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Final declarations are in and all systems are go for Saturday at Newbury with racing observers declaring that the ground should be rated as good to soft by the time the action kicks off. We’ll be taking a look at the three graded features on the card and identifying the stand outs.
Aon Chase Grade 2
A slimmer field is confirmed for this 3m chase contest with Riverside Theatre and Sir Alex Ferguson’s What A Friend set to be the main contenders here. Both jumpers are trading at very short prices and punters can expect Riverside Theatre to go off at odds-on for this one. Fair Along deserves respect while Carronhills is likely set to be withdrawn from this one. Expect very active forecast markets as punters look to use the exacta to bet against one of the top...
The feature on Saturday’s card at Santa Anita is the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes – where one or two contenders will take a giant step forward along the Kentucky Derby Trail. Tapizar (Tapit) is obviously the big story coming into this one on the back of his impressive Grade 3 Sham Stakes victory.
Most observers expect the flashy Asmussen-trained colt to flourish with the Santa Anita dirt track speed bias in full effect. This 1m1f distance will separate the men from the boys and it’s interesting that Comma To The Top (Bwana Charlie) has opted for the path of least resistance, effectively ducking Tapizar, heading north to Golden Gate Fields and the El Camino Real Derby. Already boasting enough graded earnings for a Derby slot, Comma To The Top is expected to...
There is a massive pile of cash up for grabs in this listed mile at Meydan today with a full £175,000 to be divi’d up amongst the top finishers. A veteran group of runners are set to contest this over the Tapeta surface and we’re seeing several seasonal debuts from some genuine superstars.
One of the most notable is the current betting favourite as Mike De Kock’s Musir (Redoute’s Choice) comes back to defend his undefeated Meydan record. He went three for three last year and he was exceptionally well-campaigned after shipping in from South Africa off a Grade 1 score at Greyville. He captured the UAE 2000 Guineas and the UAE Derby last year, notably scoring over Mendip (Harlan’s Holiday) to condemn him to his first (and only) career defeat. If...
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...
Always my first thought when I head the term "fantasy football".
When you come up with a good idea you typically want to run with it. At the very least, sell it to someone who can do the running.
When you come up with a mediocre idea, you want to put it in your blog and wait for someone else to steal it. Sure, you make nothing for the idea, but let’s be honest; it really wasn’t worth anything in the first place.
My two ideas aren’t going to be game-changers, but I’m pretty sure there’s a bunch of punters out there who would love to see these offered on their favourite betting site.
Idea 1: Let Punters Create Their Own Bets
It’s a fact: those who like to bet, like to bet on anything. The...
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...
