Tag: Broxbourne

Cheltenham Thursday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Wednesday’s Cheltenham card began with a victory for Nicky Henderson and Nick de Boinville with Might Bite but that only tells half of the story. He cruised into the lead at the last but began pulling himself up and drifted out to 40-1 on the exchanges before consenting to run on and regain the lead close home.

The same team could be in the winner’s enclosure again on Thursday with Broxbourne in the Mares’ Hurdle race at 3.15. Racing fans will remember Broxbourne winning the Goodwood Stakes and the Brown Jack Stakes on the flat when trained by Mark Johnston. She prefers good or fast ground so her opportunities have been limited over hurdles but the Lambourn trainer appears to have saved her for this meeting.

She warmed up with an effortless victory on ground softer than she likes at Ludlow and looks well handicapped on a mark of 127. There are some good mares in opposition including her stable companion Mayfair Music. She has run poorly on soft ground in her two previous races this season but it is safe to put a line through those. Top weight L’Unique would have finished fifth or sixth in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham had she not fallen. She could run well despite top weight while The Govaness won well last time and could be improving.

Sean Bowen continues to impress in the saddle and he rode another winner at Cheltenham on Wednesday. Tomorrow he rides two for his father, Peter, including Rolling Maul in the staying handicap hurdle at 4.25.

The seven-year-old son of Oscar has really paid his way this season, winning handicaps at Cheltenham and Warwick. He defied top weight of 11st 12lbs last time out on soft ground but conditions were faster when he fought back to beat Knight Of Noir in first-time blinkers on New Year’s Day.

His first four victories were on good ground so he should not be inconvenienced by conditions on Thursday. It is more a question of whether the handicapper has caught up with him with another 7lbs on his back. Aqalim ran well at the festival but I’m still not convinced that he stays three miles while Milan Bound needed all of McCoy’s persuasion to win last time out. Sybarite would also have a chance if he decides to put his best foot forward.

Broxbourne 3.15 @7-2 Bet365

Rolling Maul 4.25 @7-1 Ladbrokes

York Ebor Meeting Day 1 Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

We had some success on a busy Saturday with a couple of nice winners at Newbury and Dandino‘s victory in the American St Leger. I could not believe the price of Glen Moss (5-2) so I hope that you managed to get some of the early 11-2. Our ambitious 33-1 Dandino for the Melbourne Cup gives us something to dream about through the Autumn!

York’s Ebor meeting is always a mixture of top quality Group races and impossible handicaps and Wednesday’s opening day card illustrates the point perfectly. What better way to kick off the meeting than with a 20-runner five-furlong handicap? I’m going to take a stab at this one with Alan Jarvis’s Lady Gibraltar who was just touched off here by Secret Asset. Two runs previously she ran another blinder on this course when beaten only 3/4 of a length by Kingsgate Choice with subsequent Royal Ascot winner York Glory just behind. She clearly runs well here and sneaks in at the foot of the handicap. She is in the middle of the pack so the draw shouldn’t be her downfall and she’s worth an each-way punt at 14-1.

The Acomb Stakes should be interesting with the unbeaten First Flight and The Great Gatsby taken on by Clive Brittain’s Brazos. First Flight lost eight lengths at the start first time out but still won by three! If he starts off on level terms here he must have an outstanding chance whilst The Great Gatsby is an imposing grey who overcame greenness to deny Brazos here last time. I think 2-1 might be a shade generous for the Godolphin colt.

Some of the criticism of one-time Derby hope Telescope appears to have rattled the cage of Sir Michael Stoute judging by his comments earlier this week. In fairness, the colt only won an egg and spoon race by 24 lengths previously so it was no mean effort to finish second at Haydock. He was staying on well at the end and gets an extra two furlongs here. As I’ve backed Excess Knowledge for the Leger, I’m hoping that the form gets a boost from the Gordon Stakes. If Excess Knowledge was unlucky, then so too was Secret Number and it is not impossible that he can turn the form around with his stable companion.

The Juddmonte International looks more of a race to watch that get heavily involved in. Al Kazeem should win because it is his distance but the pace may be false unless Trading Leather is given a positive ride. I am surprised that Toronado is being turned out again so quickly after his epic victory at Goodwood.

I’m not quite sure what Lisa Allpress was trying to do on Broxbourne at Ascot last time but she stayed on all too late behind Homeric. With Fanning back in the plate I would expect to see the form reversed tomorrow and she could be a decent bet at 6-1 or so.

Lady Gibraltar 14-1 Boylesports

First Flight 2-1 Coral

Secret Number 5-1 Ladbrokes

Broxbourne 6-1 Ladbrokes