UK Horse Racing Tips

Archive for the ‘Racing Tips’ Category

Not to be confused with the Rock Of Gibraltar gelding once trained by Kevin Ryan and, later, by Keith Dalgleish, George Rooke, the apprentice jockey, is a graduate of the British Racing School in Newmarket. Rooke initially joined jockey-turned-trainer Richard Hughes at Weathercock House in Upper Lambourn, near Hungerford, Berkshire on a placement in September, 2017. Rooke rode his first winner under Rules, Kath’s Legacy, trained by Hughes, at Chepstow the following July.

After just two winners in 2018, Rooke rode six winners on British soil in 2019, but also three in Jersey in July and August that year, which he failed to report to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).Visitors to  https://www.robinroo.org/en and others will know that trust is essential in the sport and gambling world, so this is a big no-no. Consequently, although he enjoyed his most successful season so far in 2020, with 34 winners, he was stripped of five victories in races where he incorrectly claimed 7lb instead of 5lb or was ineligible to ride due to specific race conditions.

To add insult to injury, in September, 2020, Rooke received a 14-day suspension for riding a finish a circuit too soon in a two-mile handicap at Wolverhampton. Riding 11/4 joint favourite Sophar Sogood, trained by Paul D’Arcy, Rooke set sail for home after a mile and, although he realised his mistake as the field swept by, the damage was done. Sophar Sogood trailed in ninth of ten, beaten 55¼ lengths, and the stewards took a dim view of his ineptitude.

Nevertheless, Rooke has continued to ride his share of winners, clocking up 30 in 2021. Like a pro on south african online casinos the wins kept on coming. During the winter, he was involved in a ding-dong battle to become All-Weather Champion Apprentice, eventually edging out his nearest pursuers, Oliver Stammers and Rhys Clutterbuck, by a single winner. In 2022, Rooke also rode his first Listed winner, Mrs Fitzherbert, trained by Hughie Morrison, in the Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood in late April.

The danger with any discussion about the ‘best’ or ‘greatest’ Derby winners in history is that is subjective and biased towards events that have occurred in the recent past. However, since its inception in 1948, Timeform has produced ratings with scrupulous consistency, such that objective, quantitative comparisons between different generations are possible. Personally I’m all for evaluating odds to chance and the like, as it holds a place in both online casinos and sports settings.

Sea Bird (145)

Sea Bird, the 1965 Derby winner, ran just once in Britain, but his effortless victory at Epsom, achieved without coming off the bridle, obviously made quite an impression on the Timeform scribes. He was awarded a Timeform rating of 145, which remains the second-highest of all time, behind only Frankel.

Mill Reef (141)

Mill Reef tasted defeat just twice in his 14-race career, once at the hands of My Swallow in the Prix Robert Papin, over 6 furlongs, at Longchamp and once at the hands of Brigadier Gerard in the 2,000 Guineas, over a mile, at Newmarket. However, he proved the outstanding middle-distance performer of 1971, winning not only the Derby, but also the Eclipse Stakes, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He was awarded a Timeform rating of 141. In leroijohnny casino en linge terms, this would be a sure thing.

Shergar (140)

Never before, or since, has the Derby such a one-sided affair as it was in 1981, when the ill-fated Shergar, ridden by 19-year-old Walter Swinburn, could be called the winner turning Tattenham Corner. Once pushed along, he stretched clear to win, eased down, by 10 lengths – still the widest winning margin in the history of the Epsom Classic – and was awarded a Timeform rating of 140.

Queen Anne Stakes

Established, as the Trial Stakes, in 1840, the Queen Anne Stakes is run over a mile and, since 2003, open to horses aged four years and upwards. The race was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2003, at which point it was closed to three-year-olds. The most famous winner is undoubtedly Frankel who, in 2012, won by 11 lengths and, in so doing, achieved the highest rating in the history of Timeform.

King’s Stand Stakes

Established, as the Queen’s Stand Plate – a shortened version of the existing Royal Stand Plate – in 1860, the King’s Stand Stakes is run over 5 furlongs and open to horses aged three years and upwards. The race was renamed following the ascession of King Edward VII in 1901 and upgraded to Group 1 status in 2008.

St. James’s Palace Stakes

Established in 1834 and upgraded to Group 1 status in 1988, the St. James’s Palace Stakes is run over a mile and restricted to three-year-olds. As such, it is often contested by horses that ran in the 2,000 Guineas or the Irish or French equivalents.The roll of honour includes Tudor Minstrel, Brigadier Gerard and Frankel, to name but three.

Prince of Wales’s Stakes

Re-introduced to the Royal Ascot programme, in its current form, in 1968, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is run over a mile and a quarter and open to horses aged four years and upwards. The race was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2000, when it was also closed to three-year-olds.

Gold Cup

Arguably the highlight of the Royal Meeting, the Gold Cup was established in 1807, making it the oldest race of the week. The race is run over two and a half miles and open to horses aged four years and upwards. Notable winners include Sagaro, Yeats and, most recently, Stradivarius.

Commonwealth Cup

A recent addition to the Ascot programme, the Commonwealth Cup was established in 2015, at the expense of the recently-reinstated Buckingham Palace Stakes. Restricted to three-year-olds, excluding geldings, the race is run over 6 furlongs.

Coronation Stakes

Established in 1840, the Coronation Stakes is, effectively, the fillies’ equivalent of the St. James’s Palace Stakes and was upgraded to Group 1 status at the same time. It is often contested by fillies that ran in the 1,000 Guineas or the Irish or French equivalents.

Diamond Jubilee Stakes

Last, but by no means least, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes is run over 6 furlongs and open to horses aged four years and upwards. The race was established, as the All-Aged Stakes, in 1868 and has also been known as the Cork and Orrery Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes during its history. The race was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2002 and closed to three-year-olds in 2015.