Armchair Jockeys return with brilliant Newmarket and Ascot preview

Darley July Cup challenger, Ortensia, is fancied by Michael Hills to give a good account of herself in Saturday’s big QIPCO British Champions Series sprint. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The Darley July Cup, Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by Betfair), the next three races in the QIPCO British Champions Series, are the focus of attention in the latest programme for BCS TV presented by the Armchair Jockeys.

Regular pundits Lydia Hislop and Steve Mellish are joined by Chris Dixon to open the programme with an in-depth feature on Saturday’s Darley July Cup, the highlight of the Piper Heidsieck July Festival on Newmarket’s July Course, a race which so often identifies Europe’s top sprinter.

This includes an historical look at three-year olds that have taken the Classic route before switching their focus to sprinting, as well as an interview with jockey Michael Hills, who is most impressed with Aussie sprinter Ortensia after riding work on her.

A preview of Friday’s Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes on day two of the Piper Heidsieck July Festival follows, with the man of the moment, trainer John Gosden, enthusing about the prospects of Elusive Kate after a very promising recent gallop.

The programme concludes with a look ahead to the £1m Betfair King George, the midsummer middle distance showpiece at Ascot on Saturday week, with Sir Michael Stoute talking about Sea Moon, whom he thinks put up a career best performance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, and John Gosden explaining how he believes Nathaniel loves the proper test of a horse that Ascot provides.

To view the latest edition of BCS TV presented by the Armchair Jockeys, CLICK HERE.