13.20hrs Tuesday 10th March – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m ½ f Old Park Star (Nicky Henderson) It’s worth say... Read more
I’m looking forward to the Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle as I’m a massive fan of these staying Handicaps and this year’s renewal is certainly competitive. I’m also interested to see Aloe Vera make her return in the 3.00 at Newcastle as I think she could have a very successful 2020.
English Wine Week finishes tomorrow and there is no doubt that Wines of Great Britain have done an excellent job here for all producers as there has been so much engagement here.
I have a bottle of Coates & Seely Brut Reserve NV from the hills of Hampshire chilling on ice to enjoy after racing. Hopefully, celebrating a winner or two!
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1.50 Newcastle – Chipchase Stakes (Group 3) 6f 
With Brando disappointing once too often these days, have a look at Kevin Ryan’s other good sprinter, Major Jumbo, here. He’s got the potential plot draw in stall 12, which is going to enable him to grab the stands rail, often favoured, and with no other potential pacemaker he can set his own fractions. Could be hard to pass if so. Unibet 9/2 win
2.40 Newmarket – Criterion Stakes (Group 3) 7f
Limato is the class act but his record after a long break isn’t great, and he may need it. Yafta for the Richard Hannon team keeps threatening to win one of these and his close fifth behind Space Blues at Haydock earlier in the month looks all the better after he won easily in France On Thursday. Drawn next to likely pacemaker Vale Of Kent, should have his chance late. Unibet 9/1 each way
3.00 Newcastle – Exchange Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f
Aloe Vera (nap) was pulled out at Royal Ascot because of the testing conditions on the Thursday. She hasn’t been seen for over a year, since winning a Listed contest at Goodwood on her second start, having won on debut. She looked a very exciting prospect for the Ralph Beckett team, and I have been waiting for her return to action. Unibet 9/4 win
3.35 Northumberland Plate (Handicap) 2m ½f
Cosmelli (Gay Kelleway) clearly runs well at Newcastle as he won the Plate consolation race in 2018 and no arguing his chance from a handicapping point of view, 8lb lower than when a 2½l fifth in the race last year. In good form over trips too short since return and ought to be thereabouts. Unibet 11/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)
Anyonecanhaveitall for Mark Johnston bumped into a well-handicapped improver in the shape of Oleg at Pontefract, the winner coming from an impossible position to nail him on the post. I watched this race at the time and the first two finished four lengths clear and the form looks very solid. He has had 4 lengths win and a neck second in two runs at Newcastle so clearly handles the track. Unibet 16/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)
7.15 Curragh – Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f
Fiscal Rules for Jim Bolger was a staying-on fifth in the Irish 2000 but this step up in trip is going to make a difference – his half-sister Cimeara needs 1 mile four furlongs as a minimum, and the dam was a 12f horse. The fact he was thrown into the 2000 after just one run in a maiden shows trainer clearly thinks plenty of him. Expect a big step forward here. Unibet 13/2 each way
Grand National/Aintree preview with our guest columnist Jamie Beighton
The 3 day Aintree festival kicks off today with the highlight The Betway Bowl Grade 1. With Kemboy, Bristol De Mai, and Clans des Obeaux currently sharing a 3 way tie for favouritism. Kemboy is on a recovery mission from Cheltenham following a first fence blip, and he may just find that being spared a hard race in the Gold Cup giving him the edge over the other two.
Elsewhere on the first days card Diego Du Charmil 4.40, looks an intriguing runner for Paul Nicholls, swimming in far calmer waters today than recent runs, and at odds of 9/1 looks a sound each way bet.
Friday sees the Melling Chase take centre stage, with the appropriately named Waiting Patiently heading the market with Politolgue. Then the appetite for the national fences is well and truly satisfied with The Topham ran over 2M 5F over the national fences. Janika 10/1 sure to be popular following his Cheltenham run, along with Ballyhill also catching the eye for the Twiston Davies stable at 16/1.
The Grand National
The National ran over 4M 2F celebrates its 180th running this year. The first horse to win the race named Lottery in 1839, there has been many a result since to suggest this can certainly be the case!
At the head of the market this year is Tiger Roll, bidding to go off the shortest price runner in national history at around the 7/2 mark. With his recent Cheltenham Festival success and victory in the National last year, his chance is clear in an attempt to become the first horse since the legendary Red Rum to retain the National. However at very prohibitive odds, up in the weights, and the memory of just how close last years race was, he is passed over from a value perspective.
A horse that really interests me from the Phillip Hobbs stable is Rock The Kasbah. A horse Hobbs has stated as being very much aimed at the race. Best kept fresh, he hasn’t raced since December when probably finding the race coming too soon on the back of a very impressive handicap win at Cheltenham. With drying spring ground sure to suit as well this weekend. Champion jockey Richard Johnson takes the ride and will be looking for his first national winner. At odds around 20/1 he makes for a good each way selection.
Recent form figures of F/6/PU might not jump off the page as a live National contender, however a deeper look into the classy Ballyoptic’s form and one could argue there is an angle at the current odds of 50/1. Last seasons defeat of Vintage Clouds by 2 and three quarter lengths reads well considering that horse is 12/1 at the time of writing. Ballyoptic is clearly suited by a stamina test, a nose second in the Scottish National last year, and won’t mind the ground whatever the weather does.
The assured jumping Jury Duty looked as good as ever last time out and gets in here off a nice racing weight, a bold bid can be accepted from the all firing Gordon Elliott stable. He’s currently priced at 25/1.
So come 5.15pm on Saturday, sit back and enjoy one of Britain’s finest sporting spectacles. With the forecast spring weather I’ll be sitting down with a glass of Coates & Seely Sparkling Rose, a crisp, fresh, sporting English pink that will accompany the thrills and spills of the National so well…….good luck everyone and enjoy.
Here we are, about to enjoy a cracking Christmas and wave goodbye to 2018. It’s been a busy year for The Wine Tipster. I’ve seen some great racing at The Jockey Club courses across the country, presented on wine and bubbles to some fabulous audiences and discovered plenty of top tipples along the way.
I’d love to say I’ll be winding down, but as we all know there’s plenty of racing on over the festive season. Look out for my Unibet Racing blogs on December 19th and December 26th on King George Day for all my latest tips.
If you haven’t quite finished your festive shopping I’ve got a few suggestions (not all wine-related, I promise). Peter Stafford-Bow is back with a new book set in the world of wine featuring wine buyer Felix Hart. Brut Force is the sequel to Corkscrew and would make a great gift for the wine-lover in your life (Available from Amazon, RRP £9.99, Kindle edition £3.99).
If it’s music you prefer, I can thoroughly recommend The Nightingales. I saw them at a great gig at The Moth Club in Hackney and their new album Perish The Thought is my album of 2018. (Buy from Tiny Global Productions, CD £15, digital version £7).
At Wine Tipster HQ, we’ll be heading out for Christmas this year and I’m looking forward to seeing what will be served up with our slap-up meal. For me, Christmas is a time full of tradition but also a great time to try different things and experiment with something new. I’m usually a big fan of getting into the kitchen and cooking a proper roast, but sometimes with a bit of a differences – maybe goose or venison. I’m also a big fan of fish and seafood as it pairs so brilliantly with some wines, so will be preparing us a platter for those festive evenings when you fancy something a little lighter.
Have you planned your festive tipples yet? I’ve put together my suggestions for a few different wines and tipples you can try this festive season. I hope you all have a wonderful time and here’s to a successful 2019.
Merry Christmas from The Wine Tipster!
- Prosecco DOC La Gioiosa et Amarosa NV Treviso, Veneto, Italy
Christmas wouldn’t be complete without some fizz and as we all know, I’m a big fan of Prosecco. Owned by the Moretti Polegato family, Villa Sandi always produces impressive, elegant Proseccos and the La Gioiosa is a perfect example.A delicious match with seafood. £11.99. Stockist: Majestic
Astoria Prosecco DOC “Galie” Extra Dry Treviso, Veneto, Italy
Another great example of Prosecco, this “Galie” Extra Dry is grown in the hills of the Astoria Estate approximately 150m above sea level, giving it an elegant, fruity and flowery bouquet with a harmonious flavour. Perfect served with canapes, smoked salmon and delicious Grana Padano. £13.75. Stockists: Gerard Steel, Amazon and at York Racecourse
- Masottina Prosecco DOC Brut, Treviso, Veneto, Italy
Masottina founded in 1946 in Conegliano, produce a range of high quality award winning Proseccos, including this award winning Brut, which won a gold medal in the Decanter Wine Awards. Stylish, smooth, with floral and fruity notes, this is top class. £11.99 Stockist: www.winedirect.co.uk www.fmv.co.uk
- Ridgeview Bloomsbury Sparkling NV, Sussex
Based in East Sussex, Ridgeview is a great example of an English sparkling wine – a brilliant alternative to champagne during the festive season. These are great celebration wine, or pair well with seafood and fish, so try a glass with your salmon at Christmas. £28.99. Stockists: Waitrose
- Vilarnau Cava Brut Reserva Rosé NV, Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, Spain
This is a high quality, dry pink Cava with an intense crimson colour, red fruits and citrus flavours, which will definitely impress over the Festive period as will the brilliant packaging. £12. Stockists: Tesco, Ocado, Cafe de la Post
- Croft Twist Fino Spritz
When I first tried Croft Twist a couple of years ago, I thought it was wonderful. A modern British take on Spain’s rebujito cocktail, it mixes cask-aged Croft Fino with sparkling water, English elderflower and lemon and mint cordial. At 5.5% ABV, it’s great for Christmas if you’re after something a little bit lighter. It’s also a great wine to surprise people with. Don’t tell them what it is and see if they guess… For the perfect serve, pour over ice and garnish with a twist of lemon peel and a sprig of fresh basil. £7.00. Stockists: Ocado, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s
- Chapel Down Bacchus 2017, Kent
One of the most popular English whites around at the moment, Bacchus is a great example of a white wine. And more English still white – Bacchus, Chapel Down. Ironically Bacchus won at Royal Ascot, tipped up by The Wine Tipster! £13.99. Stockist: Waitrose
- Beronia Rueda Verdejo 2017, Spain
This is a fantastic easy-drinking white from the Rueda region of north-west Spain. You’re bound to be entertaining during Christmas and there’s always someone who says they don’t like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay so it’s a great one to add to your selection of wines on offer. £8.99. Stockist: Waitrose
- Peter Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Awatere, New Zealand
Yealands are a great example of environmental and sustainable winemakers and their crisp, Reserve Sauvignon Blanc with flavours of passionfruit, mango and citrus is perfect on its own or with fish and buffets over the festive period. Try their Land Made Sauvignon Blanc across The Jockey Club racecourses. £11.59 on offer to £8.49. Waitrose
- Côtes de Provence Rosé de Léoube 2017 Château Léoube, Provence, France
This is a top-class, bone dry rosé. Well balanced and with flavours of strawberry and white peach. It works well as an aperitif but would also go well with lighter festive dishes or a Boxing Day buffet of seafood and cold meats. £17.99. Stockists: Daylesford daylesford.com Oxford Wine Company, Charlbury Deli & Cafe, Waddesdon Manor
- Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages 2017, Rhône, France
This wonderful Côtes du Rhône red is so truly French in style with ripe fruit aromas and wonderful spicy fruit flavours. This is great value and always does so well in tastings. A must for Christmas. It also pairs brilliantly with vegetarian dishes so is a great one to pull out when you’re entertaining. £9.99 down to £7.49. Stockist: Waitrose
- Wirra Wirra Church Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot 2015 McLaren Vale, Australia
This great example of a New World red from McLaren Vale is an Australian favourite and I’m rather partial to a glass too. Approachable yet with an element of consistency, it’s a great one to serve with a full festive roast dinner, or even just a few drinks on its own. £13.49. Stockist: Ocado
- Louis M. Martini Sonoma County 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, California
This is classic, intense Cabernet Sauvignon is packed with ripe, concentrated and complex flavours of blackcurrant, plum, with sweet spice, subtle oak and a tremendous finish. A classic! Another one that pairs brilliantly with a roast dinner, making it perfect for the festive season. The Jockey Club has also just started listing this wine across its courses, so if you’re heading to Kempton Park on Boxing Day, make sure you look out for it. £19.95. Stockists: Uvinum.co.uk greatwesternwine.co.uk
14. Château Peyredon Lagravette, Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2010, Bordeaux, France
Cru Bourgeois wines offer a tremendous opportunity to get some great value, complex clarets and this wine from the outstanding 2010 vintage just does that. This Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend has lovely, classic Cabernet blackcurrant fruit, with spice and savoury character. Definitely a wine to decant and enjoy with beef or game over the festive period. £14.50. Stockist: The Wine Society
- Royal Tokaji Late Harvest 2015, Hungary
If you’re looking for something a bit sweeter over the festive season but want to try something different, head for Hungary for a Tokaji. From the Tokaj wine region in Hungary, this wine has a wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity,which makes it a great pairing with lighter desserts and particularly blue cheese. I think it tastes great on its own too! £11.99 on offer to £9.99 (50cl) . Stockist: Majestic
- Gonzalez Byass Matusalem Oloroso Dulce Muy Viejo VORS, Jerez, Spain
Who doesn’t want a tot of sherry on a festive evening. This stunning sherry, which gets its dark colour from thirty years of ageing in sherry butts should be on every Christmas table and all year round, for that matter! Matusalem Oloroso (ABV 20.5%) has aromas of dark chocolate and prunes, with delicious, rich, complex, nutty character on the palate. A lovely match with Alex James’ delicious Blue Monday. Stockists: The Oxford Wine Company, Waitrose. £19.99 per 37.5cl.
This year’s Festival of Food & Wine Racing Weekend at Ascot Racecourse was a roaring success. In addition to a fantastic day of racing, racegoers were able to visit a brilliant selection of over 40 food and wine stalls.
Culinary genius Raymond Blanc and Wine Expert Oz Clarke were joined by Racing Tipster, Neil Phillips in the Furlong Club Gastronomes Theatre who together brought you not only great demonstrations but plenty of entertainment too! Guests began the day’s busy schedule with a glass of Chapel Down English Sparkling Wine followed by a perfect coffee preparation and coffee cocktail demonstration with Lavazza. They then enjoyed an Old World versus New World tasting with cheese and charcuterie provided by Wondering Wine Kitchen and wine pairing suggestions to accompany seared Halibut with Shellfish Risotto created by Sodexo Head Chef Ben Dutson. The Wine Tipster presented a fantastic Pie and Wine Tasting with two Sweeny & Todd Pies paired with Delicato Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel and Soave Classico Monte Carbonare, Italy courtesy of Bibendum Wines. Fiona Smith presented beer and food pairings with Stella Artois.
In addition to his MC duties and wine presenting, The Wine Tipster also marked the racecard for the day which resulted in four winners including Dutch Law at 12/1 and Frontispiece at 7/1.
We look forward to seeing you again in 2017.
With thanks to Grown Up Marshmallows, Wiltshire Chilli Farm, B.O.B’s Lobster, Cake Hole, Sweeney & Todd Pies and Dark Horse Wines.
Photos Courtesy of Jonathan Short.
Photos courtesy of George Gunn & Chrisloson
In the UK, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to enjoying a day at the races whether you are an avid racegoer or keen amateur. In addition to world class racing, you can also expect spectacular food and wine providing a fantastic day out and Goodwood is an excellent place to start. The undoubted sporting and social highlight of the season is the recent Qatar Goodwood Festival in which horses from around the globe compete for the £5 million in prize money on offer over the 5 day festival. Highlights include the glamourous Ladies Day including the unique ladies celebrity race, The Magnolia Cup, with riders sporting silks created by high profile fashion designers. Star filly Minding, the world’s joint best-three-year-old filly beforehand, secured her sixth Group One success in the Qatar Nassau Stakes, the feature race on day five and Europe’s richest race for fillies and mares.
As The Wine Tipster, my role is to present on food, wine and racing at key meetings across the UK including Glorious Goodwood on Racing UK, Goodwood racecourse radio and Goodwood racecourse TV. With a love of racing, maths and analytical thinking, I have always enjoyed studying the form. This has led to a unique opportunity for me to combine my love of fizz and food with horse-racing You can enjoy this for yourself with a selection of bubbles on offer from local to global options!
This was a key occasion for local winery, Nyetimber, who were sponsoring the bar at Goodwood, one of a number of English Sparkling wineries who are enjoying continued popularity right now. There are around 500 vineyards in England and Wales covering some 4,500 acres producing over 5 million bottles of sparkling and still wines.
Nyetimber have 170 hectares of their own vineyards in Sussex and Hampshire and using the traditional trio of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, their owner Eric Heerema is quite rightly proud of their range of award-winning wines which includes the 2009 Classic Cuvée in magnum and the 2009 Blanc de Blancs. Both won Gold at the recent International Wine Challenge. Look out for their beautifully reimagined 1968 Routemaster bus which will be attending iconic British events throughout the year.
Away from Goodwood you can purchase Nyetimber’s wines at Waitrose.
Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 2010, West Sussex, England, abv 12%, £31.99. Stockist: Waitrose.
Winemaker Cherie Spriggs produces wines of outstanding quality and this Classic Cuvée is delicious, with complexity, elegance and stunning length. I would also recommend their Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 2009 in magnum, a wine to keep and savour.
Nyetimber Rosé NV, West Sussex, England, abv 12%, £39.99. Stockist: Waitrose
A top class example of English winemaking with this pink that fits In perfectly with the rest of their range in style.
Light in colour, with gentle berry fruit and floral notes, this is beautifully harmonious dry and classic rosé.
If you are heading off to a Saturday race meeting check out my tips in my On The Box column in Saturday’s Racing Plus!
The Wine Tipster joins Steve Elsom on his 100th and final show of The Business Hub.
Chuffed to be asked to join Steve on his final show. Top banter. Click here to listen.
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Paul Hawksbee and Andy Jacobs were live again from Cheltenham racecourse for the second day of the Cheltenham Festival! They were joined by ... Read more
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