Veliefendi Betting: Turkey the venue for International Racing Festival

World Racing / Timeform / 03 September 2011 / Leave a Comment

Saeed Bin Suroor sends a strong team to the Turkey International Festival

"Saeed bin Suroor's Antara landed the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom for a second consecutive season back in June and looks to have a good chance..."

The valuable International Festival takes place at Veliefendi racecourse in Turkey this weekend. A strong British contingent will line up across the course of the two days for an action-packed meeting at Istanbul, and you can bet on the big races with Betfair...

Racing gets underway on Saturday, and the first feature of the afternoon is the International Istanbul Trophy, a Group 2 contest run over a mile set to take place at 17:00 BST.

Saeed bin Suroor's Antara landed the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom for a second consecutive season back in June and looks to have a good chance, but she will face stiff competition, including from Mick Channon's Music Show, who won the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes last year. Although she has disappointed on all three starts this season, it's not hard to see her bouncing back.

The British challenge in the Istanbul Trophy is completed by Tom Dascombe's Rhythm of Light, who improved this season to take the Sandringham Handicap at Ascot back in June. She has disappointed in two subsequent starts but had excuses for her latest showing.

The Anatolia Trophy is a Group 2 contest run over ten furlongs and is the second feature on Saturday (19:00 BST).

Saeed bin Suroor sends over Emirates Champion, who was the winner of two handicaps at the Dubai Carnival at Meydan back in March. After a break, he looked in need of the run when sixth in a listed race at Sandown in July, but a return to his best will see him go close. Mark Johnston's Dordogne and George Baker's Belgian Bill are also among the entries, but they look to have something to find.

The Bosphorous Cup is the highlight on Sunday afternoon in Turkey (due off 14:00 BST), and Britain once again fielding a strong team. James Given's Indian Days, winner of the race in 2010, heads the charge, and he is joined by another former winner, Mick Channon's Halicarnassus, who finished just fourth last year.

Campanologist and Frankie Dettori also team up having produced a career best in the Tattersalls Gold Cup earlier in the season and they cannot be discounted. Completing the British entries is Luca Cumani's Afsare.

The final feature race of the weekend is the Topkapi Trophy, (15:30 BST) on Sunday, and it looks the most open contest of the four races covered.

Andrew Balding's Dream Eater and Saeed bin Suroor's Invisible Man have been slightly below thieir best of late, so may have their work cut out, but lightly-raced French colt Vagabond Shoes could give Mike de Kock's Musir, a good third to Excelebration over a trip on the sharp side in the Hungerford at Newbury last time, something to think about.

Three bets for Friday's North American action......

Three selections for tonight's jumps meeting at Killbeggan......

Two winners and one non-runner for Timeform's Free US Form Site yesterday, and confidence is high that three from three can be achieved today......

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Weekend Preview: Ascot the venue for exciting Shergar Cup

Timeform Features / Timeform / 05 August 2011 / Leave a Comment

Ascot: The venue for the Shergar Cup on Saturday

"The pick of team Ireland’s rides arguably comes in the 14:30 with Richard Hughes himself aboard the progressive three-year-old, Ithoughtitwasover in the Shergar Cup Classic..."

Timeform give an overview of the best racing in Britain and Ireland this weekend including the Shergar Cup, run at Ascot this Saturday, and the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, the feature contest on Sunday's card at the Curragh in Ireland...

The Shergar Cup is the highlight in Britain this weekend with six handicap contests on an action-packed afternoon at Ascot with a range of races spanning from 5f to 2m in order to determine who is victorious amongst Britain, Ireland, Europe and Rest of the World. The Irish team has a strong look about it once again this season and will be looking for a third successive victory, captained by Richard Hughes and containing Fran Berry and Colm O'Donoghue.

The pick of team Ireland's rides arguably comes in the 14:30, with Richard Hughes himself aboard the progressive three-year-old, Ithoughtitwasover in the Shergar Cup Classic. Other notable entries include Firebeam in the Shergar Cup Sprint, the very last race on the card (15:35), and this William Haggas-trained colt will be looking to make it three wins in a row under British Champion Paul Hanagan.

Elsewhere in Britain on Saturday afternoon there is Flat racing at Haydock, Newmarket and Redcar.

Of the three meetings, Haydock arguably possesses the strongest card with the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes the highlight during an interesting afternoon's racing. Lining up for this contest are Godolphin pair Simon De Montfort and Sajhaa, along with last season's Craven Stakes winner and subsequent 2000 Guineas fifth, Elusive Pimpernel, for what looks a fascinating renewal.

There is also Group 3 action from Newmarket on Saturday afternoon as the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes takes centre-stage on their card. Godolphin are also double-handed in this contest with Desert Gazelle and Discourse representing the Boys in Blue. Discourse defeated stablemate and subsequent Cherry Hinton winner Gamilati by the narrowest of margins in a Newmarket maiden on her debut and has an excellent chance of gaining another course success.

Saturday's Flat racing is completed by evening meetings at Ayr and Lingfield, whilst over in Ireland there is action over jumps at Kilbeggan, where John Kiely's Sweeps Hill will be looking to make his handicap debut a successful experience in a competitive chase.

Flat racing continues in Britain on Sunday afternoon with action on the level coming from Leicester and Windsor, two meetings dominated by handicap contests.

However it is over in Ireland where most excitement will be generated on Sunday with a very strong card at the Curragh with no fewer than four Group races. The Phoenix Stakes is the highlight and is notably the first 2-y-o race of Group 1 status this season, and this year's renewal looks particularly strong with two challengers from Britain up against the usual Aidan O'Brien runners. Frederick Engels and Lilbourne Lad make the trip over representing David Brown and Richard Hannon respectively and have very solid form but, despite this, Power from the Ballydoyle yard is likely to start warm favourite and is unbeaten in three starts.

Elsewhere on the card, Banimpire will be looking to follow up her Royal Ascot win in the Group 2 Royal Whip Stakes with Irish Derby fifth Dunboyne Express also competing.

Ballydoyle hold a strong hand in the other Group 2 race of the afternoon with Chesham Stakes winner Maybe looking to maintain her unbeaten sequence in the Debutante Stakes. Finally, Deacon Blues will be looking to make it two from two in Group 3 company, the James Fanshawe four-year-old currently heading entries for the Phoenix Sprint Stakes.

Five days of Glorious Goodwood as well as some top-class foreign action kept our handicappers very busy this week. David Johnson highlights the latest movers and shakers....

This year's Ebor Festival at York runs from Wednesday August 17 to Saturday August 20. Timeform take you through the highlights of the four days on the Knavesmire......

Join the Timeform Betfair Racing Club before our horse Ruby Night runs in the 14:50 at Newcastle this afternoon and if he gets beat you will get your membership refunded in full. Read on to find out more......

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