Category: Horses

Sand Stormers: The latest hot horses on the all-weather

Paul Smith looks ahead to Wolverhampton’s Lincoln Trials card – but without overlooking some nice bets in the next few days “Wednesday brings a couple of runners of interest, the pick of which looks to be By Command in the 21:00 at Wolverhampton. He was slightly disappointing last time but he did come up against a totally unexposed horse who has the potential to be a good deal better than his mark.” There’s not too much of interest in a quiet week but two top-class weekends of all-weather action are coming up – the Lincoln Trial this Saturday and the Winter Derby on the 20th – there is something to look forward to as the majority of the racing fraternity turn their attention to the antics at Cheltenham. Looking back to the week that was, the two performances of interest for the future came from Tous Les Deux and Reprieved . The former is a horse who has been around the block but has been a real moneyspinner since joining Gary Moore.

Mar 10, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Timeform Race to Watch: Monday 8th March, Lingfield 2:10

The lingfieldpark.co.uk maiden stakes run over a mile on Monday looked to contain some horses with the potential to go on to better things. The modest pace does cast some doubt over the form, but, given the promising profile of the winner and the second, it is worth taking a positive view. “There were signs that Merrqaad was still not fully clued up as he carried his head awkwardly and flashed his tail when pressured but, at this stage of his development, he’s worth the benefit of the doubt over his temperament.” Merrqaad duly confirmed the promise he had shown on his debut at Kempton. He shaped well that day, finishing third after showing greenness under pressure. There were signs that Merrqaad was still not fully clued up as he carried his head awkwardly and flashed his tail when pressured but, at this stage of his development, he’s worth the benefit of the doubt over his temperament. The penny did drop in the end, and he knuckled down to get there on the nod; Merrqaad looks capable of winning more races. Al Farahidi made a very encouraging start to his racing career, seemingly paying for his early enthusiasm when collard by the winner late on.

Mar 10, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Nick Shiambouros’ Patented 80/20 Bet

Double figure odds available on today’s selection Today’s 80/20 is Gwyre in the 15.50 at Catterick . This four-year-old filly put in a creditable effort last time out when finishing second to Diklers Oscar at Newcastle. She has finished second in her last three starts but I do not believe her attitude is in question and she could run well at a decent price. At present she is trading at 11.0 on the exchange.

Mar 10, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Cheltenham Head-to-Heads: Champion Chase

Master Minded dominates the Champion Chase betting at a shade under even money but both Graham and Will are keen on another horse in the market “I can just about resist the 1.94 on Master Minded for now and at anything over 2.0 , I’m much keener on backing Kalahari King to finish in the first three and he’s not without appeal at 6.4 on the win market,” Will Hayler Graham Cunningham : One of the good things about this year’s Champion Chase is that we have a couple of high-class chasers who have gradually risen through the ranks to earn a first crack at the mighty Master Minded . But, whichever way you slice it, both of them will have to take a significant step forward if the double M is on his game.

Mar 09, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Timeform 1-2-3: March 10th

Another three from the Free Form Service… “Given the distinct promise of her debut, a mark of 80 may prove to be a lenient one, with the step up in trip likely to bring about some improvement.” The Clive Brittain team have been in tremendous form so far this year, and Bint Doyen is a fascinating contender on her handicap bow at Lingfield (2.00). The useful- looking filly is a half-sister to several winners, notably the smart miler Zoning, and she perhaps surprised connections when making a successful racecourse debut at 25/1 in October. Unsurprisingly Bint Doyen was found out up significantly in class just eleven days later, and she hasn’t been seen since. Given the distinct promise of her debut, a mark of 80 may prove to be a lenient one, with the step up in trip likely to bring about some improvement. There’s No Panic will doubtless have gone into many a notebook following his extremely eye-catching fourth over hurdles in November, and looks the best bet of the day at Fontwell (2.40). The Paul Nicholls inmate accounted for the now-prolific hurdler High Gales on his sole bumper start, and there is a chance that there’s plenty to come over timber now confidence has been restored following a fall on his hurdles bow. Horseshoe Reef sets a fair level of form, but lacks the scope of There’s No Panic. Back to Lingfield for the final selection, where the well-related Aetos is taken to make a winning reappearance (3.30) following a promising introduction at Goodwood in July

Mar 09, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Timeform Daily: Wednesday, Lingfield 2:00

The opening contest at Lingfield looks an intriguing affair, with a couple of horses stepping down from Group company to take on some consistent all-weather performers… “ Bint Doyen shaped as though still learning her trade when tackling Group company on only her second start as a juvenile and could be worth chancing on her return” Stags Leap was twice successful over seven furlongs as a juvenile prior to having his limitations exposed in a Group 3 at Ascot in October. He should stay this far, but this is no easy task on his handicap/all-weather debut

Mar 09, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Cheltenham Head-to-Heads: RSA Chase

Will Hayler and Graham Cunningham are very much in opposition over Punchestowns’ chances in the RSA Chase – maybe you’ll be swayed by one of their arguments…? “Punchestowns made one serious error at Sandown last time, but his jumping is functional overall and unless my eyes deceived me on day three at Cheltenham last year he hit the line in the World Hurdle under two lengths behind the most relentless stayer around and a mere 17 lengths clear of the remainder,” Graham Cunningham Will Hayler : Maybe if Punchestowns had done anything more than prove himself to have four legs and be a competent jumper of steeplechase fences in his two appearances this season, I would see the situation differently. But as things stand, he’s the one I want to be against in the RSA Chase and I’ll be hoping to lay him for a place at a little over 2.0 . Yes he was about the only horse to give Big Buck’s any sort of a race in the World Hurdle last year, but with Kasbah Bliss failing to see out the trip, there was even less strength in depth to that contest than there is to this year’s renewal – more of that later in the week.

Mar 09, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Cheltenham Festival: The Irish View

With just one week to go, Wayne Bailey reassesses the 2010 Irish challenge… “In my view, Dunguib should be 1.8 or less so there’s no other option for me than to take his current price.” Before I take a look at the Irish challenge, I just want to take a moment to commend all those National Hunt jockeys that take falls, knocks and bruises on a weekly basis! I’m not quite sure I appreciated how painful a serious fall can be until this week; when I had an accident on my motorcycle after some idiot pulled out in front of me without checking their mirror. I know the situation is quite different than a fall from a horse, but as I crashed heavily to the ground I learned what it feels like to punish the body as these guys do on a regular basis. Even though the bike is wrecked, I walked away from the accident with some bumps and bruises so I count myself very lucky.

Mar 09, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Ante-Post Betting: Cheltenham Festival lay special

Brondesbury has a trio of lay tactics for next week’s Cheltenham Festival “Once again I can envisage Schindlers Hunt strolling to the home turn going well, but just not staying on as as well as his market rivals. Set the lay at around 1.6 or slightly bigger and I suspect you could emerge with a decent profit on the Irish charger. “ With less than week to go before the National Hunt Festival at Cheltenham it’s time to hone in on the horses that you need to consider to lay for the NH showpiece following on from our value horses from last week. Remember though all through the week that the main factor on all four days will be the state of the ground . Throughout the season, the majority of NH horses have been racing on hock deep going and now it seems long odds-on that we will get vastly different conditions at Prestbury Park even if watering does take place to ensure there is no jar in the turf. I have long been a supporter of Rite of Passage but I have been desperate to see him take on Dunguib in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as he has both the cruising speed and turn of foot to put that rival to sleep.

Mar 09, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Nick Shiambouros’ Patented 80/20 Bet

Nick Shiambouros heads to the North East for today’s 80/20… Today’s 80/20 is Pegasus Prince in the 16:20 at Newcastle. This gelding is slowly getting the hang of things and put up an improved effort last time out when finishing second to Bishops Heir at Kelso last month. I think he has more to offer and should be involved in the finish. At present he is trading at 6.2 on the exchange.

Mar 09, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
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