Gm, Equinauts

Sun's out, Newbury's on, England later... feels like a Saturday.

The Tote pools look like a Saturday too, to be honest. Have a look in the app – it's madness for a Tuesday. The Placepot pool is already over £50,000, while a Jackpot rollover means that pool is set to top £100,000!

If you've never played the Jackpot before, it's a little different to the Placepot. Instead of finding placed horses, you need to pick the winner of all six races. As you'd expect, the payouts can be absolutely ma-hoo-sive.

Get involved here: PLAY THE TOTE

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

⭐OMBUDSMAN RANKING

For many, OMBUDSMAN was the banker of the meeting (and he didn’t go off odds on!) and he produced one of the most impressive performances of the racing season, let along the Royal meeting, with his devastating victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. His success earned him a career-best Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 133, placing him joint-fifth among the highest-rated Godolphin horses in history.

So, how does he go down in the book of Godolphin greats?

Several other Godolphin stars have also achieved an RPR of 133. These include SWAIN, a dual King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner; SOVEREIGNTY, the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner; INTIKHAB, who produced an outstanding display in the 1998 Queen Anne Stakes; and FANTASTIC LIGHT, whose memorable career also included victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Higher on the all-time list is SAKHEE with an RPR of 135, earned in the Juddmonte International following an exceptional four-year-old campaign. MARK OF ESTEEM ranks third with 136, thanks to his outstanding Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory after winning the 2,000 Guineas. In second place is DAYLAMI, who achieved a rating of 138 after a commanding win in the Irish Champion Stakes, adding to an outstanding career that featured seven Group 1 victories.

Obviously, at the top of the rankings is DUBAI MILLENNIUM, widely regarded as Godolphin's best ever. His victory in the 2000 Dubai World Cup earned him an RPR of 139, the highest ever recorded for a Godolphin horse.

DUBAI MILLENIUM’s racing career was sadly cut short by his premature death but luckily his legacy continues through his super son, DUBAWI.

OMBUDSMAN's latest performance places him alongside some of the most celebrated horses in Godolphin's history, and with further major races still to come, he has the opportunity to climb even higher in these prestigious rankings.

❓BURNING QUESTIONS

Well, we’re going to get a new Prime Minister and no one really has any idea what’s going to happen.

King of the North, Andy Burnham, is expected to become the UK's next prime minister following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, and it’s probably going to have a big impact on the betting industry.

Okay, so Burnham is a well-known sports fan with links to racing through his birthplace in Aintree, but he’s been vocal in the past in supporting campaigns to restrict gambling advertising and sponsorship in sport arguing that gambling should be treated as a PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

His previous stance has caused concern within racing and betting, particularly as (sadly) the sport relies heavily on bookmaker sponsorship and advertising.

However, former Betting and Gaming Council chair Michael Dugher believes Burnham's support for working-class sport and betting shop employees suggests he may take a balanced approach once in government.

It’s too soon to judge how a Burnham administration will affect racing, but any change in leadership is likely to bring fresh discussions with government. The British Horseracing Authority intends to engage with any new ministers, while Dugher stressed that racing's long-term success will depend less on political change and more on clearly demonstrating its economic importance and working closely with the betting industry.

Following concerns over what the Burnham government could mean for racing (we’re all guessing at this stage), there was at least some encouragement for the industry last week as gambling minister Baroness Twycross suggested the government has no immediate plans to tighten restrictions on gambling advertising.

Speaking to a Lords committee, she said there is currently insufficient evidence to prove advertising directly increases gambling-related harm and stressed that any future policy would remain evidence-led. While ministers will continue discussions with the regulated gambling sector on voluntary measures, Twycross warned against introducing changes that could unintentionally strengthen the illegal betting market.

Racing also received a welcome show of support from within government when Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited Royal Ascot to highlight the thousands of jobs the event creates for young people. That can only be a good thing.

More:

🥵TOO HOT TO RACE

A rare red weather warning for extreme heat has forced the cancellation of four British race meetings this week, with the BHA activating its hot weather protocols to protect horses and participants.

Fixtures at Kempton, Salisbury, Worcester and Ffos Las on Wednesday have been called off, with three rescheduled for later dates, while Carlisle's meeting is still expected to go ahead. The decision follows forecasts of temperatures approaching 40C, with the BHA's policy requiring meetings in red warning areas to be abandoned and advising trainers not to transport horses through affected regions.

The BHA do have brains!

Racecourses in amber warning zones are instead adapting to the conditions. Thursday's fixtures at Nottingham and Newmarket have been brought forward to the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day, while additional welfare measures, including extra watering stations, reduced time in the parade ring and increased veterinary cover, are being introduced.

Newbury is still on tonight though! Whoop!

WE HIT ONLY 11 BETS OVER THE 5 DAYS OF ROYAL ASCOT AND HAD 3 WINNERS AND 2 PLACED. THE SHOW GOES ON! SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO ACCESS OUR DAILY BETS:

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