Tag: Godolphin

Newmarket Preview Saturday 29th June

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Having previewed the Irish Derby earlier in the week I am happy to stick with my opinion that Ruler Of The World should follow up his Epsom Derby victory. I would expect Libertarian and Galileo Rock to follow him home and we should at least have a clearer indication of the likely St Leger winner by tomorrow evening.

The Northumberland Plate has turned into the ante-post punters nightmare. Several key non-runners including Tiger Claw because of the likelihood of fast ground (now good to soft). I suppose there was an element of poetic justice in the fact that the connections “stand-in” Lieutenant Miller failed to make the cut by one. The leading fancies have been drawn in the car park so most punters have switched their allegiance to some well-drawn hurdling types instead.

Whatever the fate of my Pitmen’s Derby selections, there are plenty of other good races to look at on Saturday. My first selection is for Godolphin’s Lost In The Moment in the Fred Archer Stakes. I’ve followed this nag from his handicapping days and even put some hard earned cash on him at huge odds for the Melbourne Cup in 2011. Rather like Godolphin, I am yet to enjoy success in that particular race but he did his best in finishing sixth.

I could probably write a small book about the fun I’ve had following Lost In The Moment. I tipped him strongly for the Goodwood Cup when he flew home and just failed to catch Opinion Poll. I fancied him for the Ebor but he suffered a lousy draw and could only stay on through beaten horses. All water under the bridge! Tomorrow he’s back in a five-runner listed race over a mile and a half and if he’s fit enough he can gain his first victory since 2011.

Another old friend is my selection in the Criterion Stakes, Jim Goldie’s Hawkeyethenoo. He has done nothing wrong this season in top quality sprint races. Either Graham Lee has been giving him too much to do or (giving Lee the benefit of the doubt) he needs to step up to seven furlongs. I can’t remember the last time I backed a winner ridden by Jamie Spencer but he has a chance to make amends tomorrow.

My third tip for the meeting is Nabucco in the 4.05. I followed several of Gosden’s horses at Royal Ascot and they all ran well. This fellow came up against a good sort in Niceofyoutotellme last time and Ryan Moore has been booked tomorrow. He holds a Magnet Cup entry so JG clearly thinks he has a big handicap in him this season.

Lost In The Moment 11-2 Totesport
Hawkeyethenoo 4-1 Paddy Power
Nabucco 4-1 Paddy Power

Horse Racing Preview Saturday 8th June

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Haydock has put together a decent card on Saturday with the feature race being the Timeform Jury Stakes, a Group 3 seven-furlong race better known as The John Of Gaunt Stakes. Previous winners include Decorated Hero and Main Aim and it is ideal for those horses that fall between sprinter and miler.

Darryl Holland rode Pastoral Player to victory here 12 months ago and Graham Lee is in the saddle tomorrow as the six-year-old bids to win it for a second time. Hughie Morrison’s gelding looked a shade unlucky when fourth behind Eton Forever here last month and that form has since been boosted by the Diomed Stakes win of Gregorian. He will need to reverse the placings with both the winner and Red Jazz (3rd) but I think the quicker ground will help.

Ambivalent is likely to be sent off favourite for the Pinnacle Stakes after finishing second to the useful Dalkala at York. She ran quite freely there and I’m not entirely convinced that she will be suited by this step up in trip. I’m prepared to take the 9-2 available about Godolphin’s Prussian. Her latest effort when second in Meydan was possibly flattering but a similar display would see her home in this grade.

Hoyam and Hayley Turner will be a popular choice for the Cecil Frail Stakes after just losing out at Nottingham last time. This looks a difficult little race but I’m going for City Girl to provide Ralph Beckett with another decent prize. She was well beaten by Zanetto at Newbury last time but had a smart performer in Ninjago behind in third and she must rate a fair bet at 8-1.

The Listed Sandy Lane Stakes looks like set to go the way of Richard Hannon’s The Professor. He was an easy winner at Ascot and can follow up here at the expense of Irish raider Clancy Avenue.

Over at Newmarket there is a decent sprint with Sir Michael Stoute’s Enrol and Nocturn set to clash over six furlongs. I have backed Nocturn ante-post for the Wokingham but neither horse looks certain to get a run at this stage. I liked his performance at York and am reluctant to pass him over off only a 3lbs higher mark. However, Enrol also impressed me when winning at Doncaster under hands and heels and looks destined for better things. Backing favourites in sprint handicaps may be the quick way to the poor house but I think 11-4 is a decent bet.

Niceofyoutotellme was widely touted ahead of the big Epsom meeting but was withdrawn from his intended engagement. He did produce a good burst of speed to win last time and I would not be surprised to see him sent off favourite but Ehtedaam strikes me as another horse going the right way. His rider did not need to resort to the whip to see off Nabucco last time and I can’t see the result being any different here.

Newmarket
Ehtedaam 3-1 Ladbrokes
Enrol 11-4 William Hill

Haydock
Prussian 9-2 Bet365
Pastoral Player 3-1 Ladbrokes
City Girl 8-1 Bet365
The Professor 6-4 William Hill

Newmarket 2000 Guineas Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

I am just back from a week away and have been catching up with the news. I thought that I had selected a pretty quiet week for a break but apparently not! The Godolphin doping scandal has rocked the racing world; most particularly Newmarket as it shudders at the thought of life after Sheikh Mohammed. Fortunately it seems that there is no immediate threat to his racing empire and Mahmood Al Zarooni has been hastily despatched back to Dubai on the back of an eight year ban. That all seemed to be dealt with rather too hastily and you can’t help but wonder what repercussions lie just around the corner.

It only seems like yesterday that we were trying (in vain) to work out the Grand National winner and here we are approaching the first classic of the new turf season! Godolphin may have lost the chance to run Certify in the 1000 Guineas but they still have the favourite for the first colt’s classic in Dawn Approach. He is trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger but there is no doubt that the Godolphin operation has been tainted by recent events and it would be ironic if they collect on Saturday. He was smart enough as a two-year-old but without a recent outing I am not remotely tempted by odds in the region of 11-8.

His victory in the Dewhurst Stakes was more workmanlike than spectacular and he briefly looked in trouble before responding to pressure to run down stable companion Leitir Mor. He was well on top at the finish but it did not look a vintage renewal. In third place that day was Aidan O’Brien’s George Vancouver who closed in to challenge before flattening out again in the last furlong. He has three and a half lengths to make up on Dawn Approach but put up a much improved effort to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf next time out. He was given a perfect ride by Ryan Moore that day, holding his position on the fence before being produced between horses in the short straight.

The chief market rival to the favourite is Richard Hannon’s Toronado. His front-running display in the Craven Stakes has seen his price collapse to 9-4 and you can understand why. Hannon rates him right up there with the best and he goes into the race fit and unbeaten. He also looks a straight forward ride and you would expect Richard Hughes to have him right up there from the outset. Whether or not 9-4 is great value is hard to say but he looks a major player.

Aidan O’Brien also runs Cristoforo Colombo and Mars with Joseph O’Brien preferring to ride the former. He looks tried and tested and the application of cheek pieces on Saturday does not inspire confidence. Mars is obviously a colt of enormous potential but seems well down the pecking order at Ballydoyle ahead of the first classic. I am a big fan of Garswood who did this column a favour when winning the Free Handicap in great style recently. Trainer Richard Fahey admitted that he had no idea whether or not he would stay the seven furlongs that day but he is apparently now full of hope that he will last the mile. As much as I like the colt, I must admit that it had occurred to me that he was a classic contender and I am slightly mystified by his price of 12-1.

Of the remainder, I like Moohajim but his run in the Greenham suggested that he will not stay a mile. He cruised into contention but found little under pressure behind Olympic Glory. He will presumably be held up to get the trip but it is difficult to be confident that he will do so. Toronado looks the most likely winner but I’m also going to recommend an each-way bet on George Vancouver at 16-1.

Toronado 9-4 William Hill
George Vancouver (each-way) 16-1 Paddy Power