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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 →

The Transfer Insider: Are City Ready For A Football Revolutionary?

Posted on by Dan

Where now for football’s want away starts? No moves yet for Cesc Fabgreas, Luka Modric, Samir Nasri or Carlos Tevez.

I had expected Tevez to join Real Madrid, which is priced at 9/2 with Blue Square and 888Sport, if he was going to go anywhere in Europe but Inter Milan are now the favourites with the bookies and the Italian side are just 2/5 with Skybet to capture the frontman, or 2/1 with both Blue Square and 888Sport.

Any move to Inter could hinge on whether or not Wesley Sneijder moves on (more on that later) but City will be less reluctant to sell now they’ve snapped up Sergio Aguero.

I like Aguero, he’s pure class, one thing puzzles me though – he has branded himself the “Che Guevara of football”  – what does this even mean? It sounds clearly like the kind of insanity that could only have been instilled by his maverick father-in-law Maradona . The ever-controversial football icon has the freedom fighter’s face tattooed on his arm and describes Guevara as ‘the second greatest Argentinian’. Presumably Maradona considers himself in pole position in that contest with Eva Peron a distant third.  Regardless of that, Continue reading →

The Sportsman Racing Bulletin: Midday at Goodwood

Posted on by Dan

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.

Glorious Goodwood comes to an end tomorrow with another top class card. Nothing can compare however to the wonder of Frankel’s performance in the Susses Stakes on Wednesday who was advised at 5-6. Frankel is now the fourth best rated horse ever with Timeform on 142 behind only Sea-Bird (145), Brigadier Gerard (144) and Tudor Minstrel (144). It’s great news he will be kept in training by Henry Cecil as a four-year old.

The two biggest races of the day are the Class 1, Group 1 Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares at 3.10 and the Stewards Cup Handicap following on at 3.45. As a rule I don’t bet heavily on filles and mares Continue reading →

The Sportsman's Recap: Looking ahead to Goodwood

Posted on by Dan

Welcome to our new column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman, this column recaps on last week’s action. 

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 weekends’s racing was overshadowed with the death of Rewilding in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The four year old tragically breaking his near-fore leg two furlongs from home. Nathaniel took another major step forward defeating Workforce by 2 ¾ lengths. Trained by the shrewd John Gosden the three year old colt travelled strongly throughout the race and proved gutsy as jockey William Buick called on his reserves of stamina to see off Workforce. The Ryan Moore ridden Workforce again highlighted his dislike for the Ascot track veering badly in the home straight when holding every chance. The Arc winner had been struck into by the ill fated Rewilding on the home turn and returned with a cut leg though whether he would have beaten Nathaniel if running on a straight course is open to debate. Both Nathaniel and Workforce look sure to head for the Arc now where soft going will be the requirement for Continue reading →

The Sportsman’s Recap: Looking ahead to Goodwood

Posted on by Dan

Welcome to our new column from Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman, this column recaps on last week’s action. 

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 weekends’s racing was overshadowed with the death of Rewilding in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The four year old tragically breaking his near-fore leg two furlongs from home. Nathaniel took another major step forward defeating Workforce by 2 ¾ lengths. Trained by the shrewd John Gosden the three year old colt travelled strongly throughout the race and proved gutsy as jockey William Buick called on his reserves of stamina to see off Workforce. The Ryan Moore ridden Workforce again highlighted his dislike for the Ascot track veering badly in the home straight when holding every chance. The Arc winner had been struck into by the ill fated Rewilding on the home turn and returned with a cut leg though whether he would have beaten Nathaniel if running on a straight course is open to debate. Both Nathaniel and Workforce look sure to head for the Arc now where soft going will be the requirement for Continue reading →

PCB’s Betting Week – 22nd July

Posted on by Mike

It is often said that the quickest route to the poorhouse is to chase your losses backing unraced two year old horses on their debuts. It is a good point well made, but that doesn’t mean you should dismiss inexperienced thoroughbreds entirely.

It is well known that the biggest improvement that these youngsters make comes with their second run and I’ve lost count of the times I’ve made a profit from following the hype when a highly rated flop first time out reappears on the racetrack.

The way to uncover these hidden gems is through scouring the forecast prices in your morning paper and looking for horses that have been listed with a projected price of 8/1 – 10/1 in the morning only to be gambled into 4/1 or less by race time.

There is a great example of this angle today in the form of Police force in Ascot’s 245 today. After a moderate first run I’d have expected this one to be quoted at 10/1+. However it has been gambled today and could well be nearer 4/1 by the off. Someone is clearly happy to ignore the first run, taking the view that the horse has greatly improved for its debut and when you see that happening I think it is an angle you should always take notice of. This is one occasion where the market is clearly giving you a big hint and this is a strategy you can use again and again.

Continue reading →