All articles by: Darren Chettleburgh

Horse Racing Preview – Beverley & Windsor – 1st May 2017

A typical bank holiday calendar of racing, nothing really special even though we have many meetings to choose from, but today horse racing preview selections come from Beverley & Windsor.

After a difficult bank holiday weekend, today’s preview only contains two selections – one from each racecourse.

15.40 Beverley – Lynne Glenton Handicap (0-70)

Les Eyre does not get the run of the green at times with his handicappers, but Make on Madam won over a furlong further last week here at Beverley in the company and despite dropping back in trip and her penalty she should go close again for this course specialist. On paper her dangers look to come from Rebecca Bastiman’s Green Howard has run reasonably well on his last two outings and should fill the places.

Make on Madam : 2pts each way @ 5/1 (BOG)

16.55 Windsor – Collect totepool Winnings at Betfred Shops Handicap  (0-85)

Philip Hobbs and Clive Coxs are well represented here with Sternrubin and Lime and Lemon. The former once trained by Peter Chapple-hyam has had a fairly good career around the jumping code, makes his flat debut this afternoon for team Hobbs which is interesting with the first time hood. Lime and Lemon finished fifth on seasons reappearance at Doncaster. She was a winner around Beverley over 9.5f last season so has to be given the respect that she never the run.

The most eye-catching mount in the race is James Doyle on Ed de Giles Croquembouche, he has won at this level in the spring over a furlong less in a 0-85 handicap here at Windsor and also equipped himself in a 0-95 around here last May, goes well fresh and a liking for the course a plus.

Croquembouche : 1pt each way @ 11/2 (BOG)

Horse Racing Preview – Salisbury, Thirsk, Limerick – 30th April 2017

Horse Racing Preview – Salisbury, Thirsk, Limerick and Gowran Park – 30th April 2017

Today’s horse racing preview comes from Salisbury, Limerick, Gowran Park and Thirsk with selections from each meeting. Saturday’s always seems to eat into the weekly profits, just the one loyal winner coming in the way of Menorah, a horse you can trust.

 

14.30 Salisbury – Betfred Racing Like Us On Facebook Maiden Stakes (6.9f)

The top three in the market all look solid improvers, Richard Hannon’s Malcolm the Pug who finished third behind a very useful one of Gosden’s in Seven Heavens on debut at Ascot, the winner was placed in a Listed event at Newmarket recently.

Was disappointed though with him when running at Newbury over a sharp 6f, stablemate Majeste won the race and had gone on to equip himself well enough in pattern company. Now stepping up to 7f I want to see more from the Acclamation colt.

Ralph Beckett is another yard that have been in good form early doors, their representative here is Moonwise who is making her race course debut. She is by Exceed and Excel out of Moonstone Magic, this looks an index she will thrive around early in her career, commands respect.

The tissue favourite here is Clive Cox’s Del Parco who finished runner up at Kempton on debut. The winner and the third will come on from that race, he is nicely bred by Delegator out of Sparkle Park with the bloodline through sprinter Kyllachy. He probably deserves to get off the mark at the second attempt, even on breeding there is plenty of speed.

Del Parco : 2pt win @ 6/4 (BOG)

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15.30 Salisbury  – Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap (0-85)

Sir Michael Stoutes Adamant got off the maiden ladder when winning on his second start which came at Windsor, the formline should be strong through the third High Commander who was behind a horse I fancy at Thirsk this afternoon.

The fourth, Weekender, franked the form winning on the all-weather at Chelmsford, his form was franked by Maghfoor who won at Haydock yesterday, so the ripple of form is favouring Adamant to come out and boost it all even further.

Main danger looks the obvious John Gosden Elas Ruby who got off the mark on her fourth attempt at Chelmsford, she had prior to the win finished second at Newbury, the third horse in the race was Serenada who franked the form on Friday at Sandown and holds an Oaks entry.

The two at the head of the market look way above what else is on offer in the field, Adamant has a strong form line as does Elas Ruby,with the latter’s trainer in far better form I have swung towards the filly over the colt.

Edas Ruby : 2pt win @ 5/1 (BOG)

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15.20 Limerick – Family Fun Day 21st May Handicap (7f)

Jim Bolger has a good string of handicappers this year already who look very forward, their entry here Club Wexford has run consistent enough this year to suggest he will be in the mix this afternoon.

Stepping back up to 7f will suit the Lawman gelding who finished second at Leopardstown over today’s index going down by just half a length. His last two runs have come over sprint trips, he has already reversed the form from the winner last time out at Navan over 5.5f.

I don’t see many dangers in the race apart from January Morn who is an ex Dermot Weld inmate, made a good debut for Anthony Mullins when fourth in a large field at Navan and could be the one to watch if strong support comes in for him.

Club Wexford : 2pts each way @ 11/2 (BOG)

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15.35 Gowran Park  – Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes (Listed)

Aidan O’Brien’s Somehow is going to be a short price to land this race this afternoon. Last year’s Cheshire Oaks & Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes winner was beaten on her return by Mick Channon’s Czabo who probably improved 12lb to cause the upset.

The race was not that strong with the fifth placed Queen Anne’s Lace being thrashed and last of ten in the Listed Salsabil stakes last week. Even the third has been beaten twice since which makes the form very suspect.

Somehow has a full calender of top entries this year, but she has to show more this time around if she is to be taken seriously. Turret Rocks has been very frustrating to follow since winning the May Hill Stakes just over eighteen months ago.

She finished in front of Somehow last season in the Irish Oaks and was put in her place in the Yorkshire Oaks the following month. Both of her wins have come over a mile. This is an interesting new trip for her over the 9.5f, and on that assumption I am going to give her one more run to show me she still obtains her ability at the age of four.

Another of interest is Jessica Harrington’s Beautiful Morning whose pedigree being by Galileo through the bloodline of George Washington you would feel she has the capacity to be a smart filly. She is also dropping back in trip and has been effective over 10f throughout her short career.

I am torn between Beautiful Morning and Turret Rocks, both yards are in good early season form, with Harrington taking both of the big races last weekend I am in strong mind that her filly can come on and go close in a very open event.

Beautiful Morning : 1pt each way @ 7/1 (BOG)

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16.20 Limerick – 4 Of Us Play Live At Limerick Racecourse June 23rd Handicap (12.4f)

The names of some of these races take me longer to write than the preview, one horse even though looks exposed is Joseph O’ Brien’s Udago who had become frustrating to back with confidence. When he crashed the party at Dundalk when beating Special Gravity, I thought hang on, the yard have a potentially nice handicap horse here.

He has flattered to deceive, won over 13f last June when trained by his father, but has failed to sparkle over the past ten months with his best run when third at Dundalk in which saw Special Gravity reverse the previous form.

I think there is still a win in him, if today or next week he is still reasonably handicapped off 80, if he fails to win or make the frame here surely he will drop at least another 2-3lb, so a win is coming.

As the likely winner, this is a stick in a pin and get lucky handicap, Andrew Slattery’s Sharjah is coming off the back of a win at Dundalk when beating his field emphatically, has won over 12f which came around late May and early June so worth watching at present.

Udogo : 1pt each way @ 8/1 (BOG)

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17.15 Thirsk – Thirsk Racecourse Ideal Conference Venue Maiden Stakes (8f)

This I think is the best bet on the card at Thirsk this afternoon in Roger Varian’s Materialist. His runner up finish behind Trading Point at Haydock. His juvenile start is turning out to be a useful maiden with the form line bouncing nicely through Weekender who finished fourth.

Best of the rest, Secret Advisor for Charlie Appleby, nicely related to a middle-distance dam, and with Godolphin horses looking more forward I would fear him the most in the field.

Materialist : 3pt win @ 6/4 (BOG) 

 

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This offer applies to all bets placed from 10am on the day of race and only includes races shown live on ITV Racing unless otherwise stated by bet365 . Best price or joint best price will be matched from the following list of Bookmakers: Ladbrokes, William Hill, Paddy Power, Coral, Sky Bet and Boylesports. Best Odds Guaranteed still applies.

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Horse Racing Preview – Punchestown, Sandown, Doncaster – 29th April 2017

Horse Racing Preview – Punchestown, Sandown, Doncaster – 29th April 2017

Today’s horse racing preview comes from Punchestown, Ripon, Doncaster, Sandown and Haydock, with 7 selections across the meetings. Disappointed with the string of places yesterday, two winners though to add to the week.

The racing from Sandown and Punchestown will resolve both trainers’ titles up for grabs, Nicholls v Henderson and Mullins v Elliott.

 

13.50 Sandown – Bet365 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (16f)

Do not be surprised to see multiple entries from both Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson yards as they go head to head for the trainer title. Seven Barrows look likely to prevail and have a fairly strong contender in the first with Call Me Lord who makes his debut for the trainer and what a berry stage to do it at Sandown.

The four-year-old looks a very progressive type after good wins in France up-to two and a half miles, he has been given a stiff mark of 135 though which is not that generous enough to exploit, but with the current rain forecasted he looks the one to beat.

Paul Nicholls has Dolos entered who has a vast amount of experience at this level, but most of his better form has been around the novice ranks, beaten off 132 at Ascot proves he is probably within the grasp of the handicap on what level of form he has shown.

So, the first race I actually do not fancy any of the main contenders, I have opted for Seamus Mullins Landin who ran at both festivals when competing in Grade 1 company. Leading up to those big steps in class he was consistent around the juvenile ranks placed on two occasions this year at Warwick. His opening handicap mark of 130 looks to give him a solid chance of at least running well in this.

Landin : 1pt each way @ 12/1 (BOG)

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14.25 Sandown – Bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2)

Without being detrimental towards two top trainers but they are really digging from their stars of old with Josses Hill who taking on a trip that looks beyond him, Vibrato Valtat has not won between the flags for 18 months and Art Mauresque would have to improve 14lb before even considering.

So that narrows the field down to two, Menorah and Traffic Fluide. At least Menorah won this race last year when beating Valseur Lido. With three of his four follow up runs he was placed which included a runner spot in last year’s Charlie Hall Chase and third in the long distance hurdle. He might be the ripe old age of 12, but is a sound jumper which has seen him never falling in his career.

Gary Moore’s Traffic Fluide just might be a little young taking on these big guns. Don’t get me wrong, he deserves his chance like the rest of the field, ran a cracker at Aintree when third to Fox Norton in the Melling Chase, the winner has taken the scalp of the mighty Un De Sceaux at this festival.

A winner over two miles around Sandown when competing around the novice ranks, he has a few years on his side here, a nice prospect and only seven years old. but he will learn again from this race that he has plenty of time to thrive next year.

Menorah : 2pt Win @ 2/1 (BOG)

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14.35 Punchestown – Dooley Insurances Cross Country Chase (24f)

As we tend to follow Edna Bolger blind in these events, it has not been plain sailing this season, her stars of old are getting just that; old, but one in the locker is Love Rory. Course and distance winner three years ago has seen him decline, but he is still well treated and never runs a bad race around here.

Ran here two days ago over a longer trip when finishing fourth and will be interesting to see if he takes his chances here. But I would expect Ballyboker Bridge to add to his course and distance win last year when beating quite a few of these.

Since then he has run creditable behind Cantlow two times and had beaten Colour Squadron very easily this year at the course. He also holds his nearest adversary from Cheltenham.

Ballyboker Bridge : 2pt win @ 9/4 (BOG)

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14.40 Haydock  – Best Odds Guaranteed At 188bet Handicap (7f)

Richard Hannon’s Oh This Is Us should be most definitely exploiting his good draw in stall 1. He has kicked off his season well since returning from Dubai with just being denied at Doncaster in the Lincoln.

It’s a race that has found out handicapped horses, but he thrived when going on to win at Bath just holding on by a neck. It’s the best of races and with an entry in this year’s Queen Anne he is a very well thought of individual. If anything can foil him this might come from Twin Appeal who drew well clear at Musselburgh fourteen days ago, has to contend with a 4lb rise, if the selection has a day off he looks best of the field without him.

Oh This Is Us : 2pt win @ 3/1 (BOG)

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17.25 Doncaster – Fine and Country Newcomers Maiden Stakes (5f)

I would like to think Richard Faheys juveniles are not that forward despite Darkanna costing just over 200K. She is bred for speed being by Dark Angel out of Jadanna/Mujahid, she should just on pedigree be too hot to handle, good to see Paul Hanagan back in the Fahey camp more often.

Big danger will no doubt come from Roger Varian’s Dahik, the juveniles from the yard have been what I would say forward compared to last year’s batch.

Darkanna : 2pt Win @ 5/2 (BOG)

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17.40 Ripon – Traditional Family Funday Sunday 21st May Handicap  (0-85)

This looks between the top two in the market being Washed and the selection Logi. The former will represent Robert Cowell’s yard, penny dropped really well when coming on from a poor debut run on the all-weather when winning at Catterick on his final start as a juvenile.

Handicap debut which looks poor by the standard and is one to keep on the right side of with Luke Morris in the plate, but I am with David Barron’s Logi who had a far busier juvenile campaign. Not wasting any time getting off the mark when winning at Wolverhampton when beating Jack the Truth by three and a half lengths.

Struggled over 6f here when seventh and this step back to 5f should see both Kodiac youngsters go well over the optimum trip with the slight push towards Logi who looks better drawn of the pair.

Logi : 2pt win @ 4/1 (BOG)

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18.10 Punchestown – attheraces.com (PRO/AM) I.N.H.Flat (16f)

What a day yesterday for Patrick Mullins when taking both Grade 1’s, but back to reality and a bumper in which he rides winners for fun and I expect him to give a good account with Sparky Stowaway.

He is well related to a chase winner, with Dam a bumper winner and should make his presence felt here for Thomas Mullins. Dangers look to come from Martin Brassil’s You Raise Me Up who has a great pedigree through Presenting / Supreme Leader and swings my views slightly being a big fan of both sires.

The Shearers Wife represents Gordon Elliott, again nicely bred newcomer by Beneficial through blood line of Pistolet Bleu, but I think will come on after this outing.

You Raised Me Up : 1pt each way @ 9/1 (BOG)

 

Promotional Offer by BET365

BET365 Price Promise

BET365 will constantly update their prices during the week to ensure that we are best price on every horse for all races shown live on ITV Racing.

This offer applies to all bets placed from 10am on the day of race and only includes races shown live on ITV Racing unless otherwise stated by bet365 . Best price or joint best price will be matched from the following list of Bookmakers: Ladbrokes, William Hill, Paddy Power, Coral, Sky Bet and Boylesports. Best Odds Guaranteed still applies.

Excludes Enhanced Price Win Only or Enhanced Place Terms markets that are priced separately to the Fixed Odds market, live shows, Ante-Post prices, competitor Enhanced Win prices, In-Play prices or any enhancement to the SP at settlement.

So place your Horse Racing bets safe in the knowledge that the BET365 price is the best price. T&Cs apply.