Rebel Stakes: Watch TVG feature on Oaklawn contender Scatman

World Racing / Timeform / 15 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Is Scatman a Derby contender?

There's a trial for the Kentucky Derby (May 5) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday in the shape of the Rebel Stakes, in which TVG's latest feature star Scatman is set to go close.

Three-year-old Scat Daddy colt Scatman, a $14,000 buy-back at Keeneland in September 2010, made a successful seasonal return in an optional claimer at Saturday's track, 115 after breaking his maiden as a juvenile.

Scatman's career record now stands at two wins and two seconds from five starts, the most recent of those placed efforts coming when a front-running second to Secret Circle in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, also at Oaklawn, last time.

Scatman is currently trading at [36.0] for the Kentucky Derby.

Watch the TVG feature below to find out more about Scatman from his trainer, Michael Lauer.

Timeform's US SmartPlays team highlight two lays and a back in North America this evening......

An impressive line up of three-year-olds is set to do battle in Saturday's Group 1 Randwick Guineas (off 05:20 GMT), the first group one for their age group during the Sydney Autumn Carnival writes Timeform Australia's Gary Crispe....

TVG's Simon Bray takes a look at the main contenders for this weekend's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, often a key trial for the Kentucky Derby on May 5......

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Follow The Money: Watch Clockmaker at Wolves

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 10 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

FTM's first selection runs at Wolverhampton

"Eleven Fifty Nine has come in for strong support, backed from [7.6] in to [4.3]."

Today's Follow the Money comes from Sandown, Chepstow and Wolverhampton.

In the 14:20 at Wolverhampton, Clockmaker has been backed from [7.8] in to [5.2]. Tim Easterby trained six-year-old won here in December and since then has been running well on the all-weather, finishing placed on his last three starts. Today's trip over 7f looks ideal and if he gets first run on the rest of the field he will be very hard to beat.

At Sandown, in the 15:50, Eleven Fifty Nine has come in for strong support, backed from [7.6] in to [4.3]. Anthony Honeyball's mare made a winning debut and then finished runner up on her next start behind the useful Colour Squadron with both horses pulling clear of the reminder. She was beaten narrowly at Ffos Las last month, the soft going that day perhaps wasn't ideal and today's better ground should be suit her and she looks to have a good chance of adding to the trainers good strike rate in bumpers.

Our final selection is from Chepstow where Lady Bridget has been drifting all morning from [3.05] out to [3.5] in the 16:15. This four-year-old filly has only shown a moderate level of ability, although she has worn cheek pieces on her last two starts and that has brought some improvement as she finished runner up on both occasions. On form she has a chance, but today's heavy going and testing track are both big negatives and we are happy to take her on at short prices today.

Recommended Bets
Back Clockmaker @ [5.2] Wolverhampton 14:20
Back Eleven Fifty Nine @ [4.3] Sandown 15:50
Lay Lady Bridget @ [3.5] Chepstow 16:15

Today's Follow The Money comes from the meetings at Leicester, Wincanton and Sandown....

Welcome to Follow The Money on Thursday 8th March. Today's selections are from the cards at Southwell and Wincanton....

Today's Follow The Money comes from the meetings at Lingfield and Fontwell....

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Cheltenham Festival 2012: Irish Handicappers to watch

Ante-Post Betting / Timeform / 07 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Willie Mullins has a strong hand in the Cheltenham Handicaps this year

"Irish-trained runners dominate the market for the cross-country event and Scotsirish appeals as one of the best-handicapped horses of the week..."

Establishing how well handicapped Irish challengers are at Cheltenham is still a tricky business, but Timeform's Irish team are here to shed some light on the chances of the leading handicap hopes...

Tuesday
Irish-trained runners dominate the market for the Cross-Country Chase and Scotsirish appeals as one of the best-handicapped horses of the week. A very smart performer in regulation events, few have taken to this unique test as seamlessly has Scotsirish, and he looked the most likely winner of the Glenfarclas at Cheltenham in November when carried out turning for home.

Scotsirish had the eventual winner of that race, Garde Champetre, behind when winning last time and, whilst Uncle Junior and Sizing Australia have both shown plenty of aptitude for these events, they were both vastly inferior to Scotsirish in regulation chases, so it's hard to get away from the Mullins runner.

The Centenary Chase on the same day looks as competitive as ever, and Shot From The Hip and Nearest The Pin look our main hopes, with the former also holding an entry in Friday's Grand Annual.

Shot From The Hip progressed into a smart novice hurdler last season, rounding off his campaign with a nine length win over Hidden Universe in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival. He's yet to hit quite the same heights over fences, but he was far from disgraced when second to the progressive Rathlin in a Grade 2 at Naas last time and the handicapper looks to have taken a bit of a chance with him by allotting a mark of just 138.

The Tony Martin-trained Nearest The Pin really came good over hurdles last spring, hacking up in a novice at Fairyhouse before shaping like one still ahead of his mark despite a 13 lb rise when second to Johnny Mcgeeney at Punchestown. Nearest The Pin got close to the pick of his hurdles form when second to Hidden Cyclone in a maiden chase at Leopardstown in December and, given that he was amiss last time, could be worth another chance to improve with conditions looking set to be in his favour.

Wednesday
Gordon Elliott has both last year's winner Carlito Brigante (also in the World Hurdle) and Toner d'Oudairies in the Coral Cup.

The latter makes plenty of appeal from what looks a workable mark, as while he didn't really go on as expected as a novice last term, he shaped as if in good heart over a trip that seemed to stretch him when sixth to Jetson at Leopardstown last time and appeals as the type who will benefit from a sounder surface and the drop back in trip.

Noel Meade's Silverhand was going well when hampered in the 2010 Coral Cup and looked as good as ever when last seen in the summer. He's not had many chances to show his worth in well-run two and a half mile handicaps on good gound and could also go well at a big price.

Ut de Sivola looks the most interesting of the Irish entries for the Fred Winter, though none of our juveniles come out with much of a chance based on Timeform ratings. It's best to put a line through Ut de Sivola's last run (struck into) and he had quickly established himself as a useful hurdler prior to that, beating Hisaabaat at Punchestown in January. His sound jumping should stand him in good stead in what is traditionally a pretty rough race for four-year-olds.

Thursday
Catch Me is a fascinating runner in what is a typically trappy renewal of the Pertemps Final on Thursday. A very smart hurdler in his prime, he never totally convinced over fences and, having tumbled in the weights, shaped as if retaining at least a decidedly useful level of form when fifth to Cootamundra at Punchestown last time, staying on well having been set plenty to do. He's potentially very well treated from a mark of just 140.

Seabass is the standout Irish hope in the Byrne Group Plate, though he doesn't look to have been let off lightly with a mark of 151. He's improved in leaps and bounds since returning to Rules this season, registering his fourth straight win when beating Zaarito in a two mile Grade event at Naas last time, but is forced to race from a 20 lb higher mark than when last seen in handicaps.

Up The Beat is an interesting runner in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup and Willie Mullins' progressive novice chaser comes into the race on the back of a very promising second to subsequent Eider winner Portrait King at Punchestown. Up The Beat ran to a decidedly useful level on that occasion and he remains open to further progression given that was only his third start over the larger obstacles.

Friday
Things don't get any easier on Friday, with the County Hurdle as fiercely competitive as ever. There are a couple of strong candidates from the Emerald Isle, however, and Citizenship would command plenty of respect if he turns up based on his win at Leopardstown last time. Shuffled to rear after badly hampered at the first and still having only two behind on the approach to two out, Citizenship finished with a flourish to lead close home.

It's the Gordon Elliott-trained Dirar that is of most interest, however, the former Ebor winner having shaped better than the result suggests when eighth to Final Approach in last year's renewal after being given too much to do under a patient ride and not getting a clear run from the top of the hill. He hasn't been seen since a spell hurdling in America last October but has been given a workable mark for his return.

We've touched upon the chances of Toner d'Oudairies and Citizenship elsewhere, so that just leaves us with Sergent Guibs to look at in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle. Lightly raced, having had just the two runs for Willie Mullins, Sergent Guibs caught the eye when a not-knocked-about third to Cootamundra in a handicap at Punchestown last time. There is room for improvement in his jumping, but he remains unexposed for a top yard and could have more to offer in handicaps.

Recommendations
Back Scotsirish in the Cross-Country Chase
Back Toner d'Oudaries in the Coral Cup
...........

Timeform TV Focus made 138 points profit (at Betfair SP) in year one. Get the expert view on the big races at Cheltenham with TV Focus. Find Out More!

With Betfair having opened up a large range of Cheltenham Festival Special markets, Timeform's Head of Research and Development pinpoints just where the value lies......

If the worst comes to the worst and Kauto Star is forced to miss the Gold Cup, then it's a simple task for Long Run and Sam Waley-Cohen. Or is it? Timeform Chief Correspondent Jamie Lynch gets on his bike to find out......

Timeform's Irish team take a look at the main Irish contenders for the final day of this year's Cheltenham Festival......

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Summer Jumpers: Horses to watch after a busy week

General / David Cleary / 24 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

David's selected the most promising horses from a crowded field

"Viva Colonia is well worth another chance, particularly at two miles."

David Cleary reflects on another week of summer jump racing and highlights the winners to watch, the losers to avoid and the contenders that could have more to offer in future...

It was another busy week on the jumping front, though competitive races which look worth following were decidedly thin on the ground. As earlier in the month, the handicap hurdles were stronger by and large than other categories, and certainly include the most talked about race of the week, the two-mile event at Wetherby won by Royal Max.

It was a much improved effort by the winner on his second start back from a break, but he was greatly helped by the soft lead he managed to establish after starting several lengths ahead of his rivals. The well-supported Viva Colonia was left with far too much to do and the effort of trying to close such a large gap cost him second. He is well worth another chance, particularly at two miles. Apartman couldn't build on a promising effort at Aintree the time before but this may have come a bit soon, given his profile, and he's dropping a lot in the weights, so shouldn't be written off just yet.

The handicap hurdle at Kelso on Sunday is another to be positive about, with the winner What A Steel, leading home two other unexposed sorts in Cool Baranca and Freddie Brown. What A Steel showed a good attitude and ought to follow up under a penalty before he's reassessed. Cool Baranca travelled strongly but was found out by the stiff finish, compounded by a strong wind - she can win a similar event when speed is more at a premium. Freddie Brown, by contrast, is a chaser in the making, likely to be at his best over further, and he couldn't quicken after jumping clumsily at times.

Another winner to note from Kelso is Badger Foot, who landed the handicap chase in ready fashion on his first start for Lucinda Russell. He's been in good form in points and is clearly a different proposition since leaving Jonjo O'Neill.

Much earlier in the week, at Newton Abbot, Kylenoe Fairy defied a 6-lb rise for her previous course win. Her style of racing - held up and produced late - means the handicapper doesn't find it easy to get her measure when she's in top form; the way she travelled here before picking up well suggests she'll have a solid chance of completing a hat-trick. Kylenoe Fairy wasn't the only one to boost the form of her previous race during the week, which suggests runner-up Tri Nations should be given another chance. He's been set too much to do in two defeats since (never-nearer fifth behind Kylenoe Fairy this time) but can take advantage of a still favourable mark if all falls his way.

Two others to note from the Newton Abbot card are the Grant Cann-trained pair How's My Friend and She's On The Case. How's My Friend caught the eye in the steadily-run novice hurdle, losing his place before keeping on well without being given a hard time; he's one to keep in mind. She's On The Case was well backed for the handicap chase on just her second start over fences but two miles five furlongs is on the short side, particularly on a sharp track, and lack of fluency as the pace quickened left her poorly placed. The best of her has definitely yet to be seen. The winner of that race, Life of A Luso shows a likeable attitude and may well keep ahead of the handicapper, particularly as he'll be at least as effective back at three miles.

Defeat for short-priced favourite Turtlethomas in the three-mile novice hurdle at Worcester, won by the thorough stayer Ely Brown, was a rare reverse for the Lawney Hill yard. However, Turtlethomas was travelling strongly when a blunder four out seemed to unsettle him and he's well worth another chance.

The week's list of negatives could be summed up as just about anything that won at the two Towcester fixtures. However, three will do for now: Leopard Hills (unimpressive in a weak seller), Speedy Directa (fell in, with a race run ideally and the favourites running badly) and Timoca (seemed to show more resolution in cheekpieces but won a weak race for mares and wouldn't be sure to react so well to headgear another time).

The Flat-bred Rio Gael made a fairly unconvincing chasing debut at Fakenham and will need to be well placed to follow up, handicaps not a good option given his hurdling mark. Franklino confirmed his status as a serial underachiever in defeat at Newton Abbot, while Gem Mill surely won't be subject of market support again after a poor display at Sedgefield.

The Flat season is grabbing the headlines but there are still plenty of promising bets to be had over jumps, as David Cleary explains....

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Watch the return of the Copa Libertadores

Betfair Live Video / Michael / 15 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Juan Veron's Estudiantes are amongst the teams to look out for in this year's edition

Fluminense and Argentino Juniors contested a 2-2 draw last week but officially the group stage of South America's Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, gets underway this week and all 14 of the matches taking place are available for Betfair customers to watch courtesy of Betfair Live Video.

There are matches on overnight and in the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for you to enjoy, with the holders Internacional kicking off their defence of the title at the home of Ecuadorian runners-up Emelec on Wednesday (well, midnight so technically Thursday!).

No Brazilian team since Sao Paulo in 1993 have managed to retain the trophy but Internacional may view opening up against the same side they started against last season as a good omen.

They were held 0-0 in the away tie on that occasion and Emelec have won nine in ten in front of their fans, so the upset looks overpriced is a reasonable possibility at [3.5], not least because three of the last four champions have lost their first away group game of the following campaign.

Another of the most high-profile fixtures taking place on matchday one comes at the same time as 2009 winners and Argentine Apertura victors Estudiantes, who count among their recognisable players Juan Sebastian Veron, host Brazilian Serie A runners-up Cruzeiro.

Between them the clubs have been crowned South America's finest on six occasions, with Estudiantes claiming four of those titles. They got as far as the quarter-finals in their defence last year and in that time managed three straight travelling clean sheets before falling to Internacional. That suggests that Cruzeiro should potentially be laid at [1.95], with under 2.5 goals likely at [1.87].

Among the continent's other big names that you can check out over the next few days are Santos, who visit Deportivo Tachira of Venezuela on Tuesday and 2008 surprise package LDU Quito of Ecuador, who travel to face Argentine debutants Godoy Cruz on Thursday night.

So what are you waiting for? Visit the Betfair Live Video site now!

South America's premier competition makes a comeback this week to coincide with the return of the Champions League and all 14 of the group matches taking place are available to watch on Betfair Live Video.

As ever there are ten Serie A games and nine Bundesliga matches available for Betfair customers to watch on Betfair Live Video this weekend, including improving Inter Milan's visit to in-form Udinese.

Javier Zanetti will break Inter Milan's league appearance record in Wednesday's Serie A clash with Cesena and you can watch the latest step in their revived bid to retain the scudetto on Betfair Live Video.

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