Tag: Sandown

Sandown 18th September Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The highlight of Wednesday’s action is the Listed Fortune Stakes at Sandown with Richard Hannon’s Wentworth bidding to step up from handicap company for the first time. The son of Acclamation has always shown the potential to make it at Group level and it was no surprise when he lifted the Golden Mile at Goodwood after near-misses at Ascot and Sandown.

After winning two of his three races as a juvenile, he reappeared at Goodwood over six furlongs in May where he put in his entry for the unluckiest loser of the season. With only six rivals, Richard Hughes contrived to get himself completely boxed in and the colt never saw an inch of daylight until it was too late. He was eventually beaten only a quarter of a length in third but should certainly have won convincingly.

On the strength of that run, he was a heavily backed 7-2 favourite for the one-mile Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was again held up towards the rear before weaving his way through traffic to finish a never-nearer fourth, under two lengths behind Roca Tumu. Punters kept the faith when he went to Sandown for the Coral Challenge.

Hughes, possibly mindful of the criticism he had received for his riding of the colt on his previous two starts, had him close up from a poor draw but he could not repel the late challenge of Prince Of Johanne and had to settle for third. He finally came good on his most recent start when holding off the useful Cape Peron at Goodwood to win off a handicap mark of 99. An official rise of 7lbs for that success still leaves him some way behind Penitent but there are reasons for believing that he can bridge the gap.

Hughes is adamant that the fast ground the reason for his defeats at Ascot and Sandown and believes that he will prove a much better colt with give in the ground. A heavy shower prior to racing was just sufficient for him to let himself down at Goodwood last time and the Irishman is confident that there is more to come.

By contrast, Penitent was well below his best last time although he definitely sets the standard on last year’s form behind Gordon Lord Byron at Longchamp. He was beaten only a length and a half in the Group 1 Prix de La Foret and would take some beating on that form. The best of the rest could be Andrew Balding’s Bana Wu but it will be disappointing if Hannon’s colt cannot take this on the way to better things.

Wentworth 13-8 BetVictor

Chester and Sandown Preview 31st August

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Chester racecourse has fond memories for me having been my local track many moons ago! Saturday’s card has attracted some decent animals with the feature race being the Chester Stakes at 3.30.

I fancied Sun Central for the Ebor until he was left on top of the handicap and then the going and draw turned against him. Not surprisingly William Haggas pulled him out (oh, the joys of ante-post betting!). He has been diverted here where the going is currently reported to be just on the soft side of good. That has to be a worry with 9st 13lb to carry.

Montaser seems to have lost his way this season and is another with a marked preference for fast ground whilst Handsome Man has always been a rule unto himself. Star Lahib is a typical Mark Johnston beast that runs week-in, week-out and continues to surprise. I thought she was a fortunate winner of a slowly run Old Newton Cup but she has since bolted up in the Shergar Cup and run well in the Galtres Stakes at York.

John Gosden’s Tempest Fugit is returning after a lengthy absence and almost all of his horses need a race to put them straight. Savanna La Mar put up a career-best effort when fourth at Newbury last time but looked very one-paced whilst Alta Lilea suffers from a similar lack of toe. By process of elimination that leaves the hugely disappointing Guarantee who ran his best race for some time in the Ebor. He was hampered in his run but stayed on perfectly well to finish a closing seventh and he could be value at 9-1.

Es Que Love turns out yet again in the seven-furlong handicap and is almost certain to be up at the head of affairs early on from stall two. I can see him running a big race here but Alejandro could just have his measure in receipt of a stone. His Goodwood run behind Magic City looks pretty useful after that won came out of the clouds to follow up last weekend.

I’ve got a lot of time for Newbury and Newmarket two-year-old races as horses that run well three are almost always up to winning their maiden elsewhere. Charlie Hills runs My Painter here on Saturday after a fine debut at HQ when just run out of it in the closing stages by a useful couple of fillies in Night Song and Casual Smile.

Guarantee 9-1 Ladbrokes

Alejandro 8-1 Boylesports

My Painter Evens Betfair

Racing Preview Friday 30th August

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Although there isn’t much in the way of Group race action this weekend, there are still plenty of decent races taking place across the UK. Friday’s cards at Chester, Sandown and Salisbury are all worth a second look.

Last week I backed Nezar in the big sales race at York and he ran well enough to suggest that the nursery at Chester (4.05) is his for the taking. He was slowly away but made up ground steadily in the closing stages to be a never-nearer third at the line. Frankie Dettori takes over from Johnny Murtagh on Friday and even a draw in the outside stall shouldn’t prevent him from winning here.

Over at Sandown, William Buick teams up with John Gosden’s Breden in the 3.55. This horse had to be driven right out to win at Newmarket last time but holds some big entries including the Cambridgeshire. The handicapper has put him up only 4lbs for that victory and I’m hoping that there is more improvement to come. He delivered his challenge on the far side that day and very few horses won from there at the meeting.

Buick may not be in the best mood after the news that James Doyle will step into his shoes for the Prince Khaled Abdulla horses in future, starting on Saturday with 2000 Guineas favourite Kingman. With the likes of Remote and Excess Knowledge also now likely to be ridden by Doyle, Buick may feel that he has a point to prove in the coming weeks.

Salisbury provides the main evening entertainment with the feature race being the Listed Stonehenge Stakes. This looks booked for Washaar for Richard Hannon and Paul Hanagan. He may not be one of the stable starts but he was never going to be beaten at Ascot last time and I think he can see off his rivals here.

Hannon can strike again at his local track when Go For Broke runs in the maiden race at 5.45. I think you can best describe his first outing as “educational” after he was nursed into fourth place at Windsor. Roger Varian’s newcomer High Accolade is an unknown quantity but hopefully Go For Broke won’t live up his name!

Luca Cumani’s Don Padeja hacked up at Leicester last week and turns out quickly with a 6lb penalty. He won with any amount in hand and should be able to follow up in the 7.45.

Nezar 4-6 Bet365

Don Pedija 6-4 Bet365

Washaar 4-5 Ladbrokes

Go For Broke

Breden 7-2 Bet365

Sandown 5th July Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Eclipse card is fast approaching but there is a decent appetiser on Friday with some good quality racing. Prior to Royal Ascot I had not taken much notice of the two-year-olds but some fine performances by Rizeena and War Command have re-ignited my interest and there is an intriguing little race at the Esher course tomorrow.

Royal Ascot form cannot always be taken at face value but the Queen Mary is starting to look particularly hot. Fig Roll (4th) and Ventura Mist (8th) came out and filled the first two places in a decent race at Newmarket whilst Bye Bye Birdie (12th) picked up a good contest in Ireland.

That suggests that William Haggas has every chance with Survived who battled on well to be a close sixth. I prefer her to the colt, Mick Channon’s Ambiance. He was fourth to No Nay Never but Coach House hasn’t done much for the form since and I just feel that may have been a weaker race.

However, I feel that Tom Dascombe’s eight-length Chester winner Fine ‘n Dandy could beat them both. He had his field beaten at half-way on the Roodeye and his trainer things highly enough of him to enter him for the Nunthorpe. He looks generously priced at 9-2.

The Listed Ambant Gala Stakes has attracted a really good field and I’m hoping that there will be just enough give in the ground for Mandour to take this. He is clearly still improving judged by his latest effort when a closing third to Maxios in a Group 1.

Afsare’s antics have been well documented and he has been singled out by Mr Fallon as the reason behind his recent sacking from riding for the owner. James Doyle may no longer be on the magic carpet that swept him to a treble at the Royal meeting but it will be fascinating to see if he can galvanise this talented gelding.

Van Der Neer is an interesting rival having run a fine race at the Royal meeting behind Remote. He had run well in the Guineas before flopping in Ireland but this looks more his trip and he rates as the main danger.

Al Saham completes my treble for the meeting in a tricky little handicap. He had been entered for the Old Newton Cup but Godolphin send him here instead. He looked a big long-striding sort when he won at Haydock, overcoming interference in the process. Hopefully Silvestre De Sousa can get him out in plenty of time to gallop his rivals into the ground.

Sandown Friday
2.50 Fine ‘n Dandy 9-2 Coral
4.00 Mandour 5-2 Coral
4.35 Al Saham 4-1 William Hill

Sandown July 6th Ante-Post Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

There is some terrific racing lined for Sandown and Haydock this weekend and prices have been chalked up for five races. However, there are two very good reasons to hold fire at this stage. Firstly, the good old British summer!

I am told that a heatwave is approaching that could last for several weeks. At the moment it is bucketing down with rain and the going in the back garden is more suited to the Welsh National than the Coral Eclipse! The second reason is the appalling lack of information over running plans that has so far been relayed to us hapless punters.

I have already taken a chance on Mars (20-1) and The Fugue (5-1) for the Eclipse and both have made it into the final eight. Ballydoyle are keeping us on the edge of our seats waiting to find out whether Camelot will run or be retired. I personally haven’t seen enough zip in his performances since Epsom last June to suggest he can win an Eclipse.

He has also confused everyone by leaving Declaration Of War as a possible runner. I don’t think anyone had considered him anything other than a miler but he would certainly make things interesting. Coral have topped up their sponsorship for the card and there are ante-post markets on the Coral Charge and the Coral Challenge.

The Charge could see Epsom Dash winner Duke of Firenze in action after his defeat in the Wokingham. He was only eighth there but he didn’t run badly at all. A few weeks ago you wouldn’t have had him alongside the likes of Kingsgate Native and Spirit Quartz but they ran miserable races at Ascot.

I am also keen on Moviesta and I’m convinced we didn’t see the best of him at York. He did not settle through the early stages and may just have burned off too much energy to hold off the late challenge of Body And Soul. On the figures he has a bit to find in this grade but he’s certainly in with an each-way shout if taking his chance.

Both horses are “jocked up” but I have no information as to whether or not they can be regarded as definite runners. Keiren Fallon has been booked to ride Opinion for Sir Michael Stoute at Haydock so it seems reasonable to assume that Ryan Moore is going to Sandown for Duke of Firenze among others.

The Coral Challenge is a one mile handicap and the sponsors are running scared of Richard Hannon’s Wentworth. This horse has been unlucky in both of his recent starts at Goodwood and Ascot and is a worthy ante-post favourite.

To be fair to Richard Hughes, he was trying to overcome what was generally perceived to be an impossible draw in stall 20 in the Britannia Stakes and he finished up behind a wall of horses with a couple of furlongs to travel. The horse knuckled down and finished better than anything in fourth and may well have won had he been able to get out sooner. The 100-30 won’t last long with Bet365.

Coral Charge
Duke of Firenze 6-1 Bet365

Coral Challenge
Wentworth 100-30 Bet365

Horse Racing Preview Saturday 15th June

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

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