Horse racing news Monday 11th June 2018

Other than Raul da Silva doing a reportedly fair impression of Sugar Ray Leonard on Jim Crowley at the weekend it has been a quiet few days on the racing news front. Poor old Goodwood if it’s not the punters knocking seven bells out of each other it’s the jockeys and this was supposed to be Goodwood's family race day. Raul da Silva has been suspended for 21 days for “violent conduct”. It made me think of the Kieren Fallon and Stuart Webster incident when Fallon pulled Webster off his horse – can you believe that was in 1994! Fallon copped for a six-month ban for violent and improper conduct.

Justify went for virtual unknown four-months ago to Triple Crown winner taking the Belmont Stakes on Saturday evening. My tip Hofburg was third. He is only the second unbeaten Triple Crown winner in history and being by the sadly no-longer with us Scat Daddy as and when he retires to stud a covering by him aint going to be cheap! 

My eyes are very much on Royal Ascot already and final running plans will, of course, become more obvious as this week passes. There are a few on the list already that I am just waiting on the declarations before taking the plunge and hopefully the none to short shortlists for races such as Royal Hunt Cup can be whittled down a little.

You can keep up to date with Royal Ascot on the dedicated page http://www.girdysgeegees.com/royal-ascot-2018.