Comparing the current Flat turf season to a long train journey is one way of describing the roller-coaster campaign that comes to two of its most famous stops in June courtesy of the Epsom Derby and the five days of top-class racing at Royal Ascot later in the month.

The Derby now occupies a Saturday slot in the racing programme that is more in keeping with its place in the modern age, and only a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist or a blinkered fool would be
grudge the fact that the premier classic has been rescued from the backwaters of the first Wednesday in June to a permanent Saturday berth.

The action at Epsom begins on Friday June 2 with the Group 1 Vodafone Oaks. Already this season’s classic fillies look a distinctly average bunch and it’s not hard to see the Oaks winner coming from the powerful stables of Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien, who should provide a handful of the more interesting runners.

The all-conquering Stoute team is likely to feature Riyalma, a game winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes on her sole start to date this term at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting and the fast-improving Short Skirt, who beat O’Brien’s well-touted Alexandrova, the current Oaks favourite in the often influential Musidora Stakes at York at the end of last month.

Speciosa and Confidential Lady, the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas winner and runner-up respectively, could also be in the Oaks line-up but the form of that soft ground classic may not add up to a great deal and the winner in particular is a wayward sort on track who might be unsuited to Epsom’s unique camber.

The June 2 card also features the Vodafone Coronation Cup, a Group 1 race for older horses that may well be won by Andre Fabre’s Shirocco, who looked better than ever when scoring on his seasonal debut at Newmarket recently, while Look Again is one of the better treated horses in the Vodafone Rose Bowl Handicap on the same day.

The Vodafone Derby takes centre stage on June 3 and there can be little doubt that the world’s greatest Flat race has been enhanced as a spectacle by the timely switch to a Saturday even though several recent renewals have been decidedly sub-standard affairs.

Still, watching the Derby field stream around Tattenham Corner before hitting that long and tilting home straight remains one of the greatest thrills in racing and if the betting is an accurate guide then Visindar, this year’s short-priced favourite, is on an unstoppable course to give France their first Derby winner since Lester Piggott steered Empery home for trainer Maurice Zilber and Texan owner Nelson Bunker Hunt in 1976.

Andre Fabre’s unbeaten chestnut has won both his races against weak opposition with ease this season and the trainer’s intimation that the colt is ‘something special’ will be put to the sternest of tests at Epsom. A short career of just three starts in small fields on flat tracks and over shorter distances is barely an adequate preparation for the uphill and downhill challenge of the Derby’s complete test. But Visindar may a cut above ordinary opposition.

Aidan O’Brien and Sir Michael Stoute have saddled four of the last five Derby winners and the former’s Septimus, a determined winner of the best Derby trial in the Dante at York, may emerge as the main threat to Visindar even though he lacks a change of pace and seems a St Leger and not a Derby horse.

Epsom’s Derby day card also features the Vodafone ‘Dash’, a five furlong sprint over one of the fastest sprint courses in the world and the man to stick with here is speed specialist, Dandy Nicholls, who may be represented by Merlin’s Dancer, his recent Chester winner who features on a handy mark for the ‘Dash’.

June 4 sees picturesque Chantilly host the Prix du Jockey-Club, or French Derby as it is more universally known, and Aidan O’Brien’s French 2,000 Guineas winner Aussie Rules could complete a rare French classic double, while Jean-Claude Rouget’s Germance bids to make it five from five in the Prix de Diane Hermes, France’s version of the Oaks at Chantilly on June 11. On the eve of Royal Ascot, York stages its valuable Timeform charity day and the feature race is the valuable three-year-old sprint entitled the William Hill Trophy.

Five of the best days of Flat racing to be found anywhere in the world begins on June 20 with the first day of Royal Ascot that is rightly restored to its true home after slumming it on the pudding-like turf of York’s Knavesmire a year ago.

The Group 1 Queen Anne and St James’s Palace Stakes are the first day highlights and a clash between Peeress, the recent Lockinge winner and Proclamation, last year’s Sussex Stakes hero could be a mouth-watering meeting while George Washington’s presence in the St James’s Palace could put many of his potential rivals off their game.

On June 21 the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes occupies pride of place and the Godolphin team have saddled four winners in recent seasons and if they can re-capture their best form before Royal Ascot then the stable’s chosen representative will be well worth a second look.

Alan King’s Levera and Sir Michael Stoute’s Jeremy will be among the more fancied runners in the seven furlong Jersey Stakes while the latter’s Echelon could be the one to give the Stoute team back-to-back victories in the Windsor Forest Stakes, a one mile pattern event for the better middle-distance fillies.

There’ll be a massive field in competition for the Royal Hunt Cup, one of the biggest betting heats of the entire handicap season where class as well as courage is required of the winner. An early fancy for this one-mile dash would be Roger Charlton’s Another Bottle, who can handle big fields and may be a shade better than he’s shown so far.

The Ascot Gold Cup is the feature race on June 22 and many will be pinning their faith on Sergeant Cecil making the transition from top-class staying handicaps to this Group 1 prize and he’s sure to go well, though that also applies to Sir Michael Stoute’s Distinction, a runner-up in the race a year ago and the most likely winner from Andre Fabre’s Reefscape, who has been specially prepared for the valuable stayers’ crown.

Friday’s Royal Ascot action centres upon the Coronation Stakes, a Group 1 race over a mile for fillies and though this year’s fairer sex seems like an ordinary bunch, the Marcus Tregoning-trained Makderah might be the type to go well at big odds. She has been progressing nicely all season.

Royal Ascot’s final day, June 24, features the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, which hasn’t been a good race for favourites in recent years while the same is true of the Wokingham Stakes, where speed, a good handicap mark and the ability to handle a big field are all essential components for the eventual winner. Hughie Morrison’s Intrepid Jack will be one of the more intriguing challengers for the season’s first big sprint handicap.

Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for the UK horse racing betting site GG.com - free daily tips, free expert articles, free 4 year form database, free alerts, free racing commentary, compare odds, forum and more!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Malcolm_Heyhoe
http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Preview-Of-Junes-UK-Horse-Racing&id=216303

Frankie Dettori rides Jalil who has found his form when running on the dirt. Can the Italian jockey cause an upset at the famous Nal Al Sheba? Jalil is 13/2 to win the race - click here to bet

As the favourite is such a short price Skybet have produced a couple of special markets to spice the race up. Betting without Curlin in the race has Jalil favourite at 5/2 with the Mike De Kock trained Asiatic boy next in at 4/1 - click here to bet

Skybet also have a market on Curlin’s winning distance, up to and including 2 lengths is 3/1, 2-5 lengths is also 3/1 and over 5 lengths is priced at 9/4 - click here to bet

You can find out more about Skybet by reading our review - click the links below

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Spread betting is a complicated venture; the statement is nothing but a popular misconception. Proponents of this form consider it to be real easy, once the new player has understood the concept. It enables you to win or loose money depending on how close off or far you are in your betting. Spread betting can be an exciting way to win or loose money, either in casino or while playing online. Win or loss depends majorly on your grasp of the understanding of the betting process.

One of the interesting factors of spread betting is that it allows you to place bets on just about any sport from football to horse racing and at the same time you can place bets on the ever changing stock market.

People have an option on where do they wish to dip in the world of online betting. It could be in a real casino or an online gaming site. In fact there are hundred of sites also offering free training sessions and tips for players new to the world of spread betting.
However once you are well versed with the basics of the game there are limitless venues where you can venture in this world. However like any other form of gambling, this too can be highly negative in yields and thus one should play only moderately, according to the financial resources you have. The game in general, is meant to be enjoyed and can yield an exciting time when played with someone educated in basics.

Like all other gambling games spread betting too has its own historical background.

Spread betting evolves from the basic qualities of gambling, placing money on the outcome and win or lose depending on that outcome. The uncertainty of winning or losing is the very reason for the addictive nature of this game. While in other forms of gambling win or loss depends on the outcome of one game, in spread gambling you may potentially win no matter what the final score. The actual numeric outcome of the game or market has no effect on you win or lose. You will win or lose as long as you bet correctly in the higher or lower margin of the outcome.

Much like other forms of betting, spread too has some bets, which are more popular then others. Some of the most wide spread betting occurs in Europe, where the well spread soccer circuit provides exciting games amply throughout the year. However with so many sports and competitions to bet on, it is hard to pin point any one form as the most popular focus. Besides games spread betting is particularly active on the financial market as well.

People spread bet on the financial markets in hopes of increasing their income or making up for the losses.

Information about betting could be found out by a number of ways. If you are decided on betting, find out as much as you can and know more as nothing here works better then an informed choice. Spending some time with someone experienced in the world of spread betting can be beneficial as you get to know the ins and outs of the game better.

Mansi aggarwal writes about spread betting. Learn more at http://www.bettingthespread.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mansi_Aggarwal
http://EzineArticles.com/?Spread-Betting-Basics&id=67688

We recommend Sporting Index for spread betting and you can read our sporting index review here.

This is a big number to still be in contention at this stage - especially in comparison to previous years but it looks certain that 40 horses will be in contention on the day with the cut off weight at 10st 10lbs presently.

So far - from the bookies that have declared most are offering 1/4 each way odds on the first four finishers although Bet365 are offering 1/4 odds on the first 5 finishers> I am sure most will start of offer some better odds as we get closer to the big day and the offers start flooding in!

You can find our in depth Grand National betting guide here.

2008 Grand National Entries

Form Horse Age Weight Trainer

2/500-P502 HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) 12 11-12 Willie Mullins IRE

P-262514 HI CLOY (IRE) 11 11-12 Michael Hourigan IRE

U-135P16 KNOWHERE (IRE) 10 11-11 Nigel Twiston-Davies

5/122-416 MR POINTMENT (IRE) 9 11-11 Paul Nicholls

5/U40-16447 OLLIE MAGERN 10 11-11 Nigel Twiston-Davies

210P-P123 TURKO (FR) 6 11-10 Paul Nicholls

03-4425 MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 7 11-09 David Pipe

513P-P40 BILLYVODDAN (IRE) 9 11-07 Henry Daly

21B21324 KNIGHT LEGEND (IRE) 9 11-07 Jessica Harrington IRE

11F-52U4 SIMON 9 11-07 John Spearing

1120-1P OPERA MUNDI (FR) 6 11-06 Paul Nicholls

66-3632F2 UNGARO (FR) 9 11-06 Keith Reveley

r416F5PP IRON MAN (FR) 7 11-05 Peter Bowen

6P-2412103 FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 10 11-04 Nigel Twiston-Davies

43011-303 BUTLER’S CABIN (FR) 8 11-03 Jonjo O’Neill

F53-62S5 SLIM PICKINGS (IRE) 9 11-03 Tom Taaffe IRE

4P3F6514 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 8 11-02 Tom Mullins IRE

400-01105 VODKA BLEU (FR) 9 11-02 David Pipe

00-63003 L’AMI (FR) 9 11-01 Francois Doumen FR

124-F1133 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 8 11-01 Willie Mullins IRE

1-0010F52 ALEXANDER TAIPAN (IRE) 8 11-00 Willie Mullins IRE

P/420F-2P BEWLEYS BERRY (IRE) 10 11-00 Howard Johnson

2P0450-0P CONTRABAND 10 11-00 Paul Murphy

410612-00 MCKELVEY (IRE) 9 11-00 Peter Bowen

P-20030 JOAACI (IRE) 8 10-13 David Pipe

2-0000403 POINT BARROW (IRE) 10 10-13 Patrick Hughes IRE

P0150P-220 CORNISH REBEL (IRE) 11 10-12 Lisa Williamson

PP2-P014 D’ARGENT (IRE) 11 10-12 Alan King

30-434P NO FULL (FR) 7 10-12 Eoin Doyle IRE

3-F106P0 BAILY BREEZE (IRE) 9 10-11 Mouse Morris IRE

522-360P BOB HALL (IRE) 7 10-11 Jonjo O’Neil

201U-5111 CLOUDY LANE 8 10-11 Donald McCain Jnr

U22P-2221 KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 9 10-11 Arthur Moore IRE

422434-P36 MON MOME (FR) 8 10-11 Venetia Williams

132000 ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 7 10-10 Peter Bowen

026-2P0 CORNISH SETT (IRE) 9 10-10 Paul Nicholls

PP-104329 NAUNTON BROOK 9 10-10 Nigel Twiston-Davies

0-2311342 OVER THE CREEK 9 10-10 David Pipe

U50P-0U4 PATSY HALL (IRE) 8 10-10 Tony Martin IRE

6F-04U3335 ROYAL AUCLAIR (FR) 11 10-10 Paul Nicholls

0211-U10 ROYAL COUNTY STAR (IRE) 9 10-10 Tony Martin IRE

554-50626 TUMBLING DICE (IRE) 9 10-10 Tom Taaffe IRE

FP/24/0-14 BACKBEAT (IRE) 11 10-09 Howard Johnson

6/4P/-0P21 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 9 10-09 David Pipe

UU-20U505 IDLE TALK (IRE) 9 10-09 Donald McCain Jnr

2P-4300F2 KELAMI (FR) 10 10-09 Francois Doumen FR

11305-540 MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 6 10-09 David Pipe

3PF-013P NADOVER (FR) 7 10-09 Charlie Mann

0-564420 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 9 10-08 Dessie Hughes IRE

11P-0P6 HOMER WELLS (IRE) 10 10-08 Willie Mullins IRE

13532627 PATMAN DU CHARMIL (FR) 6 10-08 Nigel Twiston-Davies

1P6/04-2B PHILSON RUN (IRE) 12 10-08 Nick Williams

14-55P5 URSUMMAN (IRE) 9 10-08 Niall Madden IRE

62-166P0P ARDAGHEY (IRE) 9 10-07 Nigel Twiston-Davies

0F251P-062 DUN DOIRE (IRE) 9 10-07 Tony Martin IRE

06/001P-U0 JOES EDGE (IRE) 11 10-07 Ferdy Murphy

113122 COOL RUNNING (IRE) 8 10-06 Christy Roche IRE

10F0/16-0 DROMBEAG (IRE) 10 10-06 Jonjo O’Neill

21-0PF0F DUNBRODY MILLAR (IRE) 10 10-06 Peter Bowen

43-63030 IN THE HIGH GRASS (IRE) 7 10-06 Tom Taaffe IRE

146/0/10- LONGSHANKS 11 10-06 Kim Bailey

312/452-6 OSSMOSES (IRE) 11 10-06 Don Forster

P-2UU4610 LE DUC (FR) 9 10-05 Paul Nicholls

U0-6000 LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) 12 10-05 Willie Mullins IRE

65-2FP0FU0 MERDEKA (IRE) 8 10-05 Tom Taaffe IRE

3/02-223 PAK JACK (FR) 8 10-05 Richard Phillips

3542-4P THEATRE KNIGHT (IRE) 10 10-05 Howard Johnson

1650PPP BALLYCASSIDY (IRE) 12 10-04 Peter Bowen

141-1F4P BLUE SPLASH (FR) 8 10-04 Peter Bowen

P12/-P225P ERIC’S CHARM (FR) 10 10-04 Oliver Sherwood

U0-1061465 IRISH RAPTOR (IRE) 9 10-04 Nigel Twiston-Davies

11F2-00P LOULOU NIVERNAIS (FR) 9 10-04 Nigel Hawke

3P-5P134P NEWBAY PROP (IRE) 9 10-04 Tony Martin IRE

330-1111 RISK ACCESSOR (IRE) 13 10-04 Jonjo O’Neill

110-3320 BANNISTER LANE 8 10-03 Donald McCain Jnr

1F-0406 GLENFINN CAPTAIN (IRE) 9 10-03 Tom Taaffe IRE

122-50550 LANKAWI 6 10-03 Peter Bowen

60F0U0 TOMMY SPAR 8 10-03 Peter Bowen

4312-34P WHISPERED SECRET (GER) 9 10-03 David Pipe

12-P4P13 BALLYFOY (IRE) 7 10-02 Tom George

F60P00-3P INNOX (FR) 12 10-02 Jonjo O’Neill

053U3P- SWEET DIVERSION (IRE) 9 10-02 Evan Williams

P0P0-0052 TAKE THE STAND (IRE) 12 10-02 Peter Bowen

621P1F/-P YOU’RE SPECIAL (USA) 11 10-02 Ferdy Murphy

0/1P061/-0P FUSTRIEN DU PAON (FR) 12 10-01 Richard Chotard FR

6P-6FP23 LEADING MAN (IRE) 8 10-01 Ferdy Murphy

P62P-P4P NITRAT (FR) 7 10-01 Francois Doumen FR

123112-4 NOIR ET VERT (FR) 7 10-01 Ferdy Murphy

323-0P3P PREACHER BOY 9 10-01 Ron Hodges

415/-2P0P AZULEJO (FR) 10 10-00 Michael Scudamore

3110-PP2P FLINTOFF (USA) 7 10-00 Venetia Williams

200-563U FLYING ENTERPRISE (IRE) 8 10-00 Evan Williams

231453P IRISH WOLF (FR) 8 10-00 Peter Bowen

2/1F-1SF NOT LEFT YET (IRE) 7 9-13 David Pipe

412002203 BURNTOAKBOY 10 9-12 Dr Richard Newland

0/04P60-2 NATIVE JACK (IRE) 14 9-12 Philip Rothwell IRE

2460-425F OSCAR INDIA (IRE) 9 9-11 Henry de Bromhead IRE

1120-0P MALETTON (FR) 8 9-10 Evan Williams

P0P-53PP5 ROYAL ROSA (FR) 9 9-10 Howard Johnson

PPU-043P THE OUTLIER (IRE) 10 9-10 Venetia Williams

4232/-41P BEANTOWN (IRE) 10 9-08 Sean Aherne IRE

2003FP4 MODEL SON (IRE) 10 9-08 Paul Blockley

F0030-302P2 ANOTHER RUM (IRE) 10 9-06 John Weymes

F0-45U1P MCEVOY (IRE) 8 9-06 Evan Williams

U/1431-5PP BOSHAM MILL 10 9-05 Brendan Powell

31-4UP66 SILVER JACK (IRE) 10 9-05 Martin Todhunter

6P-061106 VICTORY GUNNER (IRE) 10-9-05 Craig Roberts

501/-P50P FINAL ACT (IRE) 12 9-04 John Murphy IRE

4PP02PP MR ED (IRE) 10 9-04 Peter Bowen

P165FP0 JUFUL TENNIS (FR) 11 9-03 Francois Cottin FR

3-615203 HENRY’S PRIDE (IRE) 8 9-01 Alison Thorpe

12/122/-4 TOULOUSE-LAUTREC (IRE) 12 9-01 Tom George

0126556 SECRETOFSHAMBHALA (IRE) 9 9-00 Tom Mullins IRE

500P-6106 WONDERKID 8 9-00 Tony Martin IRE

4P-24314 BENGO (IRE) 8 8-12 Ben De Haan

We will bring you closer to the Grand National action here at haveaflutter, and right now you can follow the build up to the event with our comprehensive Grand National betting guide.

So don’t forget to follow the Grand National action here at haveaflutter, not only do we have a huge amount of information available about the race, but more importantly we will also bring you the best Grand National betting and trading offers available.

Don’t miss out, they have boosted the odds for the “Ballymore Properties Novices Hurdle” - the 2pm at Cheltenham - prices available at 8.30am. Plus they have extended the each way place terms in the Coral Cup to FIVE places.

Also don’t miss the amazing totepool Festival savings on offer at Sky Bet. For all Cheltenham bets they will be giving 15% cashback on all toteplacepot and totejackpot bets plus 10% cashback on all toteexacta bets.

Skybet are really hitting the traditional bookies for six with these great offers, and they will only get better as the festival continues.

Get yourself over to Skybet right now - with a great free bet offer on as well then you would be crazy not to open an account with them!

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Katchit trained by Alan King won the first day’s feature, the Champion Hurdle, leading home a British clean sweep in a race where in recent times the Irish runners have dominated.

Jockey Robert Thornton’s got his second win of the day after also triumphing in the opener on Captain Cee Bee.

Paul and Nina Carberry also added to their Festival successes while there were first Festival wins for Tom Scudamore on An Accordion and Denis O’Regan on Tidal Bay.

Day 2 is looking mouthwatering and we are looking forward to another great day of racing, we suggest looking forward to:

Sir Peter O’Sullevan (the legendary commentaor) is having his recent 90th birthday marked by adding his name to the title of the National Hunt Chase, the first Cheltenham Festival race ever staged.

Irish runners nearly always win the Weatherbys Festival Bumper, and they have the first five in the betting, three trained by race specialist Willie Mullins. Best of the British could be Big Eared Fran, named after former Everton and now Sheffield Wednesday footballer Franny Jeffers!!

Keep abreast of all the news and betting offers at Cheltenham with our Cheltenham Betting Guide.

So why not check out our Cheltenham Guide

Or

Check out our Cheltenham Betting Offers

The news is updated constantly so why not bookmark us or keep coming back to the site for more - throughout the festival we will bring you closer to the Cheltenham action

You can also check out our extensive Cheltenham Gold Cup coverage here.

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