Category: Horse Racing Tips

This category is all about horse racing tips.

York Saturday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Sole Power and Pale Mimosa (both tipped here at 7-2) put Betcirca followers nearly 30 points up on the week. The York Ebor meeting comes to a close on Saturday with some very competitive racing with the feature race due off at 3.50.

The gamble of the race is Pallasator for Sir Mark Prescott. The five-year-old has now been bought by Qatar Racing and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him contesting some big Cup races next season. Apart from having missed any value in his price, I am put off by his draw in stall 22. It shouldn’t be too much of an issue over a mile and three-quarters but I’m sure connections would have been happier if he had been in a low to middle stall.

One that fits the bill is Marco Botti’s De Rigueur in stall 6. He has beaten Pallasator before at Haydock and should finish close to the favourite on that evidence. He is three times the price and has to be the each-way selection.

The day’s racing gets off to a subdued start with seven runners lining up for the Strensall Stakes. Having tipped Farraaj in the John Smith’s Cup and collected three times previously on Graphic, something has to give. The drop back to a mile may count against Farraaj but he is a free-running sort and I just give him the verdict.

The Melrose Handicap is every bit as competitive as the Ebor with a whole host of improving three-year-olds. Connecticut’s form has been boosted time and again and he looks the sort who will find more when necessary. With Cumani’s team in such fine form he is hard to oppose but I am going to have a saver on Captain Morley who should appreciate this trip.

He was desperately unlucky at the Chester May meeting when flying through into second and made amends on his next visit. He was then a fair third at Royal Ascot behind Elite Army, staying on up the straight. He could give Jamie Spencer the winner that he has been waiting for this week.

Baitha Alga has also been a good friend to this column with three victories on the trot. He has not been out since Royal Ascot and that may leave him vulnerable in the closing stages. He also has to shoulder a 3lbs penalty and I think Muhaarar may run him close. He didn’t settle over seven furlongs at Ascot and was previously third to the classy Ivawood. He was inches behind Jungle Cat but that one ran disappointingly at Goodwood.

Ajman Bridge ran a cracker at Goodwood when just failing to catch Sennockian Star. He has another tough task in the 5.00 but deserves to win a decent prize.

Farraaj 2.05 York @7-4 Totesport, Stan James

Connecticut 2.40 York @6-1 Bet365

Captain Morley 2.40 York @10-1 (each-way) BetVictor

Baitha Alga 3.15 York @14-5 BetBright

Muhaarar 3.15 York @8-1 BetVictor

De Rigueur 3.50 York @14-1 (each-way) BetVictor

Ajman Bridge 5.00 York @5-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Warwick Stakes Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The highlight of Saturday’s racing in Australia is the Group 2 Warwick Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Eight Group 1 winners are included in the field of ten for the $175,000 prize but the horse that interests me most is not one of them. Weary began life with Harry Dunlop in the UK and produced a 40-1 surprise on his debut at Newbury in 2012 under Hayley Turner. France was his next port of call where he showed that he could handle heavy ground by accounting for Kamran over seven furlongs.

He met with defeat for the first time against Zenji in similar conditions at Longchamp in a Listed race. Dunlop brought him back across the water to contest the Racing Post Trophy but he finished down the field behind Kingsbarns. As a four-year-old, he finished second to Olympic Glory and fourth to Baltic Knight achieving a rating of 110.

He ran possibly his best race when fourth to the brilliant Moonlight Cloud over seven furlongs at Longchamp in July 2013. This is a real gem for racing “anoraks”: He actually ran under the name Sir Patrick Moore before he was bought to race in Australia and renamed after a famous Australian army figure called Weary Dunlop. He was cleverly named, being by Astronomer Royal out of America Nova.

Weary has finished first and second at Rosehill and has also run well on all three previous visits to Randwick. His close fifth in the Group 2 Missile Stakes was his first run since April and he is entitled to improve significantly on Saturday. He has a little bit of ground to make up on Messene but that horse is not certain to enjoy the ground. The latest reports suggest that it may be barely fit for racing by the weekend if the deluge keeps up.

The going has already led to Boban being withdrawn by Chris Waller, the trainer of Weary. He also runs another leading candidate in Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls who has good form in heavy ground but the trainer has hinted that it may be too much to expect him to win first time up.

David Payne’s Australian Derby winner Criterion is reported in good shape for his first real test in all-aged company. Tiger Trees has a reputation for being something of a mud lark but his barrier ten draw has put me off him a little. Australian punters betting on the race with Ladbrokes can get their money refunded as a free bet if their selection finishes second in the Warwick Stakes up to a maximum of $50.

Weary @5.50 Ladbrokes, SP Paddy Power

York Friday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Tapestry (advised at 12-1 yesterday) put Betcirca followers well ahead for the week following Dutch Connection (16-1) on the opening day of the York Ebor meeting.

Friday’s action gets under way with an impossible looking handicap over a mile and a half. Semeen is the likely favourite for the in-form Cumani stable but I’m slightly worried about the quicker ground for that one. The one I like here is Stomachion from the Sir Michael Stoute stable.

Ryan Moore produced another perfectly timed challenge on Tapestry yesterday but has not ridden his best races on Stomachion on his last two starts. He was well off the pace at Epsom and was never going to get to Miss Marjurie at the Derby meeting. He did well to run through into second place and it was surprising to see him dropped back in distance at Goodwood.

He was again held up at the back and never looked like getting into the race won by Sennockian Star. He could manage no better than eighth place but was less than six lengths away at the finish. He may also want a bit of give in the ground but I’m prepared to take a chance that he will perform better with a more positive ride on Friday.

The Lonsdale Cup is a bit of a quandary with question marks against several of the leading protagonists. Admirable though Cavalryman has been this season, he is too short in the betting and I’d rather support the lightly-raced Irish raider Pale Mimosa. She has a bit to find on her overall form but usually travels well in her races and could have a bit of improvement in her.

The City Of York Stakes looks wide open at 3.05 and I’m going to take a couple of each-way bets against the field here in Windfast and Ertijaal. Both look ideally suited by seven furlongs and the International Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks results suggested the three-year-olds are not such a bad crop. Ertijaal was not up to 2000 Guineas class but he is a decent performer while Windfast was a close fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes should go to Sole Power who has his ideal trip and ground. Shea Shea is probably better over six furlongs these days and likely dangers are Rangali and Cougar Mountain. The closing handicap can go the way of Sir Michael Stoute with Munaaser. I don’t usually like backing horses that have gone up 12lbs but he won so easily at Newmarket he is difficult to oppose. Maverick Wave had to make his own running last time and could give him most to do.

Stomachion 1.55 York at 8-1 Paddy Power

Pale Mimosa 2.30 York at 7-2 Coral

Ertijaal 3.05 York (each-way) at 10-1 Bet365

Windfast 3.05 York (each-way) at 14-1 Stan James

Sole Power 3.40 York at 7-2 Paddy Power

Munaaser 4.55 York at 11-4 Betfair

York Thursday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

16-1 winner Dutch Connection gave Betcirca followers a great start to the Ebor meeting and Australia enhanced his reputation with a smooth win in the International Stakes.

The star of the show at York on Thursday is the unbeaten filly Taghrooda. Although I backed her at Epsom, I neglected her at Ascot last time in favour of an each-way bet on Mukhadram. She was very impressive in seeing off both he and Telescope and looks impossible to oppose in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Volume ran well in the Irish Oaks but a bigger threat may come from Aidan O’Brien’s Tapestry who was an unlucky second with a slipping saddle. Ryan Moore is aboard her and she could be the each-way bet but it will be a major surprise if Taghrooda is beaten.

When a horse wins for you at 25-1 it is very difficult not to invest in them next time. Sentimentality comes into it and I cannot ignore Red Avenger after his win at Glorious Goodwood. I backed him on a line through Abseil and their previous meeting at Epsom’s Derby meeting. Early on, things looked bleak for Red Avenger as he was shuffled back and it was a brilliant ride from Fortune to get him up to win.

He is only 3lbs higher at York but James Doyle has the ride. Another problem is that he is drawn 1 and does not possess a lot of early speed. Hopefully Doyle can keep him in touch just off the rail and deliver a challenge in the closing stages.

The early races look booked for the Richard Hannon stable with Kool Kompany and Tiggy Wiggy. Both have been on the go all season and don’t owe anyone a thing. Tiggy Wiggy was quite brilliant in the Newbury Super Sprint and I cannot oppose her, even against two Royal Ascot winners. There isn’t much value to be had with Kool Kompany on these weight terms and I’m going to have an each-way on Valley Of Fire.

William Haggas would not waste an entry unless he thought the colt was up to this class and he can improve on his course and distance win. The Galtres Stakes looks worth avoiding, although Haggas can go close again there with Arabian Comet. John Gosden could complete a memorable day by taking the closing handicap with Enraptured. She ran a lot better than her finishing position suggests behind Kosika last time and could be better value than Stoute’s Bragging.

1.55 Kool Kompany at 11-4 BetVictor

1.55 Valley Of Fire (each-way) at 8-1 Bet365

2.30 Tiggy Wiggy at 15-8 Paddy Power

3.05 Red Avenger (each-way) at 11-1 Coral

3.40 Tapestry (each-way) at 12-1 Coral

4.55 Enraptured (each way) at 16-1 Betfair

York Wednesday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Ebor meeting at York kicks off on Wednesday with a top quality card including the reappearance of English and Irish Derby winner Australia.

His Epsom form may have been devalued since but there is no doubt he is the star middle-distance colt of his generation. The Irish Derby told us nothing as it was little more than a training exercise for Ballydoyle and Aidan O’Brien has expressed some concern over the colt’s fitness. He is also dropping back to a mile and a quarter and meeting older horses for the first time.

He should comfortably see off the other three-year-olds but it will be interesting to see how he matches up with Telescope and Mukhadram. The latter should come out on top in that particular clash with this trip much more to his liking than the mile and a half at Ascot last time. He stuck on gamely enough but is at his best at a truly run ten furlongs. He should provide a good test but Australia’s pace can prove decisive.

His closest pursuer at Epsom was Kingston Hill who goes for the early Great Voltigeur Stakes over the Derby distance. Roger Varian pulled him out of the Irish Derby owing to the quick ground and it would be ironic if he runs him here on a similar surface. He really does like a bit of give in the ground so looks a slightly risky proposition unless there is overnight rain.

The Acomb Stakes looks well above average with some promising colts assembled. Top of the list is Basateen who earned Derby quotes when winning by eight lengths at Doncaster last time. He already looks as though he wants a proper stamina test so I’m expecting Paul Hanagan to have him at the head of affairs from the start.

Growl and Dutch Connection both won nicely last time and I was particularly taken with the latter. It may have been a moderate race at Goodwood but he was always moving easily and looks worth an each-way bet here.

The card opens with the kind of race where a pin is as likely to find the winner as hours of form study! Goldream and Move In Time fought out a great finish in the Shergar Cup and are handicapped to dead-heat but I’m just swayed by the early money for last year’s winner Bogart.

It doesn’t get any easier for punters later on but Bantam could be the answer to the two-mile handicap. Ed Dunlop has booked Ryan Moore for the ride and the filly may have needed her run at Ascot after a lengthy absence. She is not proven over this trip but shapes as though she will get it.

Finally, I have to invest in Prize Exhibit after her nine-length demolition of a couple of promising colts at Nottingham. She looked as though she may not enter the stalls at one point but settled well in the race and won pulling a cart. A 6lbs penalty won’t stop her if she is in the same frame of mind.

Bogart 1.55 at 16-1 Stan James

Basateen 2.30 at 5-2 BetVictor

Dutch Connection (each-way) at 14-1 William Hill

Kingston Hill 3.05 at 6-4 Bet365

Australia 3.40 at 4-6 Skybet

Bantam 4.20 at 8-1 Paddy Power

Prize Exhibit 4.55 at 9-1 Bet365

Newbury Saturday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It is Hungerford Stakes day at Newbury on Saturday with a field of seven set to go to post. The soft going may have contributed to the slightly sub-standard entry for this Group 2 race but there are some old favourites in the line-up.

Gregorian has been a good friend of mine over the past couple of seasons but I stopped short of supporting him in the July Cup. I had never felt that he had the speed for six furlongs but he ran a cracker to finish third. He usually likes soft ground but he seemed to get bogged down in heavy conditions at Deauville last weekend behind Garswood. I cannot support him after such a poor run and there are other seven furlong specialists in contention here.

I am going to side with the remarkably consistent Breton Rock. All of his six wins have been over seven furlongs on softer ground and this looks tailor-made for him. He was just denied by Penitent at Haydock last time but we should be guaranteed a run for our money. Apart from Gregorian, Chil The Kite will also be a threat if reproducing his tremendous run when second in the Royal Hunt Cup.

The Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes features several horses on the comeback trail including Melbourne Cup legend Red Cadeaux. Ed Dunlop’s globetrotting eight-year-old has finished runner-up in two Cups and is presumably setting out on his usual pre-Flemington campaign. He is actually best on official ratings and the stable are in great form.

Pether’s Moon is tough and consistent and it’s strange that Hannon is fitting him with blinkers for the first time here. I thought that he was in front plenty soon enough at Goodwood and stuck to his guns well. One that is capable of beating them both is James Fanshawe’s mare Seal Of Approval. She has not won since taking a Group 1 at Ascot last October but there is plenty of money around for her on Saturday.

The Washington Singer Stakes has been the launch pad of the careers of Lammtarra and Haafhd in the past but it is doubtful that there is a superstar among the four runners this year. However, Godolphin’s Hawkesbury can hardly be faulted on what he has achieved in two races. He ran on from the rear to beat all bar the smart Limato at Kempton on his debut and then hacked up at Doncaster by seven lengths. He faces a decent rival in Belardo but Hawkesbury can take the prize. I wouldn’t rule out a good run from Carry On Deryck either after his astonishing burst to win on his debut.

Hawkesbury 2.05 Newbury @11-8 Paddy Power

Seal Of Approval 2.40 Newbury @11-2 William Hill

Breton Rock 3.50 Newbury @5-1 BetVictor