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The Sportsman Racing Recap: Excelebration time at Newbury

Posted on by Mike

In this regular Monday segment, racing expert Scott Armstrong rounds up the weekends racing action and examines just how well his analysis and suggested bets from his Friday column unfolded.

Excelebration routed the opposition to land the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday to reward backers who followed him from Friday’s column when priced 11-4. Excelebration was given the pace he required by stable mate Ceremonial Jad and two furlongs from home the race was settled with all his rivals off the bridle and struggling to keep pace. The final winning distance was a healthy six lengths to second placed Beacon Lodge. My other recommendation in the race – Musir drifted out to 10-1 on the day yet performed creditably to compensate each-way backers. Musir didn’t appear to be 100% race fit after a lengthy absence from the track and should go better next time, with a step up in trip likely to suit.

Excelbration’s win further franks the form of the insuperable Frankel, having already tasted defeat to Henry Cecil’s superstar on two occasions. Excelebration will face Frankel again in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in the Autumn with Frankel Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Bulletin: Can Keiron Fallon take the jockey's championship?

Posted on by Mike

Welcome to our latest column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman tipster service.

Scott is a relatively new addition to the SBC family but already he is proving a popular addition – not least for his racing trading strategy as shared with members in recent SBC magazines.

Each Friday, Scott will be providing us with a rundown of all the best weekend racing action, the horses to follow and those to oppose. You can also find a recap from him each Monday on the SBC Blog with his reaction to the weekend’s events.

Scott is a proven racing expert, thanks to his work at  www.thesportsman.org.uk. Scott is renowned for possessing a keen eye for racing value, especially in the big feature races where he generally excels.

This week he takes in Saturday’s two feature races at Newbury and poses the question: Can Kieran Fallon really win the jockey’s championship in the wake of an injury to Ryan Moore? Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Bulletin: Can Keiron Fallon take the jockey’s championship?

Posted on by Mike

Welcome to our latest column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman tipster service.

Scott is a relatively new addition to the SBC family but already he is proving a popular addition – not least for his racing trading strategy as shared with members in recent SBC magazines.

Each Friday, Scott will be providing us with a rundown of all the best weekend racing action, the horses to follow and those to oppose. You can also find a recap from him each Monday on the SBC Blog with his reaction to the weekend’s events.

Scott is a proven racing expert, thanks to his work at  www.thesportsman.org.uk. Scott is renowned for possessing a keen eye for racing value, especially in the big feature races where he generally excels.

This week he takes in Saturday’s two feature races at Newbury and poses the question: Can Kieran Fallon really win the jockey’s championship in the wake of an injury to Ryan Moore? Continue reading →

The Transfer Insider: Just How Well Have The 3 Promoted Sides Strengthened?

Posted on by Mike

So the white lines are painted in the stadiums are spick and span, ahead of 10 months of Premiership mayhem but before a ball is kicked, one obvious question is: just what can we do with that newly-promoted trio of Norwich, Swansea and QPR in their season’s openers tomorrow?

As we suggested in SBC’s Essential Guide To The 2011/12 season, it is a long recognised strategy to back the newly promoted sides on the first day of the season, when adrenalin ensures they are primed to start with a flourish, even if they subsequently fail to scale the heights consistently thereafter.  You can find out more about SBC’s Essential Guide To The 2011/12 season here: https://smartbettingclub.com/Football/

So what about Neil Warnock’s QPR? They are 7/5 with both bet365 and William Hill at home to Bolton tomorrow, and at that price surely they’re worth a nibble? Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Recap: 33/1 Surprise at the Curragh

Posted on by Mike

La Collina sprang a 33-1 surprise in the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes yesterday at the Curragh. Generally unconsidered for the race the filly put up a terrific performance against her male counterparts. Last of the nine runner field at the furlong pole La Collina demonstrated a blistering turn of foot to wear down Aidan O’Brien’s Power and triumph by a neck. Power had traded at 1.06 in running. I had mentioned Tough As Nails representing the each-way value and he ran admirably beaten by 1 ¾ lengths in finishing third to offer some recompense for each-way backers.

The unluckiest loser of the weekend was at Ascot and the horse I had suggested was worth backing at 10-3 on Friday – Medicean Man. Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Bulletin: Power Up For The Phoenix?

Posted on by Mike

Welcome to our new column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman, who will be providing a rundown of all the best weekend racing action every Friday. 

Scott is a proven racing expert, thanks to his work at http://www.thesportsman.org.uk/ and has a keen eye for racing value, especially in the big feature races.

UK racing hits a little lull over the course of the weekend after last week’s Glorious Goodwood meeting and therefore it’s to Ireland I turn for the weekends feature race. The six furlong Keeneland Phoenix Stakes contest for two year old fillies is worth a purse of 190,000 euros. Staged at the country’s premier racecourse the Curragh there is also some mouth-watering racing in prospect on the supporting card.

The Keeneland Phoenix Stakes witnesses Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten Power as current favourite, best priced at 2-1. The Ballydoyle trainer has won this Group One race for two-year-olds seven times from the last nine renewals finishing second on both other occasions . O’Brien is gunning for the crown again, accounting for half the field . Power has the best Continue reading →

The Transfer Insider: Implosion at St James Park

Posted on by Mike

In the last few weeks I’ve covered the various sagas involving Carlos Tevez, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Luka Modric, nothing has happened and unless you’re them, their agent or their club it is basically guesswork – it could easily be the same for the aforementioned foursome as well.  Such are the wheels within wheels that surround them that they simply may not know themselves whether they are coming or going.

At a guess, I’d say Tevez and Nasri will probably have to stay, while Fabregas and Modric could be off – I’m leaving that now, they’re all covered enough anyway – I’d suggest keeping tabs on Gazetta Dello Sport (Italy), Marca (Spain), quotes emitting from Catalan radio (Barcelona) and the BBC, Sky and the London Evening Standard to get the best idea what’s going on with their respective situations.

The Joey Barton Saga & Newcastle For The Drop?

You may recall I mentioned Joey Barton was an Aston Villa target a few weeks ago and following the latest twist in the drama Alex McLeish could be tempted to make a move.  The situation has of course dramatically changed and Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Recap: Hoof It Obliges at 7/1

Posted on by Mike

Welcome to our latest column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman, who recaps on last week’s action including his 7/1 winner Hoof It and why this monster of a horse should be followed…

Scott is a proven racing expert, thanks to his work at http://www.thesportsman.org.uk/ and has a keen eye for racing value, especially in the big feature races.

The highlight of the weekend racing was Midday capping off a Glorious Goodwood meeting for Sir Henry Cecil when landing the Nassau Stakes for the third time at 6-4.The best horse won the race quickening well to brush aside challenges from Snow Fair and Crytstal Capella to triumph by two lengths.

Hoof It ran a massive race under 10 stone in the Stewards Cup to win under the guidance of Kieran Fallon by 2 ½ lengths. I had suggested playing him each-way but there was no need for such caution as he simply demolished the field. No horse had carried over 9st 10lb to success in the Stewards Cup before and that fact emphasises the worthiness of his win. A physically imposing four year old he can take the elevation to Group 1 level in his stride. Kieran Fallon emphasised this when saying “This horse is a monster. He is still a big baby and has a big future. A Group 1 horse one day”. He should be followed and Continue reading →

PCB’s Betting Week: Ray Winstone Might Be On To Something…

Posted on by Dan

Sporting insight for this week’s betting from Paul Chandler-Burns (commonly known as PCB) – a professional gambler, racing pundit and member of the Smart Betting Club team.

In football seasons past, the Saturday ritual for punters has inevitably meant  getting the bets on before heading off to a match with one ear pressed to a radio but in the coming seasons winter Saturday afternoons are just as likely to be spent at home in front of live streams of match action poised to bet in play.

In play is increasingly where it’s at, and it’s not just Bet 365’s rent-a-cockney Ray Winstone that says so. The scrolling advertising hoardings detailing SBO’s changing handicap prices at Premiership grounds are just recognition of the facts of life in the Far East, where in play has been the only game in town for quite some years. And in betting, where the Far East goes we are sure to follow Continue reading →

PCB's Betting Week: Ray Winstone Might Be On To Something…

Posted on by Dan

Sporting insight for this week’s betting from Paul Chandler-Burns (commonly known as PCB) – a professional gambler, racing pundit and member of the Smart Betting Club team.

In football seasons past, the Saturday ritual for punters has inevitably meant  getting the bets on before heading off to a match with one ear pressed to a radio but in the coming seasons winter Saturday afternoons are just as likely to be spent at home in front of live streams of match action poised to bet in play.

In play is increasingly where it’s at, and it’s not just Bet 365’s rent-a-cockney Ray Winstone that says so. The scrolling advertising hoardings detailing SBO’s changing handicap prices at Premiership grounds are just recognition of the facts of life in the Far East, where in play has been the only game in town for quite some years. And in betting, where the Far East goes we are sure to follow Continue reading →