Goodwood 14:50 Desert Law

Curragh 15:15 Talwar

Doncaster 16:50 Anjaz

Goodwood 17:40 Thistle Bird

For best odds see the table on the left

For current best odds see the table on the left

The prospect of the outstanding four-year-old Canford Cliffs, recent winner of an epic dual with French legend Goldikova in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, taking on the unbeaten three-year-old Frankel, sensational six-length winner of the Qipco 2000 Guineas at HQ earlier this term before following up in the St James’s Palace Stakes at the royal meeting, is one that will surely draw a massive crowd to see a race that some believe may well decide once and for all who is currently the best miler in the world. The Goodwood odds indicate it should be a tremendous race.

Both Sir Henry Cecil, trainer of Frankel, and champion trainer Richard Hannon, who is custodian of Canford Cliffs, have stated their respective intentions to head to Goodwood and neither seem (at this point) in any mood to shirk the head-to-head clash and deny the racing public the chance of seeing these two great horses take each other on.

Bookmakers have made Canford Cliffs, a winner of his last five starts (all at Group 1 level), the 11/10 favourite, with most offering 5/4 against Frankel taking his unbeaten streak to eight. After Tom Queally’s dubious ride on Frankel last time when he appeared to use up his mount’s energy too early in the race, Cecil has hinted that there will be a change of tactics for his charge.

For his part, Hannon and Canford Cliffs’ regular pilot Richard Hughes, believe that wherever Frankel goes they will follow, and are more than hopeful that their star can use his blinding turn of foot to win the day, just as he did at Ascot against Goldikova. Let’s wait and see.

Chester 16:55 Granny McPhee

Doncaster 19.45 Stella Point

For best odds see the table on the left

Doncaster 16:00 Basantee

Doncaster 17:05 Shesastar

For best odds see table on the left

The gelded son of Beat Hollow had been considered a classic contender at one stage last term when beating Icon Dream in a fine finish to the Group 3 Chester Vase after which he took his chance in the Derby, running well for a while before patently failing to handle the downhill run to Tattenham Corner after which he faded rapidly and eventually finished 11th behind the impressive Workforce. Anyone following the horseracing odds would have been surprised to see him fail so badly.

That effort seemed to take its toll of Tompkins’ charge who finished a distant fourth to Rewilding in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes before completely losing his way in finishing last in the St Leger and being tailed off on two subsequent outings at the end of the season. Gelded during the winter, Ted Spread hadn’t been seen in action until his Pontefract reappearance where he happily showed all his old zest and, after being held up at the back of the field for the first half of the contest, came with a strong run through the last furlong-and-a-half which all but carried him to victory, in the end failing by only a nose to get the better of Distant Memories in a tremendous finish to the 12-furlong contest. The online horse racing betting indicates Ted Spread could be heading back to his best.

Buoyed by the return to form of the four-year-old, Tompkins is now eyeing a crack at the Ebor Handicap at York on August 20, seeing the mile-and-three-quarter trip as the ideal distance for his charge who could well be set to atone for the disappointments of the second half of last term.

Owen, who owns and bred the rapidly improving three-year-old colt, is also the owner of Manor House Stables in Cheshire from where trainer Tom Dascombe sent out his second winner of the week at the royal fixture. Brown Panther had been a persistent tip for the race following an eye-catching at Haydock last month where he won with any amount in hand and looked a potential blot on the handicap for the competitive mile-and-a-half contest.

Backed down from 8/1 to 4/1 joint-favourite on the horse betting, supporters of the Shirocco colt never had an anxious moment as jockey Richard Kingscote eased his mount into contention half a mile from home before taking up the running when still on the bridle at the three pole. From that point victory was never in doubt for Brown Panther who eased clear in the rain-softened ground to score by six lengths form Census, with the rest of the field strung out like washing the length of the ascot straight.

Clearly a mile ahead of the handicapper at present, Owen’s charge looks a pattern race performer already and could well graduate to take high rank amongst the best middle distance horses this term. An indication of the hopes connections hold for their colt is that Owen mentioned a potential bid for the St Leger, whilst there was also talk of a possible crack at the German Derby. Those placing horse racing bets will be keeping a close eye on the owner’s plans.

Wherever he goes next Brown Panther will surely be the subject of serious market support, but for now he has been introduced into the ante-post list for the St Leger at between 8/1 and 14/1 and already looks a serious contender.

A winner twice last term in listed company, Bewitched then stepped up in grade last autumn and showed that she is improving rapidly, first winning the Group 3 Michael Kinane Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh last September, before following up four weeks later when landing the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot, beating the reliable yardstick Genki by three-quarters of a length. Those looking for Royal Ascot tips would have been impressed.

Johnny Murtagh appears to have struck up a tremendous understanding with the filly and was on board once again when she made her return to action at Leopardstown at the end of last month, quickening up well having been held up at the rear of the field to sweep by the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite Zoffany to land the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes with plenty in hand. That effort appears to have convinced Charles O’Brien that the Sue Magnier-owned filly is ready to step up into the highest grade, and all concerned are looking forward to see her tackling the likes of Delegator, Star Witness, and Bated Breath in the Group 1 contest on the final day of the royal fixture.

Bookmakers appear to have plenty of respect for Bewitched and she is currently joint-fourth favourite for the six furlong contest at a best priced 12/1 in the Ascot betting.

Delegator, winner of the Duke of York Stakes last month is the 5/1 market leader, Australian sprinter Star Witness can be backed at 8/1, whilst Roger Charlton’s hugely progressive Bated Breath is available at 9/1.

By the time the two top juvenile colts in Europe went head-to-head in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October, Dream Ahead was almost certainly ‘over the top’ and ran a long way below expectation as Frankel duly won in style, beating subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Roderic O’Connor. Simcock has admitted that he should not have run his stable star in that encounter but felt pressurised by the public clamour to see the two young stars take each other on and gave in.

This term the Newmarket handler has been admirably patient, refusing to let the son of Diktat run on account of the fast ground. With some rain now forecast for the Ascot region in the week leading up to the big race, it seems possible that Dream Ahead might well begin his 2011 campaign by having a crack at Frankel, an outstanding six-length winner of the 2000 Guineas at HQ at the end of April. Those looking at the Royal Ascot odds will be very excited by this prospect.

The winner of a Nottingham maiden on his debut last term, Dream Ahead then stepped up massively in grade and produced a tremendous performance to win the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville last August, beating Tin Man, who last month went on to land the French 2000 Guineas. In October Simcock’s charge destroyed a high-class field to win the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes by a stunning nine lengths, before being brought back just two weeks later to take on Frankel.

Now, reportedly working in great style, Simcock hopes his patience will be rewarded and that Dream Ahead can begin to make up for lost time this term. He is offered at around 33/1 for the St James’s Palace Stakes in a market that revolves solely around Frankel, currently a red-hot 3/10 favourite.

Epsom 14:40 Premio Loco
Doncaster 15:25 Buthelezi

For best odds see the table on the left