Saturday Racing: Results and Odds Report

Daily Racing Info / Editor / 10 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

We report on two races from Sandown (above) on Saturday

Next week, we'll be providing race results and reports on starting prices, in-running highs and lows throughout the Cheltenham Festival. Today, we've selected four key races to give you a taster of the service you can expect...

Sandown 14:05

Winner: Ambion Wood

Betfair SP: [16.9]

In-running high on winner: [100.00] £1; [44.0] £4

Favourite Dualla Lord made mistakes at the second and third flights of hurdles, setting himself an uphill task from then on. Carrigmorna King, also prominent in the market, raced up with the pace and travelled well, potentially covering the fact that eventual winner Ambion Wood was moving equally as powerfully before moving into the lead between the final two hurdles.

Wolverhampton 14:20

Winner: Libys Dream

Betfair SP: [24.2]

In-running high on winner: [28.0]

Notable lows: Belgian Bill [1.05]

Market leader Belgian Bill looked the most likely winner on turning into the straight, having travelled well in fourth position before taking up the running. However, Libys Dream, under Richard Kingscote, met some trouble on the turn and had to wait for a run before finishing particularly quickly in the final furlong to get up and beat Belgian Bill by a head.

Sandown 15:15

Winner: Paintball

Betfair SP: [38.1]

In-running high on winner: [55.0]

Paintball, trained by Charlie Longsdon, landed one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the season under jockey Noel Fehily at Sandown. The five-year-old "scraped the paint" for much of the race, travelling on the rail, before Fehily extracted him on turning for home. He just had to wait for a gap to appear between a pair of his rivals and looked to have a fight on his hands as Sire de Grugy loomed up before the penultimate hurdle, but Paintball, having had a wind operation since his last start, jumped well and sprinted clear before the final flight, keeping on strongly to the line.

Wolverhampton 15:30

Winner: Nazreef

Betfair SP: [16.0]

In-running high on winner: [480.00] £3

Notable lows: Kingscroft [1.05]

Nazreef traded at a colossal [480.0] in-running, as turning for home the Mark Johnston-trained Kingscroft looked to be the most likely winner. Nazreef, having disputed the lead throughout with Amitola, fought back admirably once headed to regain the lead on the line, denying Kingscroft who went to an in-running low of [1.05].

All the betting moves ahead of the evening racing at Wolverhampton and Dundalk...

All the betting moves ahead of today's racing at Ayr, Leicester, Sandown and Wincanton...

Racecourse: Wincanton First Race Time: 14:00 Going: Good to Soft, Good in places Other Information: Dry overnight, dry and cloudy today....

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Handicappers' Corner: End-of-season Jumps report 2010/11

Timeform Features / Timeform / 23 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run has the potential to stay at the top for a long time

"Long Run’s end-of-season Timeform rating of 184 places him behind only the legendary Desert Orchid and an on-song Kauto Star in the modern era of jumpers."

Timeform look back over the 2010/11 jumps season, picking out the highlights and rounding up the end-of-season ratings for the top performers...

Saturday's mixed meeting at Sandown officially brought down the curtain on the 2010/11 jumps season in Britain, though there are significant races still to take place in Ireland and France.

The end-of-term report on the sport's performance is also mixed, with its participants currently having to consider how it is perceived by the wider public in the aftermath of a large number of equine fatalities and serious injuries to jockeys.

In terms of elite performance, however, 2010/11 was another fine season, one which lends support to the notion that jumping is enjoying a 'Golden Age'. Kauto Star (rated 191 at his best, in 2009/10) would be a match for any chaser in the post-Arkle era, while Imperial Commander and Denman (182 and 181 respectively in the same season) were within hailing distance of that horse.

All three horses contested the latest Cheltenham Gold Cup - a vintage affair which lived up to its billing at a vintage Festival - and were beaten fair and square by the hugely talented youngster Long Run.

Kauto Star seems now to be on the wane, Denman may not quite be the force he once was, and Imperial Commander ran as if amiss, but Long Run's end-of-season Timeform rating of 184 places him behind only the legendary Desert Orchid and an on-song Kauto Star in the modern era of jumpers.

Another star of recent seasons, Master Minded (rated 179 at his best), also posted his most convincing performance for some time when an easy winner at Aintree.

Timeform's chase handicapper Gregg Taylor said "This year's Gold Cup was one of the best races seen in a long time, two of the best staying chasers in recent seasons going down valiantly to the rising star of the division. Master Minded coming almost right back to his best added further spice to an excellent season".

Leading chasers on Timeform ratings 2010/11

LONG RUN 184
DENMAN 177
MASTER MINDED 175+
SIZING EUROPE 171
IMPERIAL COMMANDER 170+

The hurdlers have been in the shadow of the chasers for some time now with one very notable exception. Big Buck's is unbeaten in 12 runs at around three miles since being switched back to the smaller obstacles, and he was imperious in his defeat of the top-class Grands Crus at Cheltenham and especially at Aintree in the latest campaign.

At eight years old, Big Buck's could be at his peak for a while yet. He has a realistic chance of equalling the Timeform rating of Istabraq (180 in 2000/1) or even surpassing it. Night Nurse (rated 182 in 1976/7) is Timeform's highest-rated hurdler in history. The problem where Big Buck's is concerned is that there have not been rivals around good enough to test him to the full!

The two-mile hurdlers have not got close to Istabraq's level of achievements in the years since, but Hurricane Fly (rated 168) was a better-than-average Champion Hurdle winner by recent standards. He was undefeated in four starts and posted the same rating as had Binocular in victory the year before.

Timeform's hurdles handicapper Matt Taylor said: "Big Buck's has been in a league of his own among staying hurdlers in the last few years and is one of the best over timber in Timeform's long history. What's more, he seems bombproof!"

Leading hurdlers on Timeform ratings 2010/11

BIG BUCK'S 176+
GRANDS CRUS 171
HURRICANE FLY 168
PEDDLERS CROSS 166

Each generation of stars has to contend not just with each other but with the challenges of the next generation. Hurricane Fly himself was the top novice hurdler on Timeform ratings in 2008/9: that honour goes to Al Ferof (rated 158) this time round. Binocular was the leading juvenile hurdler in 2007/8: Zarkandar (rated 152p) holds that distinction now. Denman was top novice chaser way back in 2006/7: Captain Chris and Time For Rupert share that title on 156p for 2010/11.

The definitive historical ratings for these horses (and for thousands of others) will appear in Timeform's Chasers & Hurdlers 2010/11, published later in the year.

Timeform look forward to what is in store in a very busy build-up to Guineas weekend.....

The National Hunt season comes to a close on Saturday, when Paul Nicholls will be crowned Champion Trainer for the sixth consecutive season, but it starts all over again on Sunday and there is also plenty to go at on the Flat across the two days....

The Timeform Radio big guns come out for the big one with Paul Jacobs asking Kentucky Derby-related questions of TVG presenter and handicapper Rich Perloff, Timeform's head of handicapping for North America Simon Rowlands and Timeform's North American correspondent James Willoughby. And if that lot can't find you the winner, nobody can!...

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NBA Betting Preview: Mid-season Championship report

Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 15 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Ray Allen has been in sparkling form for Boston

"The Celtics are the most complete team in basketball and the [5.8] on offer is very generous."

With over half the season completed it's time to look ahead and assess the chances of the teams who could be in contention to win this year's championship. Nick Shiambouros provides the rundown.

Eastern Conference

Miami Heat [3.25]
At the start of the season I wasn't convinced that this team could win the championship. I underestimated them and they're now only half a game behind Boston in the Conference, playing some outstanding basketball. My only concern with the star studded rotation is their ability to score points off the bench. I think their current price is a little short.

Boston Celtics [5.8]
The Celtics are having a superb year and are playing at a very high level. The veteran team is determined to finish the season well and secure home court advantage throughout the playoffs. I think this is the most complete team in basketball and the odds on offer are very generous. They have one of the deepest benches in the league and are the team to beat.

Orlando Magic [19.0]
By their standards, the Magic have had a moderate year. In sixth place in the East, they have not played with any real conviction all season long. I do not think they have the chemistry to challenge for the title and their current price is ludicrously short.

Chicago Bulls [21.0]
The Bulls are having a super year, currently third in the East. Derrick Rose has developed in to one of the best point guards in basketball and is my choice to win the MVP. If this team can get healthy they could be a threat to all in the playoffs. Well worth an interest at the current price.

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers [5.5]
The reigning champs have drifted in the market after an indifferent first half of the season. But they're starting to play with a lot more intensity and look certain to make an impact in the post-season. They remain the team to beat in the West and are fairly priced to win the title.

San Antonio Spurs [7.2]
This team has the best record in basketball at 46-9. Tim Duncan and company have played at an incredibly high level all season and show no signs of letting up. If they continue to play at this level they will secure home court advantage and make plenty of noise in the post-season. The price on offer is more than fair.

Dallas Mavericks [22.0]
The Mavs are having a great year and look certain to make a bold bid in the post- season. This veteran team has plenty of depth and is led by the great Dirk Nowitzki who is desperate to win his first NBA title. They will be tough to handle in the playoffs and are worth a small interest at the current price.
Oklahoma City Thunder [30.0]
This young team is having another solid year, currently fourth in the West with a record of 34-19. Kevin Durant is the heartbeat but I think they are a couple of years away from reaching the level required to win a title.

Recommended bets:
Back Boston to win the NBA championship at [5.8]
Back Chicago to win the NBA championship at [21.0]
Back Derrick Rose to be MVP at [3.65]

With over half the season completed it's time to look ahead and assess the chances of the teams who could be in contention to win this year's championship. Nick Shiambouros provides the rundown....

The Celtics needs to produce something special if they're to avoid a third consecutive defeat. Meanwhile, can LA keep their run going against the Magic? Nick Shiambouros selects the best bets on a weekend of big matches....

After a few indifferent seasons, the Indiana Pacers are back in play-off contention. Nick Shiambouros is backing them to beat struggling opposition this weekend......

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