International Racing Festival: Haggas strikes in Turkey

British raiders celebrated further success in Turkey as Master Of Hounds lifted the valuable International Topkapi Trophy at Veliefendi...

Settled in second behind Fast Stars Line, the William Haggas-trained four-year-old stayed-on strongly from the quarter-mile pole in the hands of Christophe Soumillon, with the post coming in time to hold Frankie Dettori on Brian Meehan's Archbishop.

The eyecatcher on his first run for David Simcock was Red Duke, who flew home once switched wide having been dropped in towards the rear early from his wide draw.

On Saturday there were victories at the track for Tom Dascombe with Rhythm Of Light and for Saeed bin Suroor and Dettori through Hunter's Light.

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Veliefendi Betting: Turkey the venue for International Racing Festival

World Racing / Timeform / 03 September 2011 / Leave a Comment

Saeed Bin Suroor sends a strong team to the Turkey International Festival

"Saeed bin Suroor's Antara landed the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom for a second consecutive season back in June and looks to have a good chance..."

The valuable International Festival takes place at Veliefendi racecourse in Turkey this weekend. A strong British contingent will line up across the course of the two days for an action-packed meeting at Istanbul, and you can bet on the big races with Betfair...

Racing gets underway on Saturday, and the first feature of the afternoon is the International Istanbul Trophy, a Group 2 contest run over a mile set to take place at 17:00 BST.

Saeed bin Suroor's Antara landed the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom for a second consecutive season back in June and looks to have a good chance, but she will face stiff competition, including from Mick Channon's Music Show, who won the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes last year. Although she has disappointed on all three starts this season, it's not hard to see her bouncing back.

The British challenge in the Istanbul Trophy is completed by Tom Dascombe's Rhythm of Light, who improved this season to take the Sandringham Handicap at Ascot back in June. She has disappointed in two subsequent starts but had excuses for her latest showing.

The Anatolia Trophy is a Group 2 contest run over ten furlongs and is the second feature on Saturday (19:00 BST).

Saeed bin Suroor sends over Emirates Champion, who was the winner of two handicaps at the Dubai Carnival at Meydan back in March. After a break, he looked in need of the run when sixth in a listed race at Sandown in July, but a return to his best will see him go close. Mark Johnston's Dordogne and George Baker's Belgian Bill are also among the entries, but they look to have something to find.

The Bosphorous Cup is the highlight on Sunday afternoon in Turkey (due off 14:00 BST), and Britain once again fielding a strong team. James Given's Indian Days, winner of the race in 2010, heads the charge, and he is joined by another former winner, Mick Channon's Halicarnassus, who finished just fourth last year.

Campanologist and Frankie Dettori also team up having produced a career best in the Tattersalls Gold Cup earlier in the season and they cannot be discounted. Completing the British entries is Luca Cumani's Afsare.

The final feature race of the weekend is the Topkapi Trophy, (15:30 BST) on Sunday, and it looks the most open contest of the four races covered.

Andrew Balding's Dream Eater and Saeed bin Suroor's Invisible Man have been slightly below thieir best of late, so may have their work cut out, but lightly-raced French colt Vagabond Shoes could give Mike de Kock's Musir, a good third to Excelebration over a trip on the sharp side in the Hungerford at Newbury last time, something to think about.

Three bets for Friday's North American action......

Three selections for tonight's jumps meeting at Killbeggan......

Two winners and one non-runner for Timeform's Free US Form Site yesterday, and confidence is high that three from three can be achieved today......

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Euro 2012 Betting: Turkey v Austria

Euro 2012 / Tobias Gourlay / 28 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Guus Hiddink needs to remind his Turkey team where the opposition goal is

"The Czech official is relatively inexperienced at international level and has a reputation at home for making bad decisions and handing out erroneous red cards"

Turkey and Austria meet on Tuesday evening for a match that will help decide who finishes second behind Germany in Group A. Tobias Gourlay searches high and low for the best betting opportunities

Austria lost 2-0 to Belgium on Friday night and suffered a couple of injuries too. Captain Marc Janko, a striker, and reigning player of the year Zlatko Junuzovic, who plays in midfield, are not now traveling to Istanbul. Defender Franz Schiemer has also been ruled out.

Austria have not won an away qualifier for six years (W0-D4-L5 since then) and Janko's absence puts pressure on Marko Arnautovic, a long-limbed, dextrous forward who is yet to fulfill his talent and has not scored a goal for club or country in 2011. Six of their nine winless games have stayed Under 2.5 Goals, although the most recent was a 4-4 draw in Belgium.

Turkey are four games without a goal, if you include a couple of recent friendlies, and nomadic coach Guus Hiddink is dropping hints to Chelsea that he might soon be ready to come back to Stamford Bridge.

Turkey are [1.55] favourites to win on Tuesday, despite the goal shortage. Hiddink's only previous home qualifier ended in a 3-2 win over Belgium. In five home friendlies, however, his team has conceded only once.

Pavel Kralovec will referee the match and offers an interesting bet. The Czech official is relatively inexperienced at international level and has a reputation at home for making bad decisions and handing out erroneous red cards. Paul Scharner was sent off in Austria's last away match and returns just in time for this one. Belgium's Vincent Kompany saw red in Turkey's most recent home game.

Without much to get excited about in other markets, saying 'Yes' in the Sending Off? market at [4.0] or more looks a good way to get involved.

Top Stat: Turkey have gone 372 minutes without scoring, including friendlies
Best Bet: Back Sending Off @ [4.0]

You can now follow Tobias on Twitter: @tobiasgourlay

Tobias Gourlay reports on how Spain will cope with an uneven playing surface and freezing weather conditions in Vilnius, if UEFA let their Group I qualifier with Lithuania go ahead...

Tobias Gourlay explains why it might be a good time for Moldova to be visiting Sweden...

Russia have swapped one Dutch master for another with Dick Advocaat replacing Guus Hiddink but it's just not ticking yet and that's good news for Ireland, says Ben Lyttleton...

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