Royal Ascot for punters hits profits at William Hill

The World Cup William Hill hailed as one of the best for bookmakers in living memory, but lamented a bumper Royal Ascot for punters who had the added bonus of some fine weather, above.
Group revenues were 3pc higher than last year and the firm expects to report underlying half year profits of £135m, marginally up on last year’s £134.6m.
Chief executive Ralph Topping said the World Cup had been one of the best for bookmakers in 40 years.
He attributed this to the fact that Spain attracted fewer backers than expected after losing their first game. the bookmaker’s online division saw rapid growth, with net revenues up 24pc and operating profit 43pc higher than in the previous year.

But the group’s high street take was hit by a difficult Ascot for bookies, as a succession of favourites charged home.

Royal Ascot date Mawatheeq to miss

At Royal Ascot Mawatheeq will now not feature on Saturday as trainer Marcus Tregoning confirmed that he does not feel he is ready after injury. The five year old has endured a frustrating year following an injury which forced him out of the Dubai World Cup before he was well off the pace in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot his only appearance of 2010. Tregoning then withdrew Mawatheeq from the Coral Eclipse at Sandown when he failed to enter the stalls and it was then decided that he should not feature in the summer showpiece at Ascot next weekend."We were going to work him somewhere this weekend but we decided against it and that means he will miss the King George," said Tregoning."We've just decided to give him a bit more time as we don't feel he's going to be ready for Ascot."We haven't decided where we're going with him yet but we just feel he wants a bit more time after the injury problem he had in the spring."Meanwhile jockey Olivier Peslier was reportedly delighted after partnering Harbinger in a piece of work at Newmarket on Saturday.Harry Herbert, racing manager for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: "He worked extremely well and he quickened clear and Peslier was all smiles afterwards. He was very excited about the horse."There's a week to go so hopefully he'll come out of the work all right and he'll be going into the race in tip-top form. He's definitely improving, I think, which is the exciting thing so let battle commence."

Royal Ascot: Rainfall can follow up to win in Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket

At Winbledon Had Royal Ascot been a match, the score would have been 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 to the punters. Bookmakers emerged from that meeting claiming that it had been their worst in living memory, so prescient was the market from one day to the next, and the July meeting at Newmarket, which opens today, is the best opportunity since for backers to inflict some more sustained punishment.
With money racegoers too this fixture is a special favourite, as the thatch of the July course is much more welcoming than the glass and concrete of the Rowley Mile grandstand. For all the mood of anticipation, though, it is worth recalling that last year's meeting opened with victory for a 66-1 opportunity, and that the bookies seldom have two bad festivals in a row. Many punters will place their faith in Aidan O'Brien in the Falmouth Stakes, and with his stable now racking up Group One winners with something like its normal frequency, his Lillie Langtry seems sure to start favourite for this intriguing meeting of the generations.
Older horses have taken half of the six renewals of this race since it was promoted to Group One status in 2004, though there is nothing of the calibre of Goldikova, last year's winner, in this field. Strawberrydaiquiri looks to be their main hope this time, but a narrow defeat of Spacious in at Royal Ascot still gives her something to find.
Lillie Langtry and Special Duty both have obvious chances, but their odds reflect that, and it must be a concern that the latter has twice required the stewards' intervention to achieve the status of a dual Classic winner. The price is what matters most in any race, and when looking for a filly whose chance may have been underestimated, it is Rainfall (3.10) that makes most appeal. She was fast-tracked to victory in a Group Two at the Royal meeting just six weeks after winning a maiden at Thirsk, and will not require much further progress to advance beyond her peers.
Richard Hughes suggested before Ascot that "we can't have all the best two-year-olds in the (Richard Hannon) yard", but Hannon may have rather more of them than his jockey realized, and Memory (2.35), the Albany Stakes winner, will be difficult to beat in the Cherry Hinton. The handicaps look treacherous, but Strictly Dancing (1.30) and the progressive Kelly's Eye (2.00) may both have a pound or two in hand of their ratings.