Category: Horse Racing Tips

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Godolphin can land across-the-card double

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Both of Wednesday’s National Hunt meetings are subject to early morning inspections but there is plenty of action on the all-weather with 14 races across Lingfield and Kempton.

The action gets under way at 12.50 at Lingfield with the feature race being the 32Red Conditions Stakes at 3.00. This promises to be a real stamina test over just short of two miles and Godolphin’s Anglophile attempts the distance for the first time.

The four-year-old gelding is a son of Dubawi out of a mare by Caerleon and certainly races as though he will stay. He was very progressive last season, winning a ten furlong handicap at Leicester in June before switching to the all-weather.

He got up late to beat Grendisar in December and followed up off a 5lbs higher mark when beating Mymatechris by a short-head over a mile and a half. He was expected to win here last weekend but could not quite peg back Noble Gift in a falsely-run race.

There were only three runners and the front two quickened up from the turn. He should get a more even pace here and may still have more improvement to come. The danger is Castilo Del Diablo who was only a length behind Anglophile here last month and is now 4lbs better off. You can forget his last run where he was badly hampered a quarter of a mile from home.

Franco’s Secret could defy top weight in the 3.35 after just failing to get up at Kempton last time out. He didn’t show anything until his third career start behind Nigel’s Destiny in October where he ran on late. He then produced a late surge to beat Rightway by a neck and was given a handicap mark of 72. He found seven furlongs a bit too sharp when third to Jungle Bay but improved when stepped up to a mile here on New Year’s Eve.

He overcame trouble in running to dead-heat with Bosstime. He looked unlucky not to follow up at Kempton last weekend when finishing fast behind Gracious George and should go well off the same mark here.

Godolphin can land an across-the-card double with Blue Aegean in the 32Redsport.com Handicap at 6.30. The filly was an easy three-length winner at Chelmsford City earlier this month and runs here under a 6lbs penalty.

She was thought good enough to contest the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer but lost her way after that. She wore a hood for the first time at Chelmsford and could be starting to fulfil her potential. The danger may be Harry Hurricane who beat subsequent winner Emirates Skycargo at Wolverhampton last time. He is dropping back a furlong but also ran at Ascot last summer and is also on the upgrade.

Franco’s Secret 3.35 Lingfield @9-4 William Hill

Anglophile 3.00 Lingfield @2-1 Bet365

Blue Aegean 6.30 Kempton @15-8 Betfair

Deuce Again a topical tip at Southwell

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Leicester and Wetherby both face early morning inspections on Tuesday to see if racing can go ahead. Much of the UK was in the grip of freezing conditions on Monday so I’ve decided to study the all-weather at Southwell where racing is guaranteed.

There are a couple of decent handicaps on the card, starting with the five-furlong dash at 2.30. The one I like here is Zac Brown who shoulders a 6lbs penalty for his impressive win on the opening day at Chelmsford City.

The four-year-old son of Kodiac wore a hood for the first time that day and settled nicely in the hands of Graham Gibbons. Victory was never in doubt once he delivered his challenge at the furlong pole, drawing three and a quarter lengths clear of It Must Be Faith.

He beat Dissent by three lengths at Wolverhampton in November but refused to settle next time when only fourth behind Secondo. The hood seems to have made all the difference and he can track the leaders before arriving late.

The pace is almost certain to be set by Michael Appleby’s Scarborough who beat the in-form Extreme Supreme here a week ago. The four-year-old daughter of Dandy Man bounced out of the stalls and was never headed. She will be the target for Zac Brown in the closing stages.

My second selection is the topically-named Deuce Again, trained by John Gosden. Southwell may be a long way from the Australian Open in Melbourne but this filly could at least cheer up the freezing punters on this side of the globe. She is a beautifully bred daughter of Dubawi and Gosden will be eyeing some black type for her at some stage.

She showed plenty of promise in two decent maiden races at Newbury last summer, notably when third to the more-experienced Saab Almanal and Smiling Stranger over a mile and a quarter. She could not have won any easier than she did here last time, her rider Robert Havlin risking a serious neck injury with some extravagant looks over his shoulder in the home straight.

The handicapper has given her a mark of 84 but that can only be based on guesswork. Godolphin’s Solidarity would be an obvious threat but you would have to discard his poor effort when trailing home last on his most recent outing.

Zac Brown 2.30 @5-2 Paddy Power

Deuce Again 3.05 @7-4 Ladbrokes

Leopardstown Sunday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Dodging Bullets (7-2) was one of five winners for us on Saturday but what a brave run by Sprinter Sacre in second. Post-race reports suggest that he will be able to try to regain his Champion Chaser crown at the Cheltenham Festival, despite bleeding from a nostril. Nicky Henderson will of course be guided by the very best veterinary advice but hopefully we will see a re-match in March.

The pick of Sunday’s action is over the water in Ireland with Boylesports sponsoring a couple of cracking handicaps. The Boylesports Handicap Chase has attracted a field of fifteen but Foxrock stands out after his fine run in the Paddy Power Chase.

Ted Walsh’s gelding was carrying 11st 7lb that day but looked like winning until headed on the run-in by Living Next Door. The winner was receiving nearly a stone so it was a gallant effort by Foxrock who looked like developing into a useful stayer last season. He disappointed slightly at the festival in the National Hunt Chase but his stamina could be the key to Sunday’s race.

Several of the market leaders have form over shorter distances and the heavy ground will make this seem more like an extended three miles. Foxrock finished third in his previous race despite losing both of his front shoes and he could be up to defying a 5lbs rise in the handicap.

The Boylesports Hurdle could go to leading Irish owner JP McManus who won the race last year with Gilgamboa. Finishing well in seventh that day was Henderson’s Snake Eyes and he is back for another tilt at the valuable prize.

The seven-year-old must have had his training problems as will be having only the seventh start on Sunday. He has always shown plenty of potential but has not proved the easiest horse to settle, twice having been turned over a long odds-on. Tony McCoy managed to nurse him home at Sandown last time off a mark of 123 and he must still be a contender off a 5lb higher mark. My main worry with him is that he does not look the easiest ride and has an awkward head carriage.

That just makes me lean towards another McManus runner, Waxies Dargle. He won at Fairyhouse in November for Noel Meade under a typically confident Paul Carberry ride, easing down to a walk in the closing stages. He was entitled to win that day but was value for much more than the two and a half lengths winning margin over Digeanta.

Foxrock 2.20 @6-1 Ladbrokes

Waxies Dargle 2.50 @10-1 Ladbrokes

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Want 4/1 on Sprinter Sacre today?

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Quite simply the best horse in training in 2013. Sprinter Sacre set the jumps world alight with sensational performances that regularly saw him going off at long odds on in every run. In fact, on his last 9 runs he’s gone off at 4/9, 4/5, 1/6, 2/5, 1/5, 1/4, 3/10, 1/9, 2/9.

In the 3pm at Ascot today he makes his long awaited return after having heart complications. The Nicky Henderson trained animal is apparently looking as good as ever. Even if Sprinter Sacre is 80% ready, he’ll take all the beating later today.

At 8:30am today Coral are enhancing Sprinter Sacre to 2/1 for £10. He’s currently 10/11 to win the race. So that’s more than double the odds!

Heres how to get 4/1*:

  1. Sign up to Coral here
  2. Take Coral up on their 2/1 offer
  3. Head to the 3pm at Ascot and put your £20 on Sprinter Sacre to win
  4. Watch the worlds best horse win and enjoy your returns of £48.18

*It’s actually just below 4/1 due to Sprinter Sacre currently being 10/11, it could drift to 1/1, which means you’ll get 4/1, which is entirely possible!

Enjoy the winnings!

Horse Racing Preview 17th January

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The attention of the horse racing world will be firmly on Sprinter Sacre as he is expected to make his long-awaited return to action in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Trainer Nicky Henderson is understandably nervous about the prospect, just over a year after the horse was pulled up with a fibrillating heart at Kempton. He has been given the best possible veterinary care since and would not be risked unless everyone was happy with his condition. Even so, it will still be remarkable if he is able to bounce back with a win.

Not since my 33-1 bet on Yahoo was denied by Desert Orchid have I been happy to see my horse finish second but I am going to oppose Sprinter Sacre on Saturday. I felt that Dodging Bullets put up a first class display to win the Tingle Creek and is over-priced at 3-1. He is probably not in the same league as the favourite but there must be a big doubt about Sprinter Sacre’s fitness.

Whatever happens with his stable star, Henderson should be in the winner’s enclosure at the start and the finish of the card. I was impressed with Top Notch on his debut and he looks to have an easy task in the first. He will undoubtedly be shortened for the Triumph Hurdle if he does win so I’m going to have a small each-way ante-post investment.

Likewise, Out Sam should underline his festival claims in the last. He only won a four-horse race at Newbury last time but all of his three rivals that day have come out and won since. They include last weekend’s embarrassingly easy Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle winner Tea For Two. It will be a major shock if Out Sam is beaten on Saturday and the Neptune looks likely to be his festival target.

Haydock has to survive an 8am inspection with frost and snow threatening the meeting. The New One is expected to take another step towards the Champion Hurdle in a weak trial so the main betting interest is in the Peter Marsh Chase. Broadway Buffalo easily beat Toby Lerone here in the Tommy Whittle but I was disappointed with him at Wetherby last time. The ground cannot get too heavy for Toby Lerone so he is the each-way selection.

They are racing on the all-weather at Lingfield and Godolphin can land a quick double with Emirates Skycargo and History Book. The latter is trying her hand at sprinting after being edged out over a mile and seven furlongs. She has bags of early speed and is worth a chance at around 9-2. Andrew Balding’s Melvin The Grate can land the featured Ladbrokes Handicap at 2.35 after coming from last to first on his most recent start.

Top Notch 12.40 Ascot @4-7 Bet365

Emirates Skycargo 1.25 Lingfield @4-5 Betfair

History Book 2.0 Lingfield @9-2 Coral

Melvin The Grate 2.35 Lingfield @7-4 Coral

Dodging Bullets 3.00 Ascot @3-1 Coral

Toby Lerone 3.15 Haydock @10-1 Skybet

Out Sam 3.35 Ascot @4-6 Bet365

*Ante-post

*Top Notch – Triumph Hurdle @20-1 William Hill

*Out Sam – Neptune Hurdle @16-1 William Hill

Henderson delays Sprinter Sacre decision

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

National Hunt fans will have one eye on the weather for the rest of this week in the hope that Saturday’s card at Ascot can go ahead. The meeting is not currently in danger but Nicky Henderson has warned that he will not risk stable star Sprinter Sacre on heavy ground. A final decision may be left as late as Saturday morning.

The gelding established himself as the best chaser in training in 2013 when romping to victory in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham festival. He followed up at Aintree and Punchestown and only Arkle and Flyingbolt now stand above him in Timeform’s all-time steeplechase ratings.

There was media speculation that Henderson would be tempted to run him in the King George VI in 2014 but the Lambourn trainer decided to keep him to two miles. He suffered his first defeat over fences in unfortunate circumstances when pulled up at Kempton just over a year ago with a fibrillating heart. There were fears that we would not see him back on a racecourse but he has made a steady recovering under the finest veterinary care and attention.

Had it not been for his health problems, Sprinter Sacre would be long odds-on for Saturday’s Clarence House Chase. He is rated more than 20lbs higher than any of his five rivals but there are obviously going to be fitness concerns. Barry Geraghty seems confident that he is back to his best after riding him over five fences at Newbury after Christmas. Even so, he is not likely to push his ears off if he starts to labour in the closing stages.

With doubts still surrounding the participation of Sprinter Sacre, Dodging Bullets has been cut to a best price 7-4. He did this column a favour when landing the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at rewarding odds and represents Paul Nicholls who has been successful four times in this race.

I fancied Dodging Bullets in last season’s Arkle but he had to settle for fourth place behind shock winner Western Warhorse. He shaped well when finishing second to Uxizandre at Cheltenham in November and that clearly sharpened him up for Sandown. He should confirm supremacy over Somersby who was two and a half lengths away in third and reaching the autumn of his career at ten years of age.

Willie Mullins is represented by Twinlight who beat Hidden Cyclone in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Chase last time. He is not the safest of jumpers and tends to jump out to his right. He made a couple of blunders at Kempton on his only previous trip. The race will lose a lot of its interest if Henderson pulls out Sprinter Sacre but Dodging Bullets can continue his progression towards the Champion Chase in March.

Dodging Bullets @7-4 Ladbrokes