Tag: Amanda Perrett

Pontefract Tuesday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

National Hunt racing will be making all of the headlines this week as the build-up to the Grand National goes into overdrive. The Aintree festival begins on Thursday and we will be previewing all of the big races and provide a preview of each day’s racing.

The pick of the action on Tuesday is the flat turf meeting at Pontefract which sees Sir Michael Stoute’s first runners of 2015. He does not have a reputation for having his horses fully wound up first time out but they are always a force to be reckoned with in maidens and I think Dannyday could start him off with a winner.

The son of Dansili is out of a Daylami mare and showed plenty of promise as a two-year-old. Both he and Secateur ran in the Doncaster maiden won by Commemorative in September and finished within a nostril of one another in seventh and eighth. Secateur finished his season with a fair second at Goodwood while Dannyday appeared to disappoint when only fourth at Windsor.

A closer look at the form suggests that perhaps it was a better race than it first appeared. The winner, Master Apprentice, was raised in class next time while the runner-up won at Newbury and the third is entered in the Dante Stakes at York. Dannyday has quite a rounded action so will appreciate any give in the ground at Pontefract and has the assistance of Ryan Moore in the saddle.

Stoute and Moore also team up with Gothic in the day’s feature event at 4.00. He is closely matched with Astronereus on Ascot form last season and both horses look capable of winning decent handicaps this season. Astronereus did not quite deliver as much as was promised for Amanda Perrett as a three-year-old but starts the season on a fair mark. Perrett did send out a rare first-time-out winner recently so perhaps this one can be another.

For my final selection on the card I am siding with Richard Hannon’s Thofa in the fillies’ maiden at 4.30. She ran well when finishing a close third at Newmarket and maiden races from HQ usually pay to follow. The one I fear most is Richard Fahey’s Bonds Choice who ran really well at York on her latest start. Midnight Dance attracted significant support on her second outing last season for Ralph Beckett so she could be one to keep an eye on.

Dannyday 2.30 @15-8 Bet365

Astronereus 4.00 @3-1 Bet365

Tohfa 4.30 @5-2 Betfair

Sandown Friday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Racing has been distinctly low key in the UK this week after the excitement of the York Ebor Festival. Sandown provides the entertainment on Friday where all eyes will be on Roger Charlton’s Time Test.

The two-year-old son of Dubawi had caught the eye of several shrewd judges ahead of his debut at Newbury. He has been handed some big-race entries for later in the season so it was disappointing that he could not get past Stec over seven furlongs.

The race itself was extremely modest with just four runners but James Doyle looked to have matters well under control until his mount found nothing under pressure. It may have been a classic case of a horse needing the run and he can go some way to redeeming himself on Friday. There are several newcomers from the big Newmarket yards in opposition, notably Sir Michael Stoute’s Stravagante and John Gosden’s Sugar Boy. Neither hold big race entries and it will be disappointing if Time Test fails again here.

The colt runs in the all-conquering Abdullah colours, as does Torrid for Amanda Perrett in the 3.35 race. This colt is by Three Valleys who was a smart juvenile and he has not been seen since winning by eight lengths at Nottingham last season. He beat a horse called Saab Almanal who was not beaten far in the Dante at York and has since won his maiden at Newmarket. He is rated 95 so Torrid has scope to improve beyond his current mark of 90.

The two concerns are his lengthy absence and the softer going. He has been given an entry in the Cambridgeshire and the stable are generally performing better than they were a month ago. Ryan Moore needed all of his strength to persuade Beach Bar to win at Haydock while Imshivalla has been winning on quicker ground. I’ll take a chance on Torrid’s fitness.

There are several potential improvers in the closing handicap. Dance Of Heroes and Ski Lift both won with a little in hand last time out and have to be respected. I also felt that The Character showed himself capable of winning races when running on well into third at Chester last time. But the one that really catches my eye is Stoute’s Savant.

The grey has had three very quiet races to date, most notably last time out when tenderly handled into fifth place at Kempton. He looks ready to improve for the step up in distance and Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle.

Time Test 3.0 Sandown 9-5 Betfair

Torrid 3.35 Sandown 7-1 BetVictor

Savant 4.45 Sandown 11-2 BetVictor