Tag: Winter Derby

Horse Racing Preview – Saturday 14th March

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It’s been a real test of stamina this week, for punters as well as the horses! Four days and 27 races at Cheltenham will have tested the reserves of many horse racing fans this week, even if the bookmakers insist on telling us otherwise. Of course, had Annie Power stood up on Tuesday things would have been a lot worse for them.

The show rolls on to Uttoxeter for the Midlands Grand National (previewed separately) with supporting cards at Kempton and on the all-weather at Lingfield. There is also the small matter of an estimated £600,000 scoop 6 jackpot.

Tony McCoy could not add to Uxizandre’s victory in the Ryanair Chase but he may not be finished for the week just yet as he has a major chance in Saturday’s feature race on Catching On. It could be a good day for the champ as he rides three with chances for Jonjo O’Neill and two for Rebecca Curtis.

The feature race at Lingfield is the Winter Derby and this sets up an intriguing re-run of the recent Trial. On that occasion Grendisar got the better of Lamar by a short-head with Cloudscape and Grandeur close up. Jockey Martin Harley produced him at the furlong pole and he hit the front before trying to pull himself up.

He is clearly very talented but has to be ridden to put his nose in front as late as possible. He has not been out of the first two in his last nine races so he looks a good each-way bet. I have great respect for both Grandeur and Cloudscape and a thrilling finish is in prospect. Godolphin’s Tryster has been winning on a variety of surfaces and could also come into the equation.

Our old friend Dungannon could gain a first success at Listed level later on the card for Andrew Balding. He was desperately unlucky to be beaten in a photo finish at Southwell last time but acts well around here and many of his rivals are out of form or returning from a break.

Grendisar 3.05 Lingfield @6-1 Paddy Power

Catching On 3.50 Uttoxeter @4-1 Betfair

Dungannon 3.40 Lingfield @9-2 Ladbrokes

The scoop 6 races (all live on C4): 2.20 Kempton, 2.40 Uttoxeter, 3.05 Lingfield, 3.15 Uttoxeter, 3.30 Kempton, 3.50 Uttoxeter

Winter Derby 2014 Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Jeremy Noseda’s Grandeur has already done us a few good turns including when winning the Winter Derby Trial recently. He looked a class above his rivals that day and the race will have brought him to his peak nicely for Saturday.

The £100,000 Winter has attracted a good class field but Grandeur still comes out on top on official figures. Surprisingly, he is yet to win above Listed class in Britain although he has won twice at Grade 2 level in America. He was runner-up to Mukhadram at York in July and also picked up a decent race at Goodwood in good style. His main target was the Arlington Million but he faced an impossible task from a wide draw that day and finished only seventh.

He had over a stone in hand on official ratings here last time but credit to Modernstone for getting fairly close in the closing stages. Ryan Moore gets on well with Grandeur and is already booked for Saturday. It looks like being a maximum field so hopefully he can avoid a wide draw.

The classiest performer in the opposition is 2011 Dewhurst Stakes winner Parish Hall. His last race was in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October when ninth to Farhh. That was possibly flying a bit high and he would be a threat if he’s fit enough.

The former Mark Johnston-trained Windhoek won a handicap on his first start for Godolphin in January. He was a useful three-year-old last season, competing in several classic trials. His best chance is probably to be up with the pace as he seemed to lack a real turn of foot.

It will be interesting to see how Rebellious Guest gets on in this company. He did us a favour here a few weeks ago and I was kicking myself for deserting him at Kempton last time where he set a new track record. That was his first attempt at a mile and a quarter so there could be further improvement in him.

Graphic was progressive for William Haggas last season and I have plenty of respect for him too. He could develop into a group performer this season. It’s certainly shaping up to be a very good renewal of a race that hasn’t quite captured the imagination in recent years.

Grandeur at 6-4 Bet365