Follow The Money: Will Hobbs' veteran be your choice at Ffos Las?

"Although without a win since 2010, last season’s Hennessy third place was encouraging, and Fair Along is currently vying for favouritism."

Back Fair Along @ 5.14/1 Ffos Las 16:30

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Ffos Las and Newmarket.

We start at Newmarket with the 13:50, a 7f Maiden Stakes where Golden Causeway has seen significant support moving from 6.05/1 into 3.412/5. Charlie Hills' two-year-old daughter of Giants Causeway is highly regarded with entries in all the top juvenile end of season contests. On her only start to date at Glorious Goodwood she was prevented from showing her true colours after meeting traffic problems. In today's smaller field the market points to her losing her maiden status at the second attempt.

Now to Wales and today's negative where in the 14:45 at Ffos Las, a 1m Maiden Stakes, Be My Rock has been easy to back moving out from 1.981/1 to a current 3.185/40. Rae Guest's 3yo filly started her career 11 days ago on the polytrack at Lingfield when finishing well, when a distant second to an odds-on favourite. Today's contest on soft ground could be a whole different prospect, the lack of market confidence suggests that connections may have to wait another day to see her record her first win.

Staying at Ffos Las for the 16:30, a 3m 1f Handicap Chase where Fair Along has moved from 8.27/1 into 5.14/1. Phillip Hobbs' 10yo veteran makes his first appearance this season. Although without a win since 2010, last season's Hennessy third place was encouraging, and Fair Along is currently vying for favouritism. The market suggests the long break and the class of rivals may bring another win for this stalwart chaser.

Recommended Bets
Back Golden Causeway @ 3.412/5 Newmarket 13:50
Back Fair Along @ 5.14/1 Ffos Las 16:30
Lay Be My Rock @ 3.185/40 Ffos las 14:45

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Timeform Irish 1-2-3 Tips: Memoir the form choice at Ballinrobe‏

Tipping / Billy Nash / 30 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Jessie Harrington's Magical Memoir can land the 20:00 at Ballinrobe

"Magical Memoir has quickly made up into a better hurdler than Flat performer and ran a cracker to finish second to Street Entertainer at the Punchestown Festival last time."

We have come up with three bets on a mixed card at Ballinrobe this evening...

Pat Flynn's horses are just starting to hit form and his Binocular should give a good account in what is a wide-open handicap. Binocular made virtually all in a C&D event last July and Joseph O'Brien, who was on board that day, may well adopt similar tactics from a good draw. Binocular has improved a little over hurdles in the interim and has been dropped 3 lb since last seen in this sphere.

Scottish Boogie looked like one to keep onside when landing a bit of a gamble at Killarney last time but has a bit to find on Timeform ratings with Magical Memoir and may struggle to concede 5 lb to Jessica Harrington's mare. Magical Memoir has quickly made up into a better hurdler than Flat performer and ran a cracker to finish second to Street Entertainer at the Punchestown Festival last time. She acts well on this sort of ground and appeals as the value bet in a race that can quickly be whittled down to just three or four realistic contenders.

No prizes for originality with the third selection but Uncle Taffy won like a horse well ahead of his current mark at Cork on Friday night, only needing to be pushed out to assert after being produced to lead at the last. It is significant that connections have decided to turn him out again under a mandatory 6 lb penalty and he is a worthy favourite.

Recommendations

Back Binocular win and place @ [8.0] and [2.2] in the 18:00
Back Magical Memoir @ [3.2] in the 20:00
Back Uncle Taffy @ [2.62] in the 20:30

Click here to download a FREE TIMEFORM RACECARD for this evening's meeting at Ballinrobe.

Two meetings in Ireland this Sunday and, whilst the better racing undoubtedly takes place on the Flat at Leopardstown, we also have a couple of selections over the jumps at Downpatrick....

The choice for today's stab at the placepot is Uttoxeter, which has attracted a reasonable amount of runners for a card sponsored by local owner Peter Douglas, who has even named one of the races after his star performer Always Waining....

We have got two to back and one to lay on an all Flat card at Navan on Saturday......

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Michael Vaughan: Morgan was the right choice

England Cricket / Michael Vaughan / 25 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Eoin Morgan hits out during his fabulous knock of 193 for the Lions that resulted in him getting the nod over Ravi Bopara

"There were two good reasons as to why Morgan got the nod. The first was obviously to do with that majestic 193 he scored against Sri Lanka for the England Lions last week. Bopara was very much in the driving seat prior to that but despite playing no four-day cricket for a long time Morgan came to the crease and delivered when it mattered, in front of the men who mattered."

Michael Vaughan tells us why England were right to go with Eoin Morgan over Ravi Bopara ahead of the First Test.

It was a tough choice that Andrew Strauss and the England selectors had to make but in the end I think they got it right. It appeared to be a straight shoot-out between Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara for that middle-order slot that belonged to Paul Collingwood for so long and in the end they decided to go with the Irishman.

There were two good reasons as to why Morgan got the nod. The first was obviously to do with that majestic 193 he scored against Sri Lanka for the England Lions last week. Bopara was very much in the driving seat prior to that but despite playing no four-day cricket for a long time Morgan came to the crease and delivered when it mattered, in front of the men who mattered. The fact they gave so much importance to that innings also highlights the importance of doing well when you're called up to play for the Lions. Counties don't like it when their players are called up to play for them but, as far as I'm concerned, what matters most is the England cricket team. If players occasionally have to turn out for the Lions for the selectors to have a look at them, so be it.

The second reason is that Morgan hasn't had any failures in Test cricket. He hasn't played much but he's done well when he's been given a chance and, of course, the same can't be said of Bopara. He's been in and out of the side for a while now and being dropped time and again can't be any good for your confidence. I suspect he'll get at least one more chance in the Test arena to show us what a talented player he really is but I fear it may be his last. The Morgan selection is a bit of a gamble in the sense that Bopara has been bowling quite a few overs for his county recently and could provide a useful fifth bowling option, especially when that super India batting line-up come to town. But, all in all, I agree Morgan should have been the one getting the call-up.

Michael Vaughan tells us why Andrew Strauss will be so keen to make an impact in this First Test and how Mahela Jayawardene is the obvious choice to top score for Sri Lanka in the first innings....

Former England captain Michael Vaughan gives us his take on the challenges Sri Lanka face in this Series, why Kevin Pietersen can come good this summer and how to approach the betting for the First Test....

Betfair is delighted to announce that Michael Vaughan has signed up to become our full-time cricket ambassador....

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Timeform Horses in Focus: Jarrow, Crown Choice & Yaseer

Horses in Focus / Timeform / 22 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Crown Choice (right) didn't get the rub of the green at Pontefract

"Held up in a steadily-run race, Crown Choice travelled smoothly but was still only eighth with a furlong to run, too much to do for all he thundered home under Adam Kirby"

Timeform's Phil Thompson has three more horse that look worth keeping an eye in in the near ...

First up is the former Mark Johnston-inmate Jarrow, Backing horses that have left the Middleham trainer for pastures new isn't the best long-term policy, but in David Nicholls Jarrow has joined a trainer right at the top of his game, and one who has enjoyed plenty of success with horses he has inherited from other yards. Gelded since leaving Johnston for 27,000gns, Jarrow is very well handicapped on his efforts early in 2010 and caught the eye with the way he travelled on his return to the fray in a competitive handicap at Redcar earlier this week. Held up in the early stages, he was still going as well as anything at the two-furlong marker before the lack of a recent run told close home, eventually beaten five into fifth behind Doctor Parkes. Although proven at up to 8.6f, Jarrow is likely to stick to around 6 in the near future and has his name written all over a sprint handicap in the coming weeks. David Nicholls

Anyone who watched Crown Choice on his reappearance at Pontefract will no doubt already have marked him down as a future winner, whereas those who backed him will surely give him another chance given how unlucky he was not to win first time up. Held up in a steadily-run race, Crown Choice travelled smoothly but was still only eighth with a furlong to run, too much to do for all he thundered home under Adam Kirby, failing by a length to catch the winner Flipando, eventually finishing third. That was Crown Choice's first try at 6f, but he confirmed his effectiveness for the trip and has clearly increased his options, especially as a stronger pace is sure to see him a better light. Walter Swinburn

Last but by no means least is the promising Yaseer. Although he may not have won the Craven Stakes at Newmarket last week, this Derby entry certainly showed that he is a horse with a big future. The Marcus Tregoning-trained colt won just a run-of-the-mill maiden at Kempton in December, but he produced an excellent effort to finish just over two lengths third to the ready winner Native Khan at HQ. Racing prominently, Yaseer still seemed green when the pace initially quickened but was flying near the line and would have finished second in another stride. The run confirmed that Yaseer can make an impact in good company this season and he will almost certainly relish a step up to a mile and a quarter, possibly taking up an entry in the Dante Stakes at York in May. Marcus Tregoning

With a [33.0] winner, Wayne Bailey's National Hunt 'horses to follow' showed good profits - but will the flat season prove more tricky?...

Two performers to watch on the all-weather...

Another three to watch from the Timeform team...

Timeform take a close look at three horses who you will want to keep an eye on in future.......

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Follow The Money: Smart Choice?

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 30 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will Choice Of Remark storm to victory at Lingfield?

"The market support for Choice Of Remark is of huge significance."

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Lingfield, Catterick and Hereford.

In Lingfield's Five Furlong Maiden Stakes for two-year-olds at 14:30, Choice Of Remark is now trading at [3.45] from [5.10]. David Evans is known for getting his two-year-olds ready early in the season and this horse looks like another likely type on pedigree. The market support is of huge significance for a race like this.

Chicago Alley has been showing little support today and is out to [3.95] from [2.98] in the 14:40 at Hereford. Tony Carroll's mare is returning from a 10 month break. She was a maiden over hurdles before showing much better form when switched to fences. She won three of her last four races in that sphere but starts out again this season over hurdles so it would seem more of a warm-up race today before going back over the larger obstacles.

Finally we go to Catterick for the start of the turf flat season and Another Wise Kid has been showing some nice support into [6.00] from [11.00] in the 16:20 Maiden Stakes. Paul Midgley's gelding showed some promise when finishing third on his last outing as a two-year-old and the improvement he showed through all four of his races suggests there is more improvement to come. The market support backs this up.

Recommended Bets
Back Choice Of Remark @ [3.45] Lingfield 14:30
Lay Chicago Alley @ [3.95] Hereford 14:40
Back Another Wise Kid @ [6.00] Catterick 16:20

THe FTM boys tell us which two are worth backing which one should be laid....

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Plumpton, Wolverhampton and Towcester...

THE FTM boys give us their usual two backs and one lay....

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