Category: Horse Racing Tips

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Leah-Anne Avery to star at Kempton

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The miserable weather in the UK has resulted in a very poor turnout at Newbury on Thursday so I am switching my attention to the all-weather at Kempton Park.

The action gets under way at 3.55 with eight races to keep the flat racing fans happy. All eyes will be on apprentice jockey Leah-Anne Avery at 4.55 as she bids to complete a hat-trick aboard Cadmium. She is apprenticed to Harry Dunlop and has impressed many with her neat riding style on the three-year-old.

Cadmium has improved dramatically since the Autumn and looked as though she won with a bit in hand last time when accounting for Silvee by a length and three-quarters. Her rider always had her handily placed just off the lead and nipped up the inside before repelling all challengers. The handicapper has put her up 4lbs but Avery is able to claim her 7lbs allowance here and has a great chance of completing the hat-trick.

John Gosden seems to have plenty of ammunition for the winter months and Colour Party should follow up her recent Wolverhampton victory in the featured nursery at 6.25. She had previously finished second in a big field at Newmarket and has more scope than any of her rivals. The danger is probably Richard Fahey’s Zaza Zest who romped home by eight lengths on her first attempt at seven furlongs last time.

Spring Fling could be ahead of the handicapper in the last if she can overcome a wide draw. If she were able to reproduce her Salisbury form from May against Lightning Moon she would win this by a street. She got to within a quarter of a length of Ed Walker’s colt who went on to win a Group 3 at Ascot in October. He is officially rated 98 while Spring Fling gets in here off a mark of 80.

Ralph Beckett knows how to train a filly and has two Epsom Oaks winners to his credit. He sends out a couple of interesting runners on Thursday in Engaging Smile (5.25) and Redstart (5.55). Engaging Smile ran on well into fourth on her debut and would have finished second with a clearer run up the straight. She has most to fear from Gosden’s Rastanora while Redstart was narrowly beaten at Leicester on her debut.

Michael Bell’s Niblawi should go well in the 4.25 after shaping nicely on his debut here last week. He was narrowly beaten by Miss Underwood but this looks an ideal opportunity to get off the mark.

Niblawi 4.25 @23-20 Betfair

Cadmium 4.55 @11-4 Betfair

Engaging Smile 5.25 @6-5 Betdaq

Redstart 5.55 @9-5 Betfair

Colour Party 6.25 @2-1 Bet365

Spring Fling 6.55 @3-1 Coral

 

Haydock Saturday Preview

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The Betfair Chase at Haydock is the highlight of Saturday’s National Hunt action. Last year it was won by Cue Card who defeated Dynaste and Silviniaco Conti. All three are back again this year via very different routes.

Cue Card looked like winning the King George before being outstayed by Silviniaco Conti. Dynaste ran poorly but returned to win the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival. The picture is further confused by the recent Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in which Menorah beat Taquin Du Seuil with Silviniaco Conti fading into fifth place. I am just going to side with David Pipe’s Dynaste who clearly wasn’t right at Kempton last year and could yet make a Gold Cup horse.

The New One should not have much difficulty in winning the 1.50 and taking another step towards the Champion Hurdle. I was impressed with Aurore D’Estruval at Wetherby and she could run well for John Quinn but it will be a major shock if anything can trouble the favourite.

The Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle has attracted a really strong field headed by Volnay De Thaix. Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old carries 12 stone including a 5lbs penalty for his recent win at Huntingdon. He absolutely bolted up that day and is going to be difficult to beat.

Katkeau also carries a penalty for beating Big Easy at Cheltenham. The runner-up looked like providing yet another winner for the in-form Philip Hobbs stable and should run another big race here. I also have a sneaking fancy for the Irish horse Dara Tango who recently won on the flat at Catterick. He was awarded the race after being hampered close home by Jolie Blonde and that should have put him spot on for his return to hurdling.

The 1.15 is an equally competitive race with Morito Du Berlais going for a hat-trick for Paul Nicholls. He was always travelling comfortably behind the leaders that day and did well to quicken up after a sticky jump at the final flight.

The big danger here is the Evan Williams-trained On Tour. It isn’t often you see the jockey taking a pull at the last in a two and a half mile handicap hurdle but Paul Moloney had to fight to hold on to On Tour at Stratford. He needed to shake him up when challenged on his outside by Go West Young Man. The handicapper has put him up 9lbs but that may not be enough to stop him.

On Tour 1.15 @5-1 Coral

Volnay De Thaix 2.25 @9-2 Stan James

Dara Tango 2.25 @14-1 Bet Victor (each-way)

Dynaste 3.00 @9-2 Paddy Power

Winterbottom Stakes Preview

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There have been few more thrilling races than the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley last month when eight horses crossed the line with mere fractions between them. The verdict went to Lankan Rupee but we get a chance to see the runner-up Angelic Light in action on Saturday in the $750,000 Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.

That was a fantastic run by Angelic Light who has clashing with the top sprinters all season. The Robbie Griffiths-trained mare will break from barrier five on Saturday and bids to add to her victory in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes. On that occasion she got the verdict over Lankan Rupee and she has been snapping at his heels ever since.

The big danger could be Peter Moody’s Moment Of Change who finished second in this race last year, beaten a nose by Buffering. He was only inches behind Angelic Light in the Manikato and then finished fifth behind Terravista in the Darley Classic.

Godolphin’s Sidestep has been the subject of some good support this week and starts from barrier two. The son of Exceed And Excel was three places behind Moment Of Change in the Darley but has been aimed specifically at this race for some time.

Jim Taylor’s Magnifisio beat a good field to win the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes last time out and had earlier finished fourth in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes. Her chances have not been helped with a wide barrier draw in eleven.

If there is to be a surprise it could come from the talented Bel Sprinter, winner of the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint. The seven-year-old disappointed last time out at Flemington behind Deep Field but could make them all go if he is in the mood. Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes winner Shining Knight had that race sewn up some way out but this looks a much tougher contest. Testamezzo finished strongly in second that day but will surely be playing for places at best.

Angelic Light is hard to fault on her form or her consistency and she can enjoy Group 1 success on Saturday at the main expense of Moment Of Change.

Angelic Light @3.10 Bet365

Bel Sprinter @14.0 Bet365

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3

Railway Stakes Preview

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The $1million Group 1 Railway Stakes is Perth’s richest race and is the highlight of Saturday’s card at Ascot.

The bookmakers make the front-running The Cleaner favourite for Mick Burles as he bids for his first taste of Group 1 success. Steven Arnold has the task of sending him out in front from barrier eight and he certainly has a chance on his fine third in the Emirates Stakes.

His main market rival is the Grant Williams-trained Respondent who has drawn barrier while stable companion Elite Belle is drawn wide in sixteen. The latter finished fourth in the Lee Steere Stakes which has proved a valuable guide to this race in the past. She is one of six runners coming on from that race and must reverse the form with runner-up Fuchsia Bandana and third placed Platinum Rocker. They are drawn in barriers 11 and 9 respectively so it could be close between them once again.

The one that caught my eye in the Lee Steere was fifth-placed Ihtsahym. He was a smart three-year-old, winning the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic and the Group 2 CB Cox Stakes. His form this spring has not been anything special but he has been racing over shorter distances and was not beaten far last time. He goes back up to a mile here and could be the each-way value of the race.

I just favour Elite Belle to come out best of the rest. Four of the last ten winners of the Railway Stakes ran in the Lee Steere Stakes on their previous start and Elite Belle is yet to be beaten over a mile. There has been plenty of interest in 2012 winner Mr Moet who comes here without a prep race. Jockey Paul Harvey has won it three times in the past while Mr Moet has a fine record at Ascot.

Local trainer Adam Durrant believes that he is as fit as he can get him for this race. Alma’s Fury looks to have been dealt a rough hand in barrier 18 following a good run behind Hucklebuck in the Yellowglen Stakes. If The Cleaner goes out quickly, the field may be stretched and that will suit those with stamina. I’m hoping that Ihtsahymn can bounce back to form but will also have an interest in Elite Belle.

Elite Belle @7.00 Sportsbet

Ihtsahymn @17.0 Bet365

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Ballarat Cup Preview

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The $200,000 Ballarat Cup is the last black-type race of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival 2014.

Bookmakers have chalked up Robert Smerdon’s Spinderbella as the favourite following her victory at Moonee Valley last time out under Glen Boss. The five-year-old mare is by Spinning World and is unbeaten at Ballarat after two previous victories. Connections will have been delighted with the draw in barrier three and Chad Schofield takes over the reins on Saturday.

Smerdon had originally intended running Spinderbella in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington but swerved that race due to the fast ground. He won this race in 1996 with McGuane and will also saddle Electric Fusion (drawn 17).

My idea of the winner is Dan O’Sullivan’s Tuscan Fire despite having to carry joint top weight of 60kg. The eight-year-old will have the assistance of champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy and will pop out from barrier one. He was a good fourth over a shorter trip Melbourne Cup Day and that should have put him spot on for this race.

Chris Waller saddles four-year-old Vilanova (drawn 2) while the first two home in the Ararat Cup, Mujadale and At First Sight, will clash again. Mujadale has much the better of the draw here and it would be no surprise to see the form confirmed.

The colours of OTI Racing have been prominent in recent weeks with the successes of Au Revoir and Renew. They are pinning their hopes of Count Of Limonade here, although trainer Mick Price has issued a warning that he will not run on fast ground. He was pulled out of the Group 2 Zipping Classic at Sandown last Saturday with a high temperature but the Moe Cup winner is reported to be back in excellent health. He finished fifth in the Bendigo Cup with Price insisting that he would have fared better on easier ground.

The tough mare Waltzing To Win could sneak into the frame with her low weight but I am siding with McEvoy to steer home Tuscan Fire with Mujadale good value for a place at around 10-1. T

Tuscan Fire @7.0 Sportsbet*

Mujadale @11.0 Sportsbet

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

* If your horse finishes runner-up in the Ballarat Cup, Sportsbet will refund your stake as a free bet up to a maximum $100.

Hennessy Gold Cup Preview

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The Hennessy Gold Cup is fast approaching and has attracted several potential Gold Cup horses.

Last year we were celebrating a 14-1 ante-post winning tip with Nicky Henderson’s Triolo D’Alene. His season fell apart a little after that and it will be interesting to see if he makes his seasonal debut here. Henderson is more likely to rely on Hadrian’s Approach who departed early on last year but ended the season winning the Bet365 Gold Cup (formerly the Whitbread) at Sandown.

I had previously thought that his jumping didn’t stand up in big fields but there was nothing wrong with it at the Esher track. On the downside, he is up 7lbs and arrives here without the benefit of a previous run. Philip Hobbs had an unbelievable three days at Cheltenham’s Open meeting and pins his hopes on Fingal Bay.

I’ve always got the greatest respect for horses that can carry big weights in the festival handicaps but he has only ever raced twice over fences. He was a fair second on his debut before running out after continuously jumping to his left at Exeter. He reverted successfully to hurdles last season but this an enormous task for an inexperienced chaser. The same applies to Irish hope Djakadam who fell at the festival on his third start over fences and has not been seen since. Time may show that he is well handicapped here but he hasn’t done enough over fences to justify his current price in a race like this.

Ireland has a poor record in this race but Gordon Elliott’s Don Cossack would be an interesting contender after wins at Punchestown and Down Royal. He only had two to beat in the Grade 2 Powers Irish Whiskey Chase last time but did it well.

Paul Nicholls has won this twice as a jockey and three times as a trainer. He could saddle Rocky Creek and last week’s Cheltenham winner Sam Winner. Rocky Creek finished second last year and is up 5lbs but ran a cracker when runner-up to Road To Riches at Down Royal last time. Nicholls is aiming him at the Grand National in which he finished fifth last year.

Although plenty of horses have won this without a prep race, I usually like confirmation that the horse is fit and well and Many Clouds fits the bill. Oliver Sherwood was bitterly disappointed when he was brought down in the RSA Chase and it would have been interesting to see whether he could have beaten O’Faolains Boy. He reappeared at Carlisle and won impressively with the handicapper raising him 7lbs as a result.

The RSA Chase has been a great guide to the Hennessy Gold Cup in recent seasons and runner-up Smad Place has to be worthy of consideration. Alan King has already declared his intention to go here without a prep race and it would be difficult to ignore his chances if you fancy Many Clouds. He has only had four races over fences but has winning form at Newbury. With doubts about Djakadam and Fingal Bay, I’m going each-way on Many Clouds and Smad Place.

Many Clouds @17-2 Betway

Smad Place @10-1 Ladbrokes, Bet365

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4