King Of The Swinger: your chance to win £1000 in free Tote bets
Laurel & Hardy. Ant & Dec. Morecambe & Wise. Tom & Jerry. All famous double acts who would just never have been the same had they gone solo.
Dynamic duos are what we need, too, for King Of The Swinger, our free-to-play game brought to you by World Pool.
To be in with a chance of winning – and scooping at least a share of the £1,000 free Tote bets up for grabs – you need a selection of double acts. Two horses capable of finishing in the first three in their respective races.
It doesn’t matter what order they finish in, merely that between them they grab a first, second or third. Click here to learn more about the rules and how to play.
Need a helping hand? Here’s our two King Of The Swinger suggestions for the six Epsom races that make up Saturday’s game.
Leg One
Selections: Dubai Mile (No 6) & Artistic Star (No 3)
Swinger dividends are determined by the popularity of the selections. If the favourite beats the next pair in the market, the dividends will likely be low. But if the first three home are outsiders, expect a high return.
The Betfred Derby has often featured big-priced winners and placed horses. It was only two years ago that the first pair were 16/1 and 50/1, and 12 months before before that the first three home were 25/1, 50/1 and 66/1.
This year’s premier Classic features plenty of fancied horses who have something to prove, so it may pay to roll the dice.
Dubai Mile’s form as a two-year-old stands close inspection and he was a creditable fifth in the 2000 Guineas over an inadequate trip, while Artistic Star is an unbeaten son of Galileo who may just find the necessary improvement he requires to make the frame. Click here for a full guide.
Leg Two
Selections: Tattersall (No 6) & Zuffolo (No 11)
Michael Dods has a masterly touch with his sprinters and he fields two likely contenders here in Tattersall and Zuffolo, both sons of Bungle Inthejungle.
The former wasn’t beaten far in a similarly competitive handicap at York last time, when in the front rank for a long way. He’s favourably drawn and, dropped 3lb in the ratings, should again make his presence felt on a track that promises to play to his strengths.
Zuffolo is the stable second string on jockey bookings but he was having only his sixth start when scoring with something to spare at Redcar last time. He’s 6lb higher but has more to offer.
Leg Three
Selections: Ancient Times (No 9) & Mokaatil (No 14)
A typically wide open running of the Dash and even discounting those drawn low, away from the stands’ rail, is dangerous because it’s not always the disadvantage that is widely imagined.
Ancient Times is 16lb higher in the ratings than when winning at Epsom in the summer of 2021 (his only run at the track) but he’s never stopped improving and shaped well on his return at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago.
The five-year-old should be sharper for the run, is favourably drawn (stall 16) and the booking of 7lb apprentice Kaiya Fraser (4/12 when riding for Harry Eustace) is also a positive. Ancient Times has finished first and second when previously ridden by a claimer.
Mokaatil won the Dash two years ago and was a good fourth 12 months ago off a 2lb higher mark. Overall, he’s won three of his five races at Epsom and no doubt this race has been on his agenda for a while.
Leg Four
Selections: Fox Journey (No 9) & Torito (No 2)
The market looks to have this right with Fox Journey and Toritio both well fancied.
Fox Journey didn’t set the world alight in three races at up to a mile last year but the grey looked a different proposition upped to 1m2f at Newmarket on his return, after six months off, when gaining a commanding success.
The handicapper has hit him with a 9lb rise but the son of Roaring Lion (out of a dam closely related to Oaks winner Alexandrova) began life on a low mark and is clearly bred to be better than a mid 80 horse.
Torito is also well-related, he’s a half-brother to Group One winner Journey among others, and he made Artistic Star roll up his sleeves on level weights at Sandown last month. The winner runs in the Derby.
Leg Five
Selections: Max Mayhem (No 3) & Scampi (No 5)
Two-time course winner Caius Chorister again ran well on his return at Epsom in April but he’s now a stone higher than when last successful. Preference is for two slick winners last time out in Max Mayhem and Scampi.
Max Mayhem was always moving sweetly when winning on his first start for Kevin Philippart de Foy at Kempton last month and the form got a significant boost when HMS President, the runner-up, subsequently won a 16-runner contest at Newmarket.
Scampi won well at Epsom last July and enjoyed getting back on quicker ground when a fluent winner at Epsom on his latest start. The 6lb rise fair enough.
Leg Six
Selections: Mr Wagyu (No 4) & Strike Red (No 5)
Mr Wagyu generally needs a run or two to hit peak form and his build-up to this is not dissimilar to last year, when he won from stall 12. He’s drawn 11 this time and is only 2lb higher than 12 months ago.
He’s won in June five times in six seasons, so there is a clear pattern to his form.
Strike Red needs a strong-run race and luck in running because he generally pounces from off the pace. He should get the former and caught the eye when sixth on his return at Newmarket.
