Win tickets for Doncaster Sky Bet Chase day in our weekly tipping competition
*11.50am Qipco will enjoy branding in new move for Royal Ascot *
*Tony Paley: *Qipco have announced a major deal with Ascot which will allow them to partner the racecourse in branding for the first time at the Royal meeting and in addition sponsor the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the track in July.
"Sponsorship [of Royal Ascot races] is just not on our radar," Nick Smith, Ascot's head of communications, told the Telegraph. "But Qipco will have partner presence, which means they will enjoy everything that forms part of the most overt branding ever seen at the Royal meeting."
"There is regular dialogue with Buckingham Palace on all major proposals and that has included the new partnership strategy, including branding benefits at Royal Ascot," said Smith.
Qipco will only be a partner on only the first day of Royal Ascot. "We are now looking forward to finding suitable brands and companies to become partners on the other four days of the meeting," added Smith.
The £1million King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by Qipco will become the third seven-figure race run at Ascot under Qipco sponsorship, joining the £1.3million Champion Stakes and £1million Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, which are both run on Qipco British Champions Day.
Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani, director of Qipco Holding, said: "My brothers and I are delighted to extend our relationship with Ascot through Qipco's sponsorship of the King George. The race is the defining mid-summer middle distance contest in Europe and, in recent years, it has become a truly international event."
Charles Barnett, chief executive at Ascot, said: "The Al Thani family has, in a very short period, changed the face of British Racing both as sponsors and owners, and they were instrumental in establishing the Qipco British Champions Series and Qipco British Champions Day.
"I would like to thank Betfair for their five-year sponsorship of the King George, during which time we have seen some tremendous performances and participation from horses from all over Europe and from Japan. I am particularly pleased that they will be remaining as sponsors of the Betfair Ascot Chase in February."
*Tuesday's best bets, by Greg Wood*
An interesting apprentice handicap at Southwell provides a second test for the strength of Tatting's win over course and distance earlier this month.
That was the 25th start of Tatting's career, so he is hardly unexposed overall, but significantly, only his second race on Fibresand. Tatting is by Street Cry, whose offspring have a 23pc strike-rate – and are showing a 41pc return on level stakes – at this track over the last four years, and he remains a horse of considerable promise on this surface.
No Win No Fee, the runner-up to Tatting that day, re-opposes here and is stands a fair chance at the weights of reversing his half-length deficit. He has far less racing behind him and also looks to have potential on Fibresand on the basis of his last two starts, but *Tatting (1.45)* won with a little in hand last time and should follow up here.
*Monsieur Jamie (3.25)* also catches the eye in the sprint handicap here. He was fifth home in a blanket finish over course and distance last time, his running style suits Southwell and he is down in grade this afternoon.
Tony McCoy is booked for *Allow Dallow (3.05)* at Exeter and that looks the icing on the cake as regards a runner who has looked as if his turn is close on both of his last two outings. The selection travelled best of all for much of the way when runner-up to Wuff on desperate ground at Uttoxeter last month, suggesting he should have no trouble winning a race of this nature.
*Tipping competition, day two*
Our winners so far:
Monday
No Buts 11-4
Virginia Ash 11-4
Our Gabrial 4-5
And our leaders are:
lcprestes +2.55
jakebuckfast +2.55
TheVic +2.55
hegman +2.55
Blitzwing +2.55
MISTERCHESTER +2.55
paragoncup +2.55
. . . who all had Our Gabrial plus one of the other winners. No one had all three, so it's a tightly packed field as we head into day two, with even those in last place just a 5-1 winner from the lead.
Today, we'd like your selections, please, for these races: *2.35 Exeter, 3.40 Exeter, 4.10 Exeter*.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
This week's prize, kindly offered by Doncaster racecourse, is four 'Grandstand Essential' tickets to the Sky Bet Chase (which you may remember as the Great Yorkshire) on Saturday 25 January. That's four times: grandstand admission, a main course from Best of British in the food court, a pint of draught beer and a racecard, for a total value of £28 each. Plus, there's live music after racing from a Coldplay tribute band (Coldplace). If you don't win you can buy tickets here.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today but you will start on -3.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below. Reported by guardian.co.uk 12 hours ago.
*11.50am Qipco will enjoy branding in new move for Royal Ascot *
*Tony Paley: *Qipco have announced a major deal with Ascot which will allow them to partner the racecourse in branding for the first time at the Royal meeting and in addition sponsor the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the track in July.
"Sponsorship [of Royal Ascot races] is just not on our radar," Nick Smith, Ascot's head of communications, told the Telegraph. "But Qipco will have partner presence, which means they will enjoy everything that forms part of the most overt branding ever seen at the Royal meeting."
"There is regular dialogue with Buckingham Palace on all major proposals and that has included the new partnership strategy, including branding benefits at Royal Ascot," said Smith.
Qipco will only be a partner on only the first day of Royal Ascot. "We are now looking forward to finding suitable brands and companies to become partners on the other four days of the meeting," added Smith.
The £1million King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by Qipco will become the third seven-figure race run at Ascot under Qipco sponsorship, joining the £1.3million Champion Stakes and £1million Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, which are both run on Qipco British Champions Day.
Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani, director of Qipco Holding, said: "My brothers and I are delighted to extend our relationship with Ascot through Qipco's sponsorship of the King George. The race is the defining mid-summer middle distance contest in Europe and, in recent years, it has become a truly international event."
Charles Barnett, chief executive at Ascot, said: "The Al Thani family has, in a very short period, changed the face of British Racing both as sponsors and owners, and they were instrumental in establishing the Qipco British Champions Series and Qipco British Champions Day.
"I would like to thank Betfair for their five-year sponsorship of the King George, during which time we have seen some tremendous performances and participation from horses from all over Europe and from Japan. I am particularly pleased that they will be remaining as sponsors of the Betfair Ascot Chase in February."
*Tuesday's best bets, by Greg Wood*
An interesting apprentice handicap at Southwell provides a second test for the strength of Tatting's win over course and distance earlier this month.
That was the 25th start of Tatting's career, so he is hardly unexposed overall, but significantly, only his second race on Fibresand. Tatting is by Street Cry, whose offspring have a 23pc strike-rate – and are showing a 41pc return on level stakes – at this track over the last four years, and he remains a horse of considerable promise on this surface.
No Win No Fee, the runner-up to Tatting that day, re-opposes here and is stands a fair chance at the weights of reversing his half-length deficit. He has far less racing behind him and also looks to have potential on Fibresand on the basis of his last two starts, but *Tatting (1.45)* won with a little in hand last time and should follow up here.
*Monsieur Jamie (3.25)* also catches the eye in the sprint handicap here. He was fifth home in a blanket finish over course and distance last time, his running style suits Southwell and he is down in grade this afternoon.
Tony McCoy is booked for *Allow Dallow (3.05)* at Exeter and that looks the icing on the cake as regards a runner who has looked as if his turn is close on both of his last two outings. The selection travelled best of all for much of the way when runner-up to Wuff on desperate ground at Uttoxeter last month, suggesting he should have no trouble winning a race of this nature.
*Tipping competition, day two*
Our winners so far:
Monday
No Buts 11-4
Virginia Ash 11-4
Our Gabrial 4-5
And our leaders are:
lcprestes +2.55
jakebuckfast +2.55
TheVic +2.55
hegman +2.55
Blitzwing +2.55
MISTERCHESTER +2.55
paragoncup +2.55
. . . who all had Our Gabrial plus one of the other winners. No one had all three, so it's a tightly packed field as we head into day two, with even those in last place just a 5-1 winner from the lead.
Today, we'd like your selections, please, for these races: *2.35 Exeter, 3.40 Exeter, 4.10 Exeter*.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
This week's prize, kindly offered by Doncaster racecourse, is four 'Grandstand Essential' tickets to the Sky Bet Chase (which you may remember as the Great Yorkshire) on Saturday 25 January. That's four times: grandstand admission, a main course from Best of British in the food court, a pint of draught beer and a racecard, for a total value of £28 each. Plus, there's live music after racing from a Coldplay tribute band (Coldplace). If you don't win you can buy tickets here.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today but you will start on -3.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below. Reported by guardian.co.uk 12 hours ago.