Who To Watch Horse Racing – Week Beginning 11th June

We’re now really starting to build up to arguably the best week in the flat horse racing calendar, Royal Ascot. Therefore the coming few days are a bit like the calm before the storm as they’re not littered with quality as preparations are well underway for the big guns and the Royal meeting. There are a few Listed races throughout the week to wet the appetite before we head to Berkshire on the 19th June.

Trainers

• Tim Easterby – Has made his way into the column for two weeks running now following a very successful time of things, 8 more winners last week puts him at the top of the flat trainer’s chart for the past 14 days with 15 wins. His horses are still thriving and are worth sticking with.
• Joseph O’Brien – An excellent week produced 11 winners for the young Irish trainer, 8 on the flat and 3 over jumps. Prepares them well in both codes and is evidently in good form. Will also have a few contenders at Royal Ascot that can’t be written off.
• Richard Fahey – He’s never shy of quantity but also has the quality to match with 8 winners last week and a 34% win and place strike rate. Interesting that he only has 1 runner at Thirsk on Tuesday.

Jockeys

• Daniel Tudhope – Picked up 7 winners last week and is fast becoming a ‘go to’ rider for many trainers. Worth noting when he’s on board for Archie Watson as the pair have a 36% strike rate when teaming up this season.
• Jack Mitchell – Operated at an impressive 33% strike rate last week with 5 winners. Picks up some nice rides, particularly for Roger Varian. Goes to Windsor on Monday for just 1 ride in the last for Simon Crisford, the pair had a winner together last week.
• Robert Havlin – Only had 8 rides last week, but half of them won and a further couple were in the frame. Has a 33% strike rate when combining with John Gosden this year, the pair team up with Garrick at Windsor on Monday.

Horses

• Wufud – A half-brother to Charles Hills’ star sprinter Muhaarar and made a very promising start to his career when 2nd at Kempton in April. Has potential and runs in the 2.30pm at Salisbury on Tuesday.
• Qatar Queen – A Kodiac half-sister to last years St James’s Palace Stakes winner Barney Roy. Entered in the 2.40pm at Haydock on Wednesday, interesting if Richard Hannon has her tuned up for it.
• Promising – Placed in a pair of Group 3s and is unexposed for a 4-year-old, has finished second and first in last two starts, conceding weight both times and the form stacks up well. A mark of 88 looks more than workable and she’s entered in 2 handicaps at York on Friday.