Pennies to Pounds

DONCASTER

3.10: I am putting a line through most of the leading contenders in the betting here for various reasons; but mainly because I feel they are fully exposed or overated. I suggest a small interest in AJAAN, a horse who has been beaten a country mile on his last three starts but that was considered a Group horse before foolishly being allowed to take part in the marathon that is the Queen Alexandria at Royal Ascot. He does have the ability to win this if returning to the sort of form he showed at Newmarket in May. Big Robert may also be overpriced at 66/1; again, a small interest is advised.

 3.45: Despite having improved for a change of stable, Axiom has more to do here in a harder race that when winning at Leicester. The last three runs of PROTECTOR have been credible, he handles soft ground, was unlucky at Ayr and is a sporting wager to sign the season off in style..  

FRIDAY's TIP - 17th October

NEWMARKET

2.35: On Our Way is much too short in the betting considering he faces some hot opposition. He is likely to be a morning drifter. On a line through Secrecy, MIDNIGHT CRUISER has a chance. Bearing in mind the ground was blamed for Midnight Cruiser's failure last time, with improvement on that run a distinct possibility, he looks overpriced and is worth consideration.  

3.10: A tricky race. Bankable was unlucky last time when forced to race wide and only just failed to get up close home. However, GENERAL ELIOTT was only three-parts of a length behind him and was having his first outing since his run in the French Guineas. If Bankable is a 3/1 shot, General Eliott cannot be 12/1 - which is Ladbrokes' price. A reproduction of his last run puts him in the firing line.

Wednesday 1st October

1.30: DUBAI SAMURAI has to be worth a chuck-away bet in this. Rated just 61 having finished behind City Leader as a two-year-old, it has been a downhill ride for him since and his record is no testimony to the skill of his trainer. This horse has been asked to run over the wong trip (doesn't stay any further than this) and has unquestionably gone backwards since his debut at Ascot. But 61 in a Lady Riders' race and a double figure price!   Worse is to come:

KEMPTON

9.20 CAT WHISTLE is better than her last run when she got stuck in the mud. This is her time of year, she has travelled a long way for this and her run when sixth at Newmarket showed there was life left in her. From a mark of  69 (bolted up from a mark of 73 as a juvenile), give her the benefit of the doubt. The booking of Jimmy Quinn also suggests they mean business tonight.

FRIDAY 26th Sept

ASCOT:  

2.10: TRANS SIBERIAN has been given a short break after a busy season. He will appreciate the firmer surface today and looks a value alternative to a couple of rivals that may not be all they appear.  

2.45: SPANISH BOUNTY is something of a chancy proposition but again, this ground will bring out the best in him. He is something of a sitting duck and vulnerable to an improver but it seems reasonable to expect a good run.  

3.20: Penny's Gift looks to have a standout chance here on such advantageous terms. But at the likely price we can afford to miss her. Although having to concede weight all round, MULTIPLICATION has been trained for this and she can be rated a few pounds better than her run at Salisbury in a good maiden when behind a strongly-fancied Intense. Ave, just behind her, went on to win this week and her debut behind tomorrow's Fillies' Mile contender, Golden Stream, suggests she is a decent filly. Expect her to run much better than her current odds suggest.

FRIDAY 19th Sept

4.40: Ladbrokes appear ro have taken a chance with the price of Protector who has the draw and the ground in his favour. Formerly a decent prospect with Gay Kelleway, and a proper horse in South Africa, he is back on a winning mark. 

Saturday 13th Sept

2.05: It could be that the highly-tried EVENS AND ODDS - who has found his form since being reverted to this trip and slipped a few pounds - could spring a surprise.

2.35: The price of STRIKE THE DEAL  is crazy. He ran a massive race in the Juvenile in last year's Breeders' Cup and was an honourable runner-up in the Middle Park Stakes. Last time out at Newmarket he raced on the unfavoured part of the course but still finished well and has little to find with Corryborough. 66/1 is too big for a horse of his class.

Wednesday 10th Sept

A day to concentrate small money on big prices rather than the other way round. 

DONCASTER:  

2.35: In a messy race, it may be worth taking a chance with TURN ON THE STYLE who has won on soft and, having proved his effectiveness over six, should hold on over the minimum trip.  

3.45: COBO BAY is overpriced at the morning odds of 16/1. All his best form is on soft ground, he has the beating of Unbreak My Heart on Sandown form and although the favourite, Carniolan, will be hard to topple, he is plenty short enough in a race of this nature and faces very different ground than when successful last time at Newmarket.

Friday 5th Sept

CATTERICK 3.30: He has his ground, has slipped down the ratings and with a recent respectable run behind him two weeks ago, LESINGTAYLOR is seen as being worthy of consideration at a double-figure price.

Sunday 31 Aug

Little to get excited about on the domestic front today. But if trading at anywhere near its price in the paper, Athanor, a good runner-up to Spirit Del Vento at Chantilly when ahead of Mount Nelson, represents value in the Group 3 at Deauville at 2.15. A consistent gelding trained by the in-form Freddie Head, he could repay a small interest. .

Saturday 30th Aug

This is a hard day for punters with handicaps littering the cards. A change in ground is also likely so stakes ought to be tempered; hence the view that small stakes at big-prices looks the way to tackle the day.  

SANDOWN

2.05: SELINKA shaped well last time and looks like she is running into form. The ground may be a tad quick but she is worth taking a chance with.

3.45: CAKE is all speed and this five furlongs may play to her strengths. She is a big price pitched against some seasoned and tricky performers.

4.15: MISTRESS COOPER  looks worthy of a mention. Her mark has slipped to an attractive one and with a good draw and returned to five furlongs over a course she has won at, looks in with a chance at a price.  

RIPON:

3.50: CONFUCHIAS ran a colossal race from a bad draw to finish fifth in the Great St Wilfred. Today's ground may be firmer than ideal but he has the draw and looks poised to win shortly. It would be a shame to miss him and he is worth a small investment. If he misses out today, he will be of interest in the Portland at Doncaster.

Saturday 23 August

Two speculative choices at NEWMARKET:

2.00: Cat Whistle won this time last year and from this mark. She has shown signs of running into form and has a chance of defying her odds.  

 3.05: With the draw in his favour, Edge Closer has a touch of class and may be capable of defying his penalty.

22nd August

NEWMARKET: 3.05: There are doubts about several of the market-leaders in this. The trip of five furlongs may be too sharp for Sakhee's Secret, the stiff uphill finish may test Captain Gerard and confidence in Equaino seems tempered. SHYRL can hardly be a confident pick, but in the belief that five furlongs on a fast suface will suit her, one has to conclude that her form is not so far removed from that of Percolator to allow her be 66/1 whilst the Cole-filly is only 7/1. Shyrl is worth a small speculative wager at such large odds.

21st August

GREAT LEIGHS 3.50: FURNACE is the class act here. He may require some luck in running to defy a wide draw but could be worth a small wager at this morning odds of 16/1.  

GREAT LEIGHS: 5.00: FORMATION faces some habitual losers and on his second at Goodwood over this trip four runs ago, has a chance at a price.

16th August 

NEWBURY 3.50: Take a chance with AYE AYE DIGBY.

14th August

KEMPTON 6.25: HAMMER is said to be useful enough to have a say at a price.  

NEWMARKET 5.30: ASHRAM is worth a small interest at a double-figure price. 

8th August

On a difficult day, betting big prices for small stakes could be the answer. Herewith a few suggestions:

ASCOT

1.45: STEAM CUISINE

2.55: HIGHLAND LEGACY

3.30: STRATEGIC MOUNT  

HAYDOCK:  

1.25: WE'LL COME 

3.10: EZDIYAAD  

Two big-priced horses at LINGFIELD today that may be worthy of consideration.

2.40: After DUBAI SAMURAI had run a race full of promise at Ascot on his debut behind subsequent group winner, City Leader, his trainer described him as a "proper racehorse". It has been a rocky road since with this son of Dubai Destination still a maiden six runs later. He runs off the embarrassingly low mark of 69 today and keeps poor company in this Class 5 Handicap. If he shows even a semblance of his supposed ability, he has to be somewhere on the premises against such opponents. The booking of Michael Hills and the form of the yard bolster the chance of a horse presented with his easiest assignment today.  

3.10: LEMONESSE should be there or thereabouts in a poor maiden and is another who looks potentially overpriced.

2nd August

GOODWOOD 2.05: TOMINTOUL FLYER will appreciate any ease in the ground and his last run at Newmarket [stable under a cloud] can be disregarded. He is better than that and the right race has been found. 3.15: MUTHABARA is another whose chance will be increased in the event of rain.

A useful two-year-old, and winner of the Fred Darling at three, all her best form is with give in the ground. Lush Lashes has all the right credentials but her form is on fast ground, this trip would seem to be as far as she wants to go and being by Galileo, if rain does set in, it will not suit.

On pedigree, there has to be a serious doubt about Halfway To Heaven staying this trip. 3.50: This may not be the hardest Stewards' Cup to solve, although these sprint races are food and drink to bookmakers for obvious reasons. Even so, with Barry Hills showing signs of returning to form, Prime Defender, a class act who was beaten two lengths in the Group 1 July Cup, seems to have been presented with a real chance of lifting this major prize granted a fair crack of the whip in running.