Category: Horse Racing

Imperial Cup Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Any punters hoping to top up their wallets before heading to Cheltenham will be dismayed when they see the card for the Imperial Cup. The race has attracted a 24-strong field worthy of next week’s County Hurdle at the festival and will take a good deal of sorting out.

The race that may hold the best clues is the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury won by Violet Dancer. Calipto finished fourth, Arzal sixth and Fascino Rustico fell three out when still in contention. A case can be made for all three but I am just siding with Arzal who was almost brought to a standstill when almost brought to a standstill by a fallen rival.

Jockey Paul O’Brien did well to sit tight and did not rush his mount back into the race, making late progress up the home straight. He was never going to threaten the winner but he looks better value than Calipto at almost twice the price. The Paul Nicholls-trained runner wore a hood that day but it has been left off on Saturday, presumably having made little or no difference. I am just not convinced that he is the sort of horse that will relish a struggle. O’Brien claims a useful 7lbs on Arzal which puts him in with an each-way chance.

Fascino Rustico seems a bit accident prone having taken his fair share of falls in his short career. He was slightly frustrating when trained by Nicholls and is giving Dan Skelton similar concerns. He moved well on the outside at Newbury but had just come under pressure when diving at the third last. The likely favourite is David Pipe’s Bidourey who has been winning novice hurdles easily and now steps up in grade. He will probably be kept right up with the pace but it can be a long way home at Sandown and he is still only four years of age.

Nicky Henderson did Betcirca followers a favour today with Lessons In Milan (tipped at 3-1) and that made it five winners from his last six runners. The Lambourn trainer seems to have his string peaking at just the right time to take on the massed ranks of Willie Mullins at Cheltenham. I’m hoping that applies to Top Notch and Whisper who are carrying my support at fancy prices next week.

He is represented here by the enigmatic West Wizard. He was ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle a few seasons back but has been beaten three times at odds-on. Last time out he came up against a smart recruit in Minella Rocco so it may have been no disgrace to finish seven lengths adrift. He obviously isn’t as good as Henderson originally hoped and must have had his training problems but I cannot ignore him with just 10st 8lbs.

William Hill and BetVictor are offering each-way down to fifth place on this race so check with your bookmaker when placing your bets.

Arzal @14-1 BetVictor

West Wizard @9-1 William Hill

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4,5

Cheltenham blog – Top 3 offers and ante-post roundup

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Only four more sleeps to the start of the Cheltenham Festival! We at Betcirca aim to keep you right up-to-date with the latest news on market movers, runners and riders and special offers.

Most bookmakers went “non-runner – no bet” on all 27 races from the start of this week following the lead set by Bet365 on February 20th. If you placed a bet after that date with them, you will get a full refund so please be careful before you throw away those betting slips!

Our Top 3 Cheltenham Special Offers

Paddy Power – If Douvan wins the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, all losing bets up to a maximum of £50 per customer will be refunded as a free bet. The same applies should Un De Sceaux win the Arkle Trophy. Both races are on the opening day which promises to be one of the biggest betting days in the history of the Cheltenham Festival. Willie Mullins could saddle as many as five favourites and bookmakers fear a monster pay-out.

William Hill – Back any horse in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and, if you do not win, you will get your money back as a free bet up to a maximum of £25 per customer.

Coral – NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. Join Coral now and get odds of 5-1 against Ruby Walsh riding a winner at the Cheltenham Festival. This offer applies only to a maximum £5 but should pay out an almost instant £25 profit. Ruby not only has Douvan and Un De Sceaux on Tuesday, he also rides Champion Hurdle favourite Faugheen and the odds-on Annie Power.

We have already previewed several of the big races in detail with some ante-post each-way tips. Click the links below:

ARKLE TROPHY – Vibrato Valtat @5-1

CHAMPION HURDLE – Arctic Fire @16-1

CHAMPION CHASE – Champagne Fever @6-1

RYANAIR CHASE – Johns Spirit @9-1, Hidden Cyclone @10-1

WORLD HURDLE – Saphir Du Rheu @5-1, Whisper @14-1

TRIUMPH HURDLE – Top Notch @16-1, Pain Au Chocolat @20-1

CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP – Lord Windermere @14-1, Djakadam @16-1

Latest News

The going at Cheltenham is reported to be good to soft, good in places. There is some rain forecast over the weekend but it seems unlikely that the going will be worse than good to soft by Tuesday. Foxrock will run in the Ryanair Chase instead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and he is generally an 8-1 chance.

Sandown Friday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The racing has been pretty poor in the UK this week with Cheltenham looming on the horizon. The action perks up a little this weekend at Sandown with the Grand Military Gold Cup and Imperial Cup.

The Grand Military used to be a matter of picking the best jockey but the standard has definitely improved over the years. Paul Nicholls looks to have a strong hand this year with Howlongisafoot and Merrion Square and the market suggests that they will finish in that order.

Howlongisafoot ran well in a couple of handicap hurdles at the start of the season, finishing fifth at Cheltenham behind Unique De Cotte. The winner is a leading fancy for the Martin Pipe Hurdle next week at the festival. He ran here over fences in December and was beaten only a length and a quarter by Generous Ransom, another horse that is festival-bound.

He was well backed last time in a minor race at Taunton and beat Freckle Face by five lengths. He is only up 5lbs for that victory and should give Jody Sole a second winner in the race. He rode Merrion Square to victory here in 2013 but that horse may be in need of the outing this time. He was well beaten at odds-on at Worcester in August on his last start.

For the double I am going for Nicky Henderson’s Lessons In Milan in the handicap hurdle. It has not been the best season so far for the Lambourn trainer but his last four runners have won including 12-1 shot Hurricane Higgins on the flat. That augurs well for his runners next week including Peace And Co and L’Ami Serge.

Lessons In Milan is a lightly-raced seven-year-old by St Leger winner Milan out of a mare by Doyoun. He won a point-to-point in Ireland and was pitched in at Ascot on his debut against odds-on stable companion Out Sam. He was not disgraced in third and then romped to a 37-length victory at Lingfield. Admittedly it was a very poor contest but the handicapper has taken a chance by giving him a mark of 126 here.

His main danger will probably be Ustica for the Jonjo O’Neill – Tony McCoy combination. He has a similar profile but was far less impressive when scrambling home at Uttoxeter from Jalingo. The handicapper has rated him on the same figure as Lessons In Milan.

Howlongisafoot 3.25 @13-8 Paddy Power

Lessons In Milan 4.00 @3-1 Ladbrokes

Get 5/1 on Ruby Walsh to ride a winner at Cheltenham

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Super Ruby – Ruby Walsh To Win ANY Race – 5/1

 

Legendary Irish Jockey Ruby Walsh is as much a part of the Cheltenham Festival as the famous Cheltenham Roar.   Taking the top rides of trainers such as Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins means that Ruby will be a firm favourite in the hearts and minds of punters every time he races.

Our partners Coral are offering a mouthwatering 5/1 on Ruby to ride a winner. This is usually 1/20, but it’s now 5/1 for new customers! Below is more details on this amazing offer:

 

  • Ruby Walsh To Win ANY Race – 5/1
  • New Customer Only
  • Max Bet £5
  • Winnings Paid As Cash

Fancy £25 for free? Get yourselves signed up here. If you don’t sign up through our link this offer will not be credited to your account, so be sure to click it!

 

Triumph Hurdle Preview

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The Triumph Hurdle used to be something of a lottery but winners have been easier to find in recent years. The classy Zarkandar won this in great style while the ill-fated Our Conor was one of the easiest winners in the history of the race.

There could well be something of his class on show again this season with Nicky Henderson set to run three, all of which have sound claims. The market has been dominated by Peace And Co since he sauntered to victory on his debut at Doncaster. Henderson has wisely avoided listing his runners in order of preference as both Hargam and Top Notch have top class form.

I dipped my toes in the ante-post market at 16-1 for Top Notch before his Haydock win and I’m pleased to see that connections still plan on running him. He is in the same ownership as the favourite and it must have been tempting to save him for Liverpool. Although it was a very poor field for the Victor Ludorum, he won like an improving juvenile and I’m hopeful of him making the frame.

Alan King has got fond memories of this race, both as a trainer and as assistant to the late David Nicholson. Mysilv was a very popular winner and Katchit went on to win the Champion Hurdle, the only five-year-old to do so in recent times. King runs Pain Au Chocolat here, a winner at Plumpton and Sandown on his last two starts. His latest victory is hard to assess as they crawled for the first half mile but he certainly has an each-way chance.

Punters were tripping over themselves to get on Beltor after he bolted up at Kempton in the Adonis Hurdle. He was no great shakes on the flat but horses can improve stones for a few flights of hurdles. He did race very keenly and you would have to worry about him settling in this big field. At first glance he looks more of an Aintree type but connections are having a tilt at the big one.

You cannot rule out the Willie Mullins runners and he looks set to saddle his Leopardstown first and second, Petite Parisienne and Kalkir. There did not really seem to be any excuses for the runner-up but there are no obvious lines linking the English and Irish form.

Top Notch @16-1 William Hill*

Pain Au Chocolat @20-1 BetVictor

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3 (Non-runner – no bet)

*Ante-post

Arkle Challenge Trophy Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

If you are betting on the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham next week, it is well worth considering the special offer by Paddy Power. They are refunding all bets on losers if the favourite Un De Sceaux wins the race for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh. This offer also applies to each-way bets and on the favourite Douvan in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The favourite suffered his first defeat when falling three out at Thurles in November with the race at his mercy. A year ago, the media were speculating whether or not Mullins would risk Un De Sceaux in the Champion Hurdle but the trainer decided to take him to France instead.

That proved to be very lucrative with Grade 3 and Grade 2 hurdle race victories at Auteuil before being put over fences this winter. Following his fall at Thurles, Un De Sceaux recorded easy victories at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown including a fifteen lengths win over Clarcam in the Irish Arkle Chase in January. He is yet to be truly tested over fences but could face a large field here and his jumping will have to spot on.

His  main market rival is Vibrato Valtat who would probably be favourite in a normal year for Paul Nicholls. The grey was a fair handicapper over hurdles but he looks very classy over fences. Prior to his latest victory at Warwick, I wondered whether he would always keep a bit to himself on the run-in. He does not always seem to find as much off the bridle as appears likely but he quickened four and a half lengths clear of Top Gamble at the midlands track. Odds of around 5-1 with a free bet refund if the favourite wins looks a tempting offer.

Josses Hill would have been on many short-lists at the start of the season but he has not lived up to expectations over fences so far. He has only a workmanlike Doncaster victory to his credit so far, although jockey Barry Geraghty insists that a fast pace will see him in a much better light. It may be that he has been slow to come to himself this season. Henderson’s last four runners have all won including Hurricane Higgins at Lingfield on the flat so the yard could be hitting form at the right time.

Vibrato Valtat @5-1 Paddy Power*

*Money back as a free bet (up to a maximum of £50) if Un De Sceaux wins