Racing and betting took a something of a back seat this week following the news of the passing of legendary trainer Sir Henry Cecil, but sport has a funny way of showing its respect for a departed hero, and it seemed entirely appropriate that Lady Cecil enjoyed a quickfire double courtesy of the stable’s runners Songbird and Morpheus on Thursday afternoon.
There’s sure to be a huge groundswell of support for the likes of Chigun and Noble Mission as they line up to represent the Newmarket stable at Royal Ascot next week, and a winner for the Warren House team would bring the house down.
With excitement levels building ahead of what promises to be a great five days (every race live on Channel 4), here’s an update on the headline market moves in the betting village:
Animal Kingdom is no bigger than 8/11 from 5/4 for the opening contest of the meeting, and is described by a couple of the firms as “by far and away” their biggest antepost loser, this despite him dropping in trip and facing uncertainty about the weather, with Ladbrokes using the phrase “relentless” to relay their version of how the support has arrived for the Dubai World Cup winner.
In the same contest the each way mover has been John Gosden’s tough and consistent mare Elusive Kate.
She found her way onto a prominent tipping line earlier in the week, and her seen her price trimmed from 12′s into no bigger than 9/1 at the time of writing.
It’s surely no great surprise that money has arrived for rampant Guineas winner Dawn Approach now he’s been confirmed as firmly on course for this target.
Returning to a mile BetVictor cut him from 7/4 to 6/4 to repair his reputation after a no show in the Derby.
Ladbrokes report cash for Ed Vaughan’s Dance And Dance, who was second in the Hunt Cup off 102 in 2011, but now races from a mark of 96.
He’s now a 14/1 poke having been 20/1 at the start of the week.
Last but not least, the Queen’s Estimate looks to have stacks going for her in the Gold Cup, and is 5/1 from 8/1 after sustained support.
She’s unbeaten at Ascot, looks to have stamina to burn, and gets the fillies’ allowance.
That’s all to come next week, but first up the Channel 4 cameras have got a big day to cover live from York, with four races live from the Knavesmire on Saturday afternoon.
