Sandown Placepot: Saturday August 30

"Spa’s Dancer was unsuited by the way the race developed on his last outing and is better judged on good seconds at Newbury and Redcar earlier this season..."

Timeform attempt to crack the placepot at Sandown...

14:05 - Tagula Night has a particular liking for Sandown's sprint track and can land a fourth C&D win here. He was unsuited by the running of the race when a creditable third last time at Windsor and a low draw and Ryan Moore in the saddle should see him to better effect. David O'Meara's Eccleston put in the best performance of his short career when winning over C&D in April and should appreciate today's soft going.

14:40 - Aktabantay had been the focus of punters' interest in the lead-up to today's Solario Stakes, but the money has now come for Godlophin's impressive Newmarket maiden winner Future Empire and he looks set to give a bold show. He beat three subsequent winners when opening his account on debut and can confirm that promise here.

15:15 - André Fabre has a formidable record with three-year-olds in the UK and Fintry can enhance an already impressive 60% strike rate in the Atalanta Stakes. This progressive filly took her form to another level when comfortably winning the Group Two Prix Sandringham at Chantilly when last seen. She beat some Group One performers that day and is still entitled to plenty of improvement so should have enough to score.

15:50 - Clon Brulee carries top-weight in this competitive handicap, but he was impressive when landing the spoils at Newmarket last time and can continue his good form here on ground he appreciates. The likeable Spa's Dancer is also worthy of an interest. He was unsuited by the way the race developed on his last outing and is better judged on good seconds at Newbury and Redcar earlier this season.

16:25 This is a tight little nursery in which Among Angels and Sister Of Mercy will hopefully keep us in the hunt. Among Angels ran with credit in the Windsor Castle and was seemingly not right when disappointing last time out. With a break and the booking of Ryan Moore in his favour, he can bounce back at the main expense of Roger Charlton's Sister Of Mercy.

17:00 - David Simcock's Zain Empire rates a solid option here. He has shown signs of inexperience since opening his account on debut at Carlisle, but has been going the right way and can improve past more experienced rivals today.

Selections:

14:05 - 3, 16
14:40 - 4
15:15 - 1
15:50 - 1, 4
16:25 - 1, 2
17:00 - 2

=8 lines

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Follow The Money: Empire being backed in today's Saturday Sandown special

Recommended Bets

Lay Fintry in the 15:15 Sandown @ 2.962/1

Back Assault On Rome in the 16:25 Sandown @ 6.05/1

Back Zain Empire in the 17:00 Sandown @ 3.412/5

The markets have been reviewed and all three of today's Follow The Money selections come from the meeting at Sandown...

It takes a brave person to ignore the words of the great Andre Fabre and he has warned that his filly Fintry may not be at her best in today's 15:15 Sandown. Her price has eased out from 2.56/4 to her current price of 2.962/1 with large volumes of money traded on her. She has been off the track for 90 days and has a seven pound Group two penalty to shoulder as well. She has been brought here for better ground but this is very much a prep race for the Sun Chariot. She rates a good value lay with several credible rivals in opposition.

Moving on to the 16:25 Sandown, Assault On Rome has been backed to take advantage of a drop in class. The early 8.615/2 is long gone and she's currently trading at 6.05/1. She has been highly tried for the excellent Mark Johnston stable, running respectably in a listed race at Cologne in July and following that with an excellent third place behind Cabs in a Class three Nursery at Newmarket. Off the same mark and in this easier grade, this consistent sort can get her head back in front today. She should be able to get a prominent early position from her good draw and as with most representatives from this stable, keep finding at the business end.

Zain Empire has been the subject of relentless support in the 17:00 Sandown. Small money has been traded on him at as big as 7.613/2 and larger sums at all rates down to his current 3.412/5 accounting for over half of the money traded on the market. He's a lightly raced and progressive colt. After making a successful debut at Carlisle he ran an excellent third behind Provenance at Sandown over seven furlongs, form which has been boosted by the winner since. He posted another good effort on his latest start where he just missed out. After just three starts he is still open to improvement and the strength of support reflects his trainer's view that the colt is steadily improving and can only get better, will like the ground and should go well.

Recommended Bets

Lay Fintry in the 15:15 Sandown @ 2.962/1
Back Assault On Rome in the 16:25 Sandown @ 6.05/1
Back Zain Empire in the 17:00 Sandown @ 3.412/5

Staked: 632pts
Returned: 664.65pts
P/L: + 52.72pts (before commission)

Updated to end of July. Based on prices at time of publication.

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Celebration Chase: Henderson eyeing Sandown Celebration

"Finian's Rainbow is going to need to have things done in the summer, but it made sense to give him one more run..."

Nicky Henderson is aiming to end his championship-winning season with a bang by saddling three runners in Saturday's Celebration Chase at Sandown...

Henderson has been chasing Paul Nicholls in vain in recent years but the strength in depth at his disposal these days is perhaps clearly illustrated in this Grade Two event.

Former Queen Mother Champion chaser Finian's Rainbow aims to end a disappointing season on a high, while Henderson also fields good-ground specialist French Opera, who won this race two years ago, and smart handicapper Tanks For That.

Finian's Rainbow has struggled in bad ground all year and while a breathing operation is imminent, Henderson is happy to let him have one more chance on good ground.

"Finian's is going to need to have things done in the summer, but it made sense to give him one more run. French Opera will love it there," said Henderson.

Gary Moore runs one of the least exposed members of the field in Sire De Grugy.

Fourth in Grade One company at Aintree behind Special Tiara, he enjoyed a confidence-boosting win at Stratford last week.

"I was surprised by how well he handled the ground at Stratford as really he's a soft ground horse," said Moore.

"It's a tall order and with the ground against him, he's not going to have it easy.

"He'll have to run in some nice races next year but if he runs well in this, he'll be up against Sprinter Sacre and he'll have no chance in those races."

Colin Tizzard's Oiseau De Nuit rolled back the years to win at Aintree last time out and his handler believes he is thriving, despite now being an 11-year-old.

"Everything looks right for him tomorrow. The ground is in his favour, but we've run him in this a few times and never won it.

"He looks the best he's ever been now. We've been dragging him round in the mud all season but he finally got his ground at Aintree and he sprouted wings.

"Horses can't run to their best all the time, especially at the end of a hard season, so while the ratings might say one thing, they sometimes go out of the window.

"He's come in his coat and looks fantastic. He's in really good nick."

Tataniano looked a very promising chaser a few years back for Paul Nicholls but injury hampered his progress.

He is now with Richard Rowe, who was fairly pleased with his first run for the yard against Sprinter Sacre in the Queen Mother.

"I'm delighted that the ground has come right for him," said Rowe.

"He had his first run for me against Sprinter Sacre and he didn't run at all badly.

"I've been very happy with him since and he looks a lot better now.

"He'd have a chance on his best form as he's a spring horse."

Nicholls runs two himself, last year's winner Sanctuaire and Toubab.

"Sanctuaire is in good shape and if he's in the same form as last year he'd have a chance, but he's an in-and-out performer," said Nicholls.

"We just never really know which Sanctuaire will turn up.

"With Toubab, I've always thought he had a nice race in him but if he runs like he did at Aintree (behind Oiseau De Nuit), he'd have no chance.

"Everything has to go his way but he's won at the course, will like the ground and the sun is shining so you never know."

Punchestown Race Cards only £2 at timeform.com! 

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Sandown

Racecourse: Sandown Park
First Race Time: 1.50pm
Going: Heavy, back straight soft
Other Information: Dry overnight

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Racecourse: Wetherby First Race Time: 1.00pm Going: Soft, heavy in places Other Information: 0.5mm of rain in last 24 hours

Racecourse: Ffos Las First Race Time: 1.30pm Going: Heavy Other Information: 2mm of rain yesterday

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Sandown Placepot: Wednesday July 18

Not to put too fine a point on it, with a better ride Picture Dealer would have won at Doncaster last time...

Timeform's Keith Melrose offers his suggested Placepot perm for this evening's meeting at Sandown...

17:55 - Dominate rates as the likeliest winner, but in a field of six and currently odds on he's probably not ideal banker material, especially considering two of his rivals stand out as likely sorts should he fluff his lines. Red Explorer is ultimately going to need further than five furlongs, but he was beaten by inexperience first and foremost at Haydock on debut and will at least be suited by this more testing course, while Starlight Angel was highly tried last time yet still showed enough to suggest she can make an impact again returned to calmer waters.

18:30 - Unlike the first, this six-runner handicap is very much one for a banker selection. Not to put too fine a point on it, with a better ride Picture Dealer would have won at Doncaster last time, finding trouble having started from an unpromising position yet still held off by only a nose. Ryan Moore replaces Tom Queally in the saddle and, quite frankly, we'd be surprised if Moore can't get a win out of Picture Dealer this evening for father Gary.

19:00 - With eight still in this maiden at the time of writing, we can probably afford to bank on Haatefina, whose third-placed finish to Maureen at Newbury last time is easily the best form on offer from those that have run. Should the field shrink any further between now and when you place your bet, you may want to put Hannon debutant Law Enforcement in as backup, but for now we're happy with one selection.

19:30 - Another race teetering on the edge with eight runners. Banking isn't really an option in this, mind you, with no standout and plenty with a chance. Shavansky is our first choice, his consistency at this level hard to crab, while his last run, when he was arguably unlucky, suggests he's possibly in the mood to win let alone place. Although Viscount Vert mightn't have completed the hat-trick had he not unseated rider last time, he clearly shaped as though still in form and more than warrants a place in our perm.

20:05 - A seven-runner handicap for three-year-olds in which we're going to take two, neither of which are bombproof but who between them are likely to supply a horse in the first two. First of them is Debating Society, who has shaped as though ahead of his mark on a couple of starts and travelled best over 11 furlongs at Kempton last time. He's joined by Ace of Valhalla, who could be chucked in on the strength of some of his maiden form and will likely find the test at this trip right up his street, for all that a three-month absence raises some minor concerns.

20:35 - Although this closing race isn't an easy one to weigh up, there are a couple in the field who've thrived since tackling conditions such as those likely to prevail this evening. They are Byron Blue and Bathwick Street. The first-named opened his account on soft ground over this trip at Haydock last time, though admittedly some of his improvement that day might have stemmed from him breaking on terms for a change. You have to go back two starts for Bathwick Street's distance win, but he showed a most willing attitude that day at Nottingham to score by five lengths and, for all he finished third last time, there's every reason to think his current mark is at least fair.

Selections:
17:55 - 6, 7
18:30 - 4
19:00 - 8
19:30 - 2, 3
20:05 - 1, 2
20:35 - 2, 6
= 16 lines

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Two for Friday at Sandown

Timeform Radio Tip / Rory Delargy / 24 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

"I’m hoping that Fehily can ride a winner for Lavelle when Claret Cloak runs in the 15:00 at Sandown."

Rory Delargy joins Tim Peters on Timeform Radio for racing at Lingfield, Warwick and Sandown, and he outlines his idea of the day's best bets below...

My favourite race of the day is undoubtedly the Kilbrittain Castle Novices Chase, mostly because it recalls the course specialist of that name who was owned by Bill Whitbread and trained by Fulke Walwyn. Kilbrittain Castle style made him a favourite with racefans and, as a youngster, I would marvel at his ability to storm up the Esher hill from unpromising positions.

One horse that will be storming up the hill today is Lancetto, a really likeable chaser who has quickly been transformed by a move from James Hartnett to Evan Williams. He beat Toubab at Cheltenham in November in game style, looking beaten as the runner-up swept to the lead, but always battling well, and overcame that rival after a much better jump at the last. Toubab was cited as the best horse in the race by most judges, and he should turn the tables on revised terms today according to conventional logic. I'm not convinced, however, and given that Toubab fell on his only subsequent start and has been on the sidelines since, it would be no surprise if he was unable to confirm those impressions. He's also been a notably weak finisher, and isn't one I'd trust with a last-fence lead.

That also applies in spades to the top-rated runner Bellvano, who was kidded home against dubious rivals at Kelso last time, and had previously curled up alarmingly when beaten at Newbury. With Lancetto boasting solid and consistent form (his third to Al Ferof and For Non Stop in the Henry VIII looks even stronger now), he looks the most likely winner of this contest. The conundrum is how to play him - for simplicity, I'll make him a straight win bet, but for those of a more adventurous disposition, he's almost certain to trade bigger in running given the flashy style of a couple of his opponents, and I can see him doing a Kilbrittain Castle and staying on past flagging rivals after the last.

News that Noel Fehily would take over as first jockey to Emma Lavelle has been well received. The promising trainer having been slightly compromised by her choice of rider in the past, but in Fehily she has a man who is acknowledged as one of the major talents in the weighing room over the last few years, but a man who hasn't had the success his skills deserve. The partnership works, as a record of 17 wins from 74 runners over jumps (and a hefty level stakes profit) testifies.

I'm hoping that Fehily can ride his first winner for Lavelle since the association was formalised when Claret Cloak runs in the 15:00 at Sandown. From the family of Decoupage, he looked a real talent when sluicing up in a strong-looking bumper at Wincanton on his debut, and hasn't been seen to best advantage in 2 runs since. I don't feel he stayed last time (the dam is sprint bred despite Claret Cloak's sire Vinnie Roe being a renowned Flat stayer), and expect him to turn over Top Of The Range now dropped back to 2m on good ground. I'd be absolutely stunned if he didn't turn out to be much the best of these in time.

Recommended Bets
Back Lancetto in the 15:35 Sandown @ [5.1] (NAP)
Back Claret Cloak in the 15:00 Sandown @ [3.75] (NB)

Timeform's Jumps Editor Dan Barber sticks to what he knows best - whilst also strongly recommending everyone pays close attention to Dubai expert Stephen Molyneux's Smartplays for bets on today's Meydan card - on a busy Thursday afternoon....

David Cleary makes the case for a pair of promising runners on Wednesday afternoon......

Will Hayler likes the look of two runners on the Monday afternoon card......

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Sandown Park

Going Report / Editor / 24 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

First Race Time: 13:50
Going: Chase course - Good
Hurdle course - Good, Good to Soft in places
Other Information: Dry overnight

First Race Time: 13:40 Going: Standard...

First Race Time: 14:05 Going: Good, Good to Soft in places Other Information: Dry overnight...

First Race Time: 17:30 Going: Standard...

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Sandown Placepot: Thursday July 21

Daily Placepots / Simon Baker / 21 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Jeremy Noseda trains our banker Dare To Dance

"Dare To Dance shaped extremely well on debut, earning himself a Timeform large P. He’s probably a useful colt in the making and looks as safe a banker as there is on the card today."

Sandown is the venue for today's crack at the placepot...

14:10 - I had to double check this wasn't taking place at Folkestone later on, as it's not exactly imbued with the quality you might normally expect of a Sandown maiden, at least on paper. The trio that have run wouldn't even be of much interest in sellers judged on anything they've shown to date, but it's definitely worth including one of them and Possibly gets the vote almost by default, having at least shown a bit of speed in an above-average race at Epsom last time. There are a trio of newcomers to consider too and given that Willie Muir doesn't really do first-time winners we'll leave out Key Addition and stick in River Valley and Morning Muse.

14:45 - Manifestation is a half-brother to Sergeant Cecil and he has definitely inherited the family's staying traits. He only really got going inside the last furlong in a steadily run mile-and-a-half handicap at Newbury last time and will relish the additional distance today. Stagecoach Danman is another who will appreciate going a mile and three quarters. He was really impressive when winning his maiden at Pontefract two starts back and was probably unfortunate not to win a handicap at Doncaster last time. There is no good reason why he won't go close off the same mark today.

15:20 - Arsaadi was quite taking when winning her maiden over this trip at Newbury earlier in the month and the form of that effort is given some substance by a near-useful timefigure. With eight runners she'd probably have been a banker, but with just seven on offer now there's room for another selection in the shape of sure-fire improver Kinetica, whose yard took this with subsequent Prix de Diane winner Confidential Lady in 2005.

15:55 - Nahab needs to prove she can be as effective on turf as she is on all-weather, but she's well worth a chance to do so, and the step up to a mile and a quarter today could well elicit a bit more improvement from her. Mountain Range is another that makes some appeal, back on an easy surface and with Spencer in the saddle for the first time. At a bigger price, there's a definite case for sticking in Cashpoint too. There's nothing wrong with his form behind the likes of Modun and Rock A Doodle Doo earlier in the season and he didn't run as badly as the distance beaten suggests in the Cumberland Plate last time, when arguably closer than ideal to a strong pace.

16:30 - Dare To Dance shaped extremely well on debut, earning himself a Timeform large P. He's probably a useful colt in the making and looks as safe a banker as there is on the card today.

17:00 - Junket has been declared for a couple of handicaps in recent weeks only to be pulled out, but if she remains in this one she's going to be of obvious interest as she'd probably have made a winning handicap debut at Doncaster last backend but for inexperience and a troubled run through the race. She could end up a fair bit better than an official mark of 73 and appeals more than most. The second one worth including is Jungle Bay, who came good when a ready winner at Chester last time and remains with some scope from a handicapping point of view judged on the form he was showing France last year.

Selections: 72 lines

14:10 - 2, 5, 6
14:45 - 1, 3
15:20 - 1, 4
15:55 - 2, 6, 14
16:30 - 2
17:00 - 1, 4

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Today's placepot comes from this afternoon's meeting at Lingfield......

Southwell's evening meeting is the target for today's placepot....

Today's placepot comes from Ayr......

Betfair website

Sandown Placepot: Thursday May 26

Tipping / Keith Melrose / 26 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Sir Michael Stoute carries our hopes in a couple of races this evening

"We’ve all heard the warnings that he’ll need the run... but it’s well worth remembering that Workforce has still had only five starts in his career and anything other than a complete blowout tonight is likely to see him in the three."

Even I can't justify combining my morning and afternoon workloads by the doing a Placepot perm for the threadbare Brighton card, so Sandown it is.

18:00 - First-leg embarrassment is not what we want, so I'm going to take three to hopefully secure our passage through this tricky handicap. As an improving four-year-old, Chain of Events is guaranteed of a place in the perm, while his yard continues in good heart to boot. A couple of solid types are selected to support the current favourite, namely Rock The Stars (who has been gradually working up to form this year) and Potentiale.

18:30 - An early gauge of the state of the juvenile division, but the two at the head of the betting have already met, when second-favourite Bannock overcame Magic City in a minor event at Windsor. Bannock received an easy lead that day, but it's most unlikely that he'll be afforded the same luxury this time and as such there's likely to be plenty of pace for Magic City to attack. He also boasts the best form and therefore we don't need to look anywhere else.

19:05 - With the field currently eight-strong, the temptation is to find a banker in the Henry II Stakes. Akmal is undoubtedly the best candidate for our purposes, winner of this very race in 2010 and already placed in a couple of good staying races this season, while there's also a chance that he won't be hard pressed to secure the lead. Even he's an uneasy banker, however, so I'm going to throw recent Yorkshire Cup runner-up Blue Bajan into the mix, there being no reason why his resurgence since joining the David O'Meara yard can't continue.

19:40 - Workforce and Frankel are going to be the pair who will secure a second consecutive champion owner's title for Khalid Abdulla this season, so the former had better start contributing straight away. We've all heard the warnings that he'll need the run, and this is an incredibly strong renewal of the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, but it's well worth remembering that Workforce has still had only five starts in his career and anything other than a complete blowout tonight is likely to see him in the three.

20:15 - A very interesting race with a view to later in the season, with most of these three-year-olds likely to have higher ambitions down the line, and negotiating this leg isn't going to be easy. Fury finished fifth in the 2000 Guineas last time, showing his inexperience all the while, and in a less daunting field is the most likely of the quintet to place. I'm taking a bit of a risk with the second selection, but Tazahum looks a Group horse in the making (beaten only by Dubawi Gold so far) and still seemed green when winning a handicap from a BHA mark of 92 on his reappearance.

20:45 - Julienas' eye-catching third over course and distance on his reappearance hasn't gone unnoticed looking at the market, but this is another tricky leg and we can't afford to overlook potentially the best-handicapped horse in the race. Leviathan is presumably priced up on the basis that his very best form has come over shorter, but he was seventh in the Spring Cup on his first start for this yard and shaped as though a stronger pace would have suited when fourth over seven furlongs at Newcastle last time. He may not be the most straightforward, but there's no knocking Moynahan's consistency and that makes him a sound third selection for our perm.

Selections:

18:00 - 1, 3, 6
18:30 - 3
19:05 - 2, 3
19:40 - 1
20:15 - 2, 5
20:45 - 2, 9, 10

36 lines

A seven-race card at Clonmel gets underway at 17:35 and we have come up with three more bets......

Timeform go through the field for this very strong looking Group 3......

Some of the fasted juvenile fillies seen out so far are on show in the Hillary Needler Trophy, which often has a major impact on the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot......

Betfair website

Nick Shiambouros' Patented 80/20 Bet: Sandown, 19:40

80/20 / Nick Shiambouros / 26 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Nick's backing today's 80/20 to cause an upset against a Derby winner...

Today's 80/20 is Jan Vermeer in the 19:40 at Sandown. This talented individual finished third to Behkabad at Longchamp last July. He refused to settle and in the circumstances did well to hold on for a place. He has some decent form in the book notably when thrashing Bobbyscot at the Curragh last May in a Group 3 event. I think he could give the Derby winner plenty to think about at a fair price in this fascinating race. At present he is trading at [6.8] on the exchange.

It's a dish best served cold but if it comes good Nick will be able to claim he's in red hot form....

Will Ripon runner land the win and place spoils?...

Will a step up in trip reward 80/20 followers?...

Betfair website

Brigadier Gerard Betting: Workforce set to return at Sandown

Tipping / Timeform / 24 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Last year's Derby winner Workforce reappears at Sandown on Thursday

"if Workforce manages to run anywhere near his Timeform master rating of 133, he will be hard to beat."

Sir Michael Stoute's 2010 Derby and Arc hero Workforce is set to return at Sandown on Thursday, but will he have it all his own way as he attempts to concede weight all round?...

In recent years Sir Michael Stoute has used the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown as a stepping stone to kick-start his middle-distance superstar's seasons. He last took the race five years ago with Notnowcato, and in 2009 Conduit came into the race conceding weight all-round after winning the Breeders' Cup Turf, though the latter, who went on to secure a repeat win in America, could manage only second at Sandown, going down by a nose to Cima de Triomphe.

Last season's Derby and Arc hero Workforce is this year's representative for Stoute, and if he manages to run anywhere near his Timeform master rating of 133, he will be hard to beat. Being the only Group 1 winner in the field he does have to concede 7 lb, but nonetheless his rivals still have 5 lb to find on Timeform figures.

The Brigadier Gerard at Sandown is run over a mile and a quarter, which shouldn't be a problem for Workforce who is dropping in trip, as even if they do go steadily he has the gears to get himself out of trouble, as he showed in the Arc.

Workforce's performances at Epsom and Longchamp were arguably two of the best any racehorse produced in the world last year, breaking the track record at the former, but his flop in the King George at Ascot in between shows that he's not bomb-proof.

Two of Workforce's nearest rivals on ratings are Sri Putra and Cavalryman, though both have question marks over them, the former beaten at Lingfield last time when odds-on in a three-runner field and the latter probably better over a longer trip.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Jan Vermeer looks one of the only other runners who could possibly trouble the likely market leader. He was sent off favourite in last year's Derby but his stamina was stretched and it resulted in him being well beaten by Workforce. The drop in trip should help Jan Vermeer get nearer to his old rival and the form of the stable is clearly a positive.

The other notable contender is Elusive Pimpernel, who made an encouraging return when third in the Earl of Sefton at Newmarket. That was his first outing since fifth in the previous year's 2000 Guineas and the step up in trip is expected to bring something more out of him.

A competitive one-mile handicap looks one of the best races at Ripon today......

Three bets for Tuesday's US action......

Today's placepot comes from Ripon......

Betfair website

Sandown

Going Report / Editor / 23 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Racecourse: Sandown Park
First Race Time: 13:30
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
Other Information: Dry overnight

Racecourse: Musselburgh First Race Time: 13:55 Going: Good Other Information: Showery rain forecast for today, 12-13ºC...

Racecourse: Newton Abbot First Race Time: 14:00 Going: Good, Good to Firm in places Other Information: Dry overnight and a warm day forecast. Going stick 8.0....

Racecourse: Carlisle First Race Time: 14:10 Going: Good to Firm, Good down the hill Other Information: Dry overnight...

Betfair website

Nick Shiambouros' Patented 80/20 Bet: Sandown, 15:10

80/20 / Nick Shiambouros / 23 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Monster price on Nick's Sandown selection - will you be joining the bet?

Today's 80/20 is Maktu in the 15:10 at Sandown.This gelding finished a decent second to Rey Nacarado at Newbury last month, keeping on in good style over the final fence and displaying a willing attitude all the way to the line. He has some decent form in the book and appears to be well handicapped. I think he is sitting on a big effort and could run well at a decent price. At present he is trading at [17.0] on the exchange.

A choice selection from our win and place tipster...

Nick believes today's 80/20 has a lot to offer......

Nick is going North even though the venue for his selection is the south West. Confused? Read on.......

Betfair website

Sandown Placepot: Saturday March 12

Daily Placepots / Dan Barber / 12 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Starluck is looking to make it two out of two over fences in the 16:10

"Either Starluck or Mamlook will win provided they complete. No further explanation needed."

Most of the attention this afternoon will centre on the Imperial Cup and, more specifically, on those seeking to pick up the bonus offered to the winner if he/she goes on to Festival success next week. The other five races don't look too easy, either, but here goes...

13:55 - The traditionally red-hot curtain raiser to Imperial Cup day. The EBF Final has been a rich source of future good 'uns down the years, and The Reformer (given chance by handicapper for last year's winning stable), Get It On (clearly underrated based on last two efforts) and Mic's Delight (progressive, and idled when beating Global Power last time) head the list.

14:25 - Mon Parrain really could be in a different league pitched in against a number of stuttering handicappers, though it's best to take one of those (namely in-form front runner Rear Gunner) as insurance in case the French recruit fails badly to stay.

15:00 - Lines will be saved later, honestly, but in the meantime a more liberal approach has to be taken with a handicap so competitive. Arrayan would have been arriving in search of a four-timer but for his rider falling off at Taunton last time and arguably heads the list, though stern competition is provided by The Betchworth Kid and Via Galilei, both of whom were smart on the Flat and are still improving as hurdlers. Take all three.

15:35 - Somehow, this is even more difficult. Zhakiera Spirit is bred to be a leading light in this sphere, though, as a full sister to Megastar and she's looked so good in winning twice up North that it's worth taking just her and one other in a bid to get through. Baby Shine looks the best saver, given she, too, has won both outings in bumpers in impressive fashion.

16:10 - Either Starluck or Mamlook will win provided they complete. No further explanation needed.

16:40 - Inside Dealer's sound jumping is sure to stand him in good stead at this track and he can show his largely exposed rivals the way home, never mind just reach a place.

Selections

13:55 - 5, 8, 12
14:25 - 2, 5
15:00 - 5, 8, 12
15:35 - 1, 10
16:10 - 2, 3
16:40 - 3

72 lines

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Most of the attention this afternoon will centre on the Imperial Cup and, more specifically, on those seeking to pick up the bonus offered to the winner if he/she goes on to Festival success next week. The other five races don't look too easy, either, but here goes......

Plenty of exciting National Hunt action to have a go at today, but I've decided to target Wolverhampton's all-weather card for the placepot....

Wincanton is the destination of our Placepot advice today, with Timeform's Phil Thompson making the selections...

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Nick Shiambouros' Patented 80/20 Bet: Sandown, 15:00

80/20 / Nick Shiambouros / 12 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Second in his last two races, Nick expects one better from today's selection

Today's 80/20 is Alarazi in the 15:00 at Sandown.

This seven-year-old gelding put in a super effort last time out when finishing second to Art Professor at Cheltenham at the end of January, striking the front over the final flight but getting caught right on the line by the winner. He comes in to this race in cracking form and should run well at a decent price. At present he is trading at [11.0] on the exchange.

Second in his last two races, Nick expects one better from today's selection...

Nick Shiambouros believes today's 80/20 is a hot prospect......

Nick's backing a spirited run this afternoon......

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