Monday, November 14, 2011
Sports World |
- Rave reviews for Triumph Hurdle hope Hinterland
- Improving Handicappers
- Breeders' Cup – Saturday
- Unbeaten Caviar earns a mid-term break
- Johnny Murtagh crowned Irish champion jockey
| Rave reviews for Triumph Hurdle hope Hinterland Posted: 14 Nov 2011 08:11 AM PST Paul Nicholls unleashed what could potentially be a high-class performer in the making when his Hinterland made a very impressive British racecourse debut in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham on Saturday and believes the ex-French juvenile hurdle winner could be a major star of the future, writes Elliot Slater. Coming from a trainer who has such an embarrassment of riches in nearly every department of the jumps game these comments must be taken seriously, and in defeating the useful Hollow Tree by an easy three-lengths, Nicholls confirmed that the winner was only repeating the sparkling performances he has put up on the Ditcheat gallops of late. Hinterland arrived at Paul Nicholls' yard from Guillaume Macaire's stables in France where on only his second career start he proved too good for a strong field of juvenile hurdlers when landing the Grade 2 Prix Wild Monarch in May of this year. Purchased privately by Chris Giles and Jared Sullivan, the Poliglote gelding had done everything asked of him on the home gallops prior to his Cheltenham run and was the subject of very strong horse racing betting market support in being backed down from 15/8 to 6/4 favourite. Those that weighed in on the gamble never had a moment's worry as Hinterland cruised around Prestbury Park under Ruby Walsh before easing to the lead before the third last. Hollow Tree gamely tried to peg him back going to the final flight but in the end Donald McCain's gallant sort had no answer to the turn of the foot shown on the uphill climb to the line by the winner. Not surprisingly most bookmakers were very impressed by the performance and from a pre-race quote of 20/1 for the Triumph Hurdle itself some now – thanks to a number of experts' horse racing betting tips - make Nicholls' youngster as short as 5/1 ante-post favourite for the juvenile hurdling crown.  |
| Posted: 14 Nov 2011 07:30 AM PST At the start of every National Hunt season it's always interesting and hopefully profitable to try and spot those horses which still have considerable improvement left in them and can progress throughout the season and challenge for the valuable prizes. No selection of improving of improving handicappers would be complete without representation from the Paul Nicholls yard and one horse that caught the eye last season was Aerial who disappointed on ground faster than ideal at Ascot when he also made a noise. That run led to him having a wind operation and he wouldn't be the first horse from this yard to show significant improvement after that particular operation. If he comes back to the sort of form that he displayed on his British debut when he paralysed Tamadot and Double The Trouble his mark of 140 will look very lenient indeed. Those looking for horse racing betting tips should remember this. Not only an up and coming horse but one from a yard – Charlie Longsdon - which has done nothing but progress over the past couple of years and their Grandads Horse has already delivered one striking performance this year at Stratford. He was put up 13lb for that win but he still has bags of improvement left in him and this progressive son of Bollin Eric still looks a handicapper to keep on the right side in the coming months. Another yard that is clearly going places is that of Donald McCain, there were a couple of candidates that would have fitted the title of the article and it seems a shame to leave either out so we are throwing in two for the price of one. Wymott is the first, he was pulled up with an injury in the RSA Chase and the handicapper dropped him 4lb as a result. People who bet on racing need to bear this in mind. Prior to that he was unbeaten over fences and his attacking style could pay dividends in some high-class handicap chases especially off a mark of 144. Red Merlin also from the McCain stable that will pay to note, formerly top class in handicaps on the Flat he was a slow-burner over hurdles but his hat-trick of wins over hurdles in the spring was definite progress and gives him a platform to build from. His mark of 130 looks on his flat and hurdles form to have seriously underplayed his ability and Donald McCain will be able to place him to maximum effect. Last but not least one of the lesser lights from the Philip Hobbs stable but one who can definitely improve and win at his level. The Disengager is a dual-winning pointer and he made a very encouraging debut when beating all bar subsequent Carlisle winner The Panama Kid at Perth in September. He's not one of the stable stars but his mark of 107 looks to seriously underestimate his ability and there should be more improvement to come.  |
| Posted: 14 Nov 2011 07:28 AM PST Friday at Churchill Downs provides the starter on the Breeders' Cup menu, with the main meal very much saved for the Saturday. Here we look at some of the key pointers and trends which have come to light over the years and may help you towards a few winners on Saturday night. The Juvenile Turf has only been around for four years but all of the winners of this race have won on turf before and additionally they have reached the first three in another stakes race over 7F plus and no winner has ever won over less than 6F.The Turf Sprint is one where the winners have all exhibited a very consistent profile – all three previous winners of this race have won half of their starts in previous turf sprints. Four horses in the field fit the profile, they are California Flag, Caracortado, Havelock and Regally Ready and they look the ones that backers should concentrate on. Those looking at the racing betting should remember this. The Dirt Mile is another Breeders' Cup race that has only seen four runnings but all of the winners had landed at least a Grade 2 race or reached the first three in a Grade 1 that year. In addition all of the previous winners have won over the distance and three in the field this year fit the bill – Caleb's Posse, Jersey Town and Wilburn.The Turf is one race where the Europeans have held the upper hand over the past 11 years winning eight of those runnings and have taken the race in the last three years. Once again the Europeans look to have a strong challenge and it's hard to see the home side fending off the visitors. Those who bet on racing should bear this in mind. The Breeders' Cup Mile promises to be the race of the meeting and is another where the Europeans have proved very strong in the past years and this year they are equally strong with Goldikova and Strong Suit heading the market with very little plausible US opposition. Concluding the card is the Breeders' Cup Classic, only Raven's Pass has been successful for Europe since 2001 and this year the European challenge hinges on the O'Brien trained So You Think. Raven's Pass was successful on a synthetic surface but on traditional dirt which the race will be run on this year only two European horses (Arazi and Sheikh Albadou) have ever proved up to the challenge at Churchill Downs. Many pundits think that So You Think will be suited by the surface but on all known form he faces a mammoth task against the US horses which are used the surface. Saturday evening sees nine fantastic Breeders' Cup races and on November 5th we should see plenty of fireworks.  |
| Unbeaten Caviar earns a mid-term break Posted: 14 Nov 2011 06:38 AM PST Australian sprint sensation Black Caviar will not race on the west coast at Perth on November 19 in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes and will instead be given a mid-season break following her latest effortless success in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington at the weekend, a race she was winning for the second successive year, writes Elliot Slater. Peter Moody's world leading mare is now unbeaten in all 16 career starts at five and six furlongs and has become almost unbackable in her native land, winning her last three starts at odds of 1/14, 1/33, and on Saturday taking the Group 1 contest at the unprecedented odds of 1/25, winning by two-and-a-three-quarter-lengths from the very useful Buffering without ever being asked a serious question by her ever-present rider Luke Nolen. Even people looking at the Grand National betting online will have been impressed. After returning to her home stables Black Caviar was noted to be slightly jarred up and apparently suffering from a slight muscle tear in her hind quarters, a minor injury but one that indicates that a nice break is due. Moody has ruled out the intended trip to Perth (much to the disappointment of the authorities there), and is likely to bring the daughter of Bel Esprit back for the Group 1 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley at the end of January. Anyone with a Grand National free bets offer will have been impressed. All roads will hopefully lead to Royal Ascot for the five-year-old mare who is already being flagged up as the star attraction of the 2012 fixture having declined an invitation to race there this season. Moody made it clear in the summer that he would tailor his superstar's campaign around a trip to the royal meeting in June where she would most likely take her chance in either or both of the King's Stand Stakes or the Golden Jubilee Stakes, races that have proved happy hunting grounds for previous top Australian sprinters such as Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, and the mighty Choisir.  |
| Johnny Murtagh crowned Irish champion jockey Posted: 14 Nov 2011 06:33 AM PST When the hugely popular Johnny Murtagh gave up his coveted job as principal jockey at Ballydoyle at the end of last season many people wondered if he had taken leave of his senses, but his decision has been vindicated in style as he landed his fifth Irish jockeys' championship on the closing day of the season at Leopardstown on Sunday, writes Elliot Slater. Murtagh has never gone on record expressing the full reasons behind the parting of the ways between himself and Aidan O'Brien, and although the Ballydoyle team have enjoyed a fine season Murtagh too has forged a great alliance once again with John Oxx (for whom he was stable jockey in the 1990's), and has been aboard the Aga Khan's Irish based runners in a season that has netted some 82 victories, four more than his closest rival and defending champion Pat Smullen. Those looking at the Grand National free betting should bear this in mind. Victory on board the Aga Khan-owned and John Oxx-trained Takar at Leopardstown's Sunday meeting wrapped up the title and put the seal on what has been a memorable season for Muratgh who proved that he remains as versatile as ever in partnering William Haggas' Dancing Rain to a brilliant victory in the Investec Oaks at Epsom, in Group 1 company in Germany in September, and again in at the Ascot's champions meeting last month. Even those looking for Grand National winner should bear this in mind. Other high profile wins this season for outside yards included Deacon Blues (for James Fanshawe) in both the Wokingham Handicap and Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes, Lightening Pearl for Ger Lyons in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, and a sensational ride to dead-heat on board Mark Johnston's super-tough Jukebox Jury in the Group 1 Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh in September. Irish champion jockey in 1995, 1996 & 1998, Murtagh also landed the title in 2009 when based at Ballydoyle.  |
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