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Updated: 2nd June 2011 - GG.com

Winning Tunes In June

June's Flat race action starts at the best place possible with the two-day Epsom Derby meeting. The proceedings step up a gear with the Group 1 Investec Oaks, and in a weak year for Classic fillies, Blue Bunting looks to hold a favourite's chance while on the same day St Nicholas Abbey could well edge out Midday in a sub-standard renewal of the Coronation Cup.

Recital
© leopardstownracecourse's photostream

The Investec Derby occupies pride of place on June 4 and features a favourite that may not run in the luckless Carlton House, who suffered a bang to the leg that has threatened to destroy his Derby prospects. It seems a particularly cruel blow for the one horse in the field that looked a potential top-notcher.

The Derby is a wonderful race but in the build-up to the big day there has been a lot of tosh talked about nationwide royal gambles on the regally-owned Carlton House but as far as I can tell, the only people interested in the Derby are racing people.

If Carlton House misses the race then perhaps Recital can give Ballydoyle its first Derby after nine years of losers. Wayward he may be in the manner in which he runs, but Recital has plenty of talent and a sharp turn of foot. Kieren Fallon is the right man to handle the colt's Derby challenge being the jockey par excellence for Epsom in the past decade.

Frankel
© Racehorse Photos

Five of the very best days of Flat racing to be found anywhere in the world begins on June 14 with Royal Ascot and the day's highlights are the Group 1 Queen Anne and St James's Palace Stakes over 1m. The bingo-bettors and short-priced whingers will hate these two races because both will go to class horses at short odds.

In the latter contest Frankel will dot up at severely restricted odds and in the former event an enthralling battle should ensue between Goldikova, last year's winner and Canford Cliffs, who landed the Lockinge on his seasonal return. Choosing between the pair is not easy but the latter may just shade the verdict.

On June 15 in the Prince of Wales's Stakes the former Australia superstar So You Think will face his first real test since joining Aidan O'Brien when he locks horns with France's star colt Planteur, who looked out of the top drawer when landing a competitive renewal of the Ganay the other day. Again, this looks a hard race to call but the French colt should not be under-estimated.

Canford Cliffs
© racing-images.co.uk

The Ascot Gold Cup is the highlight on June 16 and this looks like offering Rite Of Passage, the 2010 hero, a second stayers' crown. Dermot Weld's tough colt was a brave and gutsy winner twelve months ago and only looks to face a couple of serious rivals in Duncan and Fame And Glory and both these horses seem uncertain stayers.

Friday's action features the Coronation Stakes, a Group 1 race over 1m for fillies and Theyskens Theory looks the one to prevail in what is shaping up to be a poor renewal. On Ascot's closing day the bet of the meeting comes in the Hardwicke Stakes courtesy of Await The Dawn while in the Wokingham Stakes, James Fanshawe's late-maturing sprinter Deacon Blues can avenge some of the stable's narrow and luckless losers by landing the week's big handicap prize.

Finally, June's action climaxes at Newcastle on June25 with the Northumberland Plate, and Michael Bell's Activate looks an ideal type for the Geordie staying marathon while over in Ireland on the following day, June 26, Carlton House may gain the chance for Epsom consolation if he lines up for the Irish Derby at the Curragh which will surely be his race if he misses the Epsom variety.

Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips

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