Based on £100 win on our 1 point selections, and £200 win on our 2 point selections, our clients are £8941 in profit so far in 2012.

Wednesday 13^th June

Beverley

3.30 – Fenella Fudge 2pt win 9/2 generally

Fenella Fudge was acquired by Derek Shaw, from the James Given yard, as potentially a well handicapped horse, having fallen from a high of 74 down to 64. 

She is now having her third run for the Shaw yard, and shaped last time at Leicester as though she is coming to hand, when staying on well over 7 furlongs at Leicester.  The extra half a furlong, on a stiffer track should suit today, and if bouncing back to her best will be very hard to beat today.

1st

Tuesday 12^th June

Lingfield

4.50 – Catalinas Diamond 2pt 8/1.

Catalinas Diamond has been running well recently, whilst shaping as though a well-run 7 furlongs, around a tight course like Lingfield, should bring about the required improvement for her to score the second victory of her career.

She isn’t a horse with any long term scope, but has been travelling well enough through her races recently, to think that she can defy her current mark, now stepped up in trip.

Nobody plays the waiting game better than George Baker around Lingfield, and with Dvinsky, Ace Of Spies and Demoiselle Bond in the line it, things could well be set up for Catalinas.  8/1 looks a fair price for an inform horse in a weak looking race.

1st

Saturday 9^th June

Chester

3.10 Stand To Reason 2pt win 100/30 Tote and Fred, 3/1 generally

A reproduction of Stand To Reason’s last performance, should be good enough to see him win today, and such is the rate of his progress to date, it’s not inconceivable that he can improve again.

With last night’s rain, and it still raining at Chester this morning, ground conditions have come right for him, and he is well drawn in stall 2.  He pulled 13 lengths clear of the 3^rd horse last time, and I think a 4lb rise in the weights looks to underestimate that performance.

Of the others, I’m not convinced that Memory Cloth wants 10 furlongs, and War Poet has been hit hard by the handicapper having been put up 8lbs for his victory last time. 

Stand To Reason, is worth backing at 5/2 or bigger, and the 100/30 with Tote and Fred, is particularly good value.

Friday 8^th June

Catterick

5.30 – Caras Request 2pt win 8/1 generally

There have been signs over the last week that the Dandy Nicholls stable is coming out of the doldrums.  If that is the case, then he could be figuring prominently on the service over the next few weeks, as a number of his horses are now dangerously well handicapped.

Caras Request would certainly fit into that category, and now encountering 7 furlongs on a turning track for the first time this season, she could well be a handicap blot today.  Although not winning in 2011, she recorded 4 victories in 2010, all over 7 furlongs on turning tracks, off marks of, 66, 72, 75, and 80.

Today she turns up of 64, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if today is the start of another winning spree for her.  She was ridden far too aggressively over 8 furlongs last time, but from a decent stall today, she should take plenty of catching if arriving in top form.

Newmarket

5.40 – Red Lover 2pt win 5/1 Victor and Stan, 9/2 generally

Red Lover has obviously been a very hard horse to keep sound, but if he steps up on his comeback run at Leicester, then he has got a very good chance of winning the first race of his career today.

He was given a sympathetic ride last time by Ryan Moore , and it struck me that he was on a bit of a fact finding mission, as he was never really put in the race, and despite encountering traffic problems stayed on nicely to finish 3^rd.

This proved that middle distances are what he has been crying out for, and I would now expect him to be ridden a bit more aggressively now that he has proven his stamina for the trip. 

By Newmarket standards this doesn’t look an overly competitive race, and Red Lover doesn’t need to step up much on that Leicester performance to land this.

Thursday 7^th June

Wolverhampton

4.40 – Mataaleb 2pt win 5/1 generally

Mattaleb takes a drop in class today having shaped well in a better grade of race the last twice.

Last time at Newmarket he stayed on nicely over an inadequate 10 furlongs in a class 3 handicap, which looked a very strong race at the time, and was franked by Danadana when winning the Zetland Gold Cup on Monday.  Prior to that, he ran well on the Polytrack at Lingfield when again staying on well over 12 furlongs in a class 2.

Today he is down to a class 4, off a career low mark, and although the step up in trip today is a slight unknown, I don’t think it will be a problem, and he may even appreciate it.   The favourite, Teak, has won two very weak races recently, and is now up the weights and up in class, so I’m happy to take him on at 3/1.

1st

Sandown

7.55 – Hurricane Lady 1pt win 12/1 Hills, 10/1 generally

If the weather forecast for today is correct, then conditions at Sandown tonight could be quite testing, and will count against the majority of runners in this race.   The favourite, Jawhar, holds an obvious chance as a well-bred, potential improver from a top yard, but he was very disappointing on his return to action, when failing to settle, and failing to see his race out.  He may step up on that, but I guess that the horse is quite fragile, and Sandown in soft ground is a thorough test of a horse, so I’m happy to take him on.

The one I’m interested in is Hurricane Lady, who showed some decent form last year, including a victory in soft ground at Chepstow.  She is now with Mike Murphy, having been trained by Walter Swinburn last year.  Horses leaving the Swinburn yard is an angle that I’ve exploited several times in the past, and although Hurricane Lady was below par on her return to action, I think it’s likely that she will improve again this year.  Conditions will hold no fears for her today, and she is reunited with Fallon, who was in the saddle for one of his victories last year.

Tuesday 5^th June

3.45 Redcar 1pt win Lady Royale 25/1 Ladbrokes and Boyle, 20/1 generally

If Bosuns Breeze arrives in the same form that he was in when winning at Musselburgh on Saturday, then he will win again, but I’m happy to take him on today, as this is his 4^th run in the last 16 days, and it will be some achievement to post another career best performance after such a hectic schedule.

If he is not in top form, then the one to be on could well be Lady Royale at a massive price.  She shaped last time as if she was coming to hand, when staying on under hands and heels at Wolverhampton, and would have finished a couple of lengths closer under a more vigorous ride.  Today she has the blinkers fitted for the first time this season, which she has worn for all 3 of her victories to date.  She is handicapped to win as she down to a mark of 80, having won last summer of 81.  She is entitled to run much better than this morning’s price would imply.

Monday 4^th June

Carlisle

3.30 – Needy McCredie 2pt win 11/2 Sky and Hills 5/1 general

Needy McCreedie’s form figures at Carlisle last summer were, 2,1,2,1.  So it’s fair to say that she likes the place.  Her last victory was off 56, and having gone up to a mark of 62 on the back of that victory, she is now back down to 58, which is a mark that she’s capable of winning off. 

She shaped as though she was coming to hand at Thirsk last time, on ground that would have been plenty soft enough for her.  Back on a sound surface, at her favourite course she holds a leading chance today, in a weak looking race. 

2nd 

Saturday 2^nd June

Catterick

2.45 Chosen Character 2pt win 8/1 generally 9/1 Sky

There are 2 horses that are running at Catterick today that we have backed this season and I’ve suggested are worth keeping an eye on.  Crown Choice in the 3.20 and Chosen Character in the 2.45.  Crown Choice has the outside stall so will need plenty of luck in running.  There doesn’t look to be a massive amount of early pace in the race, so I’m happy to leave him alone today, and wait for another day, possibly Ripon on Wednesday.

Chosen Character has a double figure stall in his race too, but due to his running style, and the fact that this race looks full of potential front runners, I’m prepared to take a chance on him, although again he will need the gaps to open at the right time.

He’s a well handicapped horse, who has shaped well on a couple of occasions this season, and today is the first time this year, that he has encountered a sound surface over 7 furlongs with the visor on.  Everything is in place for him to go well today, and 8/1 looks a fair price.

un

Advised on Thursday:

The Dash – Epsom Saturday 2^nd June

1pt win Jamesway 14/1 generally

Jamesway travelled like the best handicapped horse in this race last year, when beaten under a length off a mark of 88.  This year he turns up off 83, and with a decent draw in stall 18, he holds an obvious form chance, and currently looks overpriced at 14/1.

You need a massive amount of luck to win this race, and that is one factor that you can’t take into account, but I can see him sitting on the stands side rail for the first 4 furlongs, and if he gets an opening at the right moment he should go close.

Middleham Park Racing, who own Jamesway, strike me as an outfit who are more concerned at landing a big prize at the feature festivals, as opposed to racking up the winners like they did in their early days.   A number of their horses seem to be campaigned with one particular target a year.  I think this is Jamesway’s target, and I can see horses like Tajneed being teed up for one of the big handicaps at Ripon, and Victoire De Lyphar being laid out for something like the Stewards Cup later in the summer.

un

May was yet another winning month for our betting service.  We have now made a profit in 7 out of the last 8 months, and are 69 points in profit for 2012.

Friday 1^st June

Newcastle

2.35 – Jewelled Dagger 1pt win 20/1 generally

Jewelled Dagger is a horse who seems totally reliant on quick ground these days.  Last summer he won 3 races, each time with firm in the going description, off marks of 61, 66 and 72.  Since then he has only raced once on good to firm, when finishing 3^rd off a mark of 72 at Catterick over 12 furlongs.  His runs on the all-weather and slow ground have been poor, and as a result his handicap mark has plummeted down to just 55.

From stall 1 today, I expect Graham Lee to sit close to the pace and if he is anywhere near his best, then this morning’s odds could look to be very generous by mid-afternoon.

un

Pontefract

6.30 – Sir George 2pt win 8/1.

Sir George has raced twice at Pontefract, and on both occasions, he has shaped like a well handicapped horse.  Those runs were off 77, today he races of 71.  He shaped well on his return to action back in March when finishing 2^nd to Colour Guard, who has since won again.  Sir George disappointed on his next 2 runs, but if freshened up by a 5 week break, should prove himself to be the best handicapped horse in today’s race.

The favourite, Woolstone Ferry, on paper looks to hold an outstanding chance at the weights, but he is another horse who seems to reserve his best for the Polytrack, and as ever I’m happy to take him on.  

un

Thursday 31^st May

Ayr

4.55 Judicious 2pt win 5/1 generally

Another horse that we were on last time, but ran slightly disappointingly when ridden closer to the pace than usual, on ground that had probably gone too soft for him.  His owners can’t be the most patient bunch, as he’s now with his third trainer of the year having just his third start.

Again my view of him hasn’t changed, I still think there is a better performance in him than he’s shown so far, and this looks a pretty weak race.  The firmer ground will suit, and as long as he’s ridden with a bit of restraint and they go a reasonably gallop, he should take plenty of beating.   5/1 looks fair; I had put him in as a 7/2 shot.

2nd

Brighton

4.45 Monashee Rock 2pt win 11/2 Bet 365 and Hills 5/1 generally

Won over course and distance last year from a 3lb higher mark.  Shaped well at Lingfield last time when looking as though he was coming to hand over an inadequate trip and now stepped back up to 8 furlongs will take plenty of beating.

I expect him to be spot on today and well backed.  Patrick Chamings does well with his handicappers, and he is more than capable of landing a touch with his seasoned campaigners, I expect today to be the day for Monashee.

un

Newcastle

7.10 – Polish World 1pt win 14/1 Hills, 12/1 generally

A really competitive race with any number of potential winners, led by Anderiego, who we were on first time out, when he probably needed the run.  He shaped well again last time when given a poor ride by Spencer, but does look short enough today, and although I expect him to go well, I think it’s worth chancing Polish World at a big price, as he’s handicapped to go close, and shaped better than his finishing position last time.

He has quickly got back down to his last winning mark, and with conditions ideal today, I’m surprised that Hills have put him up at 14/1.  He went off too hard at Beverley last time, but did travel as though he’s in decent heart.  With Vito Volterra in the line-up, it’s possible that they could set it up for something coming off the pace, but without repeating myself, I’m always happy to take a chance with well handicapped horses, under optimum conditions at double figure prices.

1st - sp 20/1, bfsp 29

Wednesday 30^th May

Folkestone

6.15 – Escape to Glory 2 pt win 7/2 Hills and Coral, 3/1 generally

Escape to Glory was put up as a selection, for an ultra-competitive handicap at York last time, when he was surprisingly outpaced.  My view of him hasn’t changed.  I still think he is better than he has shown so far, and today he takes a big drop in class.  On the evidence of his last run, stepping him up to 7 furlongs should suit, and if he is ever going to fulfil his potential then he should certainly be winning races like todays.

1st

Beverley

9.05 – Landaman 2pt win 7/1 Paddy, 6/1 generally

Landaman was a selection on his return to action at Doncaster in March, as he struck me last year as the type to make up into a decent middle distance horse this season.  At Doncaster he travelled with purpose, and looked sure to play a hand in the finish, before his effort petered out.  Since then he has had 2 very disappointing runs on soft ground.  On the back of those 2 runs he is 7lbs lower than he was at Doncaster.  Now returning to a sound surface for the first time this year, he could well be exceptionally well handicapped.  If he is he should win.

1st