Tag: Horse Racing Tips

Local Time 40-1 for 1000 Guineas after UAE romp

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Meydan provided flat racing fans with a taste of things to come this year with a top quality card on Thursday. The returning Dubai World Cup winner African Story failed to overcome his lengthy absence but there is no doubt who was the star of the show. Godolphin filly Local Time blew away the opposition in the UAE 1000 Guineas, winning by three and a quarter lengths.

The race was billed as a re-match between Local Time and Ad Idem after the pair had been separated by just a short-head in the trial two weeks’ ago. Ad Idem, trained by Mick de Kock, set out in front but was always travelling too keenly in the hands of Paul Hanagan. James Doyle sat in his slipstream before moving upsides with other three furlongs to run.

It was already obvious that Local Time was going much the better and she strode clear to win impressively. Stable companion Good Place ran on well to take second with Ad Idem dropping right away to finish last. A year ago I was very keen on the chances of Ihtimal for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket after a similar performance. She went on to win the UAE Oaks by a record margin before finishing third at Newmarket.

Could Local Time be in that class? She was officially rated only 89 after beating Astrelle in the Oh So Sharp Stakes in October (coincidentally a race won by subsequent Guineas winner Miss France in 2013), a rating revised to 99 after her trial victory. I would imagine this latest win puts her up to around 106. The current 1000 Guineas favourite is Aidan O’Brien’s Found who was third to Cursory Glance (112) in the Moyglare Stud Stakes before winning impressively in France. In terms of the ratings, Local Time is a lively outsider but the bookmakers quotes vary from 16-1 with Stan James to 40-1 with 888sport.

The problem for ante-post backers is guessing Godolphin’s plans for the filly. It seems very likely that she will follow Ihtimal by running in the UAE Oaks before a decision is made regarding Newmarket. If she wins well there, she could run in the UAE Derby or the Guineas. Godolphin may even be tempted to run her in the Kentucky Oaks, given her improved form on dirt.

African Story was always going to be up against it in the Al Maktoum Challenge after almost a year off the track. He never threatened to get involved, eventually finishing seventh behind Frankyfourfingers and Prince Bishop.

Local Time 1000 Guineas @40-1 888Sport, 32Red

Spring Heeled value at 33-1 for Grand National

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The all-weather racing may help to keep business ticking over in the betting shops but it’s no substitute for action on the turf. The recent cold snap has been eating into the fixture list but it does free up some time to look further ahead.

The entries for the 2015 Grand National were announced today with 98 horses taking the first step towards adding their names to the Aintree Hall of Fame. Pineau De Re already has his name etched into the history books after his great victory last season. Unfortunately I was not among his supporters as I was not entirely convinced that finishing third in a hurdle race at Cheltenham was an ideal prep race.

Dr Richard Newland knew better and he is adopting a similar policy this year. The horse has failed to sparkle in his first two outings but may bid to get on the comeback trail at Devon this weekend. Jonjo O’Neill’s Shutthefrontdoor has been among the market leaders since winning the Irish National but is now being challenged for favouritism by Unioniste.

I have a lot of time for the Paul Nicholls-trained grey but I just wonder if he has ruined his handicap mark with that win at Sandown last month. He has gone up 11lbs for that victory to 159 and he could even end up with top weight. Many Clouds (165) has been given an entry but I would imagine he would only run here if he was an early faller in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

I fancy Monbeg Dude to run a big race this year after finishing seventh on his first attempt. I regarded him as something of a mud lark after his Welsh National success but he proved he is better than that by winning a decent prize at Cheltenham on good ground. He has run two super trials at Newbury and Chepstow and is unlikely to do too much between now and Aintree.

The other one that catches my eye is the Irish hope Spring Heeled. Apart from being very appropriately named, he won the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March when holding of Cause Of Causes. He was a fair fifth in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and his only run since was when fourth in the Galway Plate in the summer. Jim Culloty is no mug and he will have been protecting Spring Heeled’s handicap mark before the weights come out. I cannot see his mark going much above 150 which will give him a good racing weight.

Spring Heeled @33-1 Paddy Power

Monbeg Dude @33-1 Paddy Power

¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Horse Racing Preview 31st January

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

What a fabulous weekend of sport! As well as the Australian Open tennis finals, we have the final of the Asian Cup, the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup, the Premiership clash between Chelsea and Man City and the Superbowl! Somewhere in between all of that we have to fit in some top quality Horse Racing action from Sandown and Ffos Las.

The Sandown card gets under way at 12.40 and I hope to see Pain Du Chocolat book his Triumph Hurdle ticket. The unknown quantity is The Saint James, now racing in the colours of JP McManus and ridden by AP McCoy. The champion jockey did us proud in last week’s Sky Bet Chase but I’m hoping he will settle for second here.

There could be another Triumph re-shuffle after the second race where impressive Chepstow winner Bristol De Mai takes on a couple of smarter older horses. I generally don’t like backing four-year-olds against their elders but the French imports are a different matter altogether. If this one hacks up, the owners could face a quandary with ante-post favourite Peace And Co also in their colours.

I’ll side with Ballygarry to confirm Ascot form with Ulck Du Lin in the 1.50, although I am slightly worried about the bounce factor. Ballygarry overcame a year’s absence to win last time but Philip Hobbs is a master of his trade. Irish Saint faces four useful opponents in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at 2.25. He was very impressive at Ascot and I think he will have too much toe for Champagne West over this distance. I’m more worried about Splash Of Ginge who won a competitive handicap on New Year’s Day but he ought to be held on hurdles form.

We picked Polamco earlier in the week for the Heroes Hurdle and I see no reason to desert him but the staying chase that ends the C4 coverage looks tricky. Ardkilly Witness and Theatrical Star were second and third last year and this could be a case of horses for courses. I respect There’s No Panic, winner of the London National here, but think he probably needs further.

The highlight of the Ffos Las card is the 2.05 which goes under the grand name of Welsh Champion Hurdle. Of course it is now a handicap so is anything but a Champion Hurdle but it has produced the last two Coral Cup winners. Rebecca Curtis would love to win this for Wales and has booked Paul Townend for the novice Foryourinformation. He had a bit more in hand than it appeared last time here and may have most to fear from Doll In Milan.

I expect the well-bred Souriyan to win the opener for Jamie Snowden and I’m going to side with Global Power in the West Wales National. It would be great if he could provide Oliver Sherwood with his 1,000 winner as a trainer.

Pain Au Chocolat 12.40 Sandown @7-4 BetVictor

Bristol De Mai 1.15 Sandown @6-4 Bet365

Ballygarvey 1.50 Sandown @9-2 Totesport

Irish Saint 2.25 Sandown @9-4 Bet365

Polamco 3.0 Sandown @4-1 Ladbrokes

Ardkilly Witness 3.35 Sandown @8-1 BetVictor

Souriyan 12.55 Ffos Las @13-8 Paddy Power

Foryourinformation 2.05 Ffos Las @9-2 William Hill

Global Power 2.40 Ffos Las @6-1 Bet365

Lingfield Friday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The winter weather has returned to the UK this week and Friday’s Chepstow card faces a 7.30am inspection to see if racing can go ahead. There are no problems at the all-weather track at Lingfield So I’ve picked out a couple of horses that could provide us with some stake money for the weekend.

My first selection is Singular Quest in the maiden race at 2.00. The colt is a son of Dalakhani out of a mare by Singspiel so is entitled to be useful. He is trained by Ralph Beckett who certainly knows the time of day at these all-weather meetings and will be ridden by Hayley Turner.

Singular Quest ran green on his debut here over a mile but was noted running on into fifth place behind Awesome Power. He was stepped up to ten furlongs last time and was tucked in on the rail for much of the race. His jockey found himself shuffled back when the leaders quickened approaching the home turn and had to switch to the outside, eventually finishing strongly to take second.

The race was won by Monein who has since gone in again in the blue of Godolphin. The biggest danger may come from Sheikh Mohammed’s outfit again here with Prussian Blue and Sparring in opposition. The latter shaped well at Wolverhampton on his debut while Mark Johnston’s Champagne Ransom could also improve for her debut at the same track.

Following handicap “good things” is often regarded as the quick way to the poor house but it is difficult to argue with the claims of Le Rouquin in the 3.45 race. The gelding was very impressive when beating Courier by six lengths at Kempton last week and turns out again quickly under a 6lbs penalty. Michael Bell will obviously be anticipating a much stiffer penalty once the horse has been reassessed. He had been tried in a visor previously but the headgear was left off last time and he could be named the winner with a quarter of a mile to race.

The big danger is course winner Vejovis, a son of Fastnet Rock trained by Sir Mark Prescott. The cigar-smoking Newmarket handler is a dab hand at running up a sequence with his handicappers and it would be no surprise to see this one improve again. He was less impressive when winning over seven furlongs by two and three-quarter lengths but you never know how much jockey Luke Morris has up his sleeve.

Singular Quest 2.00 Lingfield @6-4 Betfair

Le Rouquin 3.45 Lingfield @2-1 Bet365

Polamco set for hat-trick bid at Sandown

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The big betting race this weekend is the Betfred Mobile Heroes Handicap Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles at Sandown.

Only 12 remain from the original 28 entries and Harry Fry’s Polamco stands out at the weights. The six-year-old gelding is by Old Vic out of Shanesia by Erins Isle and will be having only his eighth race this weekend.

He showed plenty of promise in National Hunt flat races last season, winning at Taunton on his third start. He was placed in novice hurdles at Newton Abbot and Chepstow but has really come into his own over a longer trip. Noel Fehily sent him ahead with two to jump at Wincanton and he beat Muckle Roe by a length and a quarter off a mark of 114.

The handicapper put him up 7lbs next time for a hot race at Newbury. He raced quite keenly in front and was headed at the last by Morito Du Berlais. To his credit, he battled back and regained the advantage close home to win by a neck. The runner-up has run in some top staying handicaps at Cheltenham this season while Saffron Wells finished a couple of lengths away in third.

Saffron Wells was our each-way selection for the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton earlier this month but found Tea For Two much too good at the weights. He stuck on well enough to finish third and renews rivalry here with Polamco on 3lbs better terms. I expect Polamco to confirm the form, providing that he settles better than he did at Newbury.

Junction Fourteen was all the rage for the Lanzarote Hurdle last year but was already beaten when falling at the last. He ran well to finish fourth to Batavir at Wincanton on Boxing Day and could be returning to form. Imperial Leader was second to Irish Saint in heavy ground at Ascot last year and showed that he stays when third to Fingal Bay over a longer trip at Exeter.

Tony McCoy gave us our third big Saturday handicap winner in a row last weekend on If In Doubt and partners the top weight Mijhaar here.  He was very useful on the flat but has not really shone over hurdles so far. He ran well when third to Dawalan at Aintree but could not win in much easier company at Ayr last time. Polamco gets the vote for Harry Fry to give the yard a boost ahead of Activial’s bid for the Betfair Hurdle a week on Saturday.

Polemco 3.0 Sandown Saturday @100-30 William Hill

Happy Valley 28th January Tips

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Happy Valley and Hong Kong Wrap Up:

I sincerely hope you enjoyed the race meet at Sha Tin on Sunday as the two Group 1 races certainly lived up to expectations. Fantastic effort from Peniaphobia to win the 1000m sprint down the straight from the outside gate and what can you say about Able Friend in the Cup Race. He was absolutely devastating and his Jockey Joao Moreira never moved on him. He was ridden cold as ice and even 100m out Joao just patted him on the neck and enjoyed the ride. Certainly looks a very special race horse and one of the best milers going around anywhere at the moment. His time was better than standard in a race which was very void of pace and very slow run but he still made it look easy after closing from a long way back. Will be on him where ever he goes after that run as he really does look like an excitement machine.

I hope you followed the selections as we hit the last four on top selections which made for an easy collect any way you backed them.

Back at Happy Valley tonight for a bit of fun but looking forward to Sha Tin next Sunday when we are back for some great racing.

Happy Valley 28-01-15

Track and Conditions: Turf C + 3 Course. Track will be rated GOOD.

Expected Weather: Mainly cloudy with one or two rain patches and a top temperature of 18 degrees by day and 15 degrees by night.  Wind will be from the east gusting up to and around the 30 Km/h mark but should have little effect on this city track and as usual on paced runners will be aided by the strong on paced bias of the Happy Valley circuit.

 

Best Bet: Race 2: No 7 Thor The Greatest

Best Value: Race 5: No 9 Tango Fire

Best Exotic Races: Race No’s 5-6-7

Quaddie:-

Race 7: 1-9-5-3  Race 8: 4-1-2-6 Race 9: 1-3-7-5 Race 10: 10

 

Race 1: — Time: 11.15am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 5

Top Pick: No 5 Zachary

Value Selection: No 6 Mr Vanilla

Exotic Inclusions: No 1 Good Thinker and No 3 Archers Bow

 

Race 2: — Time: 11.45am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 4

Top Pick: No 7 Thor The Greatest

Value Selection: No 1 Hurry Hurry Up

Exotic Inclusions: No 6 Naughty Baby and No 4 Polymer Win

 

Race 3: — Time: 12.15pm GMT—Distance: 1650m—Class 4

Top Pick: No 6 Gideon

Value Selection: No 8 Gallant Rock

Exotic Inclusions: No 4 Fabulous One and No 1 Grace Heart

 

Race 4: — Time: 12.45pm GMT—Distance: 1000m—Class 4

Top Pick: No 4 Win It

Value Selection: No 5 Vara Pearl

Exotic Inclusions: No 7 Elegance Klammer and No 9 Robust Momentum

 

Race 5: — Time: 1.15pm GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 3

Top Pick: No 1 Dinning World

Value Selection: No 9 Tango Fire

Exotic Inclusions: No 5 Victorious and No 3 All Great Friends

 

Race 6: — Time: 1.45pm GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 2

Top Pick: No 4 Helene Super Star

Value Selection: No 1 Harbour Master

Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Sunny Ying and No 6 Jolly Victor

 

Race 7: — Time: 2.15pm GMT—Distance: 1650m—Class 3

Top Pick: No 1 Disciples Twelve

Value Selection: No 3 Winfull Patrol

Exotic Inclusions: No 7 Brilliant Proposal and No 5 St Yasin

 

Race 8: — Time: 2.50pm GMT—Distance: 1650m—Class 2

Top Pick: No 10 Soul Achiever

Value Selection: No 6 Bespoke Collars

Exotic Inclusions: No 3 Flying Unicorn and No 8 Oscar Miracle