Yorkshire Oaks promises to be a race to savour

August 4th, 2010

The Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, one of the feature races at this month’s tremendous York Ebor 2010 meeting, is shaping up to be one of the best renewals of the contest for many a long year, with recent Nassau Stakes heroine Midday now looking a likely runner after her tremendous success at Glorious Goodwood, writes Elliot Slater.

Winning trainer Henry Cecil was quick to nominate the mile-and-a-half contest as his preferred next outing for last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner, and her presence in the line-up would all but ensure one of the highest quality fields for the prestigious race in recent memory. With last year’s Yorkshire Oaks winner and runner-up Dar Re Mi and Sariska both intended runners, along with this season’s dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy, Horse race betting punters at the Knavesmire look set to enjoy a thrilling contest.

Although beaten by Sariska in the Middleton Stakes at York in May on her last visit to the track, Midday is most likely to run and renew rivalry with Michael Bell’s high class filly as long as the ground is not too firm. Cecil made it clear that underfoot conditions will have to be suitable for Prince Khaled Abdullah’s daughter of Oasis Dram to take her chance, especially with connections intending to send her on a return visit to the US later on in the season.

Dar Re Mi missed her last intended outing in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown due to a minor foot injury, but John Gosden’s globetrotting mare is expected to be back on duty at York on August 19.

The three-year-old Snow Fairy has been one of the great stories of this term, the bargain 1800 euro filly having won at both Epsom and the Curragh much in the manner of her stable’s other great filly Ouija Board a few seasons ago. It will be fascinating to see just how she fares when tackling the older generation in what could well turn out to be a race to remember.

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Harbinger v Fame And Glory ‘Arc’ clash looks one to savour

July 28th, 2010

Up until Saturday’s demolition job by Harbinger on a high class King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes field on Saturday, Fame And Glory looked the horse they all had to beat in the autumn showpiece, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, writes Elliot Slater.

Now, everyone placing a Horse race bet is wondering if Sir Michael Stoute’s four-year-old has picked up the mantle of the great Sea The Stars and has taken the modern thoroughbred to another level. The son of Dansili sluiced home in record breaking time by an astounding 11 lengths, registering a performance that has provisionally been rated by Timeform as high as 142, that’s 2lbs better than last season’s six-time Group 1 winner!

The mouth-watering prospect now looms of a clash between Harbinger and the high class Fame And Glory, already an impressive winner this term of the Group1 Coronation Cup at Epsom and the Tattersalls Curragh Cup. Aidan O’Brien’s charge did little wrong last year when gong head-to head with Sea The Stars on three occasions, finishing second to John Oxx’s world beater in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish champion Stakes and is being campaigned with the autumn feature in mind.

The ‘Arc’ is always a fantastic race that brings together the cream of both the three-year-old crop and the older horses from across Europe and, on occasions, even further afield. Immediate bookmaker reaction for those who bet online was to make Harbinger the new 7/4 favourite (with Ladbrokes) for the Paris feature on October 3, whilst Fame And Glory has been pushed out to 5/1.

With the pair almost certain to be seen in action a time or two before then there could yet be more shake-up’s in this leading ante-post market as the anticipation mounts ahead of what might prove to be one of the best international Group 1 races for many a long year.

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Posted in Bookmakers

Underfoot conditions set to test ‘King George’ challengers

July 20th, 2010

The forthcoming Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 24, promises to live up to all the billing with top three-year-old’s Workforce, Harbinger and Cape Blanco looking set to go into battle against the older generations, writes Elliot Slater.

The horse race betting market weighs heavily in favour of the younger brigade with Epsom Derby hero Workforce proving popular at 4/5 with Ladbrokes following his devastating seven-length romp in the Classic in early June.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute appears to have an iron grip on the race being also responsible for Royal Ascot winner Harbinger who was a facile scorer in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and has proved popular with punters at betting online odds of 5/2. Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco, (who easily beat Workforce in the Dante Stakes at York), is offered at 6/1, and the shortest priced of the older horses is John Gosden’s admirable mare Dar Re Mi (12/1).

The big question mark surrounding the race is quite how Workforce will perform if the rain currently hammering down on the British Isles continues in the days prior to the big race and causes the ground to ease considerably? Workforce has looked brilliant on a quickish surface, but will he be equally effective on soft ground? Harbinger has proved his ability to handle an easy surface and Cape Blanco twice won on soft ground in Ireland as a juvenile.

Although he hasn’t voiced any obvious concerns, Stoute must have a niggling doubt in the back of his mind that Prince Khaled Abdullah’s fine colt might not prove quite as devastating on an easier surface – then again, he might prove himself to be even better encountering new conditions.

Champion jockey Ryan Moore will be aboard the Epsom Derby winner and French star Olivier Peslier comes in on the ride for Harbinger who has only previously been ridden by Moore on all eight career starts.

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Ireland Braced For €10 Million National Gamble

April 9th, 2010

Punters across Ireland are set for a recession busting €10 million gamble on tomorrow’s Aintree Grand National according to top bookie Paddy Power.

The world’s most famous race goes to post at 4.15pm with a full field of 40 horses going head to head over a grueling 4 1/2 miles with ten of the runners carrying the hopes of Ireland.

Irish punters have latched on to a couple of the leading contenders and will be looking for Ruby Walsh and big race favourite, Big Fella Thanks (7-1), to get them back to winning ways after a very tough Cheltenham Festival and Irish Grand National. The best backed Irish horse so far is Arbor Supreme for Willie Mullins who finished a close second in Leopardstown last month.  

Paddy Power said, “It’s the biggest race of the year and punters are out for revenge after a very tough Cheltenham.!   There’s always a fairytale in the National and we don’t have too long to wait to find out who’ll be enjoying the happy ever after”.

The fun-loving bookie has also pledged to give horse racing fans a day to remember tomorrow by promising to buy everyone in Liverpool a free pint if top Irish jockey A.P. McCoy rides the winner in the Grand National.  

Paddy has teamed up with Irish football legend John Aldridge and will sponsor a free bar all night in his famous Liverpool watering hole ‘Aldo’s Place’ should Tony McCoy be first past the post in the four mile stamina sapping contest.

John Smith’s Grand National

Paddy Power bets: 7 Big Fella Thanks, 10 Mon Mome, 12 Black Apalachi, 14 Arbor Supreme, Snowy Morning, The Package, 16 Character Building, Niche Market, Tricky Trickster, Vic Venturi, 18 State Of Play, 20 Comply Or Die, Don’t Push It, Maljimar, 25 Backstage, Ballyholland, Can’t Buy Time, 33 Cloudy Lane, Dream Alliance, Irish Raptor, 40 Hello Bud, King Johns Castle, Madison Du Berlais, My Will, Palypso De Creek, 50 Ballyfitz, Cerium, Eric’s Charm, Joe Lively, 66 Beat The Boys, Ellerslie George, Flintoff, Nozic, Preists Leap, Royal Rosa, 100 Conna Castle, Made In Taipan, Ollie Magern, Pablo Du Charmil, Piraya

Each-way 1,2,3,4,5

All Prices are subject to fluctuation. See www.paddypower.com for latest.

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Posted in Grand National

Paddy Pledges Free Booze If McCoy Wins National

April 9th, 2010

Top bookie Paddy Power has pledged to give horse racing fans a day to remember this Saturday by promising to buy everyone in Liverpool a free pint if Irish jockey A.P. McCoy rides the winner of the John Smith’s Aintree Grand National.

Generous Paddy has teamed up with Irish football legend John Aldridge and will sponsor a free bar all night in his famous Liverpool watering hole ‘Aldo’s Place’ should Tony McCoy be first past the post in Saturday’s four mile stamina sapping contest.

While McCoy has more than 3,000 career winners under his belt the Grand National trophy is one of very few that has eluding the fourteen-times champion jockey but his mount in this years race, Don’t Push It, is one of the bookies favourites to win.

Paddy Power said, “This looks like the year that Tony will finally break his Grand National duck and if he does I can personally guarantee there won’t be a sober soul in Liverpool this Saturday night.”

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World’s Longest Billboard Made Permanent

March 18th, 2010

Overwhelmingly positive feedback from both locals and race goers about the Paddy Power sign on Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire has prompted the top bookmaker to negotiate a long term lease with the landowner to enable the record breaking sign to remain as a permanent fixture of the Cheltenham landscape.

As the world’s longest freestanding sign locals believe it has the potential to become one of the country’s most recognised landmarks, even becoming a tourist attraction similar to its sister sign in Los Angeles.

Security on-site has reported a steady stream of curious punters travelling to the site to have their picture taken by the record breaking sign.

The colossal Paddy Power sign is a staggering 270ft long eclipsing the previous world record holder which stood at 160ft long and also dwarfs the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.

Paddy Power himself said: “We have had so much positive feedback from locals that it was a no-brainer to make the sign permanent. The first reaction by most people I have talked to is it makes them smile, so why not have that feeling every day?”

Stat Attack – Paddy Power sign

  • 270 feet long (82 metres)
  • 50 feet high (15 metres)
  • Almost 100 tones in total
  • 60 man build crew
  • 3 years in the making
  • Over 1000 man hours to design and build

Landmarks dwarfed by the Paddy Power sign:

  • At over 270ft wide that’s longer than the world’s largest free-standing billboard in Manila, Philippines (160ft)
  • Taller and bigger than the Hollywood sign (45ft by 200ft)
  • Longer than the famous Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset (180ft)
  • At over 50ft high that’s taller than three double-decker London buses stacked on top of each other

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Cheltenham Festival Enhanced Bookmaker Free Bets

March 16th, 2010

The Following Bookmakers have increased the size of their free bet offers, for new customers, who open an account during the Cheltenham festival. So if you’re thinking of opening an account with them, now is the time to do it, as after the festival they will revert back to their regular free bet offers.

William Hill have increased the size of their free bet offer from £25 to £60 during the festival. To claim the offer, simply follow this link to William Hill and enter code CH60 when you open an account. Then place your first bet of £5 or more at odds of 1/5 (1.2) or greater. Once your first bet is settled they’ll credit your account with a 300% matched bet up to a maximum of £60. You’ll then need to place your free bet on the selection of your choice within the next 7 days. For example if your first bet is £10 William Hill will match it with a free bet for £30, if your first bet is £20 they will match it with a bet of £60.

As of 19th March William Hill have withdrawn the above free bet offer and just for today are offering up to £35 in free bets to both new and existing customers. In order to claim the free bets you need to place a bet of £20 on any of today’s races at Cheltenham, this will entitle you to a free £5 in-play bet on a specific sporting event over the weekend. Place a bet of £20 on each of today’s cheltenham races and you’ll receive £35 worth of free in-play bets. If you’re already a William Hill customer you may wish to take advantage of this offer, but if you don’t yet hold an account with William Hill it maybe better for you to wait, as they’ll revert back to their Free £25 bet for new customers from tomorrow.

Betfair have enhanced the conditions of their £25 free bet offer, specifically for The Festival. Instead of their standard £25 no loss free bet they have a £25 matched free bet offer. This means that win or lose you will receive £25 and it doesn’t have to be on your first bet. It can be a series of bets up to £25.

Totesport are offering a free matched bet of up to £50 and have made their site even easier to place a bet thanks to their new betting slips and content. The £50 matched bet runs until 23:59 Sunday 21st March 2010. To qualify for a free bet you must stake £10 or more on an event of your choice. The free bet will expire 7 days after your qualifying bet is placed. See the totesport site for full terms and conditions.

Coral have increased their regular matched free bet offer from £10 to £20 during the Cheltenham Festival.  This offer will finish after the last race on Friday 19th March 2010.

See Bookmaker Fee Bets for other free bet offers.

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O’Brien well worth following in St James’s Palace Stakes

March 11th, 2010

Many serious punters look for solid trends when considering ante-post investments in major races, and at 2010 Royal Ascot there will be few stronger statistics than the ones favouring Aidan O’Brien’s likely runners in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes, writes Elliot Slater.
 
The one mile contest, restricted to three-year-old colts, has been a very happy hunting ground for the Ballydoyle maestro and has seen him strike an astonishing six times in the last 10 renewals with his three most recent winners being Excellent Art, Henrythenavigator, and last year Mastercraftsman.
 
O’Brien and his team clearly place tremendous importance in winning the race as it adds significant stud value to the winner, a particularly relevant detail in their case as not only is Ballydoyle a major training centre, but their nearby Coolmore Stud is where many of the O’Brien trained champions got to take up stallion duties in what is a finely tuned multi-million pound business operation.
 
The St James’s Palace Stakes, the highlight on the opening day of the five-day Royal Ascot races, is the logical next step for horses who have performed well in the English, Irish or the French 2000 Guineas. The race is run on the round mile and there is a gradual incline all the way to the line from the three furlong marker just before the turn for home.
 
In 2010 O’Brien looks to already have a number of likely Royal Ascot 2010 Betting candidates for the race including Beethoven, Fencing Master and Steinbeck, first, second and fourth in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket at the end of the 2009 season. Of the three it could be Steinbeck who is open to the most improvement as a three-year-old, but with Ballydoyle having such amazing strength in depth, there could yet be an unheralded candidate to stake his claim for Royal Ascot glory.

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