We’re now just two weeks away from the 2022/23 Premier League season and we’ve put together a preview for EVERY club ahead of the upcoming campaign.
888sport will be here with the latest Premier League Odds, tips and predictions on EVERY match throughout the 2022/23 season – and Up For 8 is also back!
A blockbuster season is expected in England’s top flight once again and there’s going to be drama and excitement from the opening weekend until the final whistle on the final day.
Predicting the outcome of an entire Premier League campaign is no easy feat but we have managed to come up with predictions for the winners, top four, top half and relegation.
So, what are you waiting for? Find your favourite team via the list below and check our football betting prediction ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League.
Who will lift the Premier League trophy? How many newly promoted clubs will avoid the drop? Check out our predictions on every Premier League team below…
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
Fulham played some fantastic football in 2021/22, topping the 100 goals mark en route to lifting the Championship trophy at the end of the season.
Marco Silva gets another opportunity to prove himself at Premier League level, having failed to inspire confidence during stints at Hull City, Watford and Everton.
Currently odds against for relegation straight back to the second tier, Fulham will be popular in football bets to secure their Premier League survival despite Silva’s record.
With astute investment this summer and the right approach, the Cottagers have the quality to defy the odds and survive in England’s top flight.
Backing In Transfer Market
The Fulham board has shown great faith in Silva by backing him financially in the summer transfer window – though that is hardly a huge shock as they look to avoid the drop.
Andreas Pereira brings Premier League experience to Craven Cottage while João Palhinha is widely regarded as one of Europe’s top defensive midfield options.
BREAKING 🚨: Fulham have agreed a £20m deal with Sporting Lisbon for Portuguese midfielder Joao Palhinha.
This deal is expected to move quickly with the 26-year-old set to become Marco Silva's first summer signing. ⚫⚪
Fulham had to work out £18 million to sign the Portugal international this summer but it will look like a shrewd investment if he performs at a high level in 2022/23.
Premier League predictions were firmly against Fulham at the start of the transfer window but Silva has done all the right things so far and it would be foolish to write them off.
Silva Has Point To Prove
It may seem a little harsh to focus too much on Silva but he looked so far out of his depth in previous Premier League tenures that it cannot be ignored.
Perhaps Fulham is the perfect club for Silva to really show off his managerial prowess. If not, he is unlikely to receive another chance to take charge in England’s top flight.
One of the early favourites in Premier League odds to be first manager sacked, Silva will be hoping for a fast start to the campaign and early points on the board could be vital.
A likeable character, neutrals will be hoping that Silva pulls it out of the bag. Once touted as a future Portugal manager, he can rebuild his reputation with a positive 2022/23 season.
Fulham Prediction For 2022/23:
I give Fulham a 50/50 chance of avoiding relegation at this stage. They’ve made some solid moves in the transfer window but will that be enough?
Silva could do with adding another player or two to his squad – targeting those with Premier League experience is absolutely essential as Fulham seek to survive at England’s top table.
Aleksandar Mitrovic will be key to their chances and his goals return will also be of interest to many of those who have placed trust in FPL arrivals over alternatives.
There could be a fairly substantial Premier League scrap this campaign and the more teams involved, the better Fulham’s chance of avoiding the drop.
Fulham Premier League prediction: Avoid relegation
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
It’s been a nervy summer for Brighton fans, with some of England’s biggest clubs targeting the Seagulls in the summer transfer window.
With Yves Bissouma at Tottenham and Manchester City in hot pursuit of Marc Cucurella, we could see a much-changed Brighton on the opening weekend.
Still, clear sports betting favourites to avoid a relegation scrap in 2022/23, Brighton have the right man in charge in Graham Potter and he can lead the club to safety.
This will be Brighton’s sixth season in the Premier League and supporters will be hoping that their experience and nous is enough to scupper any serious relegation worries.
Smart Investment Required
If Brighton lose Cucurella before the end of the summer window, the Seagulls simply cannot afford to ignore his departure. Re-investing that money is essential.
With the club rejecting City’s initial advance of £30 million, we are likely to see another bid from Pep Guardiola’s side and Brighton should start preparing for life without him.
Undoubtedly one of the most talented players at the club, Cucurella will be sorely missed but he is replaceable and I’d trust Potter to target the right player to fill his shoes.
Brighton have invested primarily in young players this summer but an experienced defender wouldn’t go amiss if the Spaniard moves to the Etihad Stadium.
Potter – Future England Manager?
The former Swansea City boss has done a terrific job since taking over at Brighton and many have labelled him as the next England manager after Gareth Southgate.
Brighton have climbed the football prediction rankings over the past few years and there is no doubt that the Seagulls are one of the best teams to watch in the Premier League.
With their attacking brand of football and emphasis on working hard off the ball, Brighton are just a couple of players off cementing their status as a top half team.
The club finished ninth in the 2021/22 Premier League and Potter will do his own credentials no harm whatsoever if Brighton can repeat that performance this season.
How Can Brighton Improve?
Brighton accrued more points away from home than at the Amex Stadium last season and that is one area where Potter will be demanding improvement.
The Seagulls lost just four of their 19 away league games in 2021/22 – an excellent feat to say the least and a repeat of that record should be enough to clinch a top half finish.
But if Brighton are intending to challenge for eighth or even seventh, they must improve in front of their home fans. 19 goals in 19 games and 22 points from 57 isn’t good enough.
Premier League odds for Brighton to win matches will be shorter than in 2021/22 but fans should consider whether the Seagulls are home or away based on last year’s record.
Brighton Prediction For 2022/23:
Neil Maupay and Leandro Trossard notched eight goals apiece last term and Brighton fans will be hoping that one of their attacking stars can hit double figures this time around.
With Potter at the helm, Brighton should be more concerned with a top half battle than a relegation fight – and that is reflected in Premier League predictions for 2022/23.
One of the most likeable teams in England’s top flight, I’m banking on Potter working his magic in the absence of Bissouma and Cucurella and Brighton should be just fine.
Brighton Premier League prediction: Top half finish
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
AFC Bournemouth needed just two seasons to bounce back and secure promotion to the Premier League having dropped out of the top flight in 2019/20.
There have been plenty of changes at the Vitality Stadium since then, with Scott Parker at the helm after Jonathan Woodgate’s short tenure came to an end.
Parker was a popular figure in Premier League betting odds during his playing days and the Cherries faithful will be hoping that he can lead the club to safety.
While the road ahead is tricky, Bournemouth have plenty of Premier League experience in their ranks and they are well equipped for the challenges of top flight football.
Lack Of Transfer Activity
Bournemouth supporters will be looking at Nottingham Forest and Fulham doing business and panic may be starting to set in.
While slow progress in the summer transfer window is alarming, Bournemouth aren’t going to just throw money at players – they have to fit the profile of the club.
It is a risky strategy but one that could ultimately pay off at the end of the season. The latest Premier League predictions have Bournemouth in the bottom three but it’s still early days.
Joe Rothwell and Ryan Fredericks are both competent players though the Cherries will need another signing or two to help put fans at ease.
Parker Cut Out For Premier League?
This is the million pound question. He had no excuses at Fulham, with chairman Shahid Khan backing the former West Ham United midfielder with a lucrative contract.
However, things didn’t really work out for the west London outfit as they dropped out of the top flight at the first time of asking – Parker left the club by mutual consent that summer.
He has been a huge hit since taking over at Bournemouth though and Cherries supporters will be hoping that Parker and co can defy online football bet odds in 2022/23.
Should Bournemouth suffer an immediate relegation back to the second tier, Parker may not get another managerial job in the Premier League. It is as simple as that.
Bournemouth Prediction For 2022/23:
Bournemouth really need to crack on and make some moves in the transfer window. While it is important to sign the right players, they are in danger of falling behind.
Forest and Fulham have made a number of smart moves this summer and Bournemouth must follow suit before the end of the window or else the writing may be on the wall.
At this stage, it’s more likely that the Cherries will drop straight back down to the second tier than avoid relegation. But I’ve been wrong before and I’ll be wrong again!
Bournemouth Premier League prediction: Relegation
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
The fact an eighth-place finish felt like a disappointment speaks volumes for how far Leicester have come under Brendan Rodgers.
Barely even an afterthought in Premier League relegation betting, the Foxes have now clocked five consecutive top half finishes. A jaunt to the last four of the Conference League was the highlight of 2021/22.
With no European distraction in 2022/23, what would be a good season for Rodgers’ side? Is a top six finish reasonable? Will they be able to leapfrog David Moyes’ West Ham?
The sports betting markets place the Foxes behind the Hammers and Newcastle in the race to upset the big six. There’s work to be done if they are to replicate their 2019/20 and 2020/21 results.
No News Is… Bad News?
Leicester are yet to make a permanent signing this summer. Perhaps this is a sign of a refreshed, circumspect approach in the market.
Alternatively, fans could look at this as a club going backwards through inaction, particularly after a lack of squad depth hit them hard in 2021/22.
The future of Youri Tielemans is up in the air with Arsenal looming, and the Foxes have been heavily linked with several new signings including Levi Colwill of Chelsea.
It could be argued that having a fully fit first XI would be effectively like having new signings, but it’s clear Leicester need to bolster their depth if they are to contend for a top six spot again.
Defensive Woes Continue
Those injuries were particularly relevant to the defence with Wilfred Ndidi, Wesley Fofana and Ricardo Pereira missing time.
Missing such core members of the midfield and back line is going to compromise their defensive efforts, but it also shone a light on the long-running issue of defensive fragility in Rodgers’ teams.
Leeds, Watford and Norwich were the only teams to allow more expected goals against last season.
Leicester must make a serious improvement at limiting opponent’s chances to put themselves in contention to be best of the rest in 2022/23.
How Can Leicester Improve?
While it’s reductive, and ultimately true for every team, Leicester’s most obvious route to improving on last season is having their best players available. Rodgers’ first choice XI is still the best outside the top six.
Keeping hold of Tielemans is significant, and it would be a confidence boost for Leicester backers if they could add another midfielder even if the Belgian remains at the club.
Matches at the King Power are one of the best away days in the Premier League, but the Foxes need an improvement in 2022/23. Just four teams won fewer away matches last season.
Leicester Prediction For 2022/23:
There’s a relatively limited range of outcomes for Leicester Premier League predictions. Fifth is an absolute best-case scenario, and it’s unlikely to be worse than 10th.
The fact they finished eighth even with all the challenges of 2022/23 demonstrates how strong the Foxes are compared to other mid-table teams.
It could go down to the wire between Leicester and West Ham for best-of-the-rest honours in 2022/23.
Leicester Premier League prediction: 8th
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
Five wins from their last 17 and three from their last 12 meant a bit of a lost season for Wolves.
A mid-table finish was solid, if unspectacular, but they looked positioned for something more when they were eighth and four points off fifth at Christmas.
Instead of looking towards continental qualification, the Midlands club are being debated in Premier League relegation betting for 2022/23.
Only Watford and Norwich had worse expected goal difference marks last season. The regression in 2022 was expected, and Wolves fans will be wondering what the new campaign has in store.
Subpar Window
This has been a less flamboyant transfer window than recent summers.
Hwang Hee-chan’s move was made permanent in January, and he’s officially become a Wolves player. Cash was splashed on Nathan Collins from Burnley, and a raft of players have returned from loan spells.
Links to Gabriel Barbosa and Enzo Fernandez are yet to become anything more than that.
Wolves have not made meaningful upgrades to a team which was subpar at both ends of the pitch last season. It’s no surprise they are a popular sports betting pick to struggle in 2022/23.
Lage Needs Results
Bruno Lage is among the favourites to be the next Premier League manager sacked.
Their return of 51 points was better than the season prior, but the underlying numbers don’t exactly paint an optimistic picture.
The attack was dysfunctional. Raul Jimenez was the only Wolves player in the top 78 in non-penalty expected goals, and Daniel Podence was in the same position when it came to expected assists.
Wolves’ attack hasn’t exactly been potent in recent years, but the defence was lock tight. That wasn’t the case under Lage.
How Can Wolves Improve?
Lage was fortunate to get the results he did in 2021/22. Wolves can blame injuries for inconsistency in team selection to a degree, but that’s also a symptom of an ageing core.
Of the six Wolves players with the most Premier League appearances last term, five are 29 or older.
There is still a dependence on 35-year-old Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez was not the same player post-injury.
While there isn’t a shortage of decent Premier League players at the club, there is a feeling that the first team needs freshening up. No Wolves players will feature among the best preseason tips as it stands.
Wolves Prediction For 2022/23:
Wolves have a knack for getting results, but the second half of last season was alarming.
A managerial change in 2022/23 feels likely. They are always a candidate to make a significant signing, however, which could change our Premier League prediction for the Molineux outfit.
For now, though, avoiding relegation would be a decent season given their quiet window.
For all the concern about this squad and Lage’s management, Wolves should have just enough to stay up. There will be at least three worse teams.
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
A dire end to 2021/22 left Southampton in 15th, just five points above the relegation zone. Premier League relegation odds for 2022/23 are expecting a similar outcome this season, with only five clubs at a shorter price to go down.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has impressed during his time in the Premier League, but several windows of subpar recruitment have caught up with the Saints.
There are reasonable doubts about the quality at Hasenhuttl’s disposal, particularly in the final third. Chance creation is very dependent on James Ward-Prowse’s set piece ability.
Only two Southampton players ranked in the top 40 in expected goals last term. One of those players, Armando Broja, is no longer at the club.
Southampton haven’t endured major losses this summer, as they did 12 months ago with Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard departing, but some will still be underwhelmed by their business.
Not Done Enough
It’s been a clear youth movement from the Saints hierarchy. Gavin Bazunu, Sekou Mara, Romeo Lavia, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Joe Aribo and Mateusz Lis arrived on permanent deals. That sextet have an average age of just over 21.
Official. Southampton complete their sixth signing with talented forward Sékou Mara from Bordeaux, deal completed and sealed today. 🚨⚪️🔴 #SaintsFC
“A France Under-21 international, Mara set to become Saints’ signing once he completes his medical and signs”, statement says. pic.twitter.com/POQLB0q8gJ
This is a clear injection of upside, but how much does it really impact Southampton as a sports betting prospect in 2022/23?
Southampton fans could be forgiven for feeling frustrated that there haven’t been more readymade additions after the club displayed relegation form in the second half of 2021/22.
Under Pressure to Bounce Back
Only Norwich and Watford collected fewer points in 2022. Leeds were the only team to concede more. The last we saw of Southampton was a team experiencing a demise, often outplayed with and without the ball.
Hasenhuttl must arrest that trajectory and do so quickly when the new season gets underway. It’s not an easy start to the season with Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea in three of their first five fixtures.
How Can Southampton Improve?
Southampton simply need to be active in the transfer market.
Few other teams in Premier League predictions have a weaker first-team squad, and the second half of 2021/22 was another reminder of how far off the mid-table pace they have fallen.
Hasenhuttl has done a stellar job at the club, but more firepower is needed in the final third.
This team requires proven talent to accompany the exciting young players they have already added in this window.
Southampton Prediction for 2022/23:
Often teams who struggle in the second half of one season carry those woes into the next.
Southampton did enough to stay away from the most intense part of the relegation tussle last season, but they will have no such luxury in 2022-23, particularly with so many challenging fixtures early on.
The league looks strong on paper this year. All three promoted teams should be competitive. Brentford and Leeds, the two holdover teams with shorter relegation odds, have higher ceilings than Southampton.
Some might argue for Southampton as one of the best away days in the Premier League, but top flight fans may have to wait a while for their next trip to St Mary’s after this season.
Southampton Premier League prediction: Relegation
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
Steve Mullington (@mulldog) remembers the late Greville Starkey and the impact he had on young horse racing fans...
I’ll be brutally honest with you; I’ve never met a human “hero” in person.
In fact, the majority of my heroes down the decades have been equine ones and I’ve seen most of my favourites up close and personal, either on a racecourse or at their stables.
However, for the purposes of a nostalgia piece like this I’ve been racking my brain to think back upon a handful of people or horses that I would have loved to have seen/met when they were in their heyday.
One of the names that have intrigued me the most over the years is...
Greville Starkey
I saw the po-faced Greville Starkey returning to the winners enclosure at Haydock Park as very young boy and it was a mental image that has been stuck in my mind ever since.
I mean, how could a middle-aged man who has just experienced the euphoria of riding a racehorse to victory look so down in the dumps as he returns to weigh in?
When many years later I read Starkey’s back-story, it made perfect sense to me as to why he wasn’t much of a smiler in the latter part of his career.
Greville Starkey (1939 – 2010) was quite possibly the most talented jockey in the past half century never to become champion jockey.
Sir Michael Stoute says Greville Starkey was a brilliant jockey and horseman plus a joy to work with. Sadly, the first thing many recall about him was his defeat on Dancing Brave in the 1986 Derby, won by the Stoute-trained Shahrastani.#RacingGreats@RishiPersad1pic.twitter.com/7TRUYf79VO
The trainers he rode for regarded him as one of the best analysts of their horses, and of all the races that he rode in.
Starkey reached the highest echelons of the sport during his 33-year career in which he rode 1,989 winners, all of them long before the days of online horse racing betting. He was champion apprentice in 1957 and retired from race riding in 1989.
His impressive CV included the Derby and Oaks (English and Irish); the 2,000 Guineas; the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes; the Champion Stakes; the Ascot Gold Cup and the 1975 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on the German-trained Star Appeal.
He was also involved in one of the strangest incidents on a racecourse in modern times. At Royal Ascot 1988 he was bizarrely unseated from Ile de Chypre (a 4/1 shot in the betting) when the horse suddenly swerved across the course.
The reason it happened is still unknown, but one of the theories put forward was that the horse was zapped by a stun-gun.
After his defeat on Dancing Brave in the 1986 Derby, Starkey was replaced as his jockey in the subsequent big races. It was a massive blow to his pride and he never did quite get over it, hence the stern face and lack of emotion on the racecourse.
In actual fact Starkey was quite a joker and that facade of his on the track was merely a smokescreen. He was actually a party-loving, practical joker and a great animal noise (he did a mean Jack Russell dog) and people impersonator.
Starkey, who lived in Kennett, died in 2010 at the age of 70 after an eight-year battle with cancer.
Mourners at his funeral included former weighing-room colleagues Lester Piggott, Willie Carson, Ray Cochrane, George Duffield and John Reid; such was the high esteem that he was held in. Starkey's long-time employer Guy Harwood also attended.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
Where: Hillgrounds Playing Fields, Hillgrounds Road, Kempston, Bedfordshire MK42 8QG
Competition: Khalsa Football Federation Bedford Tournament Division One Semi-Final
Attendance: 69
The Khalsa Football Federation was formed in 1987 for the UK-based Sikh community. Various tournaments are run throughout the summer at venues across the country.
These are extremely well-organised, catering for both junior (under-9’s upwards) and senior footballers. There is also an over-35’s ‘Veterans’ section.
Games are played over a weekend with fixtures spread across the Saturday and Sunday commencing really early at 9am. Teams are split into various divisions depending on ability.
The more successful sides can face a hectic timetable of four full 90 minute games in just two days with the possibility of extra-time and penalties as well. I wonder what leading Premier League managers would say about a schedule like that!
In the past, I have seen matches at the Khalsa Tournaments staged in East London, West London, Walsall and Leicester. I have found that the football action has been fiercely competitive.
Overall these events have a lovely carnival atmosphere with hundreds of people present. An array of tents circle around the pitches selling refreshments and showcasing the businesses who have given their support.
Ground Description
This particular tournament was organised in conjunction with the Shaheedi Sports Council Bedford who do a lot of good work locally.
Five pitches were marked out at Hillgrounds Playing Fields for the various matches with another pitch across the road in Addison Howard Park.
The tournament finals were played adjacent to the playing fields at the main Kempston Rovers FC stadium.
Programme Details
Normally a full glossy programme is issued for each of these Khalsa Tournaments with plenty of interesting background information.
However, there wasn’t one published at Bedford although a colour poster was available and that made a worthwhile souvenir of the occasion for me.
It stated that the weekend’s activities also included athletics, volleyball and tug-of-war as well as the football.
The Match
I wanted to see the local team - Punjab Lions Bedford FC – in action as I knew they would attract decent support. PLB are members of the Bedford & District Sunday Football League.
So when I arrived at Hillgrounds Playing Fields, I went straight to the Khalsa Tournament organisers’ information tent where all the fixtures were being collated.
The very helpful guys there pointed me in the direction of ‘Pitch 1’ where PLB’s appetising Division One Semi-Final was taking place.
Their opponents Leamington Khalsa FC are from the Leamington & District Sunday League. This turned out to be a tight match in extremely hot weather conditions.
It was scoreless at half-time but PLB stepped things up a notch in the second half to secure a 2-0 victory.
This was thanks to a couple of well-taken strikes by Raheem Jabbar on 50 and 74 minutes. PLB were roared on by their passionate fans who celebrated wildly when the goals flew in.
The People
I recognised the assistant referee running the line at my match and had a really good chat with him.
He is former Football League ref Jarnail Singh and he has always officiated very well when I have seen him in action. A nice approachable guy too.
Jarnail’s sons - Sunny and Bhupsy Gill – have both followed in the family tradition to become football referees.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
Neil Callan (@neilcallan78) gives an update on Royal Aclaim ahead of the Nunthorpe Stakes, his thoughts on the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and three booked rides for Newmarket on Saturday...
Haydock Treble
It was great to get three winners at Haydock last Saturday with Night Bear, Spangled Mac and Savrola, but I was gutted to miss out on the fourth with Lord Uhtred in the seven-furlong novice.
We got done right on the line and it would have been nice to win the race for Charlie Hills and the horse’s Bahrain owners. But look, I can’t complain, I’m making lots of new contacts and riding plenty of winners. That’s the objective.
This game is all about opportunities. You’re going to have good spells and bad spells, but I don’t tend to change the way I ride.
It’s about keeping a cool head and ride like you do the whole time. Confidence is key and I’m riding with plenty of confidence at the moment because we’re getting plenty of opportunities to ride nicer horses.
Hot Hot Hot
We all know what it’s been like this week. Newmarket was up to 40 degrees, so it was one of the hottest places in the world. It was hotter than Dubai and I think Bahrain was about the only place hotter.
Of course we still ride out, but with a lot of horse racing cancelled on Monday and Tuesday it meant a few of us had a nice little break which you don’t often get in the summer.
They were struggling for water in Newmarket which meant the watered gallop wasn’t in use. That restricts where trainers can take their horses, so they were reliant on the all-weather gallops.
You need to get the horses out a bit earlier when it’s that hot and make sure you keep them well hydrated.
As a family we are very lucky that my in laws have a pool in the garden, so we just chilled there for a few days with the kids.
It was a bit like a mini holiday. You put your swimmers on, go to M&S, get some crusty bread, sandwiches, ice creams. It was a nice couple of days and allowed me to recharge my batteries.
Royal Aclaim Nunthorpe Bound
As I said a couple of weeks ago, it was a shame I wasn’t able to do the light weight on Royal Aclaim in the City Walls at York, but she was hugely impressive and is now the favourite for the Nunthorpe.
Different class 👑
Royal Aclaim bolts up to win the John Smith's City Walls Stakes 🥇
I’m not sure if she’ll have another run before then, but I obviously hope to get the ride back. A three-year-old filly won it last year [Winter Power] and I think she’s got a big, big chance.
The clock is telling how good she is and it doesn’t look an overly strong Nunthorpe to be honest. I won it on Borderlescott back in 2009 and it would be lovely to win it again.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
I think the favourite in this [Westover] is a worthy one after his romp in the Irish Derby.
Having said that, I do like Emily Upjohn and I think the track will play to all her strengths. She’s a strong stayer with speed and she travels, what more could you ask for. I think she can upset the boys in this.
5/2
Emily UpjohnTo Win or Each Way
I also think you can expect Mishriff to bounce back from an unlucky Eclipse, if David [Egan] was offered the chance to run that race again he’d probably take it.
This will be a bit tougher and over a bit further but his second in this race last year proves he’s very capable over the mile-and-a-half. Although, I think the younger brigade could outclass his experience.
There’s no doubt this will be a tactical affair and that’s why I’m siding with Emily Upjohn because she’s uncomplicated and will put the speed to the others and make them stay.
Newmarket Rides
I’ve got three rides at HQ on Saturday starting with DIVINE MAGIC in the seven-furlong fillies handicap (1.57pm) who comes here on the back of a well-deserved win last time out.
She had been running well and came third to a nice filly of Richard Hannon’s [Heredia] who followed up by winning the Sandringham Stakes at Ascot.
When she went up to Leicester and won, she had Benoit de la Sayette’s claim to help out, but she could probably have won without that. The key to her in this race is that she’ll need a bit of pace on in this small field.
I ride BERGERAC in the six-furlong handicap (3.42pm) for Kevin Ryan who I had finished second on earlier in the season at this track. He’s a tough, consistent sprinter and almost gives the feel that he could get seven furlongs.
If he can get in a nice rhythm here and reserve as much energy as possible, he could be there at the finish. He’s not a horse that quickens but he has definitely got a strong finish in him and could bounce back here.
The last ride of the day is UZINCSO in the mile handicap (4.17pm). I haven’t ridden this horse before, and it looks like he’s been off the boil slightly since doing a lot of winning as a four-year-old.
He’s had two thirds in his last three runs though, so hopefully he’s coming back to a bit of form.
