S.P. Read Esq. Royal Ascot and Brazil v Mexico

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P.Read Esq. previews the opening day of Royal Ascot and BRAZIL v MEXICO. It’s a day of punting heaven !!

If today doesn’t whet your appetite. Pack the game in.

I’ve no idea of what punting heaven is like but if Belinda Carlisle is right and ‘heaven is a place on earth’ after all, then the head on collision of the World Cup with Royal Ascot must be it.

It’s such a tempter to put up something REALLY random and left-field today – like Trap 6 in the 3.38 at Crayford (only joking) but it’s centre stage I must head.

The big hitters already look to be getting stuck into Toronado in the opener at Royal Ascot despite his lengthy absence from the track.

The Hannon team are bullish (of course) but I’m not sure I can be backing him at odds-on especially as there is a real live danger in Verrazano. Don’t forget Aidan O’Brien came to the rescue of the bookies last year in this race when hot favourite Animal Kingdom flopped.

The first big head to head battle of the meeting takes place in the St James’s Palace Stakes when ding dong, seconds out, it’s round three between Kingman and Night Of Thunder.

The score is 1-1 and the race should develop into the expected match. Seldom has the 2,000 Guineas form from Newmarket worked out better. It’s rock solid, but my underlying suspicion is that Kingman is the better racehorse and I expect that to be confirmed today.

There’s no rest after Royal Ascot. Belgium and Algeria will already be underway in the World Cup and at 8pm we can look forward to hosts Brazil taking on Mexico.

The betting says it’s one sided but a word of warning. No team has beaten Brazil in the 21st century as often as Mexico, who have managed six wins and two draws in 12 meetings during that period.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Max last 10 only)
Jun 2013 Confederations Cup Brazil 2-0 Mexico
Jun 2012 International Brazil 0-2 Mexico
Oct 2011 International Mexico 1-2 Brazil
Sep 2007 International Brazil 3-1 Mexico
Jun 2007 Copa America Brazil 0-2 Mexico
Jun 2005 Confederations Cup Mexico 1-0 Brazil
Jul 2004 Copa America Mexico 0-4 Brazil
Jul 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup Mexico 1-0 Brazil
Jul 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup Mexico 1-0 Brazil
Apr 2003 International Mexico 0-0 Brazil

Time is a precious commodity today so down to business.

Here are my bets at the home of sports spread betting Star Spreads. A 16 point profit on the bookings market yesterday DESPITE there being a red card. What a life!

I’m buying distances at Royal Ascot. 9.4 looks tempting and although the racing is obviously competitive it only takes one wide margin to get us into profit. Remember War Command winning the Coventry last year by six lengths?

I think Brazil and Mexico could be tight, so with, in effect, a 1.5 goal start I’m happy to sell Brazil’s supremacy.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE ROYAL ASCOT MARKET ON STAR SPREADS

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE BRAZIL v MEXICO MARKET ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BET (scale 1-100 points)

BUY DISTANCES AT ROYAL ASCOT at around 9.4 with Star Spreads for 5 points

SELL BRAZIL / MEXICO SUPREMACY at around 1.5 with Star Spreads for 10 points

WORLD CUP SO FAR: PROFIT 49 POINTS

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.