Tag: all-weather racing

Kempton Park Saturday Preview

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After the excitement of the All-Weather Championships at Lingfield, the flat racing action moves to Kempton on Saturday.

There are some decent handicappers in action in the 2.15 with the weights headed by Outback Traveller. Jeremy Noseda’s four-year-old has gone up 12lbs since beating a decent field by seven lengths at Ascot last autumn. That was by far his best run of the season and it will be interesting to see how he fares off this new mark.

Ninjago was runner-up in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood last season but disappointed in Dubai this winter. He wore blinkers for the first time when winning over course and distance last time but the one I like here is Speculative Bid, trained by David Elsworth.

He has gone up 8lbs for a very impressive course and distance victory under Jamie Spencer. He missed the break but threaded his way through the field on the bridle and was only pushed out to score easily.

Queen Catrine was very frustrating last season after her brilliant run at Royal Ascot in June. She came from last place to force a photograph in the Sandringham Handicap but the verdict went to Muteela. She did not reproduce that form in three subsequent outings and is yet to add to her maiden victory at Ayr in 2013.

Wee Jean was just behind her that day and ran well again at Sandown next time before losing her form. Victoria Regina has run a couple of nice races in Dubai but I prefer to side with Lady Dutch, a comfortable winner here last time. Marco Botti does well with his imports and she looks capable of following up.

Frankie Dettori and John Gosden team up in the 3.25 with the lightly-raced Made With Love. He nearly made all on his debut last season at Newmarket and was surprisingly beaten at odds-on next time. Gosden gave the colt a lengthy break and he duly obliged in a moderate maiden over course and distance.

The Newmarket trainer does not tend to keep that many older horses in training unless they are likely to be top class handicappers or better. All of his rivals on Saturday are thoroughly exposed and it will be disappointing if he cannot kick off the new campaign with a win off a mark of 90.

Speculative Bid 2.15 @4-1 Ladbrokes

Lady Dutch 2.50 @7-2 BetVictor

Made With Love 3.25 @2-1 William Hill

Chelmsford Wednesday Preview

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The new flat turf season may have started on Saturday but the summer festivals seem a long way off with Britain being battered by storms this week. Flat racing fans have to content themselves with all-weather action for the time being but there is a good card at Chelmsford on Wednesday.

The feature race is the Totepool Handicap over a mile and three-quarters at 4.00 with five last-time-out winners in the field of seven. Lady Cecil saddles top weight Tacticus who has bolted up in two minor races at Southwell but the handicapper has punished him accordingly. He was never off the bridle to defy a 6lbs penalty last time but is now up a further 13lbs.

His rivals include the promising Wakea with Dubai World Cup winning rider William Buick in the saddle. The son of Cape Cross looks like a useful stayer in the making but Ryan Moore had to get after him to win on his seasonal debut. Jeremy Noseda has a high opinion of this one while Fergall made a belated start on the flat, winning by nine lengths at Lingfield. He has already won three times over hurdles so could be fairly treated on a mark of 87. I am reluctant to oppose a horse in such good form as Tacticus so he just gets the vote.

The action gets under way at 2.0 with a maiden race over a mile and a quarter. Marco Botti’s Giantouch has the best form in the book and looks sure to improve for this step up in trip but I like the filly Nawaasy. She raced very wide on her debut and was still beaten only a length at the finish. If she has made natural progress through the winter for Charles Hills, a race like this could be an ideal starting point.

Luke Morris can win the sprint at 3.00 on top weight Middle East Pearl for James Tate. He tried to cover her up in behind at Kempton last time when third to Zebs Lad, a fair effort on her first start since December. The danger may be the former Sir Mark Prescott-trained Vejovis. He has won over seven furlongs but is dropping back to the minimum trip after nearly making all over six last time.

Tate and Morris can complete a double on the card with Kempton winner Clampdown in the last race at 5.00. He carries a 6lbs penalty but this looks a much easier contest with the main threat likely to come from Three Gracez.

Nawaasy 2.00 @7-4 Bet365

Middle East Pearl 2.00 @2-1 SkyBet

Tacticus 4.00 @7-2 William Hill

Clampdown 5.00 @13-8 Betfair

Lingfield Friday Preview

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The winter weather is slowly releasing its icy grip on racing in the UK but the pick of the action on Friday looks to be on the all-weather at Lingfield. The highlight is the £28,000 Ladbrokes Handicap and the class horse in the field is Richard Hannon’s Magic City.

The six-year-old is a real seven-furlong specialist who is particularly effective at Goodwood. He picked up three handicaps in quick succession in the summer of 2013 and his handicap mark shot up from 85 to 102 in the process.

He caught the eye on several occasions last season, particularly when flashing home in third behind Red Avenger in the Betfred Mile at his favourite track in August. That showed that he can get a mile on an easy track but seven furlongs is his optimum trip and he looks primed to run a big race on Friday. He picked up a Conditions race at Kempton in November and looks good each-way value at 8-1 with William Hill. His biggest threat may be Brigliadoro who beat subsequent winner History Book last time out over this trip and is only up 3lbs.

The Unibet Offer Handicap Stakes at 2.35 looks a tricky contest with three of the runners having won last time out. Interestingly, all three came from off the pace and I’m siding with Spray Turn to follow up her Wolverhampton victory. Luke Morris looks as if he is trying to take off at times but it is best not to be fooled by all of the arm-waving. Spray Tan is up 4lbs that win but could Morris could have had a bit more up his sleeve than it first appeared.

No doubt there will plenty of punters happy to combine Spray Turn with Burnt Cream in forecast bets and it wouldn’t be the biggest shock if they finish in that order. Burnt Cream is up just 3lbs while Swendab has gone up 6lbs for his Kempton victory over six furlongs.

The best bet of the day may prove to be Coursing for Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris in the 3.40 race. We’ve made a few bob out of Don’t Be in recent weeks for the same combination and Coursing looks like a rapidly improving filly. She showed very little in her first four races but blinkers worked the trick last time, storming home at Wolverhampton by three and a half lengths. She carries a 6lbs penalty here and is much preferred to Grosmont who has shown a tendency to hang under pressure.

Spray Tan 2.35 Lingfield @7-2 Bet365

Magic City 3.10 Lingfield @8-1 William Hill

Coursing 3.40 Lingfield @Evens Paddy Power

Godolphin can land across-the-card double

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Both of Wednesday’s National Hunt meetings are subject to early morning inspections but there is plenty of action on the all-weather with 14 races across Lingfield and Kempton.

The action gets under way at 12.50 at Lingfield with the feature race being the 32Red Conditions Stakes at 3.00. This promises to be a real stamina test over just short of two miles and Godolphin’s Anglophile attempts the distance for the first time.

The four-year-old gelding is a son of Dubawi out of a mare by Caerleon and certainly races as though he will stay. He was very progressive last season, winning a ten furlong handicap at Leicester in June before switching to the all-weather.

He got up late to beat Grendisar in December and followed up off a 5lbs higher mark when beating Mymatechris by a short-head over a mile and a half. He was expected to win here last weekend but could not quite peg back Noble Gift in a falsely-run race.

There were only three runners and the front two quickened up from the turn. He should get a more even pace here and may still have more improvement to come. The danger is Castilo Del Diablo who was only a length behind Anglophile here last month and is now 4lbs better off. You can forget his last run where he was badly hampered a quarter of a mile from home.

Franco’s Secret could defy top weight in the 3.35 after just failing to get up at Kempton last time out. He didn’t show anything until his third career start behind Nigel’s Destiny in October where he ran on late. He then produced a late surge to beat Rightway by a neck and was given a handicap mark of 72. He found seven furlongs a bit too sharp when third to Jungle Bay but improved when stepped up to a mile here on New Year’s Eve.

He overcame trouble in running to dead-heat with Bosstime. He looked unlucky not to follow up at Kempton last weekend when finishing fast behind Gracious George and should go well off the same mark here.

Godolphin can land an across-the-card double with Blue Aegean in the 32Redsport.com Handicap at 6.30. The filly was an easy three-length winner at Chelmsford City earlier this month and runs here under a 6lbs penalty.

She was thought good enough to contest the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer but lost her way after that. She wore a hood for the first time at Chelmsford and could be starting to fulfil her potential. The danger may be Harry Hurricane who beat subsequent winner Emirates Skycargo at Wolverhampton last time. He is dropping back a furlong but also ran at Ascot last summer and is also on the upgrade.

Franco’s Secret 3.35 Lingfield @9-4 William Hill

Anglophile 3.00 Lingfield @2-1 Bet365

Blue Aegean 6.30 Kempton @15-8 Betfair

Southwell Tuesday Preview

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We managed a small profit from the opening day at Chelmsford City (formerly known as Great Leighs) and the general consensus was that it was a fair racing surface. That is good news for flat racing fans who like a flutter on the all-weather through the long winter months.

The action on the sand switches to Southwell on Tuesday and a six-race card featuring a host of familiar names. In the opening race I’m going to take a chance on Novalist who recorded back-to-back victories here before getting trailing in a disappointing sixth last time.

For reasons known only to connections, he raced without his usual blinkers that day and was always struggling. He was also tackling beyond a mile for the first time. He has the headgear restored on Tuesday and we will know our fate within a furlong or so. The main danger is probably the top weight, Queen Of Skies. She is another course winner and has been very consistent for the Appleby stable.

The second race on the card features a re-match between Eium Mac and General Tufto. Last week we sided with the former but he was just run out of it in the final furlong by the ten-year-old. I just wonder whether Raul Da Silva will try to delay his challenge a little longer this time. He was out in front from the two-furlong pole last time and now has a 6lbs pull with General Tufto.

The early money appears to be for Sleet who lost any chance when squeezed out at the start last time. You could make a case for him here but he is yet to win in ten starts and I’m happy to take him on at odds of around 5-2.

Hayley Turner will be a popular choice in the third race aboard Excelling Oscar. He is yet another course and distance winner and holds Never Easy on recent form. There are bits of form that tie in here with Bannister Bell and I’m going to side with More Drama, trained by Sylvester Kirk. She ran well in a very competitive race won by Splash Of Verve at Wolverhampton before fading into midfield at Kempton.

My final bet of the day is for Extreme Supreme in the five-furlong dash. He made his debut at Royal Ascot last summer and he obviously wasn’t up to that class. However, he has steadily improved with racing and is on a hat-trick over course and distance. He wasn’t knocked around last time and could be up to defying a 6lbs rise for Derek Shaw and Patrick Mathers.

Novalist 1.15 @6-1 Ladbrokes

Eium Mac 1.45 @5-2 Bet365

More Drama 2.15 @7-1 Bet365

Extreme Supreme 3.25 @4-1 Paddy Power

Great Leighs racecourse re-opens as Chelmsford City

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When Great Leighs opened in 2008 it became the first new racecourse in Britain for 80 years.  After staging forty meetings, the administrators were called in the following year but the course is set to be re-born as Chelmsford City on Sunday.

The course is now owned by Betfred who have invested in a new grandstand and plan to run it is a leisure venue. There are 58 meetings scheduled for this year, kicking off with Sunday’s seven-race card which begins at 12.50. The opening day is restricted to around 750 guests but future meetings will be open to the public with an increased capacity of 10,000.

Newmarket trainer John Gosden who is a great supporter of all-weather racing and likes to keep his stable ticking over through the winter months. He saddles Zamoura in the 1.20 and Tempus Temporis in the feature event, the Betsi Golden Mile at 2.50.

Zamoura is a three-year-old filly by Azamour out of a mare by Observatory. She created a good impression on her racecourse debut at Lingfield last month when just beaten on the nod by Dreamlike. She took a little while to realise what was required of her but came through strongly under Nicky Mackay to lead inside the final furlong. She has an extra two furlongs to travel here and should have more scope than Richard Fahey’s Pin Up.

Punters are unlikely to get rich on Zamoura but there may be some value with Godolphin-owned Tempus Temporis. He looked decidedly moderate in his first three starts but was transformed by first-time blinkers at Kempton last month. He swept past some more experienced handicappers to win by six lengths and is worth his chance at this level. His biggest threat may come from another Godolphin horse in Super Kid, runner-up at Lingfield over seven furlongs last time out.

The blue of Godolphin could land the opener with Tryster who last ran at Newmarket in much better company. The son of Shamardal was no match for First Flight in receipt of 4lbs but had previously been impressive when winning by five lengths at Brighton in the summer.

Robert Cowell’s Exceedingly could be worth each-way support in a competitive looking sprint at 1.50 while Rizal Park could still be on a winning mark in the 3.20. Andrew Balding’s four-year-old by Amadeus Wolf beat a decent sort in Nigel’s Destiny at Kempton last month and could go close under a 5lb penalty.

Tryster 12.50 @2-1 Ladbrokes

Zamoura 1.20

Exceedingly 1.50 @10-1 Bet365

Tempus Temporis 2.50 @7-2 Coral

Rizal Park 3.20 @4-1 BetVictor