Every day in the UK there are a number of horse racing and greyhound meetings taking place for you to bet on. Both sports have a great tradition in this country and have been, for a number of years, two of the core betting products.

Here is a look at the differences between the two sports and at what you can bet on in each of them if you are new to either horse racing or greyhounds.

Betting Opportunities

There are number of betting opportunities available in horse racing and greyhounds other than just who will win the race.

In horse racing you can bet on one horse beating another in a match bet, the exact order of first-second and first-second-third, known as forecasts and tricasts respectively, and multiple bets which take place across a number of races.

In greyhound racing, many of the same bets are available as they are in horse racing. One of the most popular bets in dog racing is a combination forecast or tricast.

This is where selections are permed together - you have a better chance of winning, however, your total stake is much more than just a single line.

 

Colours

A jockey’s silk colours in horse racing will represent the owner of a horse.

You will most likely be familiar with the colours of the leading operations, however, they are always published in the race card so you can identify the horse you have bet on in a race.

In greyhounds, the colours of traps 1-6 never change. Once you know the trap number of your dog, you will know which colours to look out for.

 

Course

One of the biggest differences, other than the type of animals in the two sports, is the course in which the runners race upon.

In horse racing, the track is much bigger, as the distance used is further - in some cases the participants race over four miles and two furlongs.

A greyhound track is an oval shape and each course is very similar in distance. The surface is made of sand to make it as safe as possible for the runners. There are 22 registered greyhound tracks in the UK today.

The majority of horse racing courses are turf, however, there are some all-weather tracks in which fibre sand is used.

This particular surface allows the course to hold meetings all year round, which is particularly useful during winter when temperatures drop and the turf tracks freeze over.

 

Flat and Jumps

In horse racing, there are two different types of racing: flat and National Hunt. These are both very popular in their own right.

The flat season typically runs from April to October in the UK, while the jumps season takes centre stage from October through to April. Both of these codes hold their own leading meetings.

The Cheltenham Festival is by far the biggest in jumps racing and takes place annually in March, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup being the blue riband event of the week, won by Native River in 2018 who is 6/1 to prevail again in 2019.

Meanwhile, Royal Ascot is arguably the most prestigious week of the year in flat racing and that takes place in mid-June.

Although there are some hurdle races in greyhounds, the majority of the action is on the flat. Some dogs will run in both flat and hurdles competitions, therefore, there isn’t a clear distinction in the code like in horse racing.

 

Grading

Both sports use a grading system to determine the class of the race which is taking place. In horse racing, the highest level a horse can reach is Group One.

These contests involve the very best horses in that division. Many trainers will send their horses around the world in pursuit of these races and prize money.

On a day-to-day basis though, you will see lots of handicap contests in which the runners are closely matched on their official rating.

The handicapper will give the better horses a higher weight in order to give each runner an equal chance of winning.

In greyhound racing, the highest level the dogs can enter is Open racing. For all the major competitions in the sport such as the Derby, where Dorotas Wildcat is 5/1 favourite for the 2018 renewal, an entry fee is required from the owner of the dog for it to take part.

The majority of the greyhound racing which you see will be graded action. A dog will move up and down the grading system depending on its results.

The highest grade is A1 at a particular track, while it can go all the way down to A12 if a dog is struggling for results and time.

 

Number of runners

In the UK, greyhound races feature six dogs unless there is a non-runner on the day and there is no time to add a reserve. In Australia, eight-runner races are more common, as they use wider tracks for their dogs to get round.

Horse racing is completely different; there can be a minimum of two runners in a race or as many as 40 as there are for the Grand National at Aintree.

The betting obviously changes when there are lots of runners in a race, as it becomes more competitive for punters to bet on.

It is also significant for each-way bets as, when there are 16 or more runners in a handicap, the bookmakers pay four places. In greyhound racing, each-way punters have two places for their dog to finish in, in order to be paid out a return.

 

Starting Stalls

In flat racing in horse racing, starting stalls are used to make it as fair as possible at the beginning of a race. This is particularly important in sprint races, as none of the runners can gain an unfair advantage over their rivals.

The position on the track of these starting stalls is different from one track to another, however, the details will always be published in the race card before the contest.

In jumps racing, a tape is issued across the track and a starter will let the horses go. This is because National Hunt races are over two miles or longer, therefore, there can be no advantage gained by some horses being at the front of the line or at the back.

In greyhound racing, starting traps are also used. The greyhounds are placed into the traps by their handlers and once the hare passes the traps, the lids are opened and the runners are then on the move.

 

Time

The time of a horse race and greyhound contest obviously depends on the distance the runners are travelling. A standard greyhound race will finish much quicker than any horse race as they cover 500 metres in the region of 30 seconds.

In the 2017 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, in what is one of the fastest horse races around the world, the winner Lady Aurelia finished with a time of 57.45 seconds. The American returns again this year and is 7/2 to defend her crown.

When at full speed, a horse will travel much quicker than a dog, however, in long-distance races, the jockeys will ensure their mounts travel at a low cruising speed to ensure they see out the full distance, otherwise, they will struggle to get home.

Good luck the next time you are placing a bet on horse racing or greyhounds and enjoy the thrill of the contest you are having a punt on.

Throughout the world of sports, match day after match day, the most passionate and the craziest fan bases show up in full colours.

Whether it’s against a local rival or in a game that no longer has significance to the remainder of the season, these die-hard fans turn up in droves.

Without these enigmatic fan bases, sport wouldn’t be the same. Their character and commitment to everything that their team does creates atmospheres and inspires others to cheer on their teams.

So, here are some of the craziest and most passionate fan bases in sport.

Red Star Belgrade Ultras

Hidden away in Belgrade lies the Rajko Mitic Stadium – which has made so much noise that every football fan in Europe has heard of them. Every other week, the Serbian stadium fills with those loyal to Red Star Belgrade, known as the Delije.

These Serbian football ultras are notorious in Europe as being some of the most passionate and fearsome fans in the world.

Speaking of the Delije, Red Star Belgrade’s ultras firm often evokes images of violence and terrifying chanting crowds - and, from the outside, that’s certainly true. In Belgrade, football is a way of life, with every resident passionate about their football team.

Western media only tends to bring up Red Star Belgrade when violence occurs, and, unfortunately, that overlooks the revelry of match day, which is filled with noise and colour.

 

Seattle Seahawks 12s

Dressing up in the team’s colours is all well and good but, when the fan base joins together to cause a reading on the Richter scale, that’s something very special indeed.

Seattle Seahawks fans are notorious around the NFL for creating a deafening noise whenever the opposition’s offence is on the field. The hooting and jeering while the quarterback tries to make his count has earned the fan base the nickname ‘12s’ as they play as the 12^th man in games at CenturyLink Field.

In an event now known as the ‘Beast Quake’, the cheering of the 12s was actually registered between one and three on the Richter scale by nearby seismometers. It was the 2011 Wild Card playoff game, and the New Orleans Saints had surged to close Seattle’s hefty lead to just four points.

But, then, on Seattle’s 33-yard line, the home team Seahawks decided to run the ball. Marshawn Lynch, known as “Beast Mode”, took the ball, shrugged off multiple tackles, and scored a touchdown to the elation of the Seahawks crowd.

2011 isn’t the only time that the 12s have rocked the Richter scale; they do it quite regularly. Thanks to how the stadium’s roof is set up, the sound made by the fans echoes back down, helping to cause seismic activity.

They also once held the record for being the loudest fan base in the USA, registering at 137.6 decibels (at take off, a jet plane registers at 150.0 decibels). The 12s will be cheering from their homes for their opening day game, for which the Seahawks are at EVENS to defeat the Denver Broncos.

 

Lech Poznan Ultras

Back to Eastern Europe – more specifically, Poland – we go for another incredibly rowdy and passionate fan base of football fans. Their celebration is unmistakable, while their passion during matches is almost unrivalled.

During every game at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan, you will see Lech Poznan ultras fill the Tribune I stand. The three tiers will always be covered with blue and white banners with hundreds of fans colour co-ordinated by tier – blue shirts in tier two, white shirts in tier one.

Most impressively about Lech Poznan's dedication to their mighty fan base is that they’ve erected a platform in front of the stand.

On this platform stands two drummers and some who effectively act as the fan conductor. He sets in motion the chants, fist pumps, scarf waving, confetti throwing and, indeed, the famous celebration.

When the Lech Poznan fans turn around link arms, the stand begins to rumble as they bounce around and chant. It’s an incredible spectacle, and one of the most co-ordinated acts of madness at any football match.

The celebration is so iconic that Manchester City, now 7/10 to win the Premier League next season, adopted it.

 

England’s Barmy Army

England may have become famous for its firms of football hooligans in the 1970s and 1980s but it’s the nation’s cricket fan base which comes in as the most passionate and maddest of all English sports fan groups.

Everywhere they go, people always know, who they are…

From the outside and even on television, cricket – especially test cricket – comes off a rather peaceful game between two sets of gentlemen or ladies ready to battle over many days, and take their time doing so. But, when you go to an England cricket game, at home or away, you’ll hear the Barmy Army in full voice.

The Barmy Army sets up trips to watch England play cricket all over the world; they fill the streets, bars, and the majority of a stand when they turn up.

En route to the venue and during the game, you’ll hear them all bellowing their chant and beating the drums, regardless of the time of day or score. The stereotype of cricket fans being somewhat snobby and tranquil couldn’t be further from the truth of the Barmy Army.

When it comes to seeing the Barmy Army in full force, the Ashes tests between England and Australia are when they get the most passionate. For the next Ashes, England is at 27/20 to win, which will only spur these rowdy fans on even more.

 

Oakland Raiders’ Raider Nation

Often voted as having the nicest jerseys in the NFL, the Oakland Raiders fans instead turn those into terrifying pieces of attire as they gather at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum.

Raider Nation is made up of mad fans, to put it simply. The southern stand of the stadium is known as the ‘Black Hole’ as it is filled with the most hostile fans in the league.

These fans all don the black jersey of the Raiders, as well as silver and black face paint, plastic swords, Mad Max-type armour, silver chains, horns, and skulls.

When the league voted to move the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas – commencing 2020 – the biggest outcry came from fellow NFL fans who felt Raider Nation had been very hard done by.

These incredibly passionate, borderline crazy fans would no longer have a team. Luckily, they have another season to send off their team and are 59/50 to defeat the Los Angeles Rams at home in their first game of next season.

 

Boca Juniors Fans

In Argentina, football is huge. In fact, it’s bigger than huge; it’s everything. There’s no doubt that the nation is already buzzing for the World Cup, which Argentina is 11/1 to win. But, the biggest and most notoriously passionate fan base in the country is that of Boca Juniors.

An ocean of blue and yellow shirts, flares, smoke and streamers fill the La Bombonera in each home game. Fans go crazy for each goal and bring down a tirade of boos for anything done against their team.

However, the Boca Juniors fan base couldn’t have reached such a height of fame in the sporting world if it wasn’t for their arch-rivals.

The battle between Boca Juniors and River Plate is a national event in Argentina, which sees two incredibly passionate fan bases collide. While the events of the game often cause clashes between the two groups, it’s the pre-match actions that always heat up the atmosphere.

The two fan groups pull tricks against each other in the running to the huge derby game. From derogatory poster campaigns to insulting in-stadium inflatables, the fan bases go all-out to let the opposition know that they are hated. Then, there’s the atmosphere during the games, which is both electrifying and terrifying at the same time.

From football to cricket, and all the way over to American football, the world of sport boasts some truly spectacular fan bases. Deem it to be passion or craziness; these fans don’t care: they just want their team to win.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

There’s arguably nothing quite like the thrill of European action, with midweek encounters that have brought us action-packed nights in both the Europa League and Champions League over the years.

As the best teams from around the continent go head to head, sometimes encounters can be decided by the finest of margins, while, other times, there are huge mismatches in quality that produce high-scoring victories for the continental giants.

Likewise, just when everything seems over for some teams following a crushing defeat or falling behind in games, against all the odds, they somehow managed to dig deep and produce a spectacular turnaround.

Such comebacks leave a lasting impression and, in this article, we take a look at five of the greatest in European football history.

5: Leixoes 7-6 FC La Chaux-De-Fonds

We start the ball rolling with two teams who most people, these days, have likely never heard of, probably because neither currently play in the respective top flights in their respective countries.

Leixoes play in the second tier of Portuguese football, while FC La Chaux-De-Fonds are in the third tier in Switzerland, so the glory days for both clubs are long in the past.

Nevertheless, their meetings in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup first round back in November 1961 produced one of the most spectacular comebacks in European football history.

FC La Chaux-De-Fonds enjoyed a crushing 6-2 victory in front of just 3,184 in attendance at their Charriére home ground, where they still play to this very day.

The Swiss side were abundantly confident they were going through to the next round, thanks to what looked like a more than comfortable four-goal margin, but Leixoes clearly had other ideas.

The Portuguese outfit ran riot in the second leg, putting five past their stunned rival to win the tie 7-6 on aggregate.

 

4: Deportivo La Coruña 5-4 AC Milan

It’s been a bumpy ride in La Liga for Deportivo La Coruña and their fans in recent years.

They were relegated from the Spanish top flight at the end of the 2017-18 campaign but, not so long ago, they were a side that captured the imagination during their thrilling European football encounters.

However, their 2003-04 Champions League run seemed over after a 4-1 defeat away at the San Siro against AC Milan, but the Italian giants were left stunned in the second leg.

Inspired by an early Walter Pandiani finish inside five minutes, Deportivo tore their star-studded rivals apart.

Juan Carlos Valerón added a second and Albert Luque struck a third just before the stroke of half-time, levelling the aggregate score and putting his side ahead on away goals.

Fran struck the fourth in the 76th minute, the Riazor Stadium was rocking and AC Milan had been dumped out of the competition in spectacular fashion.

 

3: Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-5 Real Madrid

Before being rebranded to its current Europa League name, the UEFA Cup was a competition that always produced scintillating encounters.

After demolishing the mighty Real Madrid 5-1 in the first leg of their 1985-86 meeting, the Gladbach side managed by Jupp Heynckes had produced a major European upset.

Confident of completing the job comfortably enough, his team headed to the Santiago Bernabéu in the Spanish capital.

It’s often said that the word ‘impossible’ doesn’t exist for Real Madrid and Los Blancos found themselves two goals to the good just 19 minutes into the contest.

The German side were starting to realise that things weren’t looking as comfortable as they had thought but the momentum was already with Real Madrid by this point.

Santillana struck the third on 77 minutes and with his side mounting wave after wave of attacks, he also struck the crucial fourth goal with just two minutes left on the clock.

There was no time left for a reaction from the visitors and Real Madrid won the quarter-final tie on away goals.

 

2: FC Barcelona 6-5 Paris Saint Germain

Over recent years, PSG have been spending phenomenal amounts of money in transfers, all with the aim of finally conquering the Champions League.

When they crushed Barcelona 4-0 at the Parc des Princes during the 2016-17 campaign, it finally looked like the French side were a genuine force to be reckoned with, on track to achieve their ambitions.

After such a potent first-leg display against such a powerful opponent, all the spending appeared to be justified.

After being hammered in France, the Catalan giants were also hammered by the press in Spain, so they were out for blood in the second leg at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona took a 3-0 lead, although Edinson Cavani grabbed a crucial away goal for PSG, seemingly dashing any hopes of turning the tie around.

However, Neymar scored twice in three minutes right at the death, then Sergi Roberto scored a dramatic tie-winning goal five minutes into stoppage time, proving it is  never over until the final whistle.

To this day, Barcelona are the only team ever to recover from a four-goal first-leg deficit in Champions League history.

 

1: Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich

Compared to other matches, the score was quite low in this showdown between Manchester United and Bayern Munich in 1999, but it’s the remarkable and unforgettable nature of this comeback that makes it arguably the greatest in European football.

The Bavarian giants had the lead after just five minutes thanks to a Mario Basler free-kick but, while they dominated the rest of the game, despite a host of great chances, the killer blow never came.

They also didn’t account for ‘Fergie Time’ either. When the TV cameras panned on the face of Lothar Matthäus in the 80th minute, the German football legend was all smiles sat on the bench, just after being substituted.

After all, he was on his way to winning the only major trophy to elude him during his illustrious career with the Bavarian giants.

However, that confidant look of expected victory soon turned to utter disbelief, once the game headed past ninety minutes and into stoppage time.

For climactic drama and untold glamour, F1 is unrivalled in the motorsport world. Since 1950, when Giuseppe Farina won the inaugural FIA World Driver’s Championship, legends have come and gone, etching their names into the annals of history.

Certain periods of F1 history have also seen specific constructors dominate the standings, leading to close-fought title battles.

Most recently, in the mid-2010s, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fought tooth and nail under the Mercedes brand prior to the latter’s retirement.

Even now, in 2018, the Silver Arrows still fly without apparent equal, powered by the successor of the original feared W05 hybrid engine that started a dynasty.

Here, we look at two iconic inter-team rivalries from F1 history, and how they compare to another potential rivalry brewing in F1

Giuseppe Farina v Juan Manuel Fangio

In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, these two Alfa Romeo racers were the most captivating talents of their day.

As the first season in which the Driver’s Championship was awarded, the year of 1950 saw this rivalry come to a head, and ensure the place of the iconic Alfa Romeo 158/159 chassis in motorsport history.

In an age before intensive safety measures, those famous red bullets duelled and diced with death on many occasions, but the real drama came in the final race of the season, which enabled Farina to clinch the title by just three points.

The decider: Monza, 3 September 1950

By the seventh race of the season, Fangio had won three races to Farina’s two. In Farina’s home race, the Argentine ace took pole position and looked primed to take the win that would see him become the very first champion of the 1950s.

However, he had not counted on Farina repeating the feat of that year’s Swiss Grand Prix and get a win after starting behind Fangio in pole.

Far from being a duel until the bitter end, fate gifted Farina the championship win, with Fangio retiring after just 23 laps due to gearbox issues. Not to be deterred, he took over Piero Taruffi’s car in the pits to rescue his title bid.

However, it would be utterly in vain, with Ferrari’s Alberto Ascari tearing up the track and enjoying the race of a lifetime on his home circuit – though he never managed to beat countryman, and eventual champion, Farina.

In terms of the Farina/Fangio rivalry itself, F1 historians are split as to whom truly was the better man – although there is little doubt that Fangio was the more relevant driver of the two in terms of how he raced and enjoyed stardom.

Nonetheless, there can be absolutely no doubt at all that (in 1950 at least) Farina showed why class is permanent.

 

Alain Prost v Ayrton Senna

Senna’s dauntless racing style brought F1 kicking and screaming into a modern era, and provided a blueprint for generations of future drivers.

Prost, meanwhile, lived to win and found gaps in the flow of machines, the likes of which only a proud few have ever dared to exploit.

Both men were already electrifying figures on the circuit, and when Prost joined Senna at McLaren in 1988, it seemed as though nothing could stop the Woking outfit.

That proved true, but it was not without its hair-raising moments, which questioned the sanity of the McLaren administration’s decision to pair two racers famed for personal glory at all costs.

Unsurprisingly, it was a short-lived partnership, with Prost joining Ferrari in 1990. However, there were plenty of fireworks in the two years that Prost and Senna shared one banner.

The decider: Jacarepaguá, 26 March 1989

In 1988, the first season of McLaren’s ‘dream team’, the Portuguese Grand Prix proved to be the first clear manifestation of the ugly side of that partnership. During the race, Senna had attempted to make an active stab at preventing Prost from taking the lead.

In the process, Prost was forced close to the pit wall at a dangerous speed of 174 mph, and though the manoeuvre succeeded without incident, Prost’s existing grudge towards Senna reached new depths.

Opening the 1989 season with his home race, Senna (in pole position) was the rampant favourite to succeed on day one, and press on to defend his title.

Yet, having seen his biggest rival sweep to the 1988 title, Prost would assume his ultimate form and show exactly why he was the top dog at McLaren.

From fifth on the grid, Prost went straight for Senna, but it would instead be Gerhard Berger that stopped Senna with a clash that saw the Brazilian immediately fall behind the pack. Merciless as ever, Prost raced through but underperformed by his own standards to finish second.

With Senna going on to finish eleventh, the race turned out to be a frank illustration of how 1989 would go for the McLaren duo. Though Senna would win the next three races in succession, Prost made the podium in two of them.

Senna then suffered three retirements and a seventh-place finish in the next four races, with Prost winning three times. After that, there was no going back, and Prost went on to wrest the title from Senna with ease.

It would be extremely disrespectful to identify a clear ‘winner’ in this rivalry. Both men set the sport alight, but in staying with McLaren, Senna proved that there is always some honour in loyalty by staying with McLaren through his peak years.

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw mixed fortunes for Senna, but he stuck through it all – until the very end.

Daniel Ricciardo v Max Verstappen 

On 29 April 2018, Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo once more showed their individual willingness to win, even at the cost of their own team’s reputation.

Their headstrong attitudes culminated in a crash on that day’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and if this wasn’t already a rivalry in its own right, it certainly is now. At 22, Verstappen has already shown tenacity beyond his years.

Even in his debut season, Verstappen was breaking new ground, with a particularly impressive overtake at Blanchimont in the Belgian Grand Prix of 2015 showing the world exactly what he was capable of.

Indeed, it is here that the similarities between Verstappen, and the likes of the aforementioned Fangio and Senna, become apparent.

Shared characteristics include the absence of fear and a willingness to tear up proverbial scripts, even at the cost of inconveniencing respected and better-established teammates.

However, Ricciardo has (unlike Verstappen) also managed two third-place finishes (in 2014 and 2016).

On both occasions, Ricciardo locked out Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari team seen as second only to Mercedes, and furthermore, the Australian still commands much shorter FIA Driver’s Championship odds than his teammate.

The decider: Sepang, 1 October 2017

What should have been a comfortable win for eventual champion Lewis Hamilton from pole position became a frustrating defeat at the hands of a young underdog.

Clearly, Red Bull’s strategy on that occasion was to go straight for the jugular that was Hamilton’s Mercedes before it built up a head of steam. Combined with the crushing humidity of Sepang, it was a tactic that worked wonders.

Red Bull scored two places on the podium, with Verstappen winning and Ricciardo finishing third.

Where the Red Bull team alone is concerned, it was not the first time that Verstappen had bested Ricciardo on the circuit – far from it.

However, it was a major step towards establishing a case for the young Dutchman being undisputedly seen as Red Bull’s primary driver, regardless of his lesser experience compared to Ricciardo.

If, however, Verstappen is to ultimately be considered the better of the two current Red Bull teammates by future generations, he will have to finish on the podium of a championship table.

He would, also, arguably need to do so inside a Red Bull car – within the current climate of Mercedes dominance – to go down as a true legend in due course.

In all sports, it’s winning trophies that earns a team’s legacy. However, a team that goes undefeated for an extraordinary stretch of games gets cemented in the minds of the fans as the greatest team of all-time.

These greatest undefeated streaks showcase some of the most overwhelmingly dominant teams that the world of sport has ever seen.

 

Arsenal (49 Premier League games)

Starting at the tail end of the 2002/03 season, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal team had finished second to Manchester United by just five points. The Gunners won their last two games of the season 6-1 and 4-0, having lost to Leeds on the 36^th match day.

Then came the 2003/04 season, which would go down in English football history. Wenger’s team boasted the likes of Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp, and, of course, Thierry Henry. These stars went on a run of 26 wins and 12 draws to win the title and earn the nickname, the ‘Invincibles’.

In 2004/05, as defending champions, Arsenal won their first five games, going undefeated for nine before succumbing to Manchester United 2-0. The phenomenal streak ended on 24 October. 

With a new manager coming into the club this summer, Arsenal are at 25/1 to win the Premier League next season.

 

Celtic (69 Scottish games)

In 2017, Celtic managed to conquer the record that their own club had set 100 years prior. Manager Brendan Rodgers forged this shiny new record of 69 games undefeated in all Scottish competitions.

The undefeated streak started off spectacularly with a 7-0 win over Motherwell on May 15, 2016. The run appeared never-ending, with the Celtic team shredding any Scottish unit that stood before them. Until, on December 17, Hearts came out of nowhere to claim a mighty 4-0 win.

 

Steaua Bucureşti (119 Romanian games)

Holding the record for the longest undefeated run in Europe is Romanian outfit Steaua Bucureşti. Through the 1980s, the team ran by Emeric Jenei and Anghel Iordănescu dominated Romanian football and even performed well on the European stage.

During their emphatic run of 119 undefeated domestic games, Steaua Bucureşti won five consecutive league titles as well as 15 cup matches. When it comes to dominating in the top division, it seems very unlikely that any team will be able to come close to this record.

 

Manchester United (25 Champions League games)

Through Sir Alex Ferguson’s 27 years at Manchester United, he built and managed many teams that will go down in history as some of the best of all-time. Never one to put much emphasis on losing a game – provided the season was going to plan – Ferguson’s run in the Champions League from 2007 to 2009 was quite spectacular.

With a Champions League win sandwiched in the middle, Manchester United went undefeated from their group stage game of the 2007/08 competition all the way to the Champions League final in the 2008/09 season. A masterful showing from Xavi, Andreas Iniesta, Samuel Eto’o, and Lionel Messi proved to be United’s undoing.

Manchester United will open the 2018/19 campaign at home to Leicester City; punters can back the Red Devils at 2/9 to start with a victory.

 

West Indies (27 international test matches)

In international test cricket, it can be very difficult for a team to establish an undefeated streak. As teams play on many differing pitches, in all sorts of weather conditions, and while dealing with various climates around the world, settling into good form can be very difficult.

From 1982 to 1984, the West Indies test team proved that they could master all pitches and all conditions on either hemisphere. During their incredible 27 test match undefeated streak, captain Clive Lloyd led the West Indies past Australia, India, and England, among others.

Unfortunately, this current batch isn't expected to do as well in the ICC World Cup, for which the West Indies are at 16/1 to win.

 

Philadelphia Flyers (35 NHL games)

In the NHL, it’s commonplace for the team who tops the final standings to lose around a quarter of their games – due to how demanding the schedule is and how physical the games are. So, when a team goes nearly half of the season undefeated, that’s quite some achievement.

In the 1979/80 season, en route to topping the NHL and being runners-up in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Philadelphia Flyers went on an unprecedented run of 25 wins and ten draws.

 

New England Patriots (21 NFL games)

When people think of dominant NFL teams, the combination of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick always comes to mind. From the fifth game of the 2003 season to the eighth game of the 2004 season, the New England Patriots won every single game – including the Super Bowl.

The Pats may have seen their undefeated streak come to an end at 21 games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they went on to win the Super Bowl for the second year running.

As you would expect, the Brady-Belichick team is expected to defeat the Houston Texans in their opening game of the season at odds of 4/11.

 

New York Giants (26 MLB games)

All the way back in 1916, the New York Giants managed to string together 26 undefeated games. This shocked the National League because, in the season before, the Giants finished as the worst team on their side of the MLB.

But, in 1916, towards the end of the season, the Giants went on an unprecedented 26 games without a loss. Despite this, however, they still finished fourth in the National League.

Post-war, the Cleveland Indians boast the undefeated streak record of 22, which they achieved in 2017. Despite strong seasons recently, the Indians are at 14/1 to win the World Series this year.

 

Los Angeles Lakers (33 NBA games)

Coached by Bill Sharman and headlined by the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich, Jerry West, and Jim McMillian, the 1971/72 Lakers managed to disrupt what looked to be the dawning of a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar championed Milwaukee Bucks dynasty.

During the regular season, from their tenth games to their 42^nd, the Los Angeles Lakers went on a monstrous undefeated streak of 33 games. In fact, due to the NBA not registering draws and the games going to overtime, it was a 33 game win streak. The Lakers won their division, conference, and went on to be crowned NBA champions.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The Northumberland Plate was previously known as the "Pitmen's Derby" and it originally took place on a Wednesday afternoon. The race then switched to a Saturday afternoon feature in 1952.

Established in 1833, the Northumberland Plate is now one of the richest two-mile handicaps in the world.

Since 2016, it has been run on an artificial all-weather surface, Tapeta, having previously been run on turf.

Here is a runner-by-runner guide to the market principles at Newcastle:

Withhold

An easy winner of the Cesarewitch last autumn, Roger Charlton's runner has again been well backed to land another big Saturday staying race.

The five-year-old has been raised 12lb for that victory and plans are afoot for a Melbourne Cup raid should he run creditably in this.

Amazing Red

Ed Dunlop has yet to win the Northumberland Plate but there is every chance he could do so with Amazing Red who emerged victorious in the John Sunley Memorial Handicap at Newmarket last time.

He definitely handles an all-weather surface which is a big plus.

Dubawi Fifty

Karen McLintock’s five-year-old made much of the running in the Ascot Stakes under champion Silvestre de Sousa, before being caught late on by Lagostovegas.

McLintock reports he has taken those exertions well but you would have to have concerns about the 11 day turnaround.

Higher Power

The weights are headed by last year's winner, Higher Power, trained by James Fanshawe.

Higher Power beat Natural Scenery by half-a-length to win this 12 months ago and his run at Chelmsford last time was promising.

Natural Scenery

The Godolphin owned five-year-old is two from three at this track with his only defeat coming at the hooves of Higher Power.

Ran poorly at the Dubai Festival but the break should have freshened him up and he has gone well fresh before.

Dannyday

Sir Michael Stoute’s charge missed the whole of last year after winning the Northumberland Vase in 2016 and should be a strip fitter for a recent comeback run at Goodwood.

It is interesting that he missed an engagement in the Ascot Stakes in preference for this.

Lagostovegas

Royal Ascot heroine Lagostovegas is one of five potential runners for Willie Mullins as he looks to take his first Northumberland Plate.

Her yo-yoing price this week signifies just how uncertain punters are that she will actually line up on Saturday.

The Grand Visir

The Grand Visir is a son of racing royalty, Frankel. His win at Haydock Park last time out was only a narrow one but he looked well in command that day.

Trained by William Haggas, he is another runner who missed to Ascot Stakes in favour of this.

Financial Conduct

The four-year-old will be having his first start for David Simcock when he lines up at Gosforth Park on Saturday.

Financial Conduct has been plying his trade on the all-weather surface at Dundalk and has won three of his seven starts for his Qatari owners.

It remains to be seen whether the step up from 1m4f to 2 miles will suit him but Simcock must rate his chances of doing so.

Lord George

Lord George was just touched off by Funny Kid on All-Weather Championships Finals day and the plan has been to come here ever since.

The James Fanshawe trained five-year-old finished fourth in this last year from a bad draw so connections will be hoping for something a little more favourable this time.

Byron Flyer

He was badly hampered at Newmarket on his last outing but his run at Haydock the time before that was pretty encouraging.

His trainer Ian Williams tends to excel with these types of dual-purpose horses.

Euchen Glen

Euchen Glen was played late by Paul Mulrennan in the one mile five furlongs Sunsport Handicap at Ayr last time and looks to be horse on an upward curve.

Prior to that run he was a close third to The Grand Visir at Haydock Park.

Sir Chauvelin

Sir Chauvelin is another Jim Goldie entry and a cracking staying type.

He finished second to Dash To Spice in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot, overcoming trouble in running and has won here before.

If that last run has not blown him out he must rate as a big each-way chance.

Gustavus Vassa

The four-year-old was just denied in the Cork Derby last time out and Willie Mullins must have taken plenty of heart from that run.

He failed to land a blow in a couple of handicaps after joining  Mullins last year he has a few miles on the clock and may well exploit a handy handicap mark here.

Island Brave

The Heather Main-trained four-year-old has been in fine fettle since the start of the season winning three of his five starts.

He is a very gutsy sort but may just be in the grip of the handicapper now.

Laws Of Spin

Ran well down the field in the Cesarewitch and it is hard to get excited about his prospects here despite representing a top trainer.

Nakeeta

The globetrotting seven-year-old won the Ebor Handicap last year at York and ran a decent enough race in the Chester Cup last time out.

He was also fifth in the Melbourne Cup which proves his resolve is strong in a stayer’s race.

Watersmeet

He came ninth in the Chester Cup where he set the pace before failing to get home for the second year running.

Dropping back to two miles is a positive for this Mark Johnston trained runner and it would be folly let him get loose on the front or else they may fail to peg the grey gelding back.

888sport suggests: Watersmeet (e/w)

England fans will be keeping a close eye on these two fixtures – the Three Lions will face one of these nations in the next round.

Colombia, unlucky after going down to 10 men after just three minutes against Japan, were much better against Poland and were excellent value for that 3-0 victory.

With the Poles now heading home, Japan and Senegal are in control of their own destiny. It would take a brave man to back against the Asian outfit on current form, especially going up against already eliminated Poland.

Senegal’s position is arguably more precarious ahead of their clash with Colombia – it should be a thrilling afternoon of World Cup action.

 

JAPAN vs POLAND

Nobody expected Japan to reach the last-16 at the start of the tournament but there is now a realistic chance for the Asian side to secure top spot in Group H.

Akira Nishiro’s side had a chunk of luck against Colombia but showed plenty of grit and resilience in that entertaining draw with Senegal. Japan will be quietly confident ahead of this one…

Chief contenders for the most disappointing team this summer, Poland have crashed out of the competition after losing their opening two fixtures.

Adam Nawalka is preparing to lose his job and Robert Lewandowski has been starved of service. With the pressure now off, the European outfit could spring an upset but only a fool would back Poland on recent efforts.

For me, an underwhelming affair looks likely. Japan know that a point is enough to reach the last-16 and Poland will just want to get on their flight home.

21/20 for the selection is worth snapping up; Japan may decide to sit on a slender advantage if they take an early lead. Poland have done next to nothing offensively in 180 minutes of football and it is hard to see that changing.

TIP: Both teams to score - NO @ 21/20

CORRECT SCORE: Japan 1-0 Poland (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

SENEGAL vs COLOMBIA

Group H is going down to the wire and Senegal will not want to miss out on a last-16 berth. Avoiding defeat against Colombia will be enough to secure a spot in the next round but playing for a draw is a dangerous game.

Instead, Senegal should go for the jugular – their speed in attack could be telling against this rash Colombia defence.

Colombia were outstanding against Poland – England fans will not want to face the South American side in the next round. England's clash with Belgium could be interesting if Colombia manage to snag top spot.

Radamel Falcao notched his first World Cup goal during that success and plenty of punters will fancy the AS Monaco man to notch a goal or two in this clash.

Senegal have enough quality in attacking areas to cause problems for Colombia but there is a gulf in class when it comes to the midfield.

On paper, this Colombia side has the talent to go far this summer and 3/1 for the South American side to win with both teams scoring is a price worth taking.

TIP: Colombia to win and both teams to score @ 3/1

CORRECT SCORE: Senegal 1-2 Colombia (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has insisted that Golden Boot-chasing Harry Kane is not on Real Madrid’s radar this summer despite speculation to the contrary.

“Quite clearly Harry Kane is one of the top strikers in the world but Real Madrid have other priorities and they know how difficult it is to negotiate with Levy. So their eyes are on other players, not Kane.” 

The highly respected journalist and author remains tight-lipped as to who those names might be but he is more than happy to debunk a rumour that has grown wings in recent weeks concerning Luis Suarez’s future in Spain; a rumour that has led some to put two and two together to make five. 

Consider that a whisper well and truly shouted down. But if Suarez unquestionably isn’t heading for the Premier League it does beg the question who might be from the global shop window that is the World Cup. Balague ponders two possibilities that have whirred the transfer rumour mill into life across the tabloid back pages and social media.  

“Cheryshev is already in a good place and at a level that he belongs to. He is a very direct player with a lot of quality and he’s very fast. He’s got a lot of intelligence as well so he has enough to make an impact on the Premier League for sure.” 
Then there’s Serbia’s muscular midfielder Sergei Milinkovic-Savic, a talent who reportedly tops Jose Mourinho’s wish-list as he looks to over-haul his Manchester United options.

“He’s a very good player who is in the mind of some teams. Who knows if that will lead him to the Premier League. I think Milinkovic-Savic can take his qualities to the next level. He has shown flashes of that and we’ll see more of that if Serbia stay in the competition. He’s the kind of player who is mentally strong enough to deal with tension and when all is at stake.”

Unsurprisingly the Sky pundit has been in his element these past two weeks, relishing every game and immersing himself in the festival of football on display. It is intriguing then to find out which individuals have stood out for the 50 year old so far. 

“Who has impressed? Cristiano has saved Portugal twice. They didn’t play very well but his goals count. Harry Kane obviously is in the flow and things are happening for him. Coutinho has been a star for sure. Neymar I don’t think will be physically fit for ninety minutes to make the impact that he should and Coutinho is taking over the side in a position that he’s making his own from the midfield.”

Considering that the former Liverpool schemer wasn’t in coach Tite’s plans as a starter until the build-up to Russia 2018 this is quite some claim. Yet it is also undeniable for anyone who has witnessed Brazil’s stuttering performances to this point and particularly the toiling efforts of their striking superstar. Has Neymar become too selfish in his play since leaving Barcelona with his country now suffering the consequences? 

“It comes down a bit to picking up bad habits but if he didn’t have that in him then he wouldn’t start doing it now just because he plays in Paris. I’ve always felt like Neymar needs to control his emotions and give him a clear idea of what he needs to do because if he feels like he’s in charge of everything his focus evaporates and his emotions take over.” 

“He is not helping himself in this World Cup even in training with supposed injuries that the doctors are not backing up. Even the likes of Thiago Silva and Marcelo are telling him to behave and focus and it’s disappointing that he’s not using his talent to the maximum. He gets so confused sometimes.”

The bleach-thatched hot-shot is not the only household name underwhelming of course with arguably the finest player of all time flopping spectacularly in his opening two games with Argentina. Having written a best-selling book on Lionel Messi the journalist’s thoughts are certainly worth listening to on why this might be. 

“I think the likes of Busquets, Iniesta, Lionel Messi suffer when they don’t have quality players around them because they do the most difficult thing in football which is to take a team that is very good to another level. That’s what Messi does but to do that every superstar needs a quality team around them including Maradona in ’86. The quality of that 1986 side has been underplayed.” 

“But when you have Di Maria, Meza, even Mascherano, then Messi will struggle because what he needs – like Pep Guardiola once said - is to be kept happy. What he meant was Messi must be surrounded by players who understands what he’s trying to do. There are players there who can do that of course and I feel now the Argentina players are having more of a say in what the line-up should be and how Messi can be protected. The better the players, the better Messi.” 

On to Balague’s native Spain and the 2010 World Cup winners are also flattering to deceive in spells and hardly seem the all-conquering twinkle-toed giants of yesteryear. For Balague this is due to a gradual change in their identity, a modification that warrants praise for their combative figurehead.

Away from the greatest show on earth there is the not-so-small matter of a new Premier League season on the horizon and with Balague’s biography of Mauricio Pochettino still flying off the book shelves conversation naturally turns to the Spurs coach. Will a failure at the fourth time of asking to bring silverware to North London in 2018/19 ultimately make the Argentine’s tenure at the club unsuccessful?

“The thing with Pochettino and his process and his way of thinking is that it’s not about the targets but the journey. It’s about making the best out of it and making the players the best they can be. From there you see what happens. Competing is what he wants to do. It’s not about ‘let’s win trophies’: it’s about ‘let’s be the best that we can be’. Right now they are over-achieving big-time and that’s why people think the next step is to win a title but actually staying in the same place would still be over-achieving.”

Guillem Balague’s quickfire questions

• Who will win the World Cup? I don’t know anymore! I’ll stick with Brazil
• Who will win the Golden Boot? Harry Kane
• Who will be the player of the tournament? If Brazil win that will be Coutinho

 

 

After five days of top-notch action from Great Britain’s ultimate flat racing festival, we gauge exactly what is in store next for the winners from last week and what impact the main protagonists will have had on any future ante-post markets.

Here is your five-day résumé.

Tuesday

• Eve Johnson Houghton secured a first Group 1 winner and maiden victory at Royal Ascot when Accidental Agent won the opening Queen Anne Stakes at 33-1.

 

• Calyx confirmed his class by delivering an awesome run to land the Coventry Stakes under Frankie Dettori  and was immediately slashed for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas to as low as 4-1 favourite by some bookmakers, with 8-1 the biggest price on the high street.

 

• Blue Point claimed top honours in the King's Stand Stakes in the five-furlong sprint of the week. "There is the Nunthorpe, but there is also a race in Ireland so we will have to wait and see where we go." said his trainer Charlie Appleby.

 

• Without Parole brought up a day one double for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori with victory in the St James's Palace Stakes. The winner was cut to 12/1 for the 10-furlong Coral-Eclipse.

 

• Lagostovegas provided Willie Mullins with a fourth victory in the Ascot Stakes. Dual-purpose mare Lagostovegas may have more staying handicap targets on the horizon said Mullins.

 

• Frankie Dettori and John Gosden completed a hat-trick on the opening day of Royal Ascot as Monarchs Glen landed the concluding Wolferton Stakes.

 

Wednesday

• Signora Cabello (25/1) edged out Coolmore’s Gossamer Wings in the Queen Mary Stakes making Phoenix Thoroughbreds the new people to watch in any upcoming feature races.

 

• The talented Kew Garden led home an O'Brien-trained 1-2-3 in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase. Kew Gardens is now the 6-1 joint favourite for the St Leger in September.

 

• Aljazzi, runner-up in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes last year, went one better in the Group 2 event to give trainer Marco Botti his first Royal Ascot winner. The Falmouth is next on her agenda.

 

• Saeed Suhail’s Poet’s Word upset odds-on favourite Cracksman to win the 1 ¼- mile Prince of Wales’s Stakes under James Doyle and earned an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf.

 

• Settle For Bay scorched clear to give David Marnane a famous victory in the Royal Hunt Cup. A four-time winner on the all-weather at Dundalk in the winter, the 16/1 chance gave Marnane his second Royal Ascot winner after Dandy Boy's success in the 2012 Wokingham.

 

• Expert Eye, one-time favourite for the 2,000 Guineas, was victorious in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes, giving jockey James McDonald a first success at Royal Ascot.

 

Thursday

• Shang Shang Shang held on to provide Wesley Ward with a tenth Royal Ascot success in the Norfolk Stakes and booked herself an automatic place for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs in November.

 

• Ryan Moore rode his 50th winner at Royal Ascot as Hunting Horn flounced his rivals in the Hampton Court Stakes. "He's got a lot of options, he can step up to a mile and a half, you could have a look at an Eclipse, you could go to France or we could give him a little bit of time as well.” Said his trainer Aidan O’Brien.

 

• O’Brien’ Magic Wand dominated her rivals in the Ribblesdale Stakes winning by four lengths. She may now take in the Irish Oaks before a possible trip to the Arc.

 

• Stradivarius, the 7-4 joint-favourite, stayed on best of all to beat Vazirabad and Torcedor at the end of a three-way scrap for the Ascot Gold Cup. Owner Bjorn Nielsen’s plan now is to defend the Goodwood Cup.

 

• Silvestre de Sousa made virtually every yard on Simon Crisford’s Ostilio in the Britannia Stakes, to take the spoils in the cavalry charge over a mile.

 

• Baghdad claimed a narrow victory after a thrilling end to the King George V Stakes. Mark Johnston saddled six in the closing handicap of the day and it was the son of Frankel who proved the strongest.

 

Friday

• Main Edition could be a contender for next season’s 1000 Guineas after following up wins at Windsor and Goodwood with victory in the Albany Stakes.

 

• Old Persian was the clear-cut winner of the King Edward VII Stakes, representing the Derby-winning combination of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. Asked if the St Leger was next on the agenda for the three-year-old, Appleby said: "William said it could be something to keep an eye on, but I'm happy to stay at a mile and a half given the pace he has shown at shorter trips. I've put him in the Grand Prix de Paris, and that is one for option.”

 

• Eqtidaar (12-1) just managed to hold to victory in the Commonwealth Cup on the fourth day of the meeting.  The winner and the runner-up, Sands Of Mali, may now renewal rivalry in the July Cup.

 

•  Jessica Harrington said at the weekend that she is weighing up several options for her record breaking filly Alpha Centauri - The Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown and the Irish Champion Stakes are all on the table after she demolished the field in the Coronation Stakes. She is highly likely to sign off this landmark season with a trip to the Breeders’ Cup.

 

• Agrotera charged down the centre of the track to win the Sandringham Stakes. Ed Walker’s filly was the 11-2 favourite having opened her account at Windsor last month.

 

• Dash Of Spice gave David Elsworth his first Royal Ascot winner for 11 years in the closing Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap. "I would love to win the Ebor again," said Elsworth after the race.

 

Saturday

• Arthur Kitt claimed an emotional victory in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Tom Dascombe's horse is a son of the yard's 2012 Queen Mary Stakes heroine Ceiling Kitty, who died after giving birth to this Camelot colt.

 

• Sir Michael Stoute’s Crystal Ocean landed the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes on the final day of the 2018 Royal meeting and is set to return to Ascot for the King George next month. Bookmakers make him the 4/1 favourite.

 

• Soldier’s Call provided upcoming trainer Archie Watson with his first winner at Royal Ascot with victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes. Soldier's Call's will now head to Goodwood for the Molecomb Stakes, while looking further ahead Watson is keen to take the juvenile to the Breeders' Cup.

 

• Merchant Navy (4-1) managed to grab a dramatic victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.  Formerly trained in Australia, the four-year-old provided his new handler Aidan O'Brien with his first Group One winner of the week as he got the better of the French raider City Light.

 

• Bacchus narrowly outgunned the gambled-on Dreamfield to claim the Wokingham Stakes. Trainer Brian Meehan said after the race: "We've been talking about the Ayr Gold Cup and races like that for him. He's tailor-made for the job."

 

• The quirky giant Pallasator claimed the Queen Alexandra Stakes, the final race of Royal Ascot 2018. The nine-year-old joined Gordon Elliott last year to embark on a belated jumping career in the hope it would revitalise a horse with his own ideas. Elliott afterwards: "He's won today. I'll talk to the owners and see what they want to do. I'd love to have a runner in the Melbourne Cup one day."

Established in 1868 and originally known as the Cork and Orrery Stakes, the race was upgraded to Group 1 status and renamed to mark The Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, before taking on its latest title of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2012.

It is open to three-year-olds or older horses and is run over 6 furlongs.

Trends And Statistics

• Age:  All 10 of the last 10 winners were aged 3-5.
• Price: 3 of the last 10 winners were favourites/joint favourites, 5/10 winners were in the top 3 in the betting. 5 of the last 10 winners returned a double-figure price.
• Last Run: 2/10 winners won last time out, 10/10 winners ran in the last 50 days or less.

Overseas Winners

Ireland (17) The latest being :Kearney (1980), Committed (1984), Big Shuffle (1987), College Chapel (1993), Starspangledbanner (2010), Slade Power (2014).

Australia (2) – Choisir (2003), Black Caviar (2012).

Hong Kong (1) – Cape Of Good Hope (2005).

USA (1) – Undrafted (2015).

Runner-by-Runner Guide:

Bound For Nowhere

American raider Bound For Nowhere was fourth in last year's Commonwealth Cup and trainer Wesley Ward is excited about his prospects in this race.

The four-year-old failed to figure in the Prix Maurice De Gheest in France on his final outing of 2017, but has made a promising start to his latest campaign in the States winning both his starts.

City Light

City Light put in some sterling runner-up efforts in last year’s G3 Prix Texanita, Listed Prix Marchand d’Or and Listed Prix Luthier, and opened this season by scoring on the Chantilly Polytrack, at Lingfield’s A.W Championships and most recently on the turf at ParisLongchamp.

The French colt should not be underestimated.

D’bai

D’Bai drops back in trip for a crack at the this race after he came out on top in a three-way finish to the John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock.

The four-year-old is trained by the recent Derby winning trainer, Charlie Appleby.

Harry Angel

Clive Cox's star performer was narrowly beaten by Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup at last year's meeting, but went on to win two further Group One events in the July Cup at Newmarket and the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Harry Angel made an impressive reappearance in last month's Duke of York Stakes, winning it rather cosily that day.

Despite Harry Angel suffering four defeats on his four starts at Ascot the son of Dark Angel is a firm favourite with punters for this.

Intelligence Cross

Aidan O’Brien’s runner will probably be out to make the running for his more fancied stablemate Merchant Navy.

Librisa Breeze

The six-year-old, owned by Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom, failed to feature on his seasonal return when finishing down the field in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March.

He did however win last year’s British Champions Sprint and gave his trainer Dean Ivory his first Group One success.

Merchant Navy

Australian sprinter Merchant Navy booked his ticket into this race with victory in the Group Two Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh.

Now with Aidan O’Brien, Merchant Navy was trained by Ciaron Maher and Aaron Purcell and won five of his eight Australian starts, including the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes.

He ran third in the Newmarket Handicap behind Redkirk Warrior, whom he meets again on the other side of the world.

Projection

The Roger Charlton five-year-old is trained by Roger Charlton and is owned by The Royal Ascot Racing Club who will be hoping for a special day.

A close third on his last run behind the Tin Man puts him in with a decent each-way chance.

 

Redkirk Warrior

Redkirk Warrior lining up in the Diamond Jubilee sets up an exciting rematch with star Aussie three-year-old Merchant Navy who headed to Ireland to be trained by Aidan O’Brien after finishing third behind Redkirk Warrior in the Newmarket Handicap (Australia).

He is trained in a partnership by father and son David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig and will be ridden on Saturday by the man of the moment, Frankie Dettori.

 

Sir Dancealot

Trained by David Elsworth, the four-year-old was gelded in the off-season, and has looked better than ever in both starts so far this year, finishing a good third to Harry Angel in the Duke of York Stakes before getting the better of Kimberella up the hill at Hamilton last time out.

As a juvenile, Sir Dancealot’s principal weapon was his speed and his best performance was when he pounced late in the 6f Listed Rockingham Stakes at York.

33/1 appears too big for a horse that previously run Harry Angel close.

Spirit Of Valor

Finished second to his stablemate and rival Merchant Navy in the Greenlands Stakes last time out and would have some kind of chance if reproducing something like that run here.

Very difficult to assess whether he will be running on merit or keeping Merchant Navy’s principal rivals occupied.

The Tin Man

The James Fanshawe-trained The Tin Man has Group One-winning Ascot form and tends to be at his best on this Berkshire track. He is the defending champion after scoring by a neck in a nineteen runner field last year.

The six-year-old, owned by Pegasus Stables, made a winning return to action at Windsor when he took their feature Monday evening race, the Weatherbys Hamilton Leisure Stakes.

Today’s rivals D’bai and Projection filled the second and third spots on that occasion.

888sport suggests: City Light e/w

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*