Category: Horse Racing

Ladies Take Centre Stage Of Day 2 Of The Festival

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It’s only appropriate that Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon AKA Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother is honoured on the second day of The Festival at Cheltenham. The Grade 1 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature race on Ladies Day. In 1980, the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase was renamed in the Queen Mother’s honour as she celebrated her 80th birthday. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of 3219 metres with runners facing 12 fences. The race was famously taken out, for the second time, but Sprinter Sacre in 2016. The third highest rated steeplechaser of the modern era, the French-bred, British trained 10yo returned from a series of health and injury problems to score a famous victory before he was retired.

Douvan a Deserved Top Pick

Douvan won the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy on the opening day of The Festival in 2016 and will start at a similarly prohibitive price in this year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase. He is unbeaten in 13 starts for Willie Mullins, including a pair of victories at The Festival after his debut win in the 2015 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The Susannah Ricci-owned seven-year-old is the 2/7 ($1.28) favourite with race sponsor Betway. The only one rated a serious threat to Douvan is Fox Norton ($8 with Paddy Power). The seven-year-old made an eye-catching debut for Colin Tizzar when landing the Shloer Chase at Prestbury Park in November, but was then sidelined by injury for three months. He proved no match for Altior on his comeback run in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury, but connections are confident he will raise his game at the Festival.

Neon Wolf Set to Shine

Our best of the day comes up in the opening race of the day – the £125,000 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m 5f). Neon Wolf (Harry Fry) will run here after connections decided to skip the Supreme on day 1 with conditions set to improve for day 2. Fry’s youngster has been hugely impressive on his three starts to date, completing his hat-trick with a stunning display in a Supreme Trial at a frigid Haydock in January. Trainer Enda Bolger and owner J P McManus have teamed up to win the £65,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (3m 6f) on five occasions and the trainer/owner combination has five contenders this year, including course winner Cantlow and Auvergnat, a winner over Punchestown’s banks course on February 5. Although he’s a 12yo, Cantlow has been lightly raced throughout his career and makes a sensible top pick at $3.75 with Coral.

Bumper Attracts Huge Field

Our best roughie for day 2 is in the last race on Ladies’ Day – the £75,000 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1 over 2m ½f), which the most prestigious flat race on the National Hunt calendar. Always a great race to watch for future reference, a big field of mostly unexposed horses from Britain and Ireland has revealed a handful of future stars in past editions, including the likes of Florida Pearl and Dunguib. A field of 28 ensures plenty of action and drama as the huge field battles for position. This race has been won a staggering eight times by Willie Mullins, and his best hope this year looks to be the ante-post favourite Carter McKay. But we like the look of another Mullins runner, Ballyward ($15). He was impressive when winning a 2m 4f bumper at Leopardstown over the festive period.

Get Ready for the Roar as 2017 Cheltenham Festival Kicks-off

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Festival at Cheltenham is the pinnacle of jumps racing. The Grand National may be worth more prize money race, but the four days of drama set against the vista of the Cotswold Hills is a far richer experience. The best horses, jockeys and trainers join a crowd that regularly tops 250,000 across the four days for one of the great experiences in racing, anywhere in the world. The origins of this festival date back to 1860 and has been run at Cheltenham in Gloucestershire since 1911. Until 2005, the festival had been run over the three days, but this changed with the introduction of a fourth day, meaning there would be one championship race on each day.

Hurdlers Take Centre Stage

The famous roar as the tapes rise for the first race on Tuesday is one of the most iconic moments of The Festival. Champion Day features the most important hurdle race of the season, £400,000 Grade 1 Stan James Champion Hurdle, won in 2016 by the wonder mare Annie Power in a course record time. Favourite Yanworth heads 12 confirmations for this year’s two-mile test. Yanworth (Alan King), one of three contenders for owner J.P. McManus, is the $3.50 market leader with Stan James after an unbeaten campaign. The seven-year-old defeated The New One in the G1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day before tipping out Ch’Tibello in workman-like fashion in the G2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on February 18.

Brain Over Brawn

Buveur D’Air, also owned by J P McManus, heads a three-strong team for trainer Nicky Henderson. He is the $5 second favourite after cruising to victory in the Listed Contenders Hurdle at Sandown Park on February 4. Henderson also plans to run Michael Buckle’s Brain Power ($8), an impressive five-length winner of the G3 Wessex Youth Trust Handicap Hurdle at Ascot before Christmas. In his two impressive wins this season, he travelled exceptionally well in both and seems to have overcome the jumping problems that bedevilled his novice season. Henderson has been at pains to remind reporters not to forget Brain Power when quizzed about Buveur D’Air – he’ll do us at a price that still has at least two points of value.

Ruby’s Lead Telling

Perhaps the most intriguing event of the day is the £110,000 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m 4f). Willie Mullins has sent out eight of the nine winners of this race and the trainer has seven of the 28 contenders in this year’s renewal including Vroum Vroum Mag, who took the spoils 12 months ago. Limini, successful in the 2016 G2 Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, and Let’s Dance also feature among the Mullins-trained contenders, while Apple’s Jade, runner-up for Mullins in the G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival last year, could line up for Gordon Elliott. The fact that jockey Ruby Walsh has elected to ride Limini deserves respect despite the support for Vroum Vroum Mag.

Outlander Must End Cheltenham Troubles to Triumph at Gold Cup

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Outlander will have to overcome a lot of obstacles and not just those on the racecourse at Cheltenham to win the famous Gold Cup. The Bay Gelding is one of the outsiders for the crown, with Cue Card and Native River considered the top two favourites to triumph at the festival.

Image credit: “Cheltenham Racecourse” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Carine06

However, the nine-year-old put in an impressive performance in his last outing at the end of 2016, finishing ahead of Don Poli and Djakadam to claim victory at the Lexus Chase.

The race proved that Outlander has the quality to match the best in the field and the ability to rise to the occasion under trainer Gordon Elliott and with Jack Kennedy at the reins.

As a result of the Bay Gelding’s form, it is backed among the horse racing picks at around 10/1 among leading bookmakers, which is well worth a punt, especially for placing in the top three.

Outlander had an excellent start to his career, winning his opening three races, culminating in a signature win at the Christmas Party Day Race at Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle. However, inconsistencies plagued the Irish horse in 2015, although he did end on a high note with back-to-back victories at Puncheston and Limerick.

Outlander began 2016 on the front foot with another stellar outing at the Flogas Novice Chase in Leopardstown, which would be his final win under trainer Willie Mullins. During the summer, the Bay Gelding was removed from Mullins’ yard by owner Michael O’Leary and placed under the tutelage of Elliott.

The decision did not have an adverse effect on the Irish horse as he maintained his form, winning the Lexus Chase along with two second-place finishes at Puncheston and Down Royal.

Despite Outlander’s impressive form during 2016, one area of concern will be his performances at Cheltenham Racecourse. The nine-year-old has raced twice at the venue and failed to finish in the top five on both occasions. Last season he was unable to finish the race after a fall in the JLT Novices’ Chase, while a mistake in 2015 on the fourth fence led to a sixth-place finish in the Novices’ Hurdle. As a result, O’Leary and Elliott will be worried ahead of his third appearance on the course.

They have time to amend the situation – whether it’s the hurdles or the type of ground at the Cheltenham course causing the issues. Should Kennedy be chosen to take the reins in the Gold Cup he will have a challenge to keep Outlander on the straight and narrow.

Colin Tizzard’s horses will throw a further obstacle in the way of the Irish horse. Both Cue Card and Native River are on top form, with the former triumphing in his last outing at the Ascot Chase, while the Chestnut Gelding eased to victory at the Denman Chase.

 

 

Super Saturday Marks Culmination Of Melbourne Autumn

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

There are bigger race days on the Aussie calendar but when it comes to sharing the spotlight across more than one venue, Saturday’s double-bill of the Australian Cup/Newmarket Handicap and the Coolmore Classic is hard to top. Firstly, a quick word about last Saturday’s Australian Guineas meeting at Flemington. The Victoria Racing Club are always reluctant to admit to the presence of track bias, it was quickly apparent that the place to be was hard up against the running rail. For races down the Straight Six, the best going has also trended from the centre of the track to the inside. We encourage punters to watch the first two or three races carefully for any indication of bias before dipping into their bankroll. Likewise in Sydney, where the Rosehill track is unlikely to improve much beyond a heavy (8) for Saturday’s card.

Williams Camp Carry Hot Hand

For the first century that it was run, the Australian Cup was a longer race than the Melbourne Cup. But since WWII, the distance has been gradually shaved back – from 2.25 miles (3637m) to 1.75 miles and finally today’s 2000m since 1973. It has also shifted back and forth from handicap to weight-for-age conditions, with the latter in place since 1987. This year’s G1 $1.5 million TAB Australian Cup is quality top to bottom, with Humidor holding narrow favouritism with Luxbet ($4.80) ahead of 2016 Caulfield Cup winner Jameka ($5.00) in the 12-horse field. There are at least six legitimate winning hopes but we’ve settled on the runner that has the biggest upside to improve. Team Williams’ 7yo entire #3 The United States ($7.50 with William Hill) is a bulletproof weight-for-age performer. He was third first-up in the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield two weeks ago and has finished in the first two in his four runs second-up.

Sprint Title Up for Grabs

Since 1874, Australasia’s greatest sprinters have raced over the six furlongs (or 1200m) at Flemington to decide the nation’s unofficial sprint champion. The list of victors covers the history of the sport – from Wakeful (1901), Ajax (1938) and Bernborough (1946) to Schillaci (1992), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Scenic Blast (2009), Black Caviar (2011) and Lankan Rupee (2014). Only 13 of the 24 starting slots have been filled, but that hasn’t made it any easier for punters with Spieth ($3.90 on bet365) heading a wide-open market. We suspect that the inside will be the place to be, making it tough for #1 Terravista and #9 Star Turn. It’s tough to split the favourite and Sheidel so take the price ($8.50 with Ladbrokes) on the latter. She’s ridiculously consistent (27:15-5-1) and did it pretty easily in the G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 25). #5 Voodoo Lad and #8 Tivaci (both $26 with Luxbet) are blowout chances.

Huge Field Chase Coolmore Crown

The fillies and mares take centre stage at Rosehill Gardens for this relative newcomer to the Australian racing calendar. First run in 1973 as the TAD Kennedy Stakes, this $600,000 race over 1500m has been under the Coolmore banner for more than two decades. The set weights’ conditions make it a popular race with owners and trainers and a massive field of 19 have accepted this year. And just to make it a little tougher, the track is likely to be in the heavy range while favourite #14 Omei Sword ($3.90 with Unibet) drew the outside gate! Only two of the past 13 winners have started as favourite. Through a fairly brutal process of elimination, we’ve settled on the proven wet/black type form of Kiwi raider La Bella Diosa ($10 with Sportsbet). She’s won five of seven career starts and did it easy in the G2 Surround (1400m) at Randwick two weeks ago.

Pick Your Guineas As 3yos Feature In Sydney And Melbourne

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

If ever a reminder was required that Australian racing comprises a group of state jurisdictions that display an almost complete unwillingness to work together, let us present the highlights of Saturday’s thoroughbred program. In Sydney, we have the G1 $1,000,000 Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas for the 3yos over 16000m. In Melbourne, Flemington will host the G1 $750,000 Australian Guineas for the 3yos over 1600m. Yep, a pair of G1 miles for the 3yos on the same day! Mother Nature is having her say on this bizarre scheduling conflict with soaking rain threatening the Randwick card while Melbourne is experiencing a glorious streak of early autumn sunshine. If the wet weather continues, the Randwick program could easily be postponed as the track is already saturated.
Echo Effect to Make a Splash

Let’s start in Sydney for the first leg of the Sydney autumn three-year-old Triple Crown (along with the Rosehill Guineas at 2000m and ATC Australian Derby over 2400m). The race originated in 1925 and was run as the Canterbury Guineas over 1900m until 2005 when it was renamed the Randwick Guineas and shortened to 1600m. A field of 14 has accepted for this year’s renewal, although scratchings are almost certain. Despite the presence of a pair of very handy types – Man From Uncle and Comin’ Through, #4 Echo Effect looks a huge danger ($9.50 with bet365). Kristen Buchanan’s gelding is only proven wet tracker in the race (2:2-0-0) and was just nailed on the line in the G2 Hobartville (1400m) at Rosehill two weeks ago.

Kiwi Newcomer Could Pinch WFA Sprint

The first of the G1s at Randwick is the fifth of the day – the Canterbury BMW Stakes at weight for age over 1300m. First run in 1929, it’s now being held at a third different venue (Canterbury, Rosehill and now Randwick). Five of the eight runners are priced at $10 or better with Chautauqua a $2.70 favourite as he chases a sixth G1 win. The superstar grey is winless in his past four while 10 of his 12 wins have been on good going. Currently at $9 with William Hill, #7 Ugo Foscolo is the value runner. The 3yo gelding gets weight relief over the leading fancies as he aims to make it six wins from seven career starts. Now with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, he trialled arrogantly at Warwick Farm on February 20.

Huge Field to Contest Flemington Feature

Rain won’t be an issue at Flemington on Saturday where the mercury will be in the mid-20s for the Australian Guineas meeting. A capacity field of 16 is virtually assured with James Cummings’ top rater Prized Icon accepting here in preference to a soggy Randwick. Hey Doc is the $4 favourite with Sportsbet thanks to his solid win in the G3 C.S. Hayes (1400m) here two weeks ago. Just five of the 19 acceptors are priced north of $20 so there’s value galore. An outside draw in such a big field is a big knock, while several runners have yet to be tested over a mile. The four runners that tick more boxes than most are 2016 VRC Derby winner #1 Prized Icon, 2016 Caulfield Guineas victor #2 Divine Prophet, #4 Hey Doc and our pick, #14 Harlow Gold. Fillies bat above their weight in this race, and the Lindsay Park runner rates well below an $18 chance.

Smerdon Colt To Shine Brightest On Blue Diamond Day

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The last rays of summer sun will shine on Caulfield this Saturday, but it’s all about elite autumn racing and the second of the 2yo features of the year – the AUD $1.5 million Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes over 1200m at set weights. We’ve been watching the action at Melbourne Racing Club headquarters carefully in recent weeks, and can report that the track is racing fairly. However, runners turning for home in the back half of the field will still face a tough challenge on a surface that generally favours horses on the speed and off the fence.

Colts and geldings have won 28 of the 46 editions of the Blue Diamonds including the past two (Pride Of Dubai and Extreme Choice). In the past decade, that figure closes to 6-4 in favour of the boys. The speed and class of this field make outside barriers a tough prospect. Of the past 34 winners, 24 have jumped from a single figure gate with only four winners since 2000 starting from outside barrier 10 – Extreme Choice (2016, gate 11), Earthquake (2014, 15), Star Witness (2010, 14) and Nadeem (2006, 12).

Magic Man Brings Bag of Tricks Down Under

Punters are spoiled for choice in this year’s Blue Diamond with #13 Catchy a $5 favourite and only a handful of the 17 runners without a realistic chance of victory. Jockey Craig Williams had the choice of riding most of the leading contenders so his decision to go with this Lindsay Park filly must be respected. We’re leery – two of her three were close run affairs while she’s drawn out in barrier 13. Our money will be on the #1 Property for trainer Robert Smerdon (chasing his second Blue Diamond) with superstar Hong Kong hoop Joao Moreira taking the ride from barrier 3. This will be the Magic Man’s first trip to Caulfield but he’s familiar with Aussie tracks and tactics so that’s no concern. Not in the original nominations, connections paid the $55,000 late entry fee for their Starcraft colt. Beaten by Catchy on debut, he’s since won both the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) before settling midfield and finishing strongly to take out the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m). A price of $7.50 is currently available on Ladbrokes, which could improve by race time.

Crème to Rise to the Top in Saturday’s Other G1s

There are two other Groups 1s at Caulfield on Saturday – in the $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m at WFA), #1 Black Heart Bart will start in the red as he chases successive G1 wins at this track. In contrast, the $500,000 Resimax Group Oakleigh Plate (1100m) is a wide open affair but we wouldn’t be surprised to see last year’s Blue Diamond winner #3 Extreme Choice saluting once again – Mick Price’s 3yo colt looks slightly overs at $4.60 with William Hill.

North of the border, the G1 $600,000 TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) is the day’s feature at Royal Randwick. The market for this WFA event is once again stifled by the presence of the superstar mare #9 Winx. She’s at $1.12 on Sportsbet to make it 15 wins in a row. That’s right, 15! Winx crushed the bulk of this field in the G2 Apollo (1400m) here two weeks ago and again looks simply unbeatable. Our money will be with stablemate #8 Endless Drama to again fill a place after his meritorious third in the Apollo.