Tag: Luca Cumani

Nottingham Preview Wednesday 9th October

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

What a spectacular victory by Treve in the Arc! I must admit that I was quite surprised by how easily she destroyed a top quality field but I was disappointed at the lack of pace. You would have thought that horses such as Leading Light and Ocovango would have been driven up to the leaders as soon as their riders realised it was going to turn into a sprint finish. Of course that doesn’t take anything away from the winner and it’s great news that she is to be kept in training at four.

We are treated to far more humble entertainment tomorrow from Nottingham with a distinct “end of season” feel about the majority of the card. Whilst there can be some good bets in maiden races at this time of year, the handicaps tend to be virtually impossible as horses are entered all over the place to try to earn their winter feed. The exception on Wednesday is a very interesting nursery at 4.00 in which Luca Cumani runs easy Newcastle scorer Volume.

I am no expert on the riding skills of Kirsty Milczarek but she looked as though she was trying very hard not to win by too far. The filly by Mount Nelson was sent off at 8-11 at Newcastle after a very promising debut third at Newmarket. She led two furlongs from home and was ridden clear to win by four and a half lengths without Milczarek having to resort to the whip. The form may not have amounted to much but the style of her victory suggests that there is a lot more to come. William Buick takes over tomorrow and is riding at the peak of form after a Monday treble.

The chief threat may come from Gold Trail who won a better looking race at Haydock at the start of September. The odds-on favourite that day was Sir Michael Stoute’s Snow Sky who has since hacked up to give the form a boost. The runner-up Tahadee did not perform quite so well when a well-beaten third at Goodwood but Gold Trail is also capable of improvement.

Top of The Glas and Bureau also have to be considered as previous winners but Volume and Gold Trail look the two with most scope and I’m siding with the Cumani filly. She is a top price of 2-1 early with Paddy Power and will hopefully get us off to a winning start to the week.

Volume 4.00 Nottingham 2-1 Paddy Power

Yarmouth 19th September Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

I was considering previewing the opening day of the Western meeting at Ayr but a quick glance at the card suggests winners are going to be hard to come by. There are no less than six fiendishly difficult handicaps on Thursday’s card and that may be the pattern for the rest of the week. There are no less than 200 horses left in the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday, admittedly many of them hoping to get into the Silver or Bronze Cup.

The race that interests me is the two-year-old maiden at 2.50 at Yarmouth. Luca Cumani is not exactly well-known for his precocious youngsters and Mount Logan is certainly not that. He has had just one outing to date, finishing fourth in the maiden at Newbury won by John Gosden’s Muwaary. The form of the race has not exactly churned out winner after winner but Tuesday’s winner Ghaawy was well behind him that day.

He was ridden by Kirsty Milczarek and sent off at 25-1, suggesting that not a lot was expected of him on his debut. The chestnut settled nicely in rear and made eye-catching late progress to snatch fourth on the line. That race was over seven furlongs and there’s every reason to believe that the mile at Yarmouth will bring about further improvement.

The twin dangers carry the all blue of Godolphin. Istikshaf also showed promise on his debut when staying on into fifth place at Newmarket. That race was won by 33-1 shot Learaig and the form is no more inspiring than the Newbury race. I just prefer the effort of the Cumani horse who should also benefit from the stronger handling of Ryan Moore.

The unknown quantity is Charlie Appleby’s Deadly Approach for whom Kieren Fallon has been booked. As his name suggests, he is by New Approach but I note that he is fitted with a hood for his taste of racecourse action. I cannot say that I have noticed that very often with any two-year-olds, let alone Godolphin. Grand Meister and Latin Charm are also unraced but come from stables not particularly noted for first-time-out winners.

Mount Logan

York Dante Meeting Day 2 Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Nocturn’s narrow defeat on the opening day was a bit of a sickener. Everything went to plan until the last 50 yards when Mass Rally appeared fast and late on the opposite side to foil the gamble. Having worked out that his tendency to hang left would be negated by his low draw I was feeling quite pleased with myself as he looked set to complete his hat-trick. Hopefully there will be other days for this promising sprinter.

I was also left wondering what might have been after the Duke of York Stakes when Hawkeyethenoo was a fast finishing fourth, the fate of all good each-way bets. Jockey Graham Lee has looked a natural since switching to the flat from jumps but this was not one of his better-judged races. He passed up a couple of opportunities to switch his mount into the clear on the outside in favour of taking the more congested inside route. By the time he got a clear run it was too late.

Day two features the Dante Stakes and the latest raid by team O’Brien on the Derby trials. The Chester Vase and Dee Stakes looked particularly weak affairs whilst the Lingfield Derby trial was reduced to a virtual walkover for Nevis following the defection of Greatwood. O’Brien saddles Indian Chief here, an easy winner of his maiden last time out and currently available at 20-1 for Epsom. The stable also has Mars and Battle Of Marengo to consider. The Derby is in danger of becoming a straight fight between Dawn Approach and Team O’Brien unless the Dante can throw up a rival contender.

Sir Michael Stoute withdrew Telescope from the race with a minor infection and it now seems that the colt will have to go straight to Epsom. He runs in the same colours of Greatwood who could prove an able deputy on Thursday after a highly promising run at Newmarket. He was finishing best of all behind Windhoek that day and shaped as though a mile and a half would suit him even better. Soft ground was put forward as the reason for his absence at Lingfield but I am slightly concerned that he may already find this mile and a quarter a little sharp. Luca Cumani knows how to train a Derby winner and I think this likeable colt could enter the picture tomorrow. William Hill offer 5-1 for the Dante and 25-1 for the Derby so I shall take a little of both and hope that he puts in a bold showing.

The Hambleton Handicap has always been one of the best mile handicaps of the season, often providing clues to races such as the Hunt Cup and Goodwood’s Golden Mile. Tomorrow’s race does not appear to have quite the same quality about it but I am intrigued by David O’Meara’s two runners. Two For Two and Anderiego finished third and second respectively in the Thirsk Hunt Cup, both coming from way off the pace. Two For Two was knocked sideways by St Moritz early on and it is not surprising to see him chalked up favourite. It would be tempting fate not to have a saver on Anderiego and both should run well.

In the stayers race I am siding with Hidden Justice who has been transformed by a spell over hurdles. He won easily at Pontefract on his return to the flat and could be up to defying a 10lb rise in the weights tomorrow.

Greatwood 5-1 Dante William Hill, 25-1 (each-way) Derby William Hill
Two For Two 9-2 William Hill
Anderiego 9-1 (each-way) William Hill
Hidden Justice 5-1 Ladbrokes

Chester Preview May 9th

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The opening day of the Chester May meeting started with the three worst drawn horses being withdrawn from the first race. The official reasons were a knocked joint, not eaten up and the going. Now, call me cynical but isn’t it time that Chester reviewed the maximum number of runners for their races over sprint distances? If trainers are viewing it as a complete waste of time running a horse with a high draw then it makes sense to reduce the maximum field to 12 and save everyone’s time and money.

The Chester Cup was run at an unusually pedestrian pace but there appeared to be no excuses for Countrywide Flame. He was well placed throughout and looked certain to be in the frame until the last fifty yards. I would imagine that he will now be given a well earned rest and prepared for another tilt at the Champion Hurdle 2014. The best performance of the day came from Banoffee in the Cheshire Oaks, cutting through the pack on the inside rail and winning cosily. Connections now face the prospect of stumping up the cash to enter her for the Epsom Oaks but that looks the most logical step, especially after a bunch finish to the 1000 Guineas last weekend.

Day 2 of Chester gives Richard Fahey a golden opportunity to add to his Cup gains when he saddles Gabrial for the Huxley Stakes. He looked as good as ever when sprinting clear to win the Doncaster Mile, although he clearly retains his inability to run in a straight line. Fallon is claimed to ride Danadana for Luca Cumani and that rival is respected but Jamie Spencer has won on Gabrial in the past and knows what to expect. If you can get any of the 3-1 about Gabrial that seems a fair price in a decent little race.

The Boodles Diamond Handicap features a return clash for Here Comes When and Ribaat, second and fourth in a decent race at Newbury last time. Both horses ran far too freely for their own good but I was impressed by the way Here Comes When quickened up going to the line and he can confirm the placings. The one stall may mean he sees plenty of daylight but I hope his jockey lets him run up front rather than dropping him in behind horses.

The Chester Vase looks unlikely to have a big impact on the ante-post market for the Epsom Derby but it will be interesting to see Ruler of the World lining up for Aidan O’Brien. Feel Like Dancing and Havana Beat should be good enough to give him a decent test but this looks like a race to watch rather than invest in.

Gabrial 3-1 Boylesports
Here Comes When 3-1 Bet Victor