Author: Online Betting Pro

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Wetherby stages first ever flat race card

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National Hunt fans can be forgiven to double-check their racecards on Sunday as Wetherby stages its first ever flat card after 123 years. The new initiative is apparently to diversify and attract new customers to the Yorkshire track and jump racing remains its staple diet.

The opening day has attracted 91 runners so no shortage of support from local trainers and also from those further afield. My two best bets on the card are travelling from down south with Barry Hills and Andrew Balding aiming to add Wetherby to their list of winning courses.

Barry Hills is well into the veteran stage and only returned to training following the tragic loss of his son. He will retire for a second time at the end of the season with the yard being transferred to Owen Burrows but he still hopes to make his mark. He can strike on Sunday with the maiden filly Wardat Dubai in the 2.35.

She ran a most encouraging race on her debut when a close fifth behind Aloft at Newmarket over a mile. She then came up against a very smart filly in Luca Cumani’s Pamona at the same track, fading in the closing stages to finish third in soft ground. She is by Mawatheeq out of an Efisio mare and should be up to winning in this grade with any normal improvement from two to three.

The feature race is the five-furlong sprint at 4.40 with Andrew Balding saddling the top weight Secret Hint. She raced five times as a three-year-old, winning at Doncaster and Newmarket. Both races were over six furlongs and she was also tried over seven at Goodwood in July. She was drawn badly that day and failed to last home but showed improved form on her next visit to the Sussex track.

She raced on her own for much of the race but was still only beaten a length and a half by the in-form Inciting Incident. She then won at Newmarket on good ground in September, holding off the persistent challenge of Remember to win by three-quarters of a length. She has only been raised 4lbs for that success and looks to have more scope than her rivals here.

If she continues to progress, Balding will be hoping to secure some black type later in the season with the daughter of Oasis Dream.

Wardat Dubai 2.35 @2-1 Bet365

Secret Hint 4.40 @5-2 Bet365

1000 Guineas Preview

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At first glance, the 1000 Guineas market has a very similar look to the 2000 Guineas with Aidan O’Brien holding a strong hand. Found has been favourite since winning at Longchamp in October but the filly does not carry the same confidence as her stable companion Gleneagles in the colt’s classic.

The reason is that she suffered a minor setback a few weeks’ ago and O’Brien recently suggested that she may not make the Guineas. The Irish Guineas is an alternative and it would be no great surprise to see her stable companion Together Forever take over as favourite next week.

She is also a daughter of Galileo and won three times over a mile last season, suggesting that the Oaks may be her ultimate destination. She ended her campaign with victory in the Dubai Fillies’ Mile when beating Agnes Stewart on soft ground with Lucida behind in fifth. The third and fourth have been well beaten already this season so there is a slight question mark against the form.

It is interesting to see Jim Bolger’s Lucida in to as short as 6-1 for Newmarket despite that defeat. She looked useful when winning the Rockfel Stakes and fast ground could be the key to her. Barry Hills has prepared Rockfel runner-up Fadhayyil in much the same way as he did with Ghanaati in 2009. A racecourse gallop at Newmarket was deemed sufficient as the veteran trainer approaches his second retirement from the sport.

Osaila and Redstart won the big trials at Newmarket and Newbury last week but caused little more than a ripple in the ante-post market. Osaila just held New Providence in the Nell Gwyn Stakes while Redstart effectively ended the classic pretentions of Tiggy Wiggy in the Fred Darling. Neither race really screamed classic winner but Godolphin’s Beautiful Romance ran on well in third at Newmarket and I could see her reversing the form in the classic.

I suggested taking a little of the 40-1 available about Local Time after she stormed to victory in the UAE Guineas. The Godolphin filly followed up even more impressively in the UAE Oaks but is not yet a confirmed runner for Newmarket. If, as I suspect, Found does not make the classic, there could be a large field.

Local Time @43-1 Betfair

2000 Guineas Preview

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The first classic races of the 2015 season are only a week away with the 2000 Guineas first up on Saturday.

Aidan O’Brien could saddle as many as four here but there is little doubt that Gleneagles is the one expected to lift the prize. He has not been seen since being controversially disqualified in the Grand Criterium at Longchamp’s Arc meeting in October. He was deemed to have caused interference to the second Full Mast and third Territories, the latter being set to re-oppose at Newmarket.

Gleneagles is a son of Galileo and has also been handed a Derby entry so he is following a similar pattern to Camelot and Australia. The money was all for Gleneagles a few weeks ago and nothing has really happened in the trials to challenge his position as favourite.

Stable companion Highland Reel was a very impressive winner of the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last summer after winning his maiden by 12 lengths in Ireland. He looked more of a middle distance performer that day and could be joined by the unbeaten Ol’ Man River and War Envoy.

Andre Fabre plans to supplement Territories on Monday after coming through his trial satisfactorily in the Prix De Fontainebleau at Longchamp. He has half a length to make up on Gleneagles but connections obviously feel that he is capable of doing so.

The Greenham Stakes looked like an excellent trial on paper but is seems to have left us with more questions than answers. Estidhkaar has emerged as second favourite at around 7-1 after being beaten by Muhaarar who is still available at 25-1. That suggests that the Greenham winner may be heading to the French Guineas while Ivawood and Belardo were very disappointing.

Kool Kompany appears to have won a sub-standard Craven Stakes while Elm Park has always looked a more likely Derby contender. His victory in the Racing Post Trophy had all of the hallmarks of a horse bound for Epsom and you have to wonder whether he will have the speed for the Guineas. Andrew Balding would probably be delighted with a staying on fourth place here with all roads leading to Epsom.

It is difficult to see anything else emerging from the trials with a serious chance and this looks like yet another classic success for Ballydoyle.

Gleneagles @9-4 888Sport

Premiership Preview – April 26th

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There are two big games in the Premiership on Sunday with Everton playing Man United before the big London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea. The title race cannot be decided but Chelsea will have one hand on the trophy if they can avoid defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

The action begins at Goodison Park where Everton will be hoping to continue their recent revival against a United team still smarting from their 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last weekend. Louis van Gaal felt that it was possibly United’s best performance of the season and that can only be taken as a compliment to Chelsea.

The Blues have a phenomenal recent record against the Gunners and Mourinho is yet to lose to a side managed by Wenger in twelve meetings. There is clearly no love lost between the pair, as illustrated by their minor skirmish on the touchline at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season. Arsenal are in far better form now and a win would give them a psychological boost as well as delay Title celebrations for the Blues.

Mourinho has managed to coax his side through some tricky matches in the absence of Diego Costa and they are definitely a weaker team without him. Olivier Giroud was used sparingly in last week’s FA Cup semi-final and this could be his chance to shine in a big London derby.

Manchester United’s progress has left them on the brink of securing a Champions League spot and that will have been the brief given to Van Gaal in the summer. They played well against Chelsea but lacked a cutting edge, something that the signings of Falcao and Di Maria was meant to provide. Even with those two players falling well short of expectations, they are still a force to be reckoned with and Juan Mata has been impressive in recent weeks.

Roberto Martinez has not had a great season at Everton but a recent rally has at least given them a respectable league position. They have managed clean sheets at home to Burnley, Southampton and Newcastle in recent weeks so will not be easy to break down. United can just edge this one with Mata worth considering in the goal scorer markets.

Man United to win @6-5 Bet365

Juan Mata to score at any time @4-1 Skybet

Everton 1 Man United 2 @9-1 Bet365

Man United to win by one goal @14-5 Ladbrokes

Arsenal to win by one goal @3-1 Ladbrokes

Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1 @19-2 BetVictor

Olivier Giroud to score at any time @9-4 BWin

Premiership Preview – April 25th

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It’s another cracking weekend of Premiership football action including the London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea on Sunday. A win for the Blues would put them on the brink of lifting the title and I shall be previewing that game separately.

Saturday’s action kicks off at 12.45 with a really tricky fixture between Southampton and Tottenham. Both sides have taken their foot off the gas in recent weeks as the dream of a Champions League spot disappeared over the horizon. Whatever magic Ronald Koeman used in the early months of the season at St Mary’s seems to have worn off and they are struggling for goals and points. Tottenham are totally unpredictable at present and this looks like a game to swerve.

While the title battle seems to be heading to a predictable conclusion, the same cannot be said of the battle for Premiership survival. You have to admire the battling qualities of Burnley and Leicester in recent weeks and the two sides clash on Saturday afternoon at Turf Moor.

The Clarets have home advantage but they are meeting a Leicester side with an incredible never-say-die attitude. Sometimes these games can be disappointing but I just have the feeling that this could be a thriller and it may be worth looking at some ambitious score draw prices.

QPR have also won many admirers with their battling performances in recent weeks. They are at home to London rivals West Ham who have lurched into obscurity after a promising first half of the season. It’s almost as if they reached their points total too soon and did not really believe they could maintain that level of form. QPR are in their position because of their horrific away form but they have always been difficult to beat at home. Take Charlie Austin to score in a home victory.

Aston Villa did this column a massive favour last week when knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup. Christian Benteke’s contribution helped us to a 20-point profit on the game and they now travel to Manchester City. Villa are still not safe from relegation so any thoughts of Tim Sherwood picking anything other than his best team are wide of the mark. City beat a lack-lustre West Ham to end their own miserable run but is this match really a foregone conclusion as the bookmakers suggest? Maybe we should re-invest a little of last week’s profits in the hope of another Villa upset.

Burnley 2 Leicester 2 @15-1 BetVictor

Burnley 3 Leicester 3 @80-1 BetVictor

QPR to beat West Ham @29-20 BetVictor

Charlie Austin to score and QPR win @3-1 Paddy Power

Christian Benteke to score at any time @7-2 Totesport

Christian Benteke to score and Villa win @20-1 Paddy Power

Sandown Saturday Preview – Farewell to The Champ

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The day has finally arrived for Tony McCoy to hang up his boots. The twenty times Champion National Hunt jockey will sign off with two rides at Sandown in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday afternoon. Both are in the colours of his leading long-time patron JP McManus and are certain to carry a vast amount of sentimental support. If McCoy does not use up too much energy on Mr Mole and Box Office, he is still certain to be kept busy by the autograph hunters.

Sandown’s flat race card on Friday produced a couple of turn-ups and left trainer Charles Hills fuming at the state of the ground. He felt that the course officials had over-watered in preparation for Saturday’s jump card and does not intend to support the meeting next year. That will at least be good news for the majority of jump trainers who have produced a very competitive card for the final day of the season.

The opening handicap can go to Alzammaar who looked destined to finish third last time out. He kept finding more for pressure and eventually reeled in the leader to win going away. He is up in the handicap but Sandown’s still finish might suit him.

Al Ferof is the class act in the next, one of three runners for Paul Nicholls. The grey has twice finished third in the King George VI but has never really been convincing over three miles. This two and three-quarter mile trip looks perfect for him. Royal Rebellion ran well in the Grand National for a long way and he could give him most to do, providing his Aintree exertions do not catch up with him.

As well as the inevitable support for Mr Mole in the Celebration Chase, there is also the reappearance of Sprinter Sacre to look forward to. He ran very flat at the festival and Nicky Henderson may be forced to call time on his career if he does not show any sparkle on Saturday. Special Tiara can bounce off this ground and may be difficult to peg back.

The Bet365 Gold Cup, formerly The Whitbread, has attracted a host of Aintree disappointments including the Nicholls pair of Rocky Creek and Unioniste. Both are capable of putting up a bold show here but preference is just for Le Reve who seems better here than anywhere else. He is better off at the weights with Rocky Creek for his defeat in the Racing Post Chase and can give Leighton Aspell another big prize.

Box Office may win the 4.25 for McCoy but he does not look any value at around 7-2. I’m going to take a chance on the improving Wilberdragon while Polly Peachum is well treated in the last. Nicky Henderson’s mare is much better on decent ground and may have most to fear from the consistent Aqalim.

Alzammaar 2.00 @5-1 Coral

Al Ferof 2.35 @11-4 Bet365

Special Tiara 3.15 @7-2 Bet365

Le Reve 3.50 @9-1 Paddy Power

Wilberdragon 4.25 @9-1 Bet365

Polly Peachum 5.35 @15-8 Paddy Power