GET SHIRTY did this newsletter a good turn at Royal Ascot when he won the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot at 16-1.
Yes, I know, I tipped him at 14-1. But if that’s the worst thing that happens to my gambling this season, then so be it.
I paid the penalty for my disloyalty when David O’Meara six-year-old gelding followed up with another win on much softer ground at Haydock earlier this month, this time lifting the Old Newton Cup.
That was a really competitive handicap, possibly over a trip short of Get Shirty’s best, and the Racing Post's race assessor accurately reported that he won “comfortably”.
I don‘t intend to desert this consistent improver again. I make him a decent each way bet at 18-1 with Bet Victor lift the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap on August 20, one of my favourite races of the Flat season.
O’Meara has made it clear that the Ebor will be his charge’s next target, provided he stays fit. Stable jockey Danny Tudhope gets on well with the horse, and the race’s distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs will be perfect for him. I love the fact that Get Shirty has proved he is not ground dependent, being effective on any going from “good to firm” to “soft”.
Yes, he had gone up another 5 lbs to a rating of 110 for his Haydock win but, on the bright side, it means that he is certain to make the “cut” for the race. He doesn’t have strong form at York, which I always prefer, but at 18-1 you can’t have everything.
Just the one tip this week, but I am confident there will be more next week, including a strong fancy for the Coral Stewards Cup at Goodwood later this month. However, I want to try to find out from the stable whether the horse is definitely an intended runner before putting him up antepost.
Finally, my regular request: if you are enjoying this newsletter please recommend it to a friend.
One for the horse tracker
Ropey Guest came close to doing this newsletter a big massive favour when second in the Bunbury Cup at Newbury last Saturday, having been put up as an each way tip at 25-1. After being heavily backed on the day, he went off at odds of just 11-1. But the horse that also caught my eye in the same race was Montassib, who finishing a running-on fourth. William Haggas’s four-year-old gelding has now been a beaten favourite in his last two starts in big-field 7 furlong handicaps. I am convinced this lightly-raced horse will do even better when stepped up in trip to a mile, and the Coral Golden Mile at Goodwood at the end of this month could be ideal for him. He does, however, have other options over the coming weeks, so I am not proposing him as an ante-post bet quite yet.
Pending:
2 points win Tactician at 12-1 for the Moet & Chandon International Stakes.
2 points win Air to Air at 20-1 for the Moet & Chandon International Stakes.
1 point each way Get Shirty at 18-1 for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, ¼ odds, 4 places.
Settled:
1 point each way Arcadian Sunrise Cup at 16-1 in the Chester Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. 4th. + 3 points.
1 point each way Morph Speed at 25-1 in the Chester Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Auditor at 16-1 in the TRU7 Handicap, 1/4 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Moss Gill at 12-1 in the Temple Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Caradoc at 11-1 the Cazoo Handicap, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Westover at 20-1 in the Cazoo Derby,, 1/5 odds, 3 places. 3rd. + 3 points.
1 point each way Changingoftheguard at 9-1 in the Cazoo Derby, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each Moneista at 16-1 in the King’s Stand Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Rock Eagle at 20-1 in the Ascot Stakes, 1/5 odds, 7 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Raymond Tusk at 33-1 in the Copper Horse Stakes, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Get Shirty at 14-1 in the Copper Horse Stakes, 1/5 odds, 5 places. 1st. + 16.8 points.
1 point each way Aratus at 40-1 in the Royal Hunt Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Symbolize at 18-1 in the Royal Hunt Cup, 1/5 odds, 8 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Rosemary and Thyme at 40-1 in the Kensington Palace Stakes, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Princess Zoe at 13/2 for the Ascot Gold Cup, 1/5 odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Star of Orion at 25-1 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, 1/5 odds, 7 places. .Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Dance Fever at 20-1 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, 1/5 odds, 7 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Stay Well at 16-1 in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, 1/5 odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Minzaal at 14-1 in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Double or Bubble at 14-1 in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, 1/5 odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Gulliver at 33-1 in the Wokingham Handicap, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Popmaster at 33-1 in the Wokingham Handicap, 1/5 odds, 7 places. 2nd. + 5.6 points.
1 point each way Calling the Wind at 14-1 in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, 1/5 odds, 4 places. 3rd but Rule 4 deduction. + 0.81 points.
1 point each way Onesmoothoperator at 13/2 for the Northumberland Plate, 1/5 odds, 7 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Primo Bacio at 33-1 for the Falmouth Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Star of Orion at 16-1 for the Bunbury Cup 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Ropey Guest at 25-1 for the Bunbury Cup, 1/4 odds, 4 places. 2nd. + 5.25 points.
2 points win Intellogent at 8-1 for the John Smith’s Cup. 3rd. – 2 points.
2022 Flat season running total: - 9.54 points.
2021-2 jumps season + 77.95 points.
My gambling record for the seven years: I have made a profit in 12 of the past 13 seasons. To a 1 point level stake over this period, I have made a profit of 460 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a "point" is your chosen regular stake).