Category: Horse Racing Tips

This category is all about horse racing tips.

Protectionist returns on Blue Diamond Stakes day

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Melbourne Autumn Carnival includes three top level feature races at Caulfield on Saturday and the reappearance of Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist.

The Peter Young Stakes sees the return of last season’s Flemington hero as he makes his first start for Kris Lees. He stormed to a four-length success in November under Ryan Moore when trained in Germany by Andreas Wohler and this race is well short of his best trip.

Fiorente managed to win this race before going on to take the Group 1 Australian Cup and that is the route sketched out for Protectionist. Lees has also drawn up a Plan B if the five-year-old proves ineffective at middle-distances with the $1millon Sydney Cup in April as an alternative target. The horse most likely to beat him for speed on Saturday is Paul Beshara’s Happy Trails, three times a Group 1 winner at or around Saturday’s distance.

He won the Mackinnon Stakes and will be sharper for his run earlier this month when staying on into sixth in the CF Orr Stakes.  He has reportedly been working brilliantly since and carries maximum stable confidence this weekend.

Atmospherical could provide Craig Williams with a victory in the Oakleigh Plate after being drawn in barrier 4. The well-fancied Vain Queen and Earthquake are feared most and should be competitive from barriers ten and eleven respectively. Earthquake is unbeaten in three starts at Caulfield and usually runs well fresh.

Atmospherical is a daughter of Northern Meteor and was last seen finishing third to Chautauqua in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes. That was her first at this distance in five starts and she can reverse the form with runner-up Flamerge who has a nightmare draw in barrier 17.

Fontiton is all the rage for the $1million Blue Diamond Stakes after being drawn in barrier one. Robert Smerdon’s filly will be trying to become the fourth consecutive filly to win this race on Saturday and will be difficult to peg back.

The one that could give her a run for her money is Pride Of Dubai, supplemented at the cost of $55,000 after finishing second in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Prelude. He was beaten by Of The Brave (drawn 9) with Sampeah in behind in third place. The son of Street Cry looks to have every chance from barrier five.

Caulfield Saturday

Happy Trails (race 6) @6.0 Bet365

Atmospherical (race 7) @10.0 Bet365*

Pride Of Dubai (race 8) @5.50 Sportsbet

*Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Cheltenham Gold Cup Ante-Post Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

With most bookmakers offering non-runner – no bet on the feature races at Cheltenham, now is a good time to seek out some early value. Bet365 are offering money back on all non-runners at the meeting and the other firms will gradually follow suit as the meeting approaches.

The market for the Cheltenham Gold Cup has been dominated by Silviniaco Conti since he recorded his second King George VI Chase victory in December. Paul Nicholls issued an up-beat report on the gelding this week, suggesting that he is in much better shape than he was last year when fading into fourth place on the run-in. He is obviously the one to beat but does not represent any great value at around 7-2.

Last year’s Gold Cup changed dramatically after the last fence with Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti swamped by three horses arriving late on the opposite side of the track. Leading the charge was Lord Windermere who is back to defend his crown for Jim Culloty. Having won the RSA Chase the previous season, he seems to be one of those horses that peaks at exactly the right time. I felt that he ran a fine trial when third behind Carlingford Lough in the Irish Hennessy and is worth a bet at 14-1 with Ladbrokes. He is as short as 10-1 elsewhere so the 14-1 may not last much longer.

I respect the chance of Many Clouds having supported him in the Hennessy at Newbury at the start of the season. Oliver Sherwood sent out his 1,000th winner not long ago so he knows how to prepare them for the festival. I did not get on him at longer odds so will not be rushing to back him at 8-1. Road To Riches struck me as a doubtful stayer earlier in the season and I have more regard for Djakadam.

There won’t be many Mullins horses on offer at 16-1 at the festival and he could not have won any easier in the fog at Gowran Park in January. With Ruby Walsh aboard, he can bide his time and see how the race unfolds. No decision has yet been made about Foxrock but he has run three terrific races in succession and may not get his favoured soft ground.

I don’t like backing novices in the Gold Cup so cannot see Coneygree featuring while Holywell is worthy of respect. He has won here at the last two festival meetings and Jonjo O’Neill would not be running him unless he felt that he was back to his best.

Tips

Lord Windermere @14-1 Ladbrokes

Djakadam @16-1 Ladbrokes

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3 (Non-runner – no bet)

Paddy Power Cheltenham money-back offer

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Paddy Power have come unstuck in previous years with their generous money-back offers at Cheltenham and they are at it again this year!

In 2012 they offered refunds on all losing bets in the Arkle Chase if odds-on favourite Sprinter Sacre won. Nicky Henderson’s star chaser made short work of his rivals and the following year is was Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle. Last season Vautour romped to victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Paddy Power refunding bets on the placed horses.

The firm are to refund all losing bets as a free bet on two races at this year’s festival. Willie Mullins is responsible for the favourite in each with Douvan in the Supreme and Un De Sceaux in the Arkle. With the former currently 7-4 favourite and Un De Sceaux the shortest priced favourite of the meeting at 4-7, it is probably a way of generating some interest in the other runners. The offer applies to all bets up to £50/€50 per customer per race.

The offer will be of particular interest to punters who fancy those closest to the favourites in each race. There is a lot of confidence behind Nicky Henderson’s L’Ami Serge in the Supreme and he is currently trading at 9-2 with the Irish firm. The French import remains unbeaten and was particularly impressive when winning the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown last time out.

The market is similarly lopsided in the Arkle Chase with Vibrato Valtat offered at 5-1 with 10-1 bar. Paul Nicholls trains the grey who has won his last three races over fences culminating in the Kingmaker Chase at Warwick earlier this month. He cruised clear to beat Top Gamble by four and a half lengths to follow up his win at Kempton in December.

He is available at 11-2 elsewhere but the 5-1 with the refund offer should Un De Sceaux fluff his lines is well worth considering. L’Ami Serge is generally 4-1 with other firms so the 9-2 will make plenty of appeal to supporters of Nicky Henderson’s star novice. There does not appear to be much depth to the field for the Supreme and the market currently revolves around the two horses. With non-runner – no bet also applying, it could be a good time to get on the second favourites.

L’Ami Serge @9-2 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Vibrato Valtat @5-1 Arkle Chase

*Paddy Power special terms apply

Bet365 NR – No Bet on All Cheltenham races!

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

From midnight on Friday, Bet365 are offering non-runner – no bet on all races at this year’s Cheltenham festival! With so many horses still holding multiple entries, this means that you can take a price without the worry of the trainer opting to run the horse in a different race at the meeting.

Up until now, Bet365 have only been offering the non-runner – no bet option on the big four championship races; Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and World Hurdle. If you don’t already have a Bet365 account, they are currently offering a 100% welcome bonus up to a maximum of £200.

Most of the recognised Cheltenham trials have already taken place but reigning Champion Chaser Sire de Grugy fluffed his lines at Newbury recently and is out to make amends at Chepstow tomorrow. New customers to Skybet can get 6-1 about the odds-on favourite up to a maximum stake of £5. If all goes to plan for the popular chestnut, your winnings are paid as free bets into your new account.

Gary Moore’s gelding has only three opponents in the 3.35 race but will be conceding lumps of weight. His most dangerous rival looks to be Far West, trained by Paul Nicholls. He was beaten by the useful novice Top Gamble at Newbury last time out and receives 22lbs from the favourite. Grey Gold and Mister Grez complete the field but both were well beaten last time out.

There are two big handicap chases this weekend, the BetBright Chase at Kempton which we have previewed separately, and the Eider Chase at Newcastle. The Eider is a gruelling four miles and one furlong race with Shotgun Paddy attempting to defy top weight of 11st 12lb for Emma Lavelle. Things did not go his way in the Welsh National when he pulled up after an early mistake but he ran with great credit when third at Warwick last time out.

The field also includes the last two winners of the race in Wyck Hill and Portrait King. Both appear to have been brought along steadily with this race in mind. They and Shotgun Paddy all hold entries in the Grand National in April and a prominent showing on Saturday may see their prices cut for Aintree.

Sire de Grugy 6-1 to win 3.35 Chepstow @Skybet *Special bet terms apply

BetBright Chase Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The BetBright Chase (formerly the Racing Post Chase) is the highlight of Saturday’s Kempton card. The race has certainly lost much of its significance as a Cheltenham/Aintree trial in recent seasons with Rough Quest (1996) the last winner to go on to big race success.

Back in the 1980’s and early 90’s the roll of honour includes Combs Ditch, Rhyme ‘N’ Reason, Bonanza Boy and Desert Orchid. I don’t think we will see anything of that calibre this weekend but there are a number of horses on the comeback trail for Aintree.

Rocky Creek finished fifth in last year’s Grand National and has been aimed at Aintree again this season. He made a pleasing start when second in Ireland but pulled up in the Hennessy at Newbury. Godsmejudge won the Scottish National in 2013 and ran a fine race last year when finishing runner-up to Al Co. That race will almost certainly be on his agenda again this spring but he is also coming off the back of a disappointing run at Doncaster.

Nicky Henderson has entered Rajdhani Express for the National but I suspect more in hope than expectation. He has yet to win over three miles and is being tried in a hood for the first time on Saturday. Staying the three miles is also a concern for Emma Lavelle’s Fox Appeal, although he has done so over hurdles.

Paul Nicholls also saddles Easter Day and this one has a lot more going for it than Rocky Creek. He was smart enough to beat RSA Chase winner O’Faolains Boy as a novice and was having only his second race back from injury when falling at Cheltenham last time out. He was still going well just behind the leaders and it was an unlucky fall at the tricky third last fence. He should go well for Nick Scholfield and looks fairly treated with 10st 13lb on his back.

My other fancy for the race is Le Reve who beat Theatrical Star by five lengths over this trip at Sandown last month. That was his third win at the Esher course but he did win at Kempton over hurdles and there are similarities. The handicapper has put him up 7lbs but jockey Leighton Aspell was able to take a pull with three to jump and he looks good each-way value at around 10-1.

Le Reve 3.45 Kempton Saturday @10-1 Paddy Power

Easter Day 3.45 Kempton Saturday @5-1 Paddy Power

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Lingfield Winter Derby Trial day preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It is Winter Derby Trial day at Lingfield on Saturday with a fine supporting card. The action starts at 1.15 with eight races including the valuable Ladbrokes Handicap and the Listed Cleves Stakes.

Ryan Moore is in attendance, mainly to ride Grandeur in the big race but he is also certain to have his supporters on Nigel’s Destiny in the opening race at 1.15. The lightly-raced four-year-old will be having only the seventh race of his career and could be one to follow this season. He is up against some in-form opponents here including Presumido and Until Midnight. They won last time out at Kempton and Chelmsford respectively but I am going to go for Franco’s Secret.

Peter Hedger’s gelding has improved steadily in recent months and showed an electric turn of foot to win here last time. Charles Bishop has ridden him in each of his starts to date and will be planning to arrive fast and late again here.

I am a big fan of Andrew Balding’s Intransigent who went from strength to strength last season. He seems equally effective at six and seven furlongs and starts his new campaign in the Listed race at 1.45. My only concern is that he seems a better horse in the autumn and winter and may not quite be at his peak at present. Foxtrot Romeo was runner-up in the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2012 and recorded his first win since at Wolverhampton in November. Marco Botti may have finally unlocked the key to the son of Danehill Dancer and he just gets the vote.

The Ladbrokes Handicap looks like a minefield for punters with various lines of form. The key to the race could be the form of Shyron’s recent victory when he beat Grey Mirage, Brave Echo, Brigliadoro, Related and Firmdecisions here. Having watched the re-run several times, I see no real reason to think that the placings should be any different here. I would expect Related to finish closer but Shyron can confirm the form.

Godolphin are mopping up the maiden races on the all-weather tracks and Chorus Of Lies could be another winner for them at 2.50. He showed plenty of potential on turf last winter and has only Balding’s Opera Lad to fear, a promising third on his racecourse debut.

In the Winter Derby Trial, I am reluctant to oppose Grandeur who has done us a few good turns in the past. He won this race last season but was beaten by the draw in the Winter Derby. He faces some useful opponents including course specialist Maverick Wave and the promising Cloudscape. The latter could be one to follow this season but I am siding with another Botti runner in Grendisar. He does not always find as much off the bridle as appears likely but he is ultra-consistent and could just take this if Grandeur is a little rusty.

Franco’s Secret 1.15 Lingfield @4-1 Betfair

Foxtrot Romeo 1.45 Lingfield @6-1 Bet365

Shyron 2.15 Lingfield @7-2 William Hill

Chorus Of Lies 2.50 Lingfield @11-4 Bet365

Grendisar 3.25 Lingfield @5-1 Betfair