Update: Tuesday 21st July

Swain bids for a repeat in the Diamond Stakes at Ascot

Apologies for the extended absence, exams etc. have occupied much of my time.

The Classics are mostly passed now and the summer festivals are getting into full swing. The King George VI & QE Diamond Stakes is the highlight of the flat season for many and this years renewal should not disappoint. Frankie Dettori has chosen to partner last years winner, Swain in preference to Daylami who led home the historic Godolphin 1-2-3 in the Eclipse at Sandown. The hint should be taken. Swain has proven form at the distance and in the best company all over the world. Second in the Dubai World Cup and to Silver Patriarch at Epsom he should turn the tables on that one on this vastly different track. Derby winner High Rise is probably just short of top class at this stage and Royal Anthem is a relative novice in this exalted company.

The Galway festival looms large in Ireland and many trials have already taken place. Lucky Town ran an excellent prep for the Plate in taking third at Killarney. Unfortunately Merry Gale finished lame in that same contest and will now miss the race. English representatives include likely top weight Gales Cavalier and Martin Pipes Art Prince.

Charlie Swan will be able to concentrate on his duties as trainer following a hurdle race fall at Killarney which left him with two broken ribs and a badly bruised lower back. Sadly he will not be able to bid to continue his excellent run of placings in Wednesdays big race.

Interesting to note that Michael Smurfits Stage Affair has been gelded - perhaps with a view to taking on Istabraq at Cheltenham next year after he contests the Irish St.Leger and possibly the Melbourne Cup this year.

If anyone knows where to acquire a picture of Coniston winning the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in 1961 or the Jameson Gold Cup at Punchestown, I would be delighted if they could e-mail me.

Some of Aidan O'Briens top two-year-olds have been given entries recently. A few to look out for are Genghis Khan, a Sadlers Wells 1/2-brother to Generous, Aspen Leaves, a 1/2-sister to Hamas,Timber County and Bianconi, and Saffron Waldon, a Sadlers Wells 1/2-brother to Dolphin Street and last years Galway winner Grass Roots. He is reputedly the best of the lot.

Incidentally, now that Bianconi has returned to sprinting he will be very hard to beat unless he comes up against Grazia who also looked very impressive on saturday although she will stay further than 6-furlongs.

Good to see that Sean Graham only take an 8% deduction on telephone bets but you can't beat tax free betting at Northern Irelands racecourses and point to points. In the Republic of Ireland there is a 5% deduction from on course bets with an unbelieve 10% levied on away bets-the same as off course shops. Betting shops in the UK take 9%. Many bookmakers offer special bet with the tax paid or the deduction reduced - shop around. Victor Chandler has a telephone account which is tax-free as it based overseas and some spread betting firms offer to pay the tax on all bets. The best way to beat the tax is to bet at a few points over the odds. Cashmans, in Cork, seem to be very generous in pricing up races in the morning and Sean Grahams prices for every race every day are sometimes worth a look.

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