Tag: Horse Racing

Prix De Diane Betting Preview

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Here we have a mouth watering group 1 taking place at Chantilly at 2:45 on Sunday.

Right now, no UK bookmakers have priced this up, which i find surprising, so i am using Racebets (only site to of priced it up) as a guide.

To me, this race is a match between the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Flotilla (Sky Lantern a well beaten 9th) and the exciting Silasol, group 1 winner at Longchamp last time out (in what admittedly, wasnt a really strong group 1, but a group 1 nether the less).

Let’s start with Flotilla (currently 9/5 favourite). She was put up by Pricewise as one of his best bets at the Breeders Cup, and when that happened, it left many people (me included) scratching our heads. Here we have a horse, soundly beaten by Silsaol in a group 1(4th of 9) and prior to that a 5th at group 3 level, heading to the USA for a shot at the best 2 year old fillies around. Needless to say she cruised home and put the eventual 1000 guineas winner Sky Lantern to shame in the process. She then took a 6 month break, before going straight to a decent Group 1 race at Longchamp. She was unfancied that day, much like she was for the Breeders Cup(7-1 for both, drifting if anything). She got up in the final stride to deny a monster gamble on the unbeaten Esoterique, who’d beaten Silsaol with ease in a group 1 on her previous start.

People took note to this, and now bookmakers arent being so leinant with their prices, as she’s chalked up as the 9/5 favourite, and rightly so.

When you dig into the form to see the horses Flotilla has been beating, have been putting Silasol in her place, you begin to wonder if you can make a case for Silasol, and i think you can. Two starts back for Silasol, she beat Flotilla (prior to her triumph at the Breeders Cup), and in subsequent starts, she beat most of the field who’ll be up against her on Sunday. Silasol currently stands as a 5-1 shot, which i think is fair, and, if you fancy taking the favourite on, i don’t think anyone in their right mind could attempt to put you off. To me its a match bet, 5/6 each of two. On their day, either can beat the other one.

Esoterique is reopposing Silasol today and has to be respected, big time, as the 9/4 2nd favourite.

All in all it’s a cracking race, and i can’t really nail my colours to a single horse.

How about a Silasol, Esoterique & Flotilla combination tricast? Sounds good to me. Now to wait for the betting to open. Be sure to do your tricasts on Bet365, as they’ll guarantee you tricast dividends, whereas no one else will.

Royal Ascot Outsiders

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

This title is potentially misleading. Below is a list of horses i feel are worth a second look for next weeks Ascot showpiece.

Shropshire 33/1 Ladbrokes – Wokingham

This horse is 1 from 1 at the course and this time last year, he finished a NECK behind Maarek, who’s since progressed on to win a group 2 & 3. Now, since winning at Ascot, Shropshire has run 9 times, placing 3 times in big field handicaps. I’m not saying he’s going to win the Wokingham, far from it. But i’m convinced he has a great shout at placing. He’s had many of the wokingham entries behind him on numerous occasions, and 33-1 each way now (top 4) is brilliant value. There could even be some firms who go each way top 5 on the day, which makes anything 25-1 or above really appealing. Two starts back he finished ahead of Hamza (won twice since), Hitchens (won next start), Yeeoow (won since), York Glory (won since), Duke Of Firenze (10th behind Shropshire, won since) and Harrison George (won since).

Those are some class animals he finished ahead of that day. If he turns up and puts his best foot forward, i think we could well get a juicy each way return. 33-1 now, i expect him to go off around 16-18-1.

Prince Of Johanne – 16-1 Ladbrokes – Royal Hunt Cup

Last years Royal Hunt Cup victor is back to have a crack at winning the race back to back. He went into that race brimming with confidence, after wins at Newmarket (in a 32 runner race) and a nose 2nd to Fury at York. This time his preparation is completely different, well down the field in 6 of his 7 races since would be a cause for concern, had he not finished 2nd to Navajo Chief last month at York. He showed the Prince Of Johanne of old to only be denied in the final furlong by the fast finishing Navajo Chief.

I think this could be as solid an each way bet can be in a big field handicap if he’s up for it.

Horse Racing Preview Saturday 15th June

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The last Saturday before Royal Ascot always seems to serve up some tricky handicaps to tempt punters into having a dabble before the serious betting starts on Tuesday. This year is no exception with York’s Charity Sprint Trophy a case in point. Can you believe it is possible to back any horse in the field at 10-1 or better?

In my preview article I picked out Moviesta, Vincentti and Lewisham as my three against the field. If you haven’t already placed a bet, you can get 10-1, 14-1 and 16-1 respectively. My advice would be to back anything you fancy now as York has a strong betting market and the favourite will probably be nearer 5-1 by the time the SP’s are returned.

In the 2.40 Westwiththenight is likely to go off favourite after finishing second to Gifted Girl at Ascot. Subsequent events reveal that she would have had to have been up to group class to beat that filly so it was no wonder she was left trailing by five lengths. Gifted Girl finished a fine second at Epsom and looks like a filly to follow.

The handicapper hasn’t done Westwiththenight any favours with 9st 10lb to carry and she may have a battle on her hands against the bottom weight Maven. This one has finished second twice at a mile and a quarter, running a little too freely for her own good on each occasion. She should settle better with a faster pace here and looks good each-way value.

The listed race at 3.15 is looking as competitive as the big sprint with the bookmakers going 4-1 the field with only eight runners. Plenty of people will be hoping that first time blinkers can persuade Stipulate to put his best foot forward for Lady Cecil whilst Questioning and Ladys First are bound to be in there battling.

It will be interesting to see how the two three-year-olds get on against their elders. Baltic Knight was trounced by Remote last time and if he boosts the form tomorrow you can expect Remote to be the shortest priced favourite in years for the Britannia Handicap. John Gosden usually has his string firing for Royal Ascot so I’m going to stick with Questioning.

Over at Sandown, Smoothtalkinrascal will have gone into more notebooks than Vinnie Jones after flashing home in second place in the Epsom Dash. He steps into listed class and is a warm favourite at around 2-1. My only reservation is that he doesn’t seem the kind of horse to win by far I’ll be hoping that his jockey can produce him at the right moment.

In the 2.20 there is bound to be plenty of support for Ashaadd who rather got Ryan Moore out of jail last time. He was held up behind horses off a slow pace but answered every call to get up close home and beat a useful sort in Homage. Moore can double up in the 4.05 on Defendant for Sir Michael Stoute. This one won his maiden impressively and can take advantage of the weight he receives from the slightly quirky but very talented Pythagorian.

York

Maven 8-1 Coral
Questioning 5-1 Ladbrokes

Sandown

Ashaadd 5-1 Ladbrokes
Smoothtalkinrascal 2-1 Coral
Defendant 9-2 Ladbrokes

Horse Racing Preview Saturday 8th June

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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

Horse Racing Preview 29th May

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The midweek racing is not the greatest, as you would expect with the Epsom Derby meeting coming up on Friday. Wednesday’s evening meeting at Beverley offers the best quality of the day with some speedy two-year-olds set to clash in the Hilary Needler Trophy.

With so many meetings these days I must admit that I don’t follow the two-year-old form until after Royal Ascot. York winner Beldale Memory is the only youngster to have impressed me so far so I will be giving the Beverley race a miss. My nap of the day is in the following event; a Conditions race over five furlongs. The one that I want to be on is Heeraat who finished fourth in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket last time.

The form of that race received a boost when runner-up Kingsgate Native won the Temple Stakes at Haydock. Heeraat was bang there with a chance a furlong out and this drop back to five furlongs should prove ideal. Hamza looks the one to give the favourite most to do but 7-4 with William Hill is worth taking.

The weather has taken a downturn after the weekend heatwave and rain has reached the Epsom area today and the going is now good, good to soft in places. There is plenty of time for the weather to go either way but I’ll be happy with anything other than firm ground for my ante-post selections Secret Gesture (4-1 Oaks) and Ocovango (9-1 Derby). With most bookmakers now offering NR/No bet on both races, now is a good time to pick off the last of the each-way value.

There has been a lot written about the stamina doubts of Dawn Approach and we will have to wait until much later in the week before we know whether Magician will take part. One horse that will definitely line up is the German raider Chopin, supplemented for £75,000 by his wealthy owners this week. I’ve studied his races and there is no doubting that he is a smart colt. His pedigree suggests that he will stay the trip and the rain will be good news for his supporters. I think that 12-1 represents a decent price against rivals that have plenty of questions to answer.

Chopin has been bought by Qatar Racing and they have given themselves a decent shout at the Oaks/Derby double by buying a 50% share in Secret Gesture. Trainer Ralph Beckett reports her to be in great nick going into the race and I’m optimistic. One filly that could still offer a little each-way value is The Lark. She was not at all suited by a slow pace at Newbury first time out and stayed on into third after being outpaced. Michael Bell expects her to improve a lot for that and I could see her running into a place.

Heeraat 7-4 William Hill
Chopin 12-1 Stan James
The Lark 33-1 Coral

Horse Racing Preview Monday 27th May

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The Bank Holiday cards offer more in the way of quantity rather than quality but I’ve picked out a couple of bets worth considering. The opening race on Leicester’s card is a competitive little handicap for three-year-olds over five furlongs.

The one that interests me is the top weight Secondo, trained by Roger Charlton. He is a colt by July Cup winner Sakhee’s Secret and runs in the colours of Al Kazeem who gave the stable a big win at the Curragh on Sunday. Secondo showed some promise as a two-year-old but really caught the eye on his first run this season when he made up late ground to win at Salisbury. He was taken steadily to post and restrained at the rear of the field and showed a touch of class to pick them off in the closing stages. I think he is up to defying top weight here and 7-2 looks worth a bet with Paddy Power.

My second selection runs over at Carlisle and is another promising sort called Danat Al Atheer. He is trained by Willie Haggas who is always prepared to take his time with his three-year-olds and this lightly raced filly is taken to beat Lilac Lace and Tussie Mussie who fought out a thrilling duel at Thirsk. Danat Al Atheer was given plenty of ground to make up last time but did it nicely. You won’t get very rich at 13-8 but she should win this on the way to better things.

We had mixed fortunes over the weekend but were rescued by Just The Judge, advised here at 100-30. She made up for the disappointing run of Sole Power and the withdrawal of Here Comes When due to the firm ground. The most striking performance at the Curragh was that of Magician in the Irish 2000 Guineas, landing some bets at 14-1 for those “in the know”. Trying to guess what is going to run where out of Ballydoyle often requires psychic powers but credit to the stable for dropping him back in distance.

His win also cast a shadow over the already suspect Newmarket 2000 Guineas form with Van Der Neer nowhere to be sighted. It is worth remembering that Camelot’s Guineas form was hardly sensational but that didn’t stop him winning easily at Epsom. It would certainly be interesting if Magician lined up next Saturday but the last Irish Guineas winner to attempt it was Saffron Walden in 1999 (well beaten behind Oath). For the moment I’m happy to stick with my ante-post bet on Ocovango at 9-1 but there could be some interesting developments in the market as the week goes on.

Secondo 7-2 Paddy Power
Danat Al Atheer 13-8 Paddy Power