Tag: Horse Racing Tips

Cheltenham blog – Dodging Bullets wins Champion Chase

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

After the excitement of the Willie Mullins big four on Tuesday, there was a more relaxed mood at Cheltenham on Wednesday. The highlight of the day was the Queen Mother Champion Chase with three former winners up against the promising Dodging Bullets.

The race was robbed of one key ingredient when Champagne Fever was withdrawn and, with all due to respect to Dodging Bullets, it turned into a bit of an anti-climax. There had always been a big question mark as to whether or not Sprinter Sacre could recapture his best form and he was never travelling with his usual zest.

He was eventually pulled up by Barry Geraghty while Sire de Grugy also ran very flat, running on at one pace into fourth. All credit to Dodging Bullets who has done exactly what Sire de Grugy did a year before, winning the key trials and confirming his status as the best two-miler of the season.

Nicholls had earlier won the Coral Cup when the French import Aux Ptits Soins held off Zabana, Activial and Taglietelle in a driving finish. Don Poli ran out a comfortable winner of the RSA Chase but I don’t imagine that there will be a stampede to take the miserly 6-1 offered about him for next year’s Gold Cup. He looks a bit of a character and was continuously pricking his ears up the home straight. Kings Palace once again failed to fire on the big day and finished a remote sixth for David Pipe.

Nicholls went on to complete a 1430-1 treble when Qualando won the Fred Winter Hurdle from stable companion Bouvreuil. Bookmakers will probably deny it but they ought to be well ahead on the second day with only two successful favourites. Many of their big race offers were on Sire de Grugy and Sprinter Sacre and they will all stay firmly in their satchels.

Coral New Customer Offer

Coral are offering new customers 5-1 about Vautour finishing in the first three in Thursday’s opening race. This is limited to a maximum stake of £10. He looks likely to start at around the 9-4 mark as he bids to add to the Mullins winning tally.

Market Movers

Thursday – Edeymi (Pertemps Final) 8-1 Bet365

Thursday – Un Ace (Festival Plate) 10-1 William Hill

Friday – Quick Jack (County Hurdle) 10-1 Sportingbet

Cheltenham World Hurdle Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Paul Nicholls served up a big-race double at Cheltenham on Wednesday with victories in the Coral Cup and Queen Mother Champion Chase. That sets him up perfectly for Thursday’s Grade 1 World Hurdle where he saddles the first two in the betting, Zarkandar and Saphir Du Rheu. Here is our big race guide.

Zarkandar (5-1 888Sport)

Zarkandar won the Triumph Hurdle here in 2011 and was trained for the Champion Hurdle for the following two seasons. He did finish fourth to Hurricane Fly in 2013 but ran as though already needing a greater test of stamina. Since moving up in distance he has won in France and finished a close second to Reve de Sivola at Ascot. Many observers felt that he downed tools on the run-in that day and Noel Fehily will be keen to arrive as late as possible here.

Saphir Du Rheu (5-1 Paddy Power)

Nicholls had intended running Saphir Du Rheu in the RSA Chase but a fall at Kempton persuaded connections to put his chasing career on hold. A victory in the Cleeve Hurdle suggests that they made the right decision and he looks to have a major chance.

Whisper (11-1 Ladbrokes)

It has not been a great week so far for Nicky Henderson but he could receive a tonic if Whisper recaptures his best form here. He was a game winner at the festival last year in the Coral Cup before winning the Aintree Hurdle. The ground should give him every chance of staying this extended trip and he looks good each-way value.

Lieutenant Colonel (9-1 Ladbrokes)

The Gigginstown House Stud colours are carried by the six-year-old Lieutenant Colonel, trained by Sandra Hughes. He has got the better of Jetson at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown and has been backed at big prices in recent days.

Un Temps Pour Tout (12-1 Ladbrokes)

David Pipe’s Un Temps Pour Tout has not quite lived up to his enormous reputation but was not beaten far in the Cleeve Hurdle. He looks like a future chaser in the making and would probably have appreciated a little more cut in the ground.

Monksland (14-1 Ladbrokes)

Noel Meade’s Monksland has shown all of his best form in deep ground and renews rivalry with Dedigout after losing out by a short-head at Gowran Park. It should be close between the pair but both may be tapped for toe in the closing stages.

Nicky Henderson also runs Blue Fashion who would have an outstanding chance on his run behind Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen in November. He has yet to race beyond two and a half miles while At Fishers Cross is tried in blinkers for the first time after some disappointing efforts. Reve De Sivola was fourth in this race in 2013 but will do well to improve on that here.

Verdict

  1. Saphir Du Rheu 2. Whisper 3. Zarkandar 4. Lieutenant Colonel

Cheltenham blog – Annie Power 7-1 Sky Bet offer

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Only one day to go to the start of the Cheltenham Festival 2015 and the special offers are still coming in. As we have highlighted in our previous blog posts, there are some great Cheltenham offers for new and existing customers.

If you are not already a registered customer of Sky Bet, they are offering a colossal 7-1 against the odds-on favourite Annie Power in the Mares’ Hurdle on day 1. The offer is restricted to new customers only to a maximum stake of £5. Even so, that will be a handy £35 worth of free bets in your account for the rest of Cheltenham week if Annie Power does her stuff.

To put her chance in perspective, she is currently rated 162 by the handicapper, 7lbs superior to Polly Peachum and 12lbs better than stable companion Glens Melody. Racing Post ratings give her 12lbs in hand of her nearest rival. Only Saphir Du Rheu and Whisper are rated above her in the World Hurdle, a race in which she finished runner-up 12 months’ ago. In short, she should win!

Latest News

There have not been any further significant non-runners at the meeting, although the betting on the big handicaps will take a while to sort out when the final declarations come through. Horses like Quick Jack are entered in several races and connections are waiting on the final cut and ground conditions before deciding which race to go for.

With no further watering planned for the festival, I would be a little worried if you have backed any mud-lovers in the big races this week. The going looks likely to be no worse than good to soft.

On Monday, we will provide a race-by-race guide for the opening day plus an in-depth preview of the Champion Hurdle as Faugheen bids to extend his unbeaten run. You can follow us on Twitter and sign-up for our free email service with daily tips and special offers.

Market movers

Day 1 – Pendra (Cheltenham Festival Chase) 7-1 Bet365

Day 2 – Aux Ptits Soins (Coral Cup) 9-1 Paddy Power

Day 3 – Djakadam (Gold Cup) 10-1 BetVictor

Day 3 – Roi Des Francs (Martin Pipe Hurdle) 11-2 888Sport

Wolverhampton Lincoln Trial Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The flat racing turf season is not that far away and it is Lincoln Trial day at Wolverhampton on Saturday. The Lincoln can be something of a lottery but the trial is worth a tidy £50,000 so usually attracts a decent field.

Mindurownbusiness represents trainer Roger Varian and is currently priced at 25-1 for the big Doncaster handicap. Graham Lee takes the ride tomorrow on the four-year-old son of Cape Cross who put up his best performance to date when beating Sovereign Debt at Lingfield last month. Jim Crowley was in the saddle that day and always had the colt handily placed before striking for home with a furlong to run.

He holds Melvin The Grate (fourth), Don’t Call Me (sixth) and Halation (seventh) on that form. Mindurownbusiness has gone up 7lbs and has been beaten on his previous visits to the midlands track but it is difficult to see any of the beaten horses reversing the form.

Halation went on to beat Holiday Magic by a head last week at Lingfield but has five and a half lengths to make up. His cause will certainly be helped by the 7lbs claim of Tom Marquand but he has drawn stall ten. Melvin The Grate looks to be in the grip of the handicapper while top weight Solar Deity has not won since 2013.

The fly in the ointment could be Santefisio who was very unlucky when eighth behind Baddilini last time out. Jockey Joe Fanning could be seen sat up in the irons inside the final furlong with nowhere to go. He was forced to accept the situation and finished less than five lengths off the winner. Santefisio is a bit of a law unto himself so caution is advised but there are probably worse 10-1 shots.

In the Listed race which opens the card I like the chances of Sovereign Debt. He chased home Mindurownbusiness and was then unlucky in running behind Baddilini, flashing home in third place. He is 3lbs better off with runner-up Grey Mirage for three-quarters of a length and 11lbs better off with the winner. He breaks from stall one but Joe Fanning will probably try to get him covered up early on.  Intransigent has been a good friend of this column but all of his wins have come in the Autumn/Winter and he carries a 3lbs penalty here.

Sovereign Debt 2.15 Wolverhampton @6-1 Stan James

Mindurownbusiness 2.50 Wolverhampton @9-2 Stan James

Santefisio 2.50 Wolverhampton @10-1 Ladbrokes

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3

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

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