Welcome to the BettingChoice Horse Racing Blog. Here you'll find all the tips, insights and opinions for the world's biggest races including: Cheltenham, Breeders' Cup, Dubai Racing, the Grand National and more.
More action is set to unfold at Meydan racecourse in Dubai as the latest date on the Carnival calendar brings us a UAE 2000 Guineas Trial as well as a listed contest that features a number of proven performers. These two features run in addition to the usual assortment of high-class handicap action featuring contenders from all four corners of the globe.
2:25 Dubai Imtiaz Trophy
Our old friend Sir Gerry (Carson City) steps up to the plate once again and he’s been having a little trouble finding his form, but he could be set to take advantage against a slightly softer field and a move back up to 7f. Kieron Fallon is aboard Lipocco (Piccolo) but he ships in from Germany after a four month lay-off. Barbecue Eddie (Stormy Atlantic) gets a bit of weight to work with...
Newbury plays host to one of the weekend’s showpieces as a light field lines up for the latest iteration of the Aon Chase. It appears to be boiling down to a two-horse race if the current ante post prices are to be believed. Since punters are still waiting on final declarations, it may make sense to back either of the top two right now, but stay well off the remaining contingent – who are floating anywhere from 10/1 to 50/1.
Riverside Theatre comes into this one as a significant favourite and he’s been hitting at career-best figures for the bulk of 2010. His sole outing in 2011 was his best, from a ratings-standpoint, though he was second by a ways off to Gold Cup fancy Long Run.
Riverside has scored at Newbury in the past, over hurdles, and he’s...
There is a precautionary inspection set at 8am local time just before this raceday kicks off but course officials are considered to be optimistic about the action at Punchestown unfolding. The going will be heavy and this complicates matters for several contenders so be sure to watch out for withdrawals.
1:10 Cross Country Chase
A few classy types line up to open things up and Garde Champetre deserves respect as a long-distance staying specialist and he’s been knocking on the door with a pair of second-place finishes in his last two efforts. This looks a more winnable field than he’s tackled in the past so he deserves respect here and is on another planet from a ratings standpoint.
With Cheltenham now less than six weeks away, the final prep races are starting to unfold and punters can expect more than a little turbulence in the ante post markets as contenders opt for different races or drop out of the running entirely. The next month or so will see some dramatic price drops as declarations become finalized and that’s all part of the fun, and risk, of ante post wagering.
The Supreme Novices’ is always an over-bet race thanks to the fact that it’s the festival opener. While the Cheltenham roar is an exhilarating one, it usually coincides with a heavily-backed favourite that, more often than not, can get the festival off to a very underwhelming start, see: Dunguib.
A similar story looks to be developing again this year with many...
The upcoming focal point of the flat racing season on both sides of the Atlantic has produced two extremely high-profile contenders that have been drawing plaudits from all angles since their impressive two year-old campaigns wound down last fall.
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) is still yet to make his state-side debut as a three year-old but all eyes are firmly focused on his anticipated run in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby as he looks to secure his derby slot with a minimum of fuss.
Frankel (Galileo) is considered to be the best young contender on the grass as the undefeated bay colt picked up the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot and followed it up with a smashing score in the Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket....
Easily one of the most impressive break-out stars in the three year-old division this year, the talented Tapizar (Tapit), is set to build on his emphatic Grade 3 Sham Stakes victory as he lines up for the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita this Saturday. The $250,000 Grade 2 contest looks like the final prep for Tapizar as he gears up for the $1,000,000 Santa Anita Derby in April – a race which will effectively crown the left coast’s prime contender in the run for the roses.
Speaking to the Daily Racing Form, Tapizar’s assistant trainer Scott Blasi declared that connections “love how he’s doing,” after Tapizar worked a half-mile in 52 seconds flat.
Currently campaigned by the Steve Asmussen barn, Tapizar has been a feather in the cap...
Alan King has confirmed that talented French chaser Medermit will be lining up in the Arkle Challenge Trophy at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, and bookmakers have responded in kind by expressing plenty of confidence in the high-flying grey with a 5/1 price placing him just off the favourite’s position.
Easily one of the most impressive novice chasers on the National Hunt scene, Medermit is a bit more versatile than some contenders and this was a bit of a thorn in the side of ante post punters as he has been more recently-campaigned at around 2m5f as opposed to the about 2m distance that will be contested in the Arkle. He has won novice chase contests over 2m but he has shown his most impressive form going short and connections seem to be taking the easier option...
Gulfstream has hosted some real creme-de-la-creme races since its' meet kicked off and the Grade 1 Donn Handicap is easily one of the most intriguing contests you're likely to find in the four year-olds+ division.
Fly Down (Mineshaft) is trading as the lukewarm morning-line favourite with a 5/2 price in his first run since a show finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic. With so much attention paid to the Blame (Arch)/Zenyatta (Street Cry) angle, it was easy to forget that Nick Zito's chestnut colt put in such a credible performance. If anything, you reckon that connections will try to deploy the same type of trip that Dialed In (Mineshaft) produced back in the Holy Bull last weekend.
Fly Down's late-running style hasn't won him many races (he hasn...
Only a single race on Saturday's Scoop6 card boasts more than eleven contenders as this week's Scoop6 jackpot boasts a distinctly winnable look about it.
Leg 1 - 2:10 at Wetherby
Top weight Lease Lend is likely giving up a bit too much weight and punters will likely opt for either I'm Delilah and Frankie Figg - the latter of whom scored at Aintree last time out. Both Sheriff Hutton and Big Burrows try to bounce back from tame eforts last time out. Bottom-weight Regal Heights boasts upside but has had trouble finding the line first.
Leg 2 - 2:25 at Sandown
A first-rate Grade 1 contest for novice chasers going 2m4f110y and there is plenty of talent on display. Reve De Sivola knows how to get the job done but Captain Chris has simply...
It's a slim field set to contest the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las as the going rates at good to soft and we're set to go 2m.
Obviously, Oscar Whisky stands atop this field like a colossus and the bay son of Oscar put in a fantastic shift on his sole effort this season - a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham. He topped some very established contenders there including the likes of Celestial Halo and Karabak. Nicky Henderson's charge trades at low as 1/7 with some bookmakers and Barizan finished sixth in that particular race and he comes back for another kick at the can here. He's not won since a Grade 1 score in a race restricted to four year-olds at Punchestown last year.
