Timeform Daily: Monday, Leicester 14:10

Act of Kalanisi is a useful hurdler who wasn't far off that level when close fifth in a decent maiden at Ascot on chasing debut/reappearance. This definitely easier and looks the one to beat.

Timeform take a look at this interesting novice chase...

Court In Session is a dual hurdles winner who won on chase bow at Hereford in May and good second at Wetherby later that month. Below par when last seen in July but booking of McCoy suggests better expected on return.

Tindaro bettered hurdling form when opening chase account at Fontwell (2¼m) in August. Placed next 2 starts and claims if latest poor run can be forgiven. Cheekpieces added to usual tongue tie now.

Act of Kalanisi is a useful hurdler who wasn't far off that level when close fifth in a decent maiden at Ascot on chasing debut/reappearance. This definitely easier and looks the one to beat.

Balinroab is an Irish point winner who was runner-up in couple of maiden hurdles in the spring. Should be sort to do even better over fences at some point but market probably best guide to expectations on return.

Ciceron was a useful hurdler, winning a Sandown handicap in January. Lost way towards end of last season, however, and fared no better switched to chasing on reappearance. Need to see more before supporting.

Denali Highway won a bumper on debut but bit disappointing over hurdles for Alan King last season and needs to improve for fences and change of yard to make a significant impact here.

Dubai Crest was a fairly useful hurdler for Nicky Henderson but left that yard since last seen in September and remains to be seen if he's capable of similar level sent straight over fences by new yard.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Act of Kalanisi
2. Court In Session
3. Tindaro

Timeform verdict: Act of Kalanisi showed enough at Ascot to suggest he's going to translate most of his hurdling ability to chasing and can take advantage of the 7 lb he receives from previous chase winners Court In Session and Tindaro.

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Timeform Daily: Friday, Leicester 15:40

Race of the Day / Timeform / 09 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Friday's race of the Day is at Leicester

"Rathcor's solid runner-up effort is the best recent hunter form on offer..."

Timeform provide a runner-by-runner guide for the hunter chase on the Leicester card...

Gidam Gidam is a thorough stayer who won 4m Doncaster handicap chase in February 2010 for John Mackie. Placed both starts in points last year, and confirmed he retains some ability when runner-up on hunter debut.

Marblehead achieved fairly useful form over fences for both Fergal O'Brien and Nigel Twiston-Davies. Since won a point for his new handler in January, and he ought to be competitive in this company.

Special Portrait surpassed previous winning hunter form when a clear second behind the far superior Cloudly Lane at Ayr last month. Will need to raise his game again in a race with more depth.

Rumbury Grey is a three-time point winner who was fit from that sphere when overhauling Galway Jack in 2½m hunter here last month. Easy enough to see those placings reversed under these circumstances, though.

Galway Jack was prolific in points, and not seen to best effect both hunter starts this year, ridden too forcefully at Towcester and unable to quicken over 2½m here. Will do better, especially at this trip.

Pistolet Noir's Career stalled after winning Grade 2 juvenile at Cheltenham in 2009 and evidence of both chase starts last year and his recent point run suggests he's very much a declining force.

Rathcor produced a career best when bagging a 2½m handicap hurdle at Huntingdon in October 2010. Not the biggest, but won a point prior to an excellent runner-up effort on last month's hunter debut.

Kiama produced a better effort on his second hunter start when third at Taunton last month, but in the process underlined her limitations in this sphere, and this is too tough.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Rathcor
2. Galway Jack
3. Rumbury Grey

Timeform Verdict: Rathcor's solid runner-up effort is the best recent hunter form on offer, so he gets the nod, though an improved showing from Galway Jack would come as no surprise.

...........
Click HERE to get the latest issue of the Timeform Black Book, featuring ratings for all 27 Cheltenham Festival races, plus those for Imperial Cup weekend!

Timeform preview an interesting sprint handicap at Southwell on Thursday afternoon......

Timeform run the rule over the six runners in the maiden chase at Catterick this afternoon......

Timeform take a look at the runners for the competitive three-mile-six-furlong Devon National Handicap Chase at Exeter......

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Leicester

Going Report / Editor / 14 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Racecourse: Leicester
First Race Time: 14:10
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places (watered)
Other Information: Dry overnight, dry forecast temperature 21ºC. Going stick 7.9.

Racecourse: Hamilton Park First Race Time: 14:00 Going: Good, Good to Firm in places Other Information: Dry overnight, dry day forecast....

Racecourse: Cartmel First Race Time: 14:20 Going: Good, Good to Firm in places Other Information: Dry overnight...

Racecourse: Bath First Race Time: 17:50 Going: Firm Other Information: Dry overnight, dry day forecast....

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Follow The Money: Lighting strike at Leicester?

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 14 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

The FTM team have a couple of runners at Leicester this afternoon

"Lightning Cloud has had steady support to move from [2.80] to [2.14]."

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Hamilton and Leicester...

In the 14:10 at Leicester, That's Dangerous has been on the drift, from [3.10] out to [4.50]. A disappointing fourth of five on his second run when fancied to go well, he had to drop down to selling company to get off the mark. While that win came over course and distance this will be a tougher test as he makes his handicap debut and early support has been on the wane.

Over at Hamilton in the 14:30, Midnight Dynamo has been well supported down to [7.60] from [13.50]. She won her maiden over this trip back in May and has run well in two handicaps since, including a close up fourth over this course and distance last time. She shapes as though she would appreciate a strong pace and is certainly open to further improvement if she gets the rub of the green.

Our final selection is in the 14:40 at Leicester where Lightning Cloud has had steady support to move from [2.80] to [2.14]. A winner three times in his last four runs, including a course and distance success back in May, he is still comparatively lightly raced. With further improvement likely, and off the same mark as his last win, he looks to be the one to beat today.

Recommended Bets
Lay That's Dangerous @ [4.50] Leicester 14:10
Back Midnight Dynamo @ [7.60] Hamilton 14:30
Back Lightning Cloud @ [2.14] Leicester 14:40

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Catterick and Uttoxeter....

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Beverley and Brighton....

The FTM boys talk us through their rationale in recommending their usual two backs and one lay....

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Leicester

Going Report / Editor / 16 June 2011 / Leave a Comment

First Race Time: 18:50
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
Other Information: Dry overnight. Mainly dry today with possible showers this afternoon. Going stick 7.4.

First Race Time: 13:50 Going: Good, Good to Firm in places Other Information: Dry overnight. Mainly dry today with the possibility of a light shower....

First Race Time: 14:10 Going: Good to Soft, Good in places Other Information: 3mm of rain before racing yesterday. Sunshine and scattered showers today....

First Race Time: 14:30 Going: Good Other Information: Dry overnight...

First Race Time: 18:00 Going: Good to Firm, Good in places Other Information: 7mm of rain in the last 24 hours....

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Aviva Premiership Final Betting: Sarries will rise to Leicester challenge

Aviva Premiership / Ralph Ellis / 24 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Owen Farrell's kicking has proved very productive for Sarries this season

"If there's one team that rises to the challenge of giving total commitment for 80 minutes - as they showed against Gloucester last week -it is the South African-influenced Sarries."

Ralph Ellis believes that Mark McCall will use a perceived injustice to fire his men up for Saturday's big match. And if they get the bit between their teeth, they could prove unstoppable...

When it comes to galvanising a team for a big game, nothing beats a sense of injustice. Get your players to think the press, the fans, the referees and officials are all against them, build up the anger a bit more. Then watch them go.

This time last year Saracens were smarting when director of rugby Brendan Venter was banned from the Premiership's Grand Final. He'd got into a row with some Leicester fans for daring to stand up in front of them to watch the game. And the full might of the RFU came crashing down on him.

Wind the clock on and now it is Sarries' opponents Leicester who have been in trouble. Their rugby director Richard Cockerill was picked up during the semi-final win over Northampton on a local radio station microphone abusing World Cup referee Wayne Barnes - coincidentally the man who will be in charge of Sunday's Twickenham clash. "He's meant to be a Test referee in the biggest match of the season. It's not bloody good enough," Cockerill shouted. And just for good measure his head coach Matt O'Connor was also reported to have angrily punched - and broken - a Perspex shield around the dugout.

Yet guess what? While South African Venter felt the full might of the disciplinary process it seems that former-England hooker Cockerill, and his sidekick, have been let off. The RFU's elite referee development manager Brian Campsall told a tribunal he was "too busy writing in my notebook to take note of anything that was being said by the coaches."

Venter may have moved on from Vicarage Road, but you can be sure there will be some men with long memories about last season's perceived injustice. They lost by just six points to Leicester, 33-27, and must have felt that Venter's presence could have inspired the converted try that would have turned defeat to victory. New team boss Mark McCall may lack the abrasive edge of his predecessor, but that won't stop him having a grumble in the dressing room that it's been one law for one club and one for another. They will also be asking if one of their players would have got off as lightly as Manu Tuilagi for that outrageous assault on Chris Ashton.

McCall's men were already a value price at [2.74] to win at Twickenham. They hit a sensational run of form in the second half of the season, putting together 11 back to back wins from the start of January, a run which crucially included beating Leicester at Welford Road. Owen Farrell's goal-kicking under pressure has come through time after time, and if there's one team that rises to the challenge of giving total commitment for 80 minutes - as they showed against Gloucester last week -it is the South African-influenced Sarries.

Give them a bit more reason to be riled, as the RFU's blazers have done, and Cockerill might just find he's got something more to have a moan about.

Five things you might not know about Wayne Barnes

1. Born April 1979 in Gloucestershire, he started playing mini-rugby for Bream RFC then turned into a promising second row for Whitecross School.

2. He was 15 when he started refereeing - taking charge of Bream Thirds v Berry Hill Wappers - for something to do while he was injured. He went on playing for the University 1st XV after moving to East Anglia to study law, but by then was refereeing seriously on Saturday as well.

3. At 21 he became the youngest ever appointed to the National Panel of referees, and made his Test debut five years later

4. He qualified as a barrister and specialised in criminal law - but gave up the bench in 2005 to become a full time official

5. He names former Sale player Nigel Yates - also a lawyer and fellow Premiership ref - as his biggest influence

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