Tag: Nabatean

Nottingham Wednesday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Betcirca followers got off to a flying start at Windsor on Tuesday with Navigate (4-7), Magic Dancer (10-11) and Geordan Murphy (100-30).  So Noble brought the winning streak to an end with a disappointing run but we move on to Nottingham on Wednesday and I’ve picked out three on the card.

The first one that catches my eye is Storm The Stars for William Haggas in the two-year-old maiden at 3.00. He was second at Newmarket on his debut to Aloft and that looks high-class form after Aidan O’Brien’s colt finished second in the Racing Post Trophy at the weekend.

It is true that five horses finished within a length in the Newmarket race but the form should easily be good enough to win a maiden at Nottingham. The main danger could come from John Gosden’s unraced Golden Horn a son of Cape Cross. His dam never raced and Storm The Stars has experience on his side.

The handicap at 3.30 is fascinating, if only because it sees two unbeaten colts pitched in after just one race. Lightning Spear won a Kempton maiden over a year ago but trainer Olly Stevens has been unable to get him back on the track. I know that he has missed some ambitious entries in recent weeks so he is presumably regarded as more than an 85-rated horse at home.

As tempting as he is, the 426-day lay-off puts me off just enough to side with John Gosden’s Dubai Star. He made his debut at Pontefract with Robert Havlin on board while William Buick partnered stable companion and hot favourite Fallen In Line. Buick was pushing the head off his mount after a couple of furlongs while Havlin cruised along behind the leaders before easing clear to win by six lengths.

The form of the race isn’t worth the paper that it is written on but he could do no more than win and is rated 84 for his handicap debut. He clearly handles softer ground and is race-fit so gets the vote over Lightning Spear.

The third selection is Andrew Balding’s Nabatean in the staying handicap at 4.00. The Balding team have done us a few favours recently and this one looks like making up into a decent stayer next season. He was racing after a lengthy absence when fifth in a very competitive handicap at Newmarket last time. He was confidently backed that day and it looks like he will be popular with punters again on Wednesday.

Storm The Stars 3.00 @4-7 Betfair

Dubai Star 3.30 @5-2 BetVictor

Nabatean 4.00 @3-1 Bet365

Newmarket Saturday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Cesarewitch day card at Newmarket looks like being a thorough test of stamina for punters as well as the horses! As well as the 32-runner marathon, the seven-race card also features a 24-runner mile and a half handicap.

We have previewed the Cesarewitch separately and are hoping for a run for our money from Suegioo and Rhombus. The preceding race is just as taxing to work out with all sorts of interwoven form lines. I am hoping that I have unearthed a well weighted horse in Andrew Balding’s Nabatean.

The son of Rock Of Gibraltar was having only his fourth start when staying on into fourth behind Battersea at Ascot in July. He had previously got off the mark in a Lingfield maiden and was given a lot to do by David Probert, moving up from last place approaching the home turn. He has a lengthy absence to overcome but is 16lbs better off with the winner for four and a half lengths. That ought to give him a decent chance and Hayley Turner has landed the ride with just 8st 1lb to carry.

I have plenty of respect for Luca Cumani’s Connecticut who looked set to complete a four-timer at York before finding the mile and three-quarters just beyond him. He is well worth an each-way bet in a wide open contest.

The same colours are carried by stable mate Bartholomew Fair on the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at 2.05. He beat an ordinary field at Yarmouth easily last time but I think this race could produce a shock with both Future Empire and Order Of St George looking suspect. Future Empire was just beaten at Sandown in the Solario Stakes but a good sized horse blanket would have covered the first four home.

Order Of St George looks a very edgy type, although he did win his maiden by a street. I think Hail Clodius could also be under-rated. He thrashed Fieldsman here last time out and that horse has won twice since.

Each-way betting could also be the order of the day in the Listed race at 2.40 with nineteen fillies and mares going to post. I am reluctant to pass over Blue Waltz after she bolted up at Doncaster last time but she still has to improve to win this and better value may be found with This Is The Day. She won only a modest Brighton handicap before defying a big hike in the weights at Haydock and she could surprise a few here. Albasharah is probably the form horse if she repeats her excellent run at Yarmouth when second to Hadaatha. The winner was only beaten half a length in a Group 1 at Longchamp last weekend.

Bartholomew Fair 2.05 (e/w) @9-1 Bet365

Hail Clodius (e/w) 2.05 @20-1 Paddy Power non-runner

Albasharah 2.40 @11-2 William Hill

This Is The Day (e/w) 2.40 @18-1 Bet Victor

Connecticut (e/w) 3.10  @10-1 Skybet

Nabatean (e/w) 3.10 @12-1 Paddy Power

Suegioo (e/w) 3.50 @18-1 Paddy Power

Rhombus (e/w) 3.50 @25-1 Coral