Online Betting News from Sky Bet

Xtension enhances Cliffs classic claims

Xtension has been given a 25/1 first show quote by Sky Bet for next year's 2,000 Guineas after relishing the step up to seven furlongs for the first time to land the Vintage Stakes.

However, his Group 2 success at Goodwood paid a huge compliment to his Coventry Stakes conqueror Canford Cliffs, who left Clive Cox's colt trailing in his wake by six lengths at Royal Ascot.

Canford Cliffs was cut a point as a result at the front of the market by Sky Bet for the first colts' classic and is now a 5/1 favourite from 6s.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: 'Canford Cliffs made short work of Xtension at Ascot and we have trimmed his odds at the head of the Guineas market with the form being given such a boost.'

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Common Touch For Ryan

Ballycommon has been backed into 6/4 from 2/1 with Sky Bet to make a winning debut in the 6f maiden (2.30) at Ayr on Monday.

By the American first season sire Roman Ruler he is reported to be a colt with a bright future by trainer Kevin Ryan, who has given him a Gimcrack entry.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: ‘An auction maiden is an unusual starting point for a future Group winner, but he only cost 30 Euros at Goffs and it is a shrewd bit of placing. We have even had a few enquiries about him winning here and completing the double next time at Group 2 level at York.’

Ryan, who made his name with older sprinter Halmahera, burst into the top tier of the training ranks in 2005 with the juvenile Group 1 wins of Amadeus Wolf in the Middle Park and Palace Episode in the Racing Post Trophy.

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Arc Bleu 9/1 For Back-To-Back Victories

Last year's Northumberland Plate winner Arc Bleu is 9/1 with Sky Bet to land back-to-back wins for Tony Martin in Europe's richest staying handicap at Newcastle on Saturday.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: "Tony Martin has snapped up Jamie Spencer for last year's winner and he is a trainer we fear under both codes with his uncanny knack of laying horses out for big races."

He shares the same price with co second favourites Hendersyde and Wells Lyrical, who trainer Bryan Smart believes could develop into a genuine Cup horse.

Sky Bet's market is headed at 8/1 by their joint favourites Keenes Day and Chester Cup runner-up Ajaan, who missed Royal Ascot to be saved for the Pitmen's Derby by Henry Cecil.

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Win A VIP Trip To The Sky Bet Dash At York

It’s not too late to take part in Sky Bet’s Royal Ascot top jockey competition to win a VIP trip to the Sky Bet Dash at York and a £500 bet as the Harrogate firm are keeping the competition open till noon today. Customers simply have to predict, who will ride the most winners over the Ascot meeting and how many winners they will have.

Royal Ascot's five-day feast started with a bang for jockey Richard Hughes as the Irishman rode three winners on the opening day and saw his odds crashing from 4/1 to 4/7 to be crowed top jockey. Amazingly 30.3% of Sky Bet customer still think Ryan Moore will be crowned top jockey with 5 winning rides the favourite choice. Richard Hughes is now fancied by 21.5% of sky Bet custromers.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said, “It’s surprising to see Ryan Moore is still the favourite with Sky Bet customers to claim top jockey honours. He was originally the evens favourite but after Richard Hughes’s treble on the opening day Moore’s odds have been lengthened to 2/1 with Hughes now the 4/7 favourite.”

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, please click on the link below.
Royal Ascot Competition

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Richard Hughes 4/7 Top Jockey Honours

Richard Hughes ended the day one of Royal Ascot with three winners seeing him move to the head of the top jockey market. Sky Bet now go just 4/7 having been 6/1 at the start of the action. Ante-post favourite Ryan Moore drew a blank on day one.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: 'We laid plenty of bets on Hughes in the top jockey market and he is in pole position now with Ryan Moore playing catch up over the next four days.'

One of Hughes' winners, Canford Cliffs, was, at 7/4, also the third favourite to come home in front in the meeting's first four races, making it a poor day for the bookies.

Mastercraftsman (5/6) claimed the St James's Palace Stakes, while Scenic Blast (11/4) took the King's Stand Stakes.

Doyle added: "We are behind now and the results have gone against us with Canford Cliffs inflicting the most damage as he was the banker of the meeting for many punters."

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Scenic Blast 5/1 For Royal Ascot Double

King's Stand winner Scenic Blast is 5/1 with Sky Bet to complete the aforementioned Royal Ascot double.

The Golden Jubilee Stakes takes place on Saturday where Scenic Blast could emulate 2002 Aussie sprint sensation Choisir by doubling up.

However, trainer Dan Morton said a few minutes ago: "I think we'll wait for the July Cup (at Newmarket) as I don't want to back him up that quickly.

"It was always the plan to go for the King's Stand and then the July Cup and we only left him in the Golden Jubilee as a precaution."

Sky Bet's Matt Doyle said: "Scenic Blast would be shorter if we knew he was going to run and the price on offer is at enhanced odds. It is all in run or not."

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Win A VIP Trip To The Sky Bet Dash At York

To celebrate Royal Ascot, one of horse racing’s most prestigious meetings, Sky Bet are offering their customers the chance to win a VIP trip for 4 people to the Sky Bet Dash at York on Saturday 25th July 2009 plus a £500 free bet on the race.

Punters simply have to predict, who will ride the most winners over the Ascot meeting and how many winners they will have. What’s more, Sky Bet are even going to make easier to enter by allowing their customers until noon on Wednesday to make their selections.

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, please click on the link below.

Royal Ascot Competition

So far 30% of Sky Bet punters currently fancy Ryan Moore to be the top performer over the 5 days with 5 winning rides the favourite choice but it could all change after day 1 if he gets off to a bad start.

Moore, who is the stable jockey for Sir Michael Stoute is Sky Bet’s even money favourite to claim the Ritz Club Trophy in the Top Jockey betting, with Johnny Murtagh and Richard Hughes 4/1 joint second favourites.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said, “It’s not surprising to see our customers backing Ryan Moore to claim top jockey honours. He has a lively contender in nearly every race plus has the added advantage of picking up some of Johnny Murtagh’s rides for Michael Tabor as Murtagh misses the final two days of the meeting.”

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Royal Ascot Special

Sky Bet has released a specials market on the St James' Palace Stakes and is betting without the favourite Mastercraftsman.

Delegator, who was in front of Aidan O’Brien's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner at Newmarket, is their favourite at 2/1 to lead home the remaining nine entries.

The 2,000 Guineas sixth Evasive is 11/4 to turnaround earlier classic form, while last year's Dewhurst winner Intense Focus is 6/1 to recapture something near his juvenile best.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: "Ballydoyle have had a real stranglehold on the St James' Palace Stakes in recent years and the betting without the favourite market opens it up to punters who may have sat the race out otherwise for betting purposes."

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Sky Bet refund on Dream Theme

Sky Bet have refunded all win single bets on Dream Theme in the 2.50 Redcar after the David Nicholls runner virtually refused to race.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: "Although Dream Theme has done this before we have sympathy for our customers who have backed this one and therefore have refunded all win single bets."

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Derby betting is hotting up

Bet on the 2009 Derby now with Sky Bet and take an ante-post price about your selection that is likely to be bigger than the one you will receive on the day at Epsom for the colts' Classic on June 6th.

Whether it is impressive 2,000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars, who can be backed at 3/1 for the Epsom Derby with Sky Bet or third home Gan Amhras (7/1), the Derby betting market is hotting up with the big race less than a month away.

Crowded House, who is now the 5/1 Derby second favourite with Sky Bet, puts his classic credentials on the line in the Dante at York and current Derby betting odds about Brian Meehan's charge could contract further if he wins his trial conclusively.

There is nothing better than clutching an ante-post Derby betting voucher at fancy odds and, at Sky Bet, we have several Derby betting specials on the big race at Epsom to further whet your appetite.

If Sea The Stars can become the first horse since Nashwan 20-years ago to complete the Classic double in the Derby, the 10/1 on offer in our Derby betting specials market for the Triple Crown bid will tempt many.

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