Advised Saturday Morning 4th May
Racecourse & Time
Newmarket – 15:35
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Royal Marine
Current Odds:
12/1 Skybet & Paddy Power both 5 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Three of the main bookies are paying 5 places so we will treat this race like we do big field handicaps and take two at value prices against those at the top of the market. The two horses to back each way are Royal Marine and Great Scot.
Royal Marine is already a Group 1 winner having won in France on Arc weekend holding the talented Broome at bay over a mile trip. He caught the eye staying on nicely under a tender ride to place fourth in the Craven stakes. Ultimately he might need further but for now in a true run race and in a first time hood this son of Ravens Pass should be backed to strike for the Godolphin Blue.
Racecourse & Time
Newmarket – 15:35
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Great Scot
Current Odds:
16/1 Skybet & William Hill both 5 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Great Scot is a very consistent sort who ran some big races at the backend of last season. He was bang in contention a hundred yards from the line in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster won by Magna Grecia, yet we can back Great Scot at over three times the price of Magma Grecia.
Great Scot ran a good race from off the pace coming through strongly in the Greeham Stakes over 7 furlongs. The extra furlong will suit and that run in a recognized trial for the guineas should have brought him forward plenty. Drawn well in stall 6 he looks a very solid each way shout as his form in the book suggests he doesn’t need to improve much to be very much involved at the business end.
Racecourse & Time
Thirsk – 16:15
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Hayadh
Current Odds:
14/1 Skybet, Betfred & Totesport all 5 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Hayadh finished second in this race last season when run at Wetherby. Similar to today his draw was stall 10 but he managed to get across to the rail and ran a mighty race. This time round he is 5lbs lower in the ratings which should help plenty and has run two nice races over 7 furlongs aleady this season. He is fit and ready and should appreciate stepping back up to a mile on this flat course. He looks overpriced relative to his chance of winning this valuable handicap.
Racecourse & Time
Thirsk – 16:15
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Kings Slipper
Current Odds:
6/1 Skybet, Betfred & Totesport all 5 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Kings Slipper is an improving four year old who won really well last time out at Kempton over a mile under Adam Kirby. He should step forward again from that season debut and a mark of 91 looks fine. Well drawn in stall 8, Adam can ride the race anyway he wants but most likely will drop him in and look to come home fast.
Racecourse & Time
Punchestown – 15:10
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Some Neck
Current Odds:
8/1 generally, look for bookies paying 5 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
We fancied this second season chaser to run a big race at Gowran Park in the Thyestes Chase. He was travelling and jumping nicely until making a mistake up the straight and falling under a claiming jockey. Previously, he has finished strongly to run down Blow By Blow here in a Grade 2 chase on good ground. He ran just ok here again in the Grand National trial when sixth not given a hard race by Ruby Walsh. Obviously, he has had some issue to prevent him running at any of the festivals or nationals but he remains a young chaser full of potential and open to significant improvement. He has the class to overcome top weight if putting his best foot forward today.
Racecourse & Time
Punchestown – 17:00
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Na Trachtalai Abu
Current Odds:
20/1 generally, use BOG bookies
A Non Runner Now
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Na Trachtalai Abu should have won the Munster National when pulling himself up in front allowing Spider Web to rob victory from the jaws of defeat. He had travelled and jumped very well that day and looked a certain winner over the last but obviously has his quirks and threw away the race. Denis O’Regan is a great hold up jockey and a very positive jockey booking for this son of Beneficial. He was given a good winter break and then had a run at Limerick just over three weeks ago where honestly he was not good. Hopefully, he just badly needed that run over a trip short of his best and is ready to fire today. Last season he was a very consistent horse placing on most occasions he ran over fences. He is rated only 2lbs higher than when he ran in the Munster National and 10-7 is a tidy weight to carry in this staying chase.
Racecourse & Time
Punchestown – 17:35
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Jezki
Current Odds:
25/1 Paddy Power else 22/1 Skybet & Boyesports all paying 6 places, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
I’ve been waiting all season for Jezki to run over this trip and almost missed out on him winning the Coral Hurdle at Leopardstown over a sharp two miles at the Dublin racing festival. That run proved he retains loads of ability. A former champion hurdle winner he will enjoy going out in trip and Conor Orr is one of Ireland’s top claiming jockeys reducing his weight to carry by 5lbs. The yielding ground will suit and Jessie Harrington is enjoying another good Punchestown festival.
Racecourse & Time
Punchestown – 17:35
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Dorrells Pierji
Current Odds:
25/1 Skbet & Boylesports paying 6 places else 25/1 generally, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Willie Mullins has won the past two renewals of this race and with nine runners declared looks certain to have a couple of horses involved in the finish of this very valuable handicap. Dorrells Pierji has been competing in Grade 1 novice hurdle races but with no joy. I think he will love dropping back in trip as he just doesn’t stay three miles. Both his wins at Listowel and Galway were over this intermediate trip. A mark of 135 looks fine with 10-9 to carry and Daryll Jacob is a class jockey. The right sort of horse to bounce back and land a big pot for shrewd trainer Willie Mullins.
**Next Update Sunday Morning 6th January ~10:00
As per usual you will be emailed as soon as new selections are updated online