Neil Callan's Day 3 Tips At Royal Ascot 2022

Fresh after riding RISING STAR to victory on Wednesday, 888sport ambassador Neil Callan (@neilcallan78) gives his Day 3 tips and best bets at Royal Ascot...

The Main Event

LADIES Day is the biggest day of the week. It adds that extra bit of class and it’s just a really special day for the ladies to come out and enjoy themselves.

The weather looks like it will be nice again and hopefully everyone will have a great day.

Norfolk Stakes – 2:30

As with all these two-year-old races, we have very little to go on.

Walbank bolted up by seven lengths at York last time and we all saw what happened in the Coventry on Tuesday when Bradsell won well having also dotted up at York on debut.

The Antarctic has won both his starts, and you always have to respect Ballydoyle, but I thought Brave Nation was hugely impressive when winning at Doncaster in April. I loved the way he did it and he could be a bit special.

King George V Stakes – 3:05

This is always a very strong handicap and it often goes to those drawn on the outside. When you’re drawn low you sometimes have to go too fast as you don’t want to get caught on the inside where it’s hard to find a gap.

If you come down the outside, you can get a drag into the race and then try to get a clear passage to the line.

Mandobi has won his last two starts and he’s a good horse. Secret State looks well-handicapped for Godolphin, but after finishing second to Eldar Eldarov last time, and off a mark of just 89, Post Impressionist has to be very interesting.

Ribblesdale Stakes – 3:40

It’s a disappointing field for the Ribblesdale without Emily Upjohn. Sea Silk Road has won her last two and Magical Lagoon was only just beaten by Concert Hall on her reappearance.

Life Of Dreams was second to Emily Upjohn in the Musidora and given how well she ran in the Oaks, maybe the Godolphin filly can take this.

Ascot Gold Cup – 4:20

The place will erupt if Stradivarius can make history by joining Yeats with four Gold Cups. It’s amazing how John & Thady Gosden have kept him coming back season after season.

Stayers don’t have easy races over those distances. To keep him fit and healthy, and his mind right, is an achievement in itself.

His owner Bjorn Nielsen should also be given a great deal of credit for keeping him in training. It’s very easy when horses are winning Group 1s to send them off to the breeding sheds, but racing needs horses like him.

Kyprios is the up and comer who has looked very good on his last two starts. You’d think he would stay, but he’s never been over this sort of distance and a real test would ask him a question.

Princess Zoe has been very good for connections, and I also wouldn’t be surprised if Alignak outruns his massive odds as he will like the track.

It would be a real fairytale if Stradivarius wins, though – Frankie will be jumping higher than he ever has done!

Britannia Stakes – 5:00

This is always one of the top handicaps. Both Godolphin horses, King Of Time and Tranquil Night, look strong.

I also really like Clive Cox’s Whoputfiftyinyou who beat Mighty Ulysses at Haydock last time and is unbeaten. There are lots of unexposed horses in there and plenty in with chances.

Hampton Court Stakes – 5:35

This is another disappointing turnout, but no-one will be complaining if The Queen’s Reach For The Moon wins it.

He was a very good two-year-old and it looks like it’s his race to lose. It was a very good run behind My Prospero at Sandown and he finished third in Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes.

It would be very fitting for Her Majesty to have a winner at the meeting and he looks to be her best chance of the week.

Buckingham Palace Stakes – 6:10

This has been a very lucky race for me, I’ve won it three times and got beaten a neck once.

I gave Roger Varian his first Royal Ascot winner with Eton Forever in 2012 which was very nice, and I then won it the following year with Lightning Cloud for Kevin Ryan.

It’s always very open but it’s normally the younger horses that come to the fore. William Haggas’ unbeaten Montassib could be a Group horse in a handicap. I know he’s drawn one, but it won’t matter if he’s a Group horse.

Vafortino won the Victoria Cup and he’s definitely in the mix again, but you could give chances to loads of them.

*Prices accurate at the time of publication*

 

June 15, 2022
Royal Ascot

By 888sport

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The 888sport blog is here to offer betting and tipping advice on the biggest sports fixtures, events and competitions around the world.

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Manor Solomon: Will Israel Winger Be A Hit In The Premier League?

  • Fulham are close to signing Manor Solomon from Shakhtar Donetsk

  • Solomon has previously caught the eye with his performances in the Champions League

  • Will the Israeli starlet be a success in the Premier League?

Once again returning to the Premier League, Fulham are set to make a big splash with the signing of Manor Solomon.

The west London club were transfer betting favourites to land the Israeli winger a few weeks ago, but a report from Fabrizio Romano claimed the deal was on the ‘verge of collapse’.

The Athletic have since reported that the transfer is back on. On June 12th, Adam Crafton and Peter Rutzler wrote that Solomon is ‘close to joining’ Fulham.

The reporting acknowledged that the negotiations had ‘hit an impasse’, and other clubs like Torino and Club Bruges had shown interest.

Solomon has apparently always favoured a move to Fulham, however, and it seems that a fee of around £6 million has been agreed. This will be Fulham’s first signing of the summer after a dominant campaign in the Championship.

In their life as a yoyo club, Fulham have made numerous marquee signings. Many have disappointed like Jean Seri to Kostas Mitroglou.

As stellar as they were in the second tier last term, it’s clear Marco Silva’s team needs an injection of Premier League-level talent. The three weakest teams were relegated last term, leaving an incredibly strong 20 battling it out in 2022-23.

Fulham, along with their fellow promoted sides in Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, are online betting favourites to go down.

Solomon isn’t going to swing those odds on his own, but Fulham will be hoping this transfer is a step in the right direction. Having lost Fabio Carvalho to Liverpool, Solomon gives Silva another option in the final third.

This whole transfer window is going to be about finding the balance between adding talent and maintaining stability from the team which scored 106 Championship goals and earned promotion at a canter.

Impressing with Shakhtar

Prior to links with Fulham, Solomon had made a name for himself in the Champions League and with Israel.

He’s got 30 international caps to his name, and scored against Real Madrid and Manchester City in the Champions League in 2020 and 2019 respectively. Arsenal were rumoured to be after Solomon back in 2021, too.

Before the season was ended due to Russia’s invasion, Solomon scored four times in 16 appearances in the Ukrainian Premier League. Shakhtar has been a developmental club for several players who have impressed in Europe’s top leagues.

Fernandinho and Willian starred in Premier League predictions with Manchester City and Chelsea. Henrikh Mkhitaryan was exceptional for Borussia Dortmund.

Fred earned a big-money move to Manchester United, while Douglas Costa and Andriy Yarmolenko have also shone since departing Ukraine.

Other moves have not worked out quite as well, of course, but there is a solid track record of players leaving Shakhtar and stepping up against a higher level of competition.

It is a minute sample, yet Solomon’s Champions League experience and performances will provide Fulham fans with a degree of confidence that he can cope with the standards of the Premier League.

What Fulham Can Expect

At times compared to Eden Hazard and with the versatility to play on either flank or centrally behind the striker, Solomon has long been touted as one of the most promising attackers in world football.

Involved in various youth age groups for Israel and named in UEFA’s ones to watch in 2018-19, this transfer has been a long time coming.

Silva will no doubt experiment with Solomon, but his favoured position is from the left where he can cut inside and look to shoot or pick out a teammate.

Supreme close control is his greatest strength at the moment; he’s capable of twisting fullbacks inside and out.

Like many young attacking players, there are times when his decision-making lets him down, but that will likely improve as he gets more experience. 

His exploits in the Champions League showed how he can be effective even against the world’s best teams.

After serenely winning the Championship, amassing goals at a remarkable rate, Fulham are in for a different challenge in 2022-23.

Solomon has the game to be a real threat on the break, and could develop an entertaining partnership with Aleksandar Mitrović.

The goals and assists aren’t always there for Solomon, but don’t be surprised if he’s a popular differential pick when it comes to team selection in August.

Solomon has several seasons of experience at club level and has been integral for the Israeli national team even at just 22 years of age.

There are no guarantees with a transfer of this nature, though it has the potential be an absolute bargain at just £6 million.

The club, and its fans, may need to exercise patience, but this looks a very shrewd signing from Fulham as they aim to consolidate as a Premier League outfit once again.

Fulham Transfer Targets

Gaining promotion to the best league in Europe brings incomparable riches. Fulham must use that wealth to revamp their squad.

According to Sky Sports, the club are open to reinforcements at all positions. Mitrovic needs support in attack, and there’s a vacancy in midfield after Seri’s departure.

They splashed the cash in 2018, and it failed. They were more circumspect two years later, and the result was the same.

Alfie Mawson and Michael Hector have followed Seri out the door, leaving the club in need of additions in defence.

Solomon will be the first of many arrivals this summer – they have already been linked with Almoatasembellah Al Musrati and Ko Itakura.

Jonjo Shelvey, Nemanja Matic, Ryan Fredricks, Nick Pope, and Joe Gomez are just a few of the Premier League names mooted as Fulham targets.

Lazio’s Thomas Strakosha is in talk with the club according to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 15th June 2022

June 15, 2022
Premier League
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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.

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Horse Racing Tips Friday 17th June 2022: NAP, NB & Longshot

Expert Steve Mullington gives his daily racing tips, including a NAP, NB and a Longshot. Scroll down now to find out horse racing tips Friday 17th June at Royal Ascot...

Today's NAP (Best Bet)

5.35 Ascot – Ottoman Fleet

Sea The Stars-gelding Ottoman Fleet was unraced as a 2-y-o and then finished second on his debut at Newbury in a 1m 3f maiden.

He built on that by winning the 1m 2f Listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket on just his second outing in mid-May.

Trainer Charlie Appleby has switched up his distance by another furlong in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes and he should have a superb chance against just five other rivals on Friday afternoon.

Jockey James Doyle who rode him to victory at Newmarket believes that he will stay a mile and a half but he is not slow at the same time. We therefore make him out strong 888sport NAP of the day.

Of the others, Lysander has to be of a major interest after only just getting touched off in the Cocked Hat Stakes.

Today's NB (Next Best)

4.20 Ascot – Inspiral

The Gosden-trained Inspiral makes her seasonal bow in this Group One, bidding to add to her victory in last year’s Fillies’ Mile.

Currently trading at odds of 2/1 in our online horse racing betting, the Cheveley Park-owned filly could do no wrong last season, registering four wins from as many starts, culminating in taking the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.

Horse Racing Tips Friday 17th June


She is of course taking on the winners of the English and French 1000 Guineas here in this Coronation Stakes, and despite reports she has been slow to come to hand this season, there is every reason to believe she will be in tip-top condition and ready to do herself justice.

Dangers include the aforementioned Guineas pair of Cachet and Mangoustine, and Discoveries is a much better horse than she showed at Newmarket.

Today's Longshot

5.00 Ascot – Love Interest

O’Meara and Tudhope have been outstanding this week at Royal Ascot and they could well taste more success with their filly Love Interest.

Her form lines at Haydock and York read really well, especially in the context of Nashwa’s run in the Oaks, and she can outrun her odds of 18/1 in this fillies handicap.

Throw Crenelle and Persist into the mix too for some decent forecast options.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 15th June 2022

June 15, 2022
Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

Steve Mullington
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    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. 

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    Neil Callan's Day 2 Tips At Royal Ascot 2022

    888sport ambassador Neil Callan (@neilcallan78) gives his Day 2 tips and best bets ahead of the first day at Royal Ascot...

    Royal Ascot Ground

    We’ve had some hot days and it looked pretty quick at Ascot on Tuesday, so with no rain due until later in the week it’s going to be quick again on Wednesday.

    People talk a lot about the draw at Ascot and how important it is on different types of ground. My view is there is nothing you can do about it.

    I always like to keep things simple, let the horses find their feet, where they’re comfortable and then ride the race from there.

    You can go out with a set of instructions from the trainer, but the race might be run completely differently to what everyone expected.

    Queen Mary Stakes – 2:30

    Dramatised is owned by a good friend of mine, Steve Parkin of Clipper Logistics. She was very impressive at Newmarket and Karl Burke does very well with his fillies.

    Wesley Ward has a great record in this race and Love Reigns has to be feared.

    I remember finishing second to one of Wesley’s on a Clive Brittain filly back in the day. I thought I was coming there to pick her up, but she was gone. They just hammer you into the ground, they’re so fast.

    Steve is also involved in the Bronte Collection syndicate which owns Maria Branwell. She did well to win the Listed race at Sandown against the boys after winning her debut at Thirsk.

    James Garfield is having a good first season with his two-year-olds and the syndicate has been flying.

    Queen’s Vase – 3:05

    This looks quite an open race, but you couldn’t fail to be impressed by Eldar Eldarov who has won both his starts very well. He’s an expensive horse who is beautifully bred and should have no problems stepping up to 1m6f.  

    Nahanni ran well in the Derby after a slow start, but it’s a quick turnaround from Epsom.

    Prince Of Wales’s Stakes – 3:40

    I think this race will become tactical. Lord North won it a couple of years ago and he loves to track the pace. He’s in decent form, dead heating in the Dubai Turf and then not running too badly in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

    You can’t rule him out and the same is definitely true with State Of Rest, who won the Cox Plate, and Grand Glory who was fifth in the Japan Cup.

    Bay Bridge was very good at Sandown and he’s a beautiful looking horse, but the Japanese won’t be coming over here for a day out. They have to be feared wherever they go and for me this is between Shahryar and Bay Bridge.

    Duke Of Cambridge Stakes – 4:20

    This looks another open contest. Mother Earth won well first time up but was lacklustre last time so Aidan [O’Brien] is putting the cheekpieces on.

    Bashkirova won well at Epsom but will need to step up again, while Saffron Beach is very tough and Jane [Chapple-Hyam] has done a great job with her.

    Royal Hunt Cup – 5:00

    This is always a lottery and you need to have your fair share of luck. Sometimes you get an unexposed young horse who who could be a Group horse running in a handicap, but I’m not sure if there’s one of them in the field this year.

    Dark Shift ran below par in the Victoria Cup but won well at Nottingham last time. He’s one for the shortlist.

    Legend Of Dubai is very well bred and has had big breaks before his runs. Roger [Varian] has done a great job spacing out his wins and it looks like he’s primed him to come here for a big run.

    Windsor Castle Stakes – 5:35

    This is another complete lottery where you can give chances to loads. I don’t have a big view to be honest, but Bolt Action beat me at Leicester and did it very well.

    Kensington Palace Stakes – 6:10

    My first ride of the meeting is RISING STAR for Marco [Botti]. She’s been a consistent filly at a lower level than this and has to take a step forward.

    I think the track, trip and ground will suit her, but she’s got a wide draw which you can’t say is an advantage over a mile on the round course.

    *Prices accurate at the time of publication*

     

    June 15, 2022
    Royal Ascot

    By 888sport

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    The 888sport blog is here to offer betting and tipping advice on the biggest sports fixtures, events and competitions around the world.

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    Fabrizio Romano: What Needs To Happen For Neymar To Leave PSG

    Could we see Neymar leave Paris Saint-Germain in the coming months? Join @FabrizioRomano as he reveals the complicated situation amid a PSG revolution...

    The Paris Saint-Germain revolution has just begun. An important rebuilding that will affect more areas of the club, first of all with a new Club Advisor in place of Leonardo: Luis Campos is the man in charge of the PSG project for the next few years, a director who has brought excellent results to Lille and to AS Monaco ready to start rebuilding of Paris.

    Even before deciding on a change in the board, the president Nasser Al-Khelaifi had by now chosen to sack Mauricio Pochettino: the Argentinian manager has been out of Paris Saint-Germain projects since the beginning of May, the confirmation was only a matter of time.

    Fabrizio Romano articles

    All pieces that will be part of PSG's great change, which began with the most important confirmation: the new contract by Kylian Mbappé which calmed the club after months of negotiations with Real Madrid, very close to the French star.

    But that's an old story, PSG have moved on to a new era.

    There are always many rumors around the name of Neymar Junior. Because every time there is a change at Paris Saint-Germain the name of Neymar emerges, it is certainly not new - so much so that sources close to the Brazilian are not surprised by what has been said in recent weeks.

    Very often, however, a factor that is very important is not considered: Neymar has one of the highest salaries in Europe, it is difficult for other clubs to pay a salary of this level in addition to a high level transfer fee.

    This is the first step before we can imagine a transfer of the former Barça player: a club willing to pay that salary, something that has never happened in the last months.

    A year ago, Barcelona had explored this possibility with president Laporta in April but there was no room for negotiation precisely because of Neymar's salary.

    This is the biggest obstacle for those who imagine a transfer of the Brazilian star: it would require a reduction in his salary or the willingness of Paris Saint-Germain to pay a large percentage of the salary.

    In fact, new PSG director Luis Campos has yet to have a dialogue with Neymar before he can think of any scenarios for his future.

    The situation is calm, the player has certainly not had a high-level season but those close to Neymar assure that he still hopes to be able to win the Champions League in Paris.

    Neymar PSG


    Neymar is not desperate to leave the club - also, in the PSG list among the players considered in the list of salable there are certainly 5-6 names that have the highest priority because they are considered 100% out of the Paris Saint-Germain project.

    Neymar's situation is still under control, above all because the new manager will make his choices but up to now no one has communicated to Neymar that he is out of plans or will have to leave Paris 100%.

    There is another important detail in this story.

    Just a year ago, Neymar Junior together with his camp found an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for a new contract that is not only very rich from an economic point of view with a top-level European salary, but also very long: the current agreement is valid until June 30, 2025 with an option to extend for a further season, so a potentially valid deal until June 30, 2026.

    Neymar has no intention of giving up what has already been guaranteed by Paris contractually, he's focused exclusively on PSG and does not feel himself in a war with the club.

    Indeed, those close to Neymar are sure that his name is often used by the press because it is useful to make news; like when a fight was invented between the Brazilian and the Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after the match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

    Lots of untrue stories, while Neymar is focused on getting back into shape and helping PSG.

    To be able to take Neymar away from Paris it will take a huge salary offer, an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain on the formula of the deal and above all to convince the Brazilian of a new project.

    It is not an easy deal, but after last summer with Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the move when no one expected it, nothing can ever be excluded on the market.

    Certainly, the conditions of a potential Neymar deal will not be easy and his expectations remain very high: Neymar wants to win, he still feels ready to make a difference in Europe and hasn't changed his point of view.

    The Paris Saint-Germain revolution has just begun, in a few weeks the whole situation will be much clearer.

     

    June 14, 2022
    Fabrizio
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    Fabrizio Romano is an Italian sports journalist. He was born in 1993, he lives in Milan and has over 30 million followers in total on the major social networks.

     

    He collaborates with 888sport, CBS Sports, Sky Sport, The Guardian and has been a transfer market expert since 2011. He will take care of a column dedicated to some "Behind the Scenes" of transfers.

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