Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
Matron Stakes betting tips – Side with Peaceful down in trip
An absolutely cracking card on day 1 of Irish Champions Weekend has the 1m Group 1 Matron Stakes as the chief supporting race this Saturday (15:10).
As Fancy Blue has shaped better over further, Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Peaceful looks better suited to dropping down in distance.
Like many horses by Galileo, she has a speedier dam side to her pedigree. This gives the Aidan O’Brien trained three-year-old a turn of foot as well as stamina.
Where Fancy Blue excelled when stepping up in trip for the Prix de Diane, Peaceful lost out in a blanket finish. She was only beaten a neck at Chantilly, so it wasn’t that she didn’t stay.
However, she is two from three over a mile. On the Irish 1000 Guineas form, Peaceful also has the beating of So Wonderful, New York Girl and Albigna who all re-oppose in the Matron Stakes.
Even So, the fifth filly home that day, came out and won her next two starts, including the Irish Oaks. I am convinced that Fancy Blue wants further with stamina on both sides of her pedigree.
O’Brien senior has won the Matron Stakes three times since 2010. Everything points to a big run from Peaceful who may have been laid out for this.
It would be no surprise, meanwhile, if one of three-time Matron Stakes winning jockey Johnny Murtagh’s fillies hit the frame. Know It All is a course and distance winner.
Champers Elysees, meanwhile, is unbeaten in three starts this season and unexposed at the trip. Neither has achieved the level of form of Peaceful, however.
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Paddy Power Stakes betting tips – Tiger Moth can go one better
Later on Irish Champions Weekend day 1 is a 1m 4f Group 3 contest sponsored by Paddy Power (17:15). Gallant Irish Derby runner-up Tiger Moth makes a big drop in class
Also trained by Aidan O’Brien, this three-year-old Galileo colt has only had three career starts. He has made the frame in each of those and ran an absolute screaming when last in action.
After a maiden victory over 1m 2f at this venue, Tiger Moth was thrown right in at the deep end. Classic company was no problem for him and he ate into the deficit on Santiago in the Irish Derby with menace.
Although his stable companion just held on by a head, it was a massive effort. Off the back of his Irish Derby second, Tiger Moth held entries in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp and both the English and Irish St Leger.
The fact that he instead drops significantly in grade suggests connections want to get a black type win into him. Tiger Moth, rated 113, is 1lb below joint top-weights Buckhurst and Patrick Sarsfield, yet he gets 11lbs from them.
It puts him 10lb well-in on his elders. The next best three-year-old, Cormorant, is rated 106 and has to give Tiger Moth 3lb.
He is also 10lb well-in on his stable companion. The race terms are entirely in Tiger Moth’s favour and, while his odds reflect that, a repeat of his Irish Derby second should see him home in front.
Boomerang Mile betting tips – Safe Voyage can continue fine season
In the Group 2 Boomerang Mile (16:45), Safe Voyage looks well worth siding with. Trained by John Quinn, this British raider may be a seven-year-old but has never been better.
Safe Voyage has won 11 of his 27 career starts and placed on a further five occasions. A versatile gelding as regards ground, the son of Fast Company ran a fine third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last October.
That was a career best until this late-bloomer delivered a first Group 2 success last time out. Prior to that, Safe Voyage twice ran well behind Space Blues at Haydock and Glorious Goodwood.
Another thriving sort, the Godolphin owned four-year-old has since landed a Group 1 in France. That advertises the form nicely.
Safe Voyage has since built on his Listed success on Derby day at Epsom with victory in the City Of York Stakes during the Ebor Festival. He made all and won going away from old rival One Master in that 7f test.
On that basis, he is well worth another crack over a mile. Safe Voyage also ran well on his last Irish start when a keeping on third to Romanised last July.
As he was only beaten by 1 1/2 lengths that day in the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes at The Curragh, on a form line through the winner, there is little between Safe Voyage and Lancaster House here.
The three-year-olds that he must give 5lb weight-for-age to aren’t the most consistent sorts. Ratings topper Century Dream, meanwhile, needs plenty of rain at Leopardstown for optimum conditions.
It leaves Safe Voyage looking a solid bet for a third win of the campaign on his fifth start. Lancaster House commands respect, given his lightly-raced profile, but the overseas runner gets the nod.
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