Wednesday’s Racing Preview

It is good to have some racing back, especially after the disaster that was Boxing Day. Kempton has rescheduled its King George card to January 15th but there is brilliant racing on Wednesday at Newbury and in Ireland at Leopardstown and Limerick.

Big Bucks is the star of the show at Newbury in the Long Walk Hurdle (3.20) but what more can you say about this horse? At the minute he is 1/5 in the betting and this is surely a formality before he goes on to win the Cleeve Hurdle and then regain the World Hurdle at Cheltenham for which he is 8/11 at the minute. He proved last year that he is the only banker at the festival. A decent bet for Big Bucks tomorrow could be to win under a few lengths as he is always produced late but it al depends on how many lengths are going to be offered by the firms.

The 12.50 at Leopardstown sees a future star in the making. Zaidpour should make easy work of its rivals here in its bid for a hat trick. Already has a Grade One under its belt from last month in which he barely came off the bridle and still won by twelve lengths. The best bet here could be to back the horse to win over whatever distance it is made up for tomorrow as it has won both its races so far by twelve lengths.

The Dial-A-Bet Chase (1.20) at Leopardstown sees last year’s winner Golden Silver back in the race but I think Big Zeb has the beating of him. Last year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase winner won a Grade Two chase on his reappearance at Navan last month beating Golden Silver into the bargain. He is definitely the one to beat at odds of 7/4 and will keep up his good record against Golden Silver, having beaten him three times in three races.

Big Zeb - Champion Two Mile Chaser at the Anglo Irish Jump Awards 2010

My other fancy for the day comes at Limerick in the Novice Chase at 12.35. The Hurl was the pick of the bunch of this quartet over hurdles, winning three times including a Grade Two event. Unseated his rider on his chasing debut but made up for it a month ago at Thurles winning over 2m2f comfortably. He looks to be the most progressive of the four runners in this race and is a decent bet at 9/4.

Recommendations:

12.35 Limerick – THE HURL

1.20 Leopardstown – BIG ZEB

Wednesday’s Sports Preview

Kempton has been given the green light for racing today with a card which features seven Bumper races for National Hunt horses.

It is the last race of the day, the 3.50 that catches the eye. Two of Paul Nicholls’ horses are the market leaders: Pepe Simo and Noland. There is no doubt that Noland is the class act in the race, the 2006 Supreme Novice Hurdle winner who went on to win in graded company over fences. The horse has not been seen though in two years since winning the John Durkan Memorial due to injury. Nicholls says “He will improve enormously for the run.” The preference is given to his other runner PEPE SIMO who was a decent novice hurdler last season winning three races over 2miles and coming third in the Imperial Cup at Sandown. He was an easy winner over fences at Sandown last month and will not be caught wanting for speed here today. Nicholls says “Completed his set of bumper, hurdle and chase wins when successful over fences at Sandown last month, is a classy horse in his own right and I think he is one of my two best chances of the day along with Dark Lover.”

To the soccer then and the second live match on Sky Sports Two tonight in the Spanish Copa Del Rey where Valencia entertain Villareal in the fifth round of the competition. Valencia have a good record having lifted the Cup in 2008. They had an easy 7-1 aggregate win in the last round against Logrones and I fancy them to beat Villareal at home tonight at odds of 21/20.

Whilst Villareal are slight favourites to go through to the next round, their away record this season has not been the greatest (of their thirty three points in the league, only eleven of these have came away from home) and Valencia will be looking to get a win under their belts before visiting El Madrigal in the next leg. Villareal also haven’t won at the Mestalla since 2007 so the hope is that Valencia can keep that record intact tonight, kick off 9pm.

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Recommendations:

3.50 Kempton : PEPE SIMO @ 7/4

VALENCIA v Villareal 21/20

Thursday’s Racing Preview

Wednesday’s racing preview went well with four winners (4/7, 11/4, 5/2 and 11/4) and Mikael D’Haguenet falling at the last when cruising, but sure you can’t get them all.

Just the two fancies for Thursday’s racing. The cards aren’t great compared to Wednesday.

2.10 Towcester

Going for the reliable NOUN DE LA THINTE here. A reliable sort who has won on distances from 2m2f to 2m4f on ground varying from good to soft to heavy. Won five times over fences last season and has done well recently placing in decent staying handicap chases. The drop in trip should suit and in a race where there are question marks over its rivals jumping, the same can’t be said for Noun De La Thinte. At 9/2 it is well worth backing each way as a place looks guaranteed.

1.50 Exeter

Paul Nicholls is on a high following a 245/1 winning quad at Cheltenham on Saturday and I think he can continue his good form in this race where he saddles two runners: Chapoturgeon and Royal Charm.

Noel Fehily rides the former useful hurdler ROYAL CHARM who will take all the beating. Course and distance winner (100% record at Exeter, three wins from three runs) on his first run over fences last month, couldn’t have been more impressive beating Carrickboy by twenty two lengths. Will go off favourite at about 11/10 but well worth a bet.

Look to Sports Line for the forecast, the former Willie Mullins trained horse did well ending last season third in a Grade One at Punchestown behind Captain Cee Bee. Donald McCain is sure to have him fit and ready for this test.

Recommendations:

2.10 Towcester: Noun De La Thinte (EW)

1.50 Exeter: Royal Charm (Sports Line FC)

Wednesday’s Racing Preview

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a card we have at Fairyhouse, no less than four Grade One races on show. Add in the Grade Two Peterborough Chase at Newbury and this makes for a great day’s racing.

12.20 Fairyhouse – Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle

Willie Mullins should win this race for the second time in three years following Hurricane Fly in 2008 when ZAIDPOUR takes its chance against five rivals. A winner on the flat for Alain de Royer-Dupre and half-brother to Zaynar, he made an excellent impression routing his rivals (albeit not beating much) on his hurdling debut at Punchestown a month ago. Receiving weight from his older rivals, he should land this prize at forecast odds of 1/1.

12.50 Fairyhouse – Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle

This is a brilliant renewal of the race with Solwhit, Hurricane Fly and Voler La Vedette all having serious chances. I am going to go for HURRICANE FLY, winner of four Grade Ones in the past. Last seen beating Solwhit in a tight finish in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown:

Hurricane Fly beating Solwhit in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle 2010

Although Solwhit has a run under its belt this season, I still think Hurricane Fly will have too much for her in this race at forecast odds of 5/2.

1.55 Fairyhouse – John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase

This race is set up for TRANQUIL SEA. The winner of last year’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham looked back to his best when landing the spoils over this trip at Clonmel in a Grade Two contest just over a month ago. Should have the edge fitness wise over its two rivals from the Mullins stable: Cooldine and J’y Vole. 2009 RSA Chase winner Cooldine wants a further trip in my opinion so I will go for Tranquil Sea at forecast odds of 9/4.

2.30 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase

This race is set up for MIKAEL D’HAGUENET in what is his second chase ever (ran over fences in France). The 2009 Ballymore Novice Hurdle winner at the Cheltenham Festival has won all six races over hurdles for the stable and his long absence from the track isn’t a worry for the yard. He is set to go to the very top over fences. He will be a short priced favourite tomorrow around 13/8.

3.10 Newbury – Peterborough Chase

All eyes tomorrow will be on Paul Nicholl’s five time Grade One winner Twist Magic but I am not convinced by him as he has proved temperamental in the past refusing to race on occasion. I am going to go for TARTAK in the race. Will be a lot fitter for its seasonal reappearance last time out behind the evergreen Monet’s Garden at Aintree. The Tom George trained seven year old was second in the race last year carrying 11st 10lb and only carries 11st this year. He has also had a tongue strap applied and the George stable are quietly confident that Tartak can win at forecast odds of 4/1. Deep Purple is another horse that could get up for a place in this race.

Tuesday’s Football Preview

It will be more Brrr Park than Fir Park tonight as Motherwell host Hearts in a rare SPL fixture that has escaped the cold-snap. The match couldn’t have come at a worse time for Motherwell with their manager Craig Brown having jumped ship to the SPL’s basement club Aberdeen. It says a lot for the Well when Brown decides he has taken fifth placed Motherwell as far as he possibly can and joins twelfth placed Aberdeen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skipper Stephen Craigan admitted some players felt "numb" as they went into training on Friday after the popular management team's shock departure.

Hearts on the other hand come in a rich vein of form having won their last five league matches, including five wins in their last six away matches. They will enter the match full of confidence after a 5-0 hammering of Aberdeen at home on Saturday. Hearts are recommended to continue this streak tonight at a price of 8/5.

South of the border, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy continues tonight. The Huddersfield v Tranmere northern section semi-final finally goes ahead after last week’s postponement. Huddersfield are the overall favourites to lift the trophy at 13/5 and they should be taken tonight to beat a misfiring Tranmere side at 21/20.

Huddersfield had a great win on Saturday coming from behind to beat league leaders Brighton 2-1 strengthening their push for automatic promotion this year. Tranmere on the other hand are flirting with relegation, having lost 2-1 at home to Leyton Orient on Saturday. Tranmere have the joint second worst goal scoring tally in the league this year and their hand is weakened further tonight by injuries to strikers Ian Thomas Moore (calf) and Enoch Showunmi (dead leg).

Recommendations:

HEARTS (v Motherwell) @ 8/5

HUDDERSFIELD (v Tranmere) @ 21/20

Tuesday’s Horse Racing Preview

Three meetings survive on Tuesday:  Southwell (AW), Folkestone and Catterick. Unfortunately Punchestown hasn’t survived, the course is still frozen and has a covering of snow. Though the card has been rescheduled for next Monday minus the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase.

Anyway, back to today’s racing. ROI DE ROSE (2.35 Folkestone) could have a good each way chance in its first run for David Pipe since coming to his yard in the summer. The horse has been a prolific winner in Switzerland and has a modest handicap rating of 114 so receives weight all round. 

The big handicap chase at Catterick could go to the same trainer as it did 12 months ago. Donald McCain runs BALLABROOK (1.45 Catterick). A dual hurdle winner last winter, including once at Catterick, he ran to his best last time out when finishing second to Quinder Spring in a handicap chase at Market Rasen last month. This horse should run a good race and will be in the reckoning at the end. Again, this is a decent price so is worth doing each way.

Check the Tommy French Facebook page on Tuesday for enhanced prices and offers on the two horses and much more.

Recommendations:

2.35 Fokestone – ROI DE ROSE (EW)

1.45 Catterick – BALLABROOK (EW)

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