Tag: craven meeting

Faydhan to stake Guineas claim at Newmarket

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Craven meeting gets under way at Newmarket on Wednesday with a fascinating eight-race card. All eyes will be on 2000 Guineas second favourite Faydhan, trained by John Gosden. He created a big impression with a six lengths victory on his debut over Dutch Connection at Haydock.

That was way back in July last year and he was unable to race again at two due to injury. Gosden has elected to go for the seven furlong Free Handicap rather than the Craven over a mile. His four rivals don’t look Guineas class and it will be a major surprise if he is beaten.

The fillies take centre stage with the Nell Gwyn Stakes at 4.05. There are some proven performers in here and a couple of unbeaten fillies with great potential. Marsh Hawk is probably the pick of the field on two-year-old form but more likely classic contenders are Beautiful Romance and Lady Correspondent.

Godolphin’s Beautiful Romance won in the style of a staying filly on her debut and looks more of an Oaks prospect. I’m just going to side with Gosden’s Lady Correspondent who won a decent maiden in good style and will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

Moore has an excellent book of rides and can also take the £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Sprint aboard The Warrior for Aidan O’Brien. He may be more exposed than some of his rivals but I liked the way he sliced through a big field first time out and he will lack nothing for fitness.

Richard Fahey has a high opinion of Akeed Champion who disappointed in soft ground on his second start last season. He can make amends in the opener while it is difficult to oppose Brocklesby winner Ravenhoe in the two-year-old race.

The Feilden Stakes sometimes throws up a classic contender and there are some promising colts in action including the Queen’s Peacock. It is dangerous backing all-weather form on the turf but Festive Fare looked very good last time and can win this for Godolphin. Disegno and Golden Horn are others to consider in another excellent contest.

Whatever happens to Golden Horn, Storm The Stars should run well in the maiden. He was just edged out by the Gosden horse last time and still holds some ambitious entries. The closing handicap looks wide open but it may be worth taking a chance on Navigate who improved with every race as a juvenile.

Akeed Champion 1.45 @2-1 Betfair

Ravenhoe 2.20 @6-4 Bet365

The Warrior 2.55 @9-4 Stan James

Faydhan 3.30 @4-9 Coral

Lady Correspondent 4.05 @5-1 William Hill

Festive Fare 4.40 @3-1 Coral

Storm The Stars 5.10 @2-1 Paddy Power

Navigate 5.40 @12-1 Bet365

Newmarket Wednesday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Newmarket’s Craven meeting gets under way on Wednesday. It hardly seems like five minutes ago that we were looking forward to Cheltenham and here we are looking for classic clues! It will take something spectacular to trump the performance of Kingman at Newbury last weekend. I tipped him at 14-1 for the Guineas last June and that looks pretty good value now.

The fillies dominate day 1 of the Craven meeting and last year Sky Lantern finished second in the Nell Gwyn here. Although she ran well, few would have expected her to turn out to be such a brilliant filly throughout the rest of the season. It may be optimistic to expect there to be anything of her calibre lining up tomorrow but I’m keen on the chances of the once-raced Folk Melody.

My regular readers will know that I am an ardent supporter of Ihtimal for the classics this season but Folk Melody could give Godolphin a useful second string. She won her maiden nicely enough and was going on strongly at the finish. She is by Street Cry out of that good mare Folk Opera so it is entirely possible that she will need further in time but is worth a bet at 8-1 here.

Godolphin can double up late in the day when True Story reappears in the Feilden Stakes. He holds some ambitious entries and did little wrong in his two starts as a juvenile. He was second to subsequent Breeders’ Cup winner Outstrip before landing his maiden in good style. I regard Somewhat as the main danger as he ran some fine races as a two-year-old, notably when second to Berkshire in the Royal Lodge.

I also like the look of Parbold in the European Free Handicap. Richard Fahey won this last year with Garswood and Parbold has a very similar profile. If anything he has a better record going into this event so must give weight to his five rivals. It’s a disappointing turnout for such a good prize but that won’t worry Parbold’s connections.

My old friend John Gosden is winning with everything he saddles at the moment and has two runners tomorrow, both likely to start favourite. Provident Spirit finished second at Doncaster on his debut and can put the experience to good use in the opener. Munjaz was unlucky not to open his account here last year and can further boost Mr G’s incredible strike rate in the 5.10.

Newmarket

1.45 Provident Spirit

3.30 Parbold at 4-1 Stan James, Totesport

4.05 Folk Melody at 8-1 William Hill

4.40 True Story at 3-1 Bet365

5.10 Munjaz

Thursday 17th April Horse Racing Tips

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Poor Sky Lantern. Thought he had it when all the other horses around her were being firmly ridden, wasn’t expecting the eventual winner to sprout wins and go by, nevermind..

Move In Time – 15:30 Newmarket – NAP – 11/2 VCBet

I could of been super boring here and gone for Toronado in the Craven, but i couldn’t tip another oddson horse after the major disappointment of Elusive Hawk last week!

Move In Time. What do we know about this horse? He won a weak Musslebrough maiden after switching stables to David O’Meara, then won a big field handicap at Doncaster last Saturday in some style. If he isnt any worse for wear, he should have an great chance. Season big-field handicappers like Hawkeythenoo and The Cheka oppose today, the former certainly couldnt be ruled out as he’s won on his seasonal reappearance before.

We’re going to stick with a previous listed winner in Move In Time, this is super competitive, and i could spend all night making a case out for many of these runners, but i won’t. Let’s hope Move In Time brings home the chicken!