Category: Horse Racing

Midlands Grand National Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter has been dominated by David Pipe in recent seasons. He has won the last four runnings but has not been able to prepare one for the race this year. Tony McCoy won this race on Synchronised for Jonjo O’Neill in 2010 and that horse went on to win the Gold Cup.

It has been an emotional week for the champion jockey, winning the Ryanair on Uxizandre for Alan King but not quite able to sign off on a winning note with Ned Buntline finishing fourth. There was disappointment for his legion of supporters in the Gold Cup with Carlingford Lough but they will be out to recoup losses here with Catching On.

The seven-year-old won his last race over hurdles last year off a mark of 113 at Wetherby but looks a good deal better than that over fences. He fell on his chasing debut at Market Rasen in November and was given a confidence-boosting run round Wetherby next time. He stayed on well to win over three miles at Huntingdon last month and was put up 9lbs to 124 last time at Exeter.

Wayne Hutchinson was in the saddle that day and always had matters under control. He led two from home and eased clear to win by nine lengths from Coolking. He incurs only a 6lbs penalty and it seems safe to assume that the handicapper will double that for future races. This race is really testing but he didn’t look like stopping over three and three-quarter miles in heavy ground at Exeter. He could develop into the gamble of the day as punters bid to put off those post-Cheltenham blues!

Top weight Shotgun Paddy has done us a favour or two in the past but he will do well to lug 11st 12lb to victory in these conditions. Emma Lavelle’s gelding was third to Hawkes Point in the Classic Chase at Warwick in January with the winner wearing blinkers for the first time. He had looked really sluggish in the Welsh National in December and he could be a threat if the blinds are as effective this time.

Any Irish raiders are usually worth a second look in this race and Jim Dreaper sends Goonyella across the Irish Sea. The gelding has disappointed at Chepstow and Aintree in the past but looked to be on the way back when third to Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam at Gowran Park in the Thyestes Chase.

Catching On 3.50 Uttoxeter @4-1 William Hill

Cheltenham blog – Coneygree wins Gold Cup

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Coneygree became the first novice chaser to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup since Captain Christy when making all the running to beat Djakadam and Road To Riches.

Betcirca followers still held out hopes for 16-1 ante-post advice Djakadam jumping the last but Ruby Walsh’s mount could not quite get to the leader. Trainer Mark Bradstock discussed the options with connections before deciding to go for the Gold Cup in preference to the RSA Chase earlier in the week.

The son of Karinga Bay had won all three races over fences since returning from a long-term injury in November. He was due to race at Plumpton in November but was withdrawn on veterinary advice at the start. He was quickly re-routed to Newbury where he was opposed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Saphir Du Rheu. That rival unseated Sam Twiston-Davies at the seventh fence and Coneygree went on to beat Dell’ Arca by a length and a half.

He followed up by winning the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton but the race was marred by four of the seven runners failing to complete the course. Bradstock decided to test him against established chasers the Denman Chase at Newbury last month. He made all the running to beat Houblon Des Obeaux and Unioniste by seven lengths and three and a half lengths.

That persuaded connections to go for the big one and the rain arrived just in time in the Cotswolds. Coneygree was bred by the late Lord Oaksey and is a half-brother to former Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers. Jockey Nico De Boinville was having his first ride in the race and rode his first festival winner only last year on Whisper for Nicky Henderson.

Coneygree is a top price 10-1 for next year’s Gold Cup with runner-up Djakadam as high as 16-1 with Coral. Don Poli and Vautour are both available at 6-1 after their impressive victories at the festival this week. Road To Riches is 25-1, the same price as today’s beaten favourite Silviniaco Conti.

Djakadam is only a six-year-old, although the French-bred horses do tend to peak at a younger age. He is as short as 8-1 elsewhere so, if you fancy him, the 16-1 should be snapped up quickly.

On The Fringe (tipped at 8-1) won the Foxhunter Chase to end a run of three seconds on the day for Betcirca after Top Notch (16-1), Djakadam (16-1) and Sort It Out (14-1).

Djakadam @16-1 Coral – 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Cheltenham Preview – Friday 13th March

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It’s Gold Cup day at Cheltenham and we look set for a thrilling renewal. If there are any doubts about the quality, there is at least quantity and most punters would rather watch a competitive race with 17 runners than an odds-on favourite in a small field.

Silviniaco Conti supporters will be hoping for third time lucky after falling in 2013 and fading up the hill last year. We will never know whether he would have won had he not tipped up three out but it is difficult to make a case about him not liking the track. He did everything right last year but didn’t quite last home.

The bookmakers are taking a chance at 5-1 about him. We already have Djakadam tipped at ante-post odds of 16-1 but his inexperience may count against him while Lord Windermere will probably run his best race of the season. I also fancy Holywell to post a career best as he loves this meeting.

The action starts with the Triumph Hurdle and we were on Top Notch at 16-1 some weeks ago. I’m pleased that the owners are letting him run despite also having the hot favourite in Peace And Co. I also like Pain Au Chocolat and Devilment at big prices in a fascinating race. Very few of these have actually met in the trials so it is really a shot in the dark.

The County Hurdle is notoriously difficult to sort out and a very appropriate winner would be Sort It Out. He is one of three JP McManus runners along with Waxies Dargle and Princely Conn. The latter is the mount of AP McCoy while Waxies Dargle fell in a big handicap last time and has Paul Carberry in the saddle. Quick Jack will probably start favourite and should run well for Tony Martin.

I’ve been a fan of Value At Risk for the Albert Bartlett for some time so shouldn’t really desert him now. My only concern is the quicker ground but the same applies to most of these. The Henderson horses, Out Sam and Carache Apache, are attractively priced and I wouldn’t put you off either of them.

It will be interesting to see how Sheikh Fahad’s new purchase Current Event gets on in the Foxhunter but I’m siding with Nina Carberry here with On The Fringe. Much of this week has been about Willie Mullins and he can strike again with Roi Des Francs in the Martin Pipe Hurdle. Everyone will be cheering for AP on Ned Buntline in the finale but Blood Cotil is tough and consistent and can close out the meeting for Mullins in style.

New customers only – Racebet 10-1 Nicky Henderson to win 1.30 (max. £5 stake)

1.30 Top Notch @16-1* Ante-post

2.05 Sort It Out @14-1 Bet365

2.40 Value At Risk @12-1 Paddy Power

3.20 Djakadam @16-1 *Ante-post

4.00 On The Fringe @8-1 Ladbrokes

4.40 Roi Des Francs @9-2 Bet365

5.15 Blood Cotil @10-1 Bet365

Cheltenham Gold Cup Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

A large field is set to go to post for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, the feature event of the festival. Rank outsider River Choice is a possible absentee but that would still leave 17 to face the starter.

Silviniaco Conti has been favourite for most of the season and it is surprising that bookmakers are offering as high as 5-1 about the gelding. It is true that he has been beaten in this race twice before, falling in 2013 and fading in the final 150 yards to finish fourth last year. Trainer Paul Nicholls is confident that he has him in perfect condition and a Wednesday treble for the stable has boosted confidence still further.

We tipped Djakadam at 16-1 in our ante-post preview and it looks as though he could start at around half that price. The bare form of his Thyestes Chase victory is not good enough to win this but he has bags of potential and hails from the in-form Mullins stable.

Lord Windermere and Holywell are our next best as they both tend to peak in the spring. Lord Windermere has won the RSA Chase and Gold Cup on his last two visits and he has done enough this year to suggest he can finish in the money at least. Davy Russell rides this course superbly and reminded everyone of that with a double on Wednesday.

I am not convinced that Many Clouds and Road To Riches will enjoy the conditions. There were some fast times on Thursday, notably from Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase, and both horses have shown their best form with plenty of give in the ground. I am not a fan of novices running in the Gold Cup, although Coneygree does jump like an old pro. Good luck to the Mark Bradstock team with their ambitious tilt at the top prize in steeplechasing. Carlingford Lough will come in for support as he is the last ride in the race for Tony McCoy. He jumped poorly here last season and I have my reservations about him.

There is usually a good run from an old stager in the Gold Cup and there are several likely suspects this year. Hardly anyone has mentioned 2013 winner Bobs Worth so there is absolutely no pressure on Barry Geraghty’s mount while On His Own has managed to repeat last year’s tremendous run but could be lit up on the day. And of course there is always The Giant Bolster! Second, fourth and third in previous years, could he have another trick up his sleeve?

Verdict

  1. Silviniano Conti 5-1 (888Sport)
  2. Djakadam 15-2 (William Hill)
  3. Holywell (11-1 William Hill)
  4. Lord Windermere (18-1 Paddy Power)

Cheltenham blog – McCoy savours Ryanair Chase glory

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Tony McCoy stole the headlines on day 3 of the Cheltenham festival with a pillar-to-post victory aboard 16-1 shot Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase.

McCoy, soon to be crowned champion jockey for the 20th time, had endured a couple of frustrating days but set out like a man on a mission on the gelding trained by Alan King. Uxizandre was second at this meeting last year and went on to win at Aintree. He had beaten Simply Ned and Dodging Bullets here in November but lost his way since. King fitted a visor for the first time here and it clearly had the desired effect.

McCoy admitted afterwards that he felt Uxizandre had gone to fast to keep up the gallop but he seemed to relax coming down the hill and had plenty in reserve to hold the well-backed Ma Filleule. It was a 31st festival winner for McCoy but he may not be finished just yet. He has five rides on the final day including Hargam (Triumph Hurdle), Carlingford Lough (Gold Cup) and Ned Buntline (AP McCoy Grand Annual).

Latest Offers

A reasonable assessment of the festival so far would be day 1 to the punters, day 2 all square, day 3 to the bookmakers. With the smallest field on offer on Friday being seventeen, I suspect that this will be the toughest day yet for punters.

Any way of gaining a small advantage is welcome and we have kept you updated on various offers throughout the week. Racebets have been making some generous offers to attract new customers all week. If you still haven’t done so, tomorrow they will give you 10-1 about Nicky Henderson training the winner of the Triumph Hurdle (maximum £5 bet).

That gives you the favourite Peace And Co, Tony McCoy’s mount Hargam and Betcirca’s each-way fancy Top Notch. The Mullins pair and Beltor are the most obvious threats to spoil the party but it could give you a very nice £50 balance in your account!

Market Movers

Quick Jack 2.05 (County Hurdle) 7-1 Stan James

Black Hercules 2.40 (Albert Bartlett) 4-1 Bet365

On The Fringe 4.0 (Foxhunter) 8-1 Paddy Power

Roi Des Francs 4.40 (Martin Pipe) 9-2 Bet365

Ned Buntline 5.20 (AP McCoy Grand Annual) 5-1 William Hill

Cheltenham Preview – Thursday 12th March

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The World Hurdle takes centre stage at Cheltenham on Thursday with Paul Nicholls hoping to add to Wednesday’s impressive haul. The Ditcheat trainer interrupted the domination of Willie Mullins by firing a 1430-1 treble including Dodging Bullets in the Champion Chase.

His World Hurdle hopes are Zarkandar and Saphir Su Rheu and I just prefer the claims of the latter. He progressed through the handicap last season and narrowly beat Whisper in the Welsh Champion Hurdle. That horse went on to win the Coral Cup and followed up in the Aintree Hurdle. Nicky Henderson has endured a miserable two days but I am hoping that Whisper can give him something to smile about.

The action starts at 1.30 and Coral are offering 5-1 about the favourite Vautour finishing in the first three here (new customers only). If you don’t already have a Coral account it may be worth considering to a maximum £10 stake. I think Ptit Zig looks the more attractively priced at 4-1 and he could provide Nicholls with his fourth winner of the meeting. He was unlucky to fall at Ascot last time but has jumped around here safely before and should go well.

The Pertemps Final looks wide open and there has been good money for Edeymi and Call The Cops this week. It does not usually pay to back horses that win handicaps impressively on the eve of the festival so Henderson’s horse might not be great value despite carrying only a 5lbs penalty. I am going to side with Big Easy although the handicapper keeps putting him up for being beaten. The Cesarewitch winner has a touch of class and could make the frame.

Johns Spirit loves it round here and looks worth a bet at 11-1 with Paddy Power in the Ryanair Chase. Don Cossack and Balder Succes are the pick on form but Johns Spirit can cut them down late on if Richie McLernon does not go too soon.

The last two races look almost impossible to solve but David Pipe’s Monetaire has a chance in the Kim Muir. He has only raced twice since arriving from France and did well to finish third here after a couple of mistakes on his first run. Lucinda Russell could give Scotland a winner in the last with Clondaw Knight who lost a shoe when beaten last time.

1.30 Vautour @5-1 Coral to finish in first three (new customers only – max. £10)

1.30 Ptit Zig @4-1 BetVictor

2.05 Big Easy @12-1 Totesport (each-way)

2.40 Johns Spirit @11-1 Paddy Power (each-way)

3.20 Saphir Du Rheu @6-1 Paddy Power

3.20 Whisper @11-1 William Hill (each-way)

4.00 Monetaire @8-1 Betfred

4.40 Clondaw Knight @20-1 BetVictor (each-way)