Category: Horse Racing

Lincoln Ante-Post Preview

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With Cheltenham now behind us, Flat racing fans will be getting excited about the new turf season. Apparently Gleneagles has been catching pigeons at Ballydoyle and has been backed off the boards for the 2000 Guineas while the powers-that-be have been tinkering with the jockeys’ championship dates. Of more immediate interest is the Lincoln Handicap, the traditional cavalry charge at Town Moor.

There will be all of the usual debate about the draw and the going and the last four results makes you wonder whether or not it is wise to get involved. They have been 16-1, 25-1, 20-1 and 20-1. Prior to that there were two well-backed favourites in Expresso Star and Penitent. They were trained by John Gosden and William Haggas respectively so that is a good place to start.

At present, the Haggas-trained Mange All is 6-1 favourite with the Gosden-trained Gm Hopkins at 8-1. Mange All won a decent prize at Ascot in July when just getting up to beat American Hope by a neck. He ran a good race under a penalty next time when beaten by The Corsican and rounded off his three-year-old season by finishing fourth to Gm Hopkins in the Silver Cambridgeshire. He is 3lbs better off for three and three-quarter lengths with the winner.

Gm Hopkins was put up 9lbs for that win and was only fourth at York before finishing third at Nottingham off the same mark. Both trainers obviously know what they are doing but neither really appeals at single figure prices.

Ed Dunlop has an interesting contender in Zarwaan, a winner over six furlongs at Haydock in July and runner-up to Chatez in the Silver Bowl at the same course. He then ran a fine fifth of 30 in the Britannia at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth at Newmarket in a Listed race.

Last season we tipped Gabrial’s Kaka with trainer Richard Fahey quite bullish about his chances in the build-up to the race. He was there with every chance three furlongs out but faded back into sixth place. He won the Newbury Spring Cup next time out and had a crack at most of the big mile handicaps after that. He was badly drawn on his final start and now races off a 6lbs higher mark than last season.

Before rushing in on him, it is worth noting that he is also entered in the Irish Lincoln and is a possible for the Doncaster Mile. Just to confuse matters further, stable companion Gabrial also holds an entry her. He would be a blot on the handicap on his best form but he has been tried in everything except the boat race in recent seasons. He showed that he still retains his ability when winning at Leicester in October but he is still 11lbs lower than his previous best.

Mindurownbusiness and Belgian Bill are others worthy of note. The former did this column a favour when winning at Wolverhampton recently in the trial race and gets in here on a 2lbs lower mark. Belgian Bill has been running with great credit in Dubai but neither is proven on soft ground. Zarwaan gets a tentative vote at this stage.

Zarwaan @12-1 William Hill

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Rosehill Preview – Godolphin chase Group 1 glory

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The £1.8million Golden Slipper is the feature event on a fantastic card at Rosehill on Saturday that includes five Group One races.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation had a poor year in 2014 but are out in force this weekend. As well as having four runners in the main event, they also hold Group 1 hopes with Contributer and Sweynesse elsewhere on the card.

The famous blue silks will be carried by Exosphere in the Slipper along with Haptic, Ottoman and Furnaces. Exosphere has been the horse for money this week and will start from barrier ten under James McDonald. He was a brilliant four-length winner of the Skyline Stakes last month and looks the pick of the Godolphin quartet.

The best of the rest may be Furnaces who starts from the lucky barrier one, responsible for three of the last six winners of the race. British interest is supplied by three of our leading jockeys. James Doyle will ride Haptic with William Buick aboard Ottoman while Ryan Moore has picked up the ride on big outsider Odyssey Moon.

The biggest danger to Exosphere could come from the favourite Vancouver, bidding to give Gai Waterhouse her sixth Golden Slipper. His chances took a knock when he was drawn in barrier 18, although he could start from 15 if both emergencies fail to get a run.  Only one horse has won from barrier 15 in the last 32 years and that hands an advantage to Exosphere in barrier 10.

Vancouver remains unbeaten after three starts and was particularly impressive in the Group 2 Todman Stakes. Waterhouse also saddles English and Speak Fondly in the race, drawn six and twelve respectively. English will be ridden by Blake Shinn and won the Group 2 Reisling Stakes last time while Damien Oliver partners last Saturday’s Group 2 Magic Night Stakes winner Speak Fondly.

Godolphin could claim further Group 1 success with Contributer in the Ranvet Stakes. He won a handicap at Royal Ascot last summer but has already claimed Group 2 and Group 1 wins in Australia, taking the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm last month. Sweynesse is strongly fancied to win the Rosehill Guineas in the same colours. He needs to reverse form with market rival Hallowed Crown from the Hobartville Stakes last month where the pair were separated by a head.

Rosehill Saturday

Race 4 – Contributer @2.30 Sportsbet*

Race 5 – Sweynesse @2.70 Sportsbet

Race 7 – Exosphere @4.00 Sportsbet

*Sportsbet special offer – money back as a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th in any of the first four races at Rosehill on Saturday. First bet only (max. $100 per customer).

Newbury Friday Preview

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The dust has finally settled on the Cheltenham Festival 2015 and National Hunt fans are now looking forward to Aintree and Punchestown. Newbury provides some decent jumping action on Friday with all of the top stables represented.

Alan King’s festival was saved by Tony McCoy’s inspired ride on Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase. He has a useful hurdling prospect in Inner Drive in the opening race at 2.10. The son of Heron Island was runner-up in his two bumper races but returned after more than a year off the track to thrash a decent field at Huntingdon. Wayne Hutchinson barely had to shake him up to storm clear by fourteen lengths.

This is a tricky little contest and I am always reluctant to pass over Nicky Henderson’s runners here, even if his older novices disappointed last week. He still saddled a Triumph Hurdle tri-cast and a big handicap winner so all is not doom and gloom at the Lambourn yard. Champagne Express had his form boosted by the runner-up yesterday and is feared most.

The three-mile handicap hurdle looks no easier to solve but it may pay to side with Tony McCoy on top weight Last Shadow. He is going up in trip but the first two pulled right away when he was second at Kempton last time. He does not look to be up against a great lot here with the lowly weighted Bold Adventure one of the few with winning form over three miles. He would have a chance but is unlikely to find much improvement at the age of eleven.

Whatever the fate of Champagne Express in the first, I expect Henderson to score with Medieval Chapel in the Brown Chamberlin Trophy at 3.45. The grey races in the colours of Simonsig and gave a pretty good impression of that horse at a couple of his fences at Fakenham last time. He won with any amount in hand and a 6lbs penalty looks lenient. Desert Joe carries the same penalty but looked flat out to score last time for Alan King.

Gassin Golf will be fancied in the two-mile handicap hurdle but I would go each-way if you are putting your faith in this one. He ran well when third in the Imperial Cup but has finished runner-up nine times since he last put his head in front! I prefer to take a chance with the lightly-raced Baby King for Tom George. He looked like beating Royal Guardsman here last time out but faded on the run-in. He is 4lbs better off here and will be having only the fifth race of his career.

Inner Drive 2.10 @4-1 Betfair

Last Shadow 3.10 @9-2 Bet365

Medieval Chapel 3.45 @4-1 Ladbrokes

Baby King 4.20 @8-1 Paddy Power

Grand National Ante-post update

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With the excitement of Cheltenham over for another year, we can start looking forward to Aintree and the Grand National on April 11th.

There were a number of National contenders in action at the festival last week but they did not include current Aintree favourite Shutthefrontdoor. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill decided against running his Irish National winner, presumably on account of the quicker ground. He will almost certainly be the mount of Tony McCoy, his last in the race before retirement. If the champion jockey was humbled by the adulation he received at Cheltenham, what will it be like should he ride the National winner? He has said that he has no specific date/race in mind for his final ride but going out on a National winner would be hard to top.

We put up the horse at 20-1 a few weeks ago and he is now as short as 8-1 favourite. We also singled out Spring Heeled at 33-1 and the Irish raider has been clipped to a top price of 20-1 after a satisfactory comeback. Jim Culloty’s Lord Windermere was scuppered by the going change on Gold Cup day so I would not be too concerned if you snapped up some 33’s about his stable companion for Aintree.

Our third ante-post pick was Monbeg Dude and he was disappointing at Cheltenham, finishing well behind The Druids Nephew. He is apparently being tested to see if they can find a problem but it may be that the ground was just too fast for him. He does tend to get detached, even in soft ground, so he could yet be a factor at Aintree if we get a wet April.

The Druids Nephew was cut to 14-1 for the National but it was another race which caught my attention with regards to the big race. Cause Of Causes finally gained a first win over the larger obstacles when winning the National Hunt Chase under Jamie Codd. His rider had him tucked away behind the leaders all the way and produced him late on to hold Broadway Buffalo.

He races in the same colours as Shutthefrontdoor so it will be interesting to see who gets the ride. Codd did pick up a suspension for marking the horse but went on to land a second winner at the meeting and would seem the logical choice for Aintree. Cause Of Causes has 10st 9lb to carry in the National and the 33-1 on offer with William Hill looks worth snapping up. He is as short as 20-1 elsewhere.

Cause Of Causes @33-1 William Hill

Sha Tin Tips Sunday 15th March

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Bet on Sha Tin races with Bet365!

HONG KONG RACING SUNDAY 15 March 1915

SHA TIN

Hong Kong Wrap Up

It’s another great days racing at Sha Tin today and yet more Group racing with the Hong Kong Derby over the 2000m and the Queens Silver Jubilee Cup over the 1400m. Both look to be sensational races and we have Able Friend going around today as well in the Cup which will be excitement plus as he is dropping back in distance to contest this race today. If he can win this he certainly is a real talent and all indications are that he can certainly do just that. The Derby does look to have some serious talent and a fair few chances which have to be proven over the 2000m and it does look like being a very exciting race. What I can tell you about today is that it does look open early in the card but there is a lot of value there as well if the on top selections get rolled and it may very well be a day of taking a few flexi boxed exacta’s on the side as if they hit they will result in nice dividends. We went well last week and have a bit in the kitty as a result of that with our best bet winning along with our best value selection at odds of 12/1 along with 6 exacta’s. On average the results are very good so enjoy the form and have great meet.

Track and Conditions: Turf A Course. Track currently rated as Good.

 

Expected Weather: Sunny intervals with coastal fog which may be present throughout the morning and day. Top temperature of 22 degrees and the wind will be from the east to south east which should give a slight tail wind down the straight assisting closers to some degree but overall it should be a fair playing ground.

 Best Bet: Race 6 No 4 Righteous

Best Value: Race 8 No 12 Super Talent

Best Exotic Races: Race No’s 7-8-9-10

Quaddie:-

Race 7: 1-2 Race 8: 4-12 Race 9: 1-4-2-6-3 Race 10: 2-14-5-1

 

Race 1: — Time: 5.00am GMT—Distance: 1650m—Class 5

Top Pick: No 1 Fortune Territory

Value Selection: No Opitimizational Star

Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Best Jade Triumph and No 9 Solar Boy

 

Race Overview

Well Joao just keeps getting the good mounts and no different today. Fortune Territory dropped back in class last start for the first time in a long while and looks to have made an instant improvement.  Ran a very nice close up third on that occasion and was closing off well with top weight from a very wide draw. Comes up with a much better draw today in gate 2 and has to be a strong consideration here. Optimizational Star has found himself in some good form lately winning two of his last three over this distance at this class hence the weight rise. He ran on well on both those occasions and there should be enough pace throughout this race to allow him to close off well once again today. Certainly appeals at current odds of 10/1 with Zac Purton in the saddle.

 

Race 2: — Time: 5.30am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 4

Top Pick: No 8 Tracker

Value Selection: No 1 Trendy World

Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Unique Joyful and No 10 Thunder Dash

 

Race Overview

This does look open and very hard to separate the form here so I would be taking it easy in this one. Tracker Just the one start in Hong Kong and that was over this distance at Sha Tin. Did not begin the best on that occasion but mustered to make up ground. His hoop on entering the straight lost his right rein and took some time to regather. All the same he fought on well on that occasion and should certainly strip fitter today. Trendy World raced very well first up in Hong Kong then put in a sub standard performance last start. Not quite sure where they are going with this one but I do have a feeling that he will race very much better today. Retains his usual hoop and I would not be surprised to see him go very close here from a good draw in gate 5.

 

Race 3: — Time: 6.00am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 4

Top Pick: No 3 Bear Rapper

Value Selection: No 1 Plenty Of Speed

Exotic Inclusions: No 6 Royal Elegance and No 14 Jade Pippo

 

Race Overview

Bear Rapper well he really was expected to win last start but looking at that race he really did not have much luck in the early stages and was left with too much ground to make up.  Retains Joao Moreira in the saddle and drawn well once again and if he gets away ok he is the one to beat and does deserve to break through on current form. Plenty Of Speed recently dropped back to this class and has gone close on both occasions since doing so. He crossed and sat on the speed on both those starts from gate 14 and it will be no surprise see him perform even better after coming up with a decent gate today. Weighted at his best but he does get a 7 Lb claim today as well. Appeals as value here at nice odds.

 

Race 4: — Time: 6.30am GMT—Distance: 1600m—Class 4

Top Pick: No 8 Gold Dragon

Value Selection: No 1 D’or Wongchoy

Exotic Inclusions: No 12 Rugby Ambassador and No 4 Vara Pearl

Race Overview

Gold Dragon Just the four starts in Hong Kong but all have been good and placed on three occasions. Has been closing off very well over the 1400m which does suggest that the extra 200m today may very well be what he is looking for. From Barrier four you would expect he will be well placed in the running and would not have to improve too much to be right in the finish once again. D’or Wongchoy won first up this season over this distance at this class then went up to class three and found it tuff going. Back to class four today and as a result back up in the weights but he has won at this class with only 1 Lb less so has to be a strong consideration today even from the wide gate. Vara Pearl I am going to throw this one in as my BOLTER of the day here as his form overall is certainly consistent enough to match up against these runners. Has drawn wide but there should not be enough early pace to prevent him getting across into a nice trail position. He has Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the saddle today and following in Douglas Whyte’s footsteps this South African rider from Durbin does have some class and will certainly be egar to display it in his first race in Hong Kong. Certainly looks over the odds here and is currently around the 30/1 mark.

 

Race 5: — Time: 7.00am GMT—Distance: 1800m—Class 3

Top Pick: No 4 Ensuring

Value Selection: No 5 Industrialist Way

Exotic Inclusions: No 8 Photon Willie and No 6 Top Act

 

Race Overview

Ensuring is a last start winner and has been much more consistent at this distance this season. Still just gets in ok at the weights on those performances and certainly has appeal at current odds as well. Industrialist Way is far too consistent to leave out here as he has really been on song at this class over these distances this season. Won and placed twice over this distance at this class this season and still retains the same weight as last start. All points for another very good performance once again today as he just has to hold form which you would expect he should do. Retains Brett Prebble in the saddle who is the master of the weave and a very good hoop in staying events. The other rated runners will all have their chances as well looking at this field

 

Race 6: — Time: 7.00am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 3

Top Pick: No 4 Righteous

Value Selection: No 10 Lucky Day

Exotic Inclusions: No 8 Sight Seeing and No 1 Chater Legend

 

Race Overview

Righteous Just the three starts in Hong Kong and all have been at Sha Tin over this distance. Won his first two in good style but certainly looked to have been robbed last start as he was hampered early on and to me looked to get into a pocket running into the straight and really never got out until very late. Looked to be a victim of the way the hoops ran that race. Should atone here and really does look the one to beat. Lucky Day has been bouncing up and down between class 3 and class 4 and has been consistent without winning this season. Up a touch in the weights but looking at this field he has another good chance today. Does come across as the value selection here.

 

Race 7: — Time: 8.00am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class – Group One

Top Pick: No 1 Able Friend

Value Selection: No 2 Gold-Fun

Exotic Inclusions: No 6 Beauty Flame-No 5 Gordon Lord Byron / No 4

Ambitious Dragon

Race Overview

This is the first of two sensational group races today. If Able Friend can drop back in distance today he really is the real deal. I really do suspect he will do just that as he does look to be something right out of the box. From winning a Maiden at Wyong to winning G1’s in Hong Kong it certainly is a great story and I do believe it will only continue. Would love to see him on the world stage or even back in Australia for a tilt at something special but the owners love him and will have the final say but for me he has the class to win this especially at set weights. Gold –  Fun ran a sensational race last start over the 1200m and was closing off very hard late on that occasion to just get up in the shadows of the post. Looks even better suited today over the 1400m and under set weights looks right in this up to his neck. Retains his last start hoop and will certainly be in the firing line at some point. I must say I can certainly see some value in the rest of the field here so I have to include some at good odds but will need luck just the same but Beauty Flame is by far too consistent to leave out here and will certainly test this lot. Very nice 2nd at G1 last start over the mile. Has great early speed and is always close up in the running. Nothing should change today as he comes up with another good gate and retains his regular hoop as well. Has to go in as a very solid chance once again today.

 

Race 8: — Time: 8.35am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 3

Top Pick: No 4 King of Mongolia

Value Selection: No 12 Super Talent

Exotic Inclusions: No 13 Dashing Fellow and No 7 Divine Diya

 

Race Overview

King Of Mongolia Just the two starts in Hong Kong and both have been at Sha Tin over the 1200m. Improved a fair bit to record a nice win last start although helped a bit by the way things went in the straight. Never the less he did close off extremely well indicating that the extra 200m will certainly be in his favour today as he has won over 1600m prior to coming to Hong Kong and yes that was at Kembla Grange. :).  Will test this field over this distance. Super Talent is never very far away and in fact has only missed a place on one occasion since coming to Hong Kong and that was for a 4th at his first start. Has certainly came on since then and closed off very hard at his first attempt over this distance last start and in running 3rd he was continuing to make ground on the post. Goes around with the same weight as last start which is a bonus and Douglas Whyte sticks with him. Only query is the wide gate but he does like to close off and you would expect that is what they will do with him today.

 

Race 9: — Time: 9.10am GMT—Distance: 2000m—Class – HKG1

Top Pick: 1 Luger

Value Selection: No 4 Giant Treasure

Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Beauty Only and No 6 Redkirk Warrior / No 3 Thunder Fantasy

 

Race Overview

This looks like a great race and I reckon we can go close to getting the top four fairly close here but just the same there is some serious talent in this race. Set weights once again and that will certainly help the runners with a touch more class as they have displayed. I don’t think there is too much between Redkirk Warrior,Giant Treasure.Beauty Only,Luger and Thunder Fantasy. Luger has not drawn well but it should not affect things much over the 2000m . Had a setback but looks to have that behind him now after a very nice win over the Sha Tin mile last start. No real stayers in that race but it did have some very good quality runners just the same. Interesting to see that Douglas Whyte is off him and onto Giant Treasure but Zac Purton is the perfect replacement. Giant Treasure has been there about and obviously set for this race. Douglas Whyte sticks with him and he certainly looks very well placed over the extra distance today the way he has been finishing off his races since arriving in Hong Kong and does look suited at set weights.

 

 

Race 10: — Time: 9.50pm GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 2

Top Pick: No: 2 Let Me Go

Value Selection: No 14 Travel First

Exotic Inclusions: No 5 Eroico and No 1 Formular One / No 9 Jazzy Feeling

 

                                                         Race Overview         

 

Let Me Go went up for the one start at Class two last start and performed very well . Back to class two today but does look well suited at this class after some very polished performances this season. Only has to produce that form today to be another very good chance once again. Looks fine at the weights and it is very good to see Tommy Berry back in town. Appeals as a solid chance here. Travel First has been a very consistent type at class three since arriving in Hong Kong without winning but the class rise and the drop in weight may certainly help today as he dose get a 15Lb weight drop today. Comes up with a nice draw in gate four and currently at each way odds appeals as value here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horse Racing Preview – Saturday 14th March

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It’s been a real test of stamina this week, for punters as well as the horses! Four days and 27 races at Cheltenham will have tested the reserves of many horse racing fans this week, even if the bookmakers insist on telling us otherwise. Of course, had Annie Power stood up on Tuesday things would have been a lot worse for them.

The show rolls on to Uttoxeter for the Midlands Grand National (previewed separately) with supporting cards at Kempton and on the all-weather at Lingfield. There is also the small matter of an estimated £600,000 scoop 6 jackpot.

Tony McCoy could not add to Uxizandre’s victory in the Ryanair Chase but he may not be finished for the week just yet as he has a major chance in Saturday’s feature race on Catching On. It could be a good day for the champ as he rides three with chances for Jonjo O’Neill and two for Rebecca Curtis.

The feature race at Lingfield is the Winter Derby and this sets up an intriguing re-run of the recent Trial. On that occasion Grendisar got the better of Lamar by a short-head with Cloudscape and Grandeur close up. Jockey Martin Harley produced him at the furlong pole and he hit the front before trying to pull himself up.

He is clearly very talented but has to be ridden to put his nose in front as late as possible. He has not been out of the first two in his last nine races so he looks a good each-way bet. I have great respect for both Grandeur and Cloudscape and a thrilling finish is in prospect. Godolphin’s Tryster has been winning on a variety of surfaces and could also come into the equation.

Our old friend Dungannon could gain a first success at Listed level later on the card for Andrew Balding. He was desperately unlucky to be beaten in a photo finish at Southwell last time but acts well around here and many of his rivals are out of form or returning from a break.

Grendisar 3.05 Lingfield @6-1 Paddy Power

Catching On 3.50 Uttoxeter @4-1 Betfair

Dungannon 3.40 Lingfield @9-2 Ladbrokes

The scoop 6 races (all live on C4): 2.20 Kempton, 2.40 Uttoxeter, 3.05 Lingfield, 3.15 Uttoxeter, 3.30 Kempton, 3.50 Uttoxeter