Tag: Astronereus

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

Goodwood Thursday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Goodwood Cup day opens with yet another tricky handicap for punters to unravel. Roseburg was impressive at Haydock last time out for the in-form Luca Cumani but I’m a little concerned about the quicker ground for him.

The one that catches my eye is Amanda Perrett’s Astronereus. I strongly fancied Razor Wind at Newmarket last time but he had no answer to Astronereus once Richard Hughes had extricated him from a pocket. Arable won well at Haydock but has been given a 10lbs hike in the handicap so I shall side with the Perrett horse for a Sussex-trained winner.

Ivawood should take the Richmond Stakes but the bookmakers are taking no chances by offering only 4-7 about the July Stakes winner. His form certainly looks far superior to his rivals with the exception of Jungle Cat who will probably give him most to do.

Estimate will start favourite for the Goodwood Cup and can get the better of Brown Panther, providing the rain stays away. The latter was beaten in heavy ground in France last time out but generally shows his best with a little cut in the ground. It was good ground last year when he won decisively and he is the danger to Her Majesty’s mare.

John Gosden’s incredible season continues and I think he could spring a surprise in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at 3.45. Stella Bellissima won her only start at Newbury despite falling out of the stalls. She made her challenge on the wide outside and did well to get up and win. What tempts me to have an each-way investment on the filly here is the fact that the runner-up came out and won by 19 lengths at Newmarket! Missunited is obviously the one to beat after her magnificent effort in the Gold Cup.

Finally, in the 4.50 I’m going to recommend another speculative investment on Andrew Balding’s Secret Hint. The filly will be having only her third start and is 2lbs out of the handicap but there are question marks about many of her rivals. She is also set to receive plenty of weight from Magnus Maximus who beat her at Kempton on her debut.

The draw is a bit of a concern with stall 12 far from ideal. David Probert can hopefully get her out quickly and tuck in behind the pace. Sir Michael Stoute’s Royal Seal is feared most after running over six furlongs last time at Newmarket. That was patently too short for him and he should go well under Ryan Moore.

Astronereus 2.05 Goodwood @5-1 William Hill

Estimate 3.10 Goodwood @9-4 Betfair

Stella Bellissima 3.45 Goodwood @8-1 Paddy Power

Secret Hint 4.50 Goodwood