think there is more improvement to come and she was very impressive. You have to be really excited about her and she's definitely one of the big hopes of the week. 'It's a Queen Mary and lots of people are thinking they have a big hope, but we think we do and we just need that bit of luck. They will be spread across the track and it will be a big field and fingers crossed she can do the job as she's a filly we're really excited about.' American runner Lennilu puts her unbeaten record on the line after winning on the dirt at Keeneland and following it up with a turf victory at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Patrick Biancone, who began his career in France when he sent out back-to-back Arc winners in All Along and Sagace, is happy with preparations and reported his filly was unfazed by the trip from America. He said: 'She won her maiden easily. We then decided to train her hopefully for the Queen Mary and we won the prep race that was sponsored by Gulfstream. She won that easily too. We were expecting her to run well there, but expecting it is one thing, doing it is another. 'She travelled very well. She's walking around well now, she slept really well. We knew she'd travel well because when she ran in Keeneland she had to go 17 hours there and 17 more to come back and she took it very well. 'Ascot is a special place for every trainer in the world, especially the Royal meeting. I've been lucky in my life to have good horses and she's one of them. We're very happy.' Aidan O'Brien will be represented by True Love, while other major players include Ralph Beckett's Society Kiss and George Scott's Staya in a field of 25.
Leader Live
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Bell backing Spicy Marg to pack Ascot punch
The Starspangledbanner filly sparkled on her racecourse debut, coming home two and three-quarter lengths clear at Newmarket on Guineas weekend and Bell is delighted with preparations and the draw in Berkshire. Spicy Marg will be partnered by Kieran Shoemark, and Bell said: 'She's all locked and loaded and we're very happy with her well-being. 'It (the draw) looks good, we've got Staya on our inside and all the major players seem to be drawn between eight and 15, so I think they're all in our sights so I'm very happy with the draw. 'It is a step up but the clock seems to say that she deserves to be in the race and she looks smart at home, so we'll see what happens on the day.' The Karl Burke-trained Zelaina is another who made an impressive debut when scooting home by the same winning margin as Spicy Marg at Nottingham. Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan, said: 'We were delighted with Nottingham and we were excited the day we bought her, we were excited when we heard the reports from Karl, but she had had an interrupted prep going into Nottingham. 'She had banged a knee and she had missed 10 days so was definitely undercooked going there. 'We definitely think there is more improvement to come and she was very impressive. You have to be really excited about her and she's definitely one of the big hopes of the week. 'It's a Queen Mary and lots of people are thinking they have a big hope, but we think we do and we just need that bit of luck. They will be spread across the track and it will be a big field and fingers crossed she can do the job as she's a filly we're really excited about.' American runner Lennilu puts her unbeaten record on the line after winning on the dirt at Keeneland and following it up with a turf victory at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Patrick Biancone, who began his career in France when he sent out back-to-back Arc winners in All Along and Sagace, is happy with preparations and reported his filly was unfazed by the trip from America. He said: 'She won her maiden easily. We then decided to train her hopefully for the Queen Mary and we won the prep race that was sponsored by Gulfstream. She won that easily too. We were expecting her to run well there, but expecting it is one thing, doing it is another. 'She travelled very well. She's walking around well now, she slept really well. We knew she'd travel well because when she ran in Keeneland she had to go 17 hours there and 17 more to come back and she took it very well. 'Ascot is a special place for every trainer in the world, especially the Royal meeting. I've been lucky in my life to have good horses and she's one of them. We're very happy.' Aidan O'Brien will be represented by True Love, while other major players include Ralph Beckett's Society Kiss and George Scott's Staya in a field of 25.
South Wales Guardian
10 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Bell backing Spicy Marg to pack Ascot punch
The Starspangledbanner filly sparkled on her racecourse debut, coming home two and three-quarter lengths clear at Newmarket on Guineas weekend and Bell is delighted with preparations and the draw in Berkshire. Spicy Marg will be partnered by Kieran Shoemark, and Bell said: 'She's all locked and loaded and we're very happy with her well-being. 'It (the draw) looks good, we've got Staya on our inside and all the major players seem to be drawn between eight and 15, so I think they're all in our sights so I'm very happy with the draw. 'It is a step up but the clock seems to say that she deserves to be in the race and she looks smart at home, so we'll see what happens on the day.' The Karl Burke-trained Zelaina is another who made an impressive debut when scooting home by the same winning margin as Spicy Marg at Nottingham. Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan, said: 'We were delighted with Nottingham and we were excited the day we bought her, we were excited when we heard the reports from Karl, but she had had an interrupted prep going into Nottingham. 'She had banged a knee and she had missed 10 days so was definitely undercooked going there. 'We definitely think there is more improvement to come and she was very impressive. You have to be really excited about her and she's definitely one of the big hopes of the week. 'It's a Queen Mary and lots of people are thinking they have a big hope, but we think we do and we just need that bit of luck. They will be spread across the track and it will be a big field and fingers crossed she can do the job as she's a filly we're really excited about.' American runner Lennilu puts her unbeaten record on the line after winning on the dirt at Keeneland and following it up with a turf victory at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Patrick Biancone, who began his career in France when he sent out back-to-back Arc winners in All Along and Sagace, is happy with preparations and reported his filly was unfazed by the trip from America. He said: 'She won her maiden easily. We then decided to train her hopefully for the Queen Mary and we won the prep race that was sponsored by Gulfstream. She won that easily too. We were expecting her to run well there, but expecting it is one thing, doing it is another. 'She travelled very well. She's walking around well now, she slept really well. We knew she'd travel well because when she ran in Keeneland she had to go 17 hours there and 17 more to come back and she took it very well. 'Ascot is a special place for every trainer in the world, especially the Royal meeting. I've been lucky in my life to have good horses and she's one of them. We're very happy.' Aidan O'Brien will be represented by True Love, while other major players include Ralph Beckett's Society Kiss and George Scott's Staya in a field of 25.
