Tag: Clive Cox

Bath Sunday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

As predicted, Champions Day proved more of a mud bath than a bloodbath for punters as the heavy ground produced several shock results. Charm Spirit was our only saviour at a generous SP of 5-1 but the big race went to Frankel’s full-brother Noble Mission. There is no illusion of grandeur about Sunday’s offering at Bath but I have picked out a trio of interesting runners.

The Fillies’ Handicap at 2.00 looks as though it should rest between Jethou and Gharaaneej. The latter is trained by John Gosden and has been runner-up on her last two starts, chasing home Nathr in the same colours at Leicester. This is the first time that she has raced over a mile and there is a slight question mark about her getting the trip. Her dam did not win beyond five furlongs, although she shapes as though she will stay.

That doubt just sways me towards Henry Candy’s Jethou Island who was fourth in a Kempton maiden auction race last time. She was beaten five lengths but the runner-up was Andrew Balding’s Geordan Murphy who easily won a maiden next time. Jethou Island would have been third in another stride or two and had to be pulled around runners to deliver her challenge. She could be the better value at around 9-2.

Another maiden with claims in a handicap for the first time is Balding’s Bikini Island. The daughter of Dynaformer races in a hood but lacked nothing in courage last time out when just beaten on the nod by The Character at Chester. She settled perfectly for David Probert that day having pulled away her chance on her previous outing. I like the way she travelled and this similarly turning track should suit her perfectly.

The one that I fear most is Headline News who has been running in better quality races. She came up against a decent sort in Rewaaya at Newmarket but the big weight concession to Bikini Island could prove too much.

My final selection is Le Maitre Chat who gave a perfect demonstration of why jockeys should not go for a run up the inside at Ascot last time. Jim Crowley tried to find a way up the inside of Quest For More and had the door slammed shut before a similar manoeuvre on that horse’s outside also failed to find daylight. By the time he got out it was all over and he must go close off only a 1lb higher mark. The form threat is See And Be Seen who beat the subsequent Cesarewitch winner Big Easy at Newmarket last time and is only up 4lbs.

Jethou Island 2.00 @9-2 Bet Victor

Bikini Island 3.05 @5-1 Paddy Power

Le Maitre Chat 3.35 @5-2 Paddy Power

Nottingham Wednesday Preview

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Betcirca followers had a great time on Saturday at Newmarket with a profit of more than 20 points on our five selections. Rosalie Bonheur (5-1), Elm Park (3-1) and Tiggy Wiggy (6-4) won the first three races before our Cambridgeshire selections both reached the frame at big prices.

The racing is of a more modest nature at Nottingham on Wednesday but there are a couple of handicaps that are worth taking a look at. The mile and a quarter Middle Distance Series Final at 3.45 sees the reappearance of impressive Sandown winner Raise Your Gaze.

Clive Cox provided us with a winner on Saturday in Rosalie Bonheur, one in three on the day and seven in a week for the Lambourn trainer. Raise Your Gaze is up 6lbs for beating Beakers N Num Nums by two lengths at Sandown and the runner-up has an 8lbs pull. In theory, that could be enough to bring them together but I liked the style of Raise Your Gaze’s victory.

I fancied the favourite Shama’s Crown that day but he was left flat-footed in third when Clive Cox’s grey swept to the front. With the stable in such great form, I will stick with him confirming the form. The best of the rest may be Donny Rover who is tough and consistent.

I am also going to recommend keeping faith with another improving handicapper in Triple Chocolate who is seeking a four-timer in the sprint at 4.50. Roger Ingram has placed him very skilfully to win at Windsor, Newmarket and Haydock.

He is one of those horses that is very difficult for the handicapper to assess as he only does just enough to win. He looked absolutely flat out to get up close home at Newmarket over six furlongs in August so was only raised 4lbs next time. Once again he looked in difficulty with a furlong to travel but kept responding to Jimmy Quinn to run down an in-form horse in Poyle Vinnie. He has been raised a further 5lbs but he is attractively priced and should give us a good run for our money.

There are plenty of dangers including the hat-trick seeking Amadeus Wolf Tone. It may be significant that Kieren Fallon is booked to ride him while Rocket Rob went into a few notebooks when flashing home at Sandown last time out. He’s unlikely to be improving at the age of eight but Willie Musson is a master at getting wins out these old handicappers and he has each-way claims.

Raise Your Gaze 3.45 Nottingham @4-1 Paddy Power

Triple Chocolate 4.50 Nottingham @13-2 William Hill

Ascot Victoria Cup Preview May 11th

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After the tight turns of Chester we are back to a straight seven furlong contest at Ascot for the feature event on Saturday. The Victoria Cup is a competitive handicap with a maximum field of 29 runners with the bookmakers going 10-1 the field on Thursday.

The obvious market leader is Newbury Spring Cup winner Haaf A Sixpence. He tracked front-running Dream Tune through the first seven furlongs before going on to grab the spoils. The race looked top class with several of the Lincoln runners finishing behind him and it was a game effort. His style of racing suggests that the drop back to seven furlongs won’t inconvenience him. He has been given a 5lb penalty for that success and looks sure to run well although he may find Dream Tune harder to pass this time.

Dream Tune has been tried over a variety of distances from six to ten furlongs by Clive Cox but that latest run suggested seven furlongs could see him at his best. He has been drawn in stall two so you would expect him to bounce out and race prominently as he did at Newbury. Ryan Tate has been booked and takes off a handy five pounds, putting him 10lb better off at the weights with Haaf A Sixpence. He only weakened in the closing stages at Newbury and lost two places in the final 50 yards so it is not difficult to imagine him playing a prominent role over a shorter trip. At 16-1 he must have each-way claims.

Another leading contender is the progressive four-year-old Tartiflette who ran out an impressive winner at Haydock without her rider having to resort to the stick. She had Cape Classic and Highland Colori behind her that day and she looks capable of confirming the form despite a 6lb rise in the weights. Charlie Hills is making a good job of stepping into his father’s shoes and was unlucky not to win the 1000 Guineas last Sunday with Just The Judge. He saddles Glen Moss who ran on well at Kempton on the all-weather last time and looks capable of picking up a decent handicap this season.

With the draw certain to be a factor, it may be worth hedging your bets with a runner on each side and I’m keen on the chances of Ascot regular Lightning Cloud. Kevin Ryan’s consistent grey ran at this venue four times last season including when fifth in this race and a close third over the same trip in October. He runs particularly well for Amy Ryan and looked a certain future winner when finishing a close third at Thirsk on his seasonal debut. He looked to have plenty of ground to make up turning for home but was flying at the finish and would have got up in another couple of strides. He should be spot on for Saturday and 14-1 looks an attractive each-way price.

There are plenty of dangers including Jamesie who ran well in a couple of big handicaps last season and will have been sharpened up by his head defeat at Dundalk. I shall stick with Lightning Cloud and Dream Tune against the field.

Lightning Cloud (each-way) 14-1 Bet Victor
Dream Tune (each-way) 16-1 Skybet