Scotia after the World Cup

Good morning all and hope you enjoyed the spectacular World Cup in South Africa and the positive energy it created for the Nation.



As Stan the man would say "where do we go from here"?

The sad news for many is the Paul the octopus is hanging up his tentacles, I for one am not that concerned as he cost me a few squid, I have heard a rumour that he will be part of the Neil Andrews team for the new season but yet to be confirmed?

On the subject of animals I spent a couple of great days in the bush last weekend


"cure for constipation"

Don't normally play the lotto but Powerball is R75M this evening so worth a wee punt, someone has to win it eventually and might as well be me rather than one of the organisers or a government official
(the Powerball number should be 3,7,9,18 or 19) but sometimes form does not work in this game and suggest you find an octopus with plenty balls.

The July remains wide open as we continue the build up with less than 3 weeks to go. Irish Flame marginally tops the boards from Fort Vogue, Bold Silvano and River Jetez. I will stick with Pocket Power as a sound ew at around 20/1.


Pocket Power 20/1 for the July

Overseas we have the King George from Ascot on the 24th July and Workforce remains a firm even money shot. The Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on the 28th July had looked good for Canford Hills but a word of warning from Hannon as he fears the ground might be too firm for his star so hold back on the punts.

On the Rugby front the tri-nations are under way and a poor start from the Boks and the All Blacks look well in the driving seat although Garrick has hope for the die hards............Springboks-No need to panic yet

As far as the Tour De France Contador getting a bit cheek from Andy Schleck in a real test for any athlete.

AP still firm fav for the BBC award but Lewis Hamilton now in the picture.can only hope for a puncture or he runs out of fuel.

Good punting and may your God be with you

scotia

The Brits price up on everything!

Peslier installed at 5-4 for plum Harbinger ride

OLIVIER PESLIER has been installed as the 5-4 favourite with William Hill to pick up the plum spare ride on board Harbinger in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 24.

Champion jockey Ryan Moore will stay loyal to stablemate and Derby hero Workforce in the Betfair-sponsored Group 1, meaning that trainer Sir Michael Stoute and owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing must find a new jockey for the Hardwicke Stakes winner.

Peslier, who rode Ask to finish third for Stoute last year and partnered Papal Bull into second the year before, is a warm order with William Hill, who make Kieren Fallon - who won the race on the Stoute-trained Golan in 2002 - second favourite at 7-4.

Richard Hughes, who has had plenty of success on Highclere-owned horses this season, is rated a 4-1 chance, while Frankie Dettori has been given a quote of 6-1.



Who will ride Harbinger in the King George?

William Hill betting: 5-4 Olivier Peslier, 7-4 Kieren Fallon, 4 Richard Hughes, 6 Frankie Dettori, 16 Paul Hanagan, 25 Richard Mullen

Harbinger will give Workforce a big race..

Hope u took the 5/4

Peslier lands Harbinger ride in King George

SIR MICHAEL STOUTE on Wednesday confirmed Olivier Peslier will ride Harbinger in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 24.

Ryan Moore has ridden Harbinger in his eight starts to date and was on board the Highclere Thoroughbred- owned colt when he gained his fifth career success in the Group 2 Harwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.


However, the champion jockey has already stated he will stick with Investec Derby winner Workforce in the Betfair-sponsored Group 1.

Peslier had been installed as William Hill's 5-4 favourite to partner Harbinger and rode Ask to finish third behind Conduit and Tartan Bearer in last year's race.

Harbinger worked impressively on the watered gallop under Maria Doe when going well clear of his workmate and it is possible that Peslier could ride him in work at the weekend.

Stoute told racingpost.com on Wednesday morning: "Olivier Peslier will ride Harbinger. Ryan is the only one to have ridden and Olivier will have sit on him before the race."

Quoted on the Highclere website, managing director Harry Herbert said: "We are thrilled that Olivier will be riding Harbinger; he is a world class jockey and we have enjoyed a number of successes over the years, including Delilah in the Princess Royal Stakes at Ascot.

"He will ride Harbinger in a piece of work this weekend and hopefully we are now all set for the big race on the 24th."

The Cheltenham Gold Cup has been stolen in a house burglary along with other high-value racing trophies worth more than £150,000.

The Challenge Cup and the Britannia Handicap Cup were also among the items taken in the raid after the offenders forced their way into a property between midnight and 6.50am this morning.

The Cheltenham Cup - racing's most famous trophy - is made of solid gold and is worth around £10,000.

Bronze ornaments in the shape of a hare, a spaniel with a pheasant in its mouth and two horses being ridden by jockeys were also stolen along with other items.

Police attended the scene in Wormington near Broadway, Gloucestershire, and are appealing to witnesses to come forward.

The iconic Cheltenham Gold Cup race - dating back to 1819 - takes place every year. This year it was won by jockey Paddy Brennan.

Sure it was the gold cup won by Charter Party

Youmzain the money horse in King George

PUNTERS believe Youmzain can make it third time lucky in Saturday's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot after just eight runners stood their ground at Monday's five-day stage.

The money started to come for Jaber Abullah's seven-year-old following positive comments from big-race jockey Richard Hughes on Sunday and the support continued as the smaller than expected field size was revealed on Monday.


Youmzain has been cut across the board, with Boylesports, Totesport and William Hill taking the most evasive action, going 12-1 (from 20), while Paddy Power offer the same price from 16s.

Harbinger, second favourite to stablemate and Investec Derby winner Workforce, was another mover on Monday, cut to 2-1 (from 9-4) with Victor Chandler.

Despite the depleted field, favourite Workforce was eased to evens with both William Hill (from 4-5) and Bet365 (from 5-6).

The Aga Khan's Daryakana was the only other to attract support, Paddy Power going shortest at 11-1 (from 16).

Youmzain cut as punters shun Stoute's big two

PUNTERS on Tuesday continued to oppose Workforce and Harbinger, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained market leaders for Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, as they backed Youmzain, Dar Re Mi and Daryakana at each-way prices.

Youmzain’s price contracted on Monday and the trend continued as two of the big firms, Ladbrokes and William Hill, made the Mick Channon-trained star just 12-1 (from 14) to land victory in his third attempt at the Ascot Group 1.

David Williams of Ladbrokes said: "Youmzain has been campaigning at the top level for what seems like ages and his army of supporters clearly believe he has another huge race in him.

“With the dead eight in the race and an odds-on favourite we're seeing plenty of each-way interest in this year's King George."

The Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Daryakana, who would be making her first appearance outside France if she lines up in the Betfair-sponsored King George, was cut to 16-1 (from 20) by Coral. Class mare Dar Re Mi was nibbled into 12-1 (from 14) with Victor Chandler.

Watering was continuing at Ascot where the ground was described officially as good, good to firm in places on Tuesday night.

"We have had no rain today and all the volatile weather is to the north and the west of us," said clerk of the course Chris Stickels.

"We are putting 10mm of water on the straight course today and 4mm on the round course. There may be the odd shower on Wednesday night into Thursday or on Friday but the accumulations won't amount to very much - possibly 3mm or 4mm."

Majestic Concorde was a major mover for the www.thetote.com Galway Plate on July 28.

The Dermot Weld-trained individual was cut to 6-1 (from with Ladbrokesand Stan James, 11-2 (from 7) with Boylesports, and 7-1 (from with Victor Chandler.

Harbinger has 'genuine' King George chance

OLIVIER PESLIER is looking forward to the ride on Harbinger in Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, a horse he believes has a "genuine chance" of landing the prestigious Group 1.

Peslier, who has enjoyed plenty of success at Ascot in the past, including a recent win on Goldikova in the Queen Anne Stakes, teams up with trainer Sir Michael Stoute for the third consecutive year in the Betfair-sponsored contest and is obviously excited at the prospect.

"Ascot is one of the best tracks in the world and it's great to be riding there with a genuine chance of winning the King George," Peslier told At The Races on Wednesday.

He added: "He seems a better horse this year, I rode him on Saturday morning and he gave me a great feel. He's a horse you can go anywhere with in the race and I'm looking forward to the ride."

Jaber Abdullah's Youmzain has been the best backed horse in the King George market this week and Peslier sees the seven-year-old as a live danger at Ascot.

Peslier said: "I think Youmzain would be the best horse to take out of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. It was not a very fast pace and that helped my horse [Plumania]. Youmzain did very well to finish second.

"Daryakana was also very unlucky in that race and finished very well, but Youmzain could be the better horse."

On Workforce, stablemate to Harbinger, Peslier added: "He's a very nice horse who won very well at Epsom. The King George is a very good race and it takes a very good horse to win it."