6:00 Nottingham (22nd April) - Novice Stakes

A Novice Stakes for two-year-olds over 5f 13y on good to firm going. Eight juveniles take part all debutantes bar one horse with race experience. 

Poignant is a son of Sepoy and trained by Archie Watson who has been a power of strength since starting his training career. This chestnut colt is a homebred for present owner Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd. He made his debut just over two weeks ago when making his debut at Leicester finishing seventh behind easy winner Kick On Kick On trained by Clive Cox. It was a fair effort if nothing out of the ordinary. The starting odds of 16-1 suggested that he may have been in need of run and better could be expected on these next few starts. 

John Gallagher doesn't have many two-year-olds in training and very few winning on debut.To be fair, he does have a few debutantes that go close and if memory serves one prevailed last year at Goodwood. Green Power is likely to be a big price here. This March foal is a son of Kheleyf and £7,000 yearling purchase by the trainer. Best watched. 

The last few years have seen the fortunes of Mich Channon's stable suffer. From a powerhouse training talented two-year-olds his string is now a shadow of what used to be and consequently, the victories are harder to find. Neola is one of two fillies in the field. This daughter of Foxwedge. The dam, Effie B, used to be trained by Channon and a fair juvenile winning over £40,000 in total prize money. The betting is the best guide to this fillies' chances. If priced bigger than 8-1 I would definitely take a watching brief. If priced in the best betting guide has some chance although the stable are struggling to hit the headlines.

Another small trainer is John Holt. Mocead Cappall. This daughter of Captain Gerrard is out of a dam readers may recall All Fur Coat.She finished second on debut but managed one victory. Mocead Cappall was purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales for £9,500. Will be a big price but a surprise if good enough today. 

One trainer and owner combination that ticks a lot of boxes is John Fretwell and David Brown. Both talents when it comes to spotting talented two-year-olds they have done well with some very precocious types over the years. Snaffled is a bay colt, sired by Camacho , purchased by Fretwell for 57,000G at the yearling sales. One of the more fancied runner from a stable who can ready a debutante. Definitely, on the shortlist especially if priced 13/2 & less SP. 

Richard Fahey has been in flying form this season with his juveniles and one of few trainers who can get them fitter than a butcher's dog. A number of winners have been seen on debut and Simmy's Copshop is likely to start favourite. This chestnut son of Bahamian Bounty is in the ownership of Middleham Park Racing. He cost 45,000E at the yearling sales. A trainer who knows how to win and his juveniles have been in form. 

Karl Burk has been a bit hit and miss with his juveniles this season although we sent out a huge 66-1 winning two-year-old at Ripon on Thursday. Havana Grey will be more fancied and could well be a big player. This son of Havana Gold cost 70,000E at the yearling sales, the price increasing markedly from a foal. Should fit the frame. 

The first two-year-old runner of the season fro Michael Bell. Interesting to see him with an early juvenile as it is often an indicator they fancy them to have a level of ability. Choice Encounter is a son of Choisir and bought in by the vendor for 65,000. Louis Steward takes off a valuable 3lb. Another horse who should be in the first three. 

Conclusion: We endevour to bring you the best horse racing tips. In general, we're all about big priced outsiders but I don't get a feeling a big priced winner will shine here. Quite interested in Choice Encounter who looks a decent each-way bet at odds of 11-2. 

 

2000 Guineas Outsider Tip

The first colts’ classic of the season, the Qipco 2,000 Guineas Stakes, is still a few weeks away, but Aidan O’Brien’s Galileo colt Churchill is already past the post, if the ante post market is to be believed. The European champion two-year-old stayed on well to win the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, over 7 furlongs, at Newmarket last October by 1¼ lengths, despite being denied a clear run, and seems sure to be a tough nut to crack once again.

However, 6/4 favourites are not what we’re about and we much prefer to take a chance on Kevin Ryan’s unbeaten colt Syphax, who can be backed at a standout 50/1 with Stan James. By Arch out of a Kingmambo mare, Syphax is bred to stay a mile, or further, and stepped up significantly on his winning debut, in a lowly Musselburgh maiden, when edging out Best Of Days in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes, over 7 furlongs, at York last August. The runner-up did the form no harm when winning the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on his only subsequent start and, having displayed signs of inexperience on both starts, Syphax remains open to significant improvement, especially over a mile. Win or lose, 50/1 is a silly price.

Selection: 3.35 Newmarket, Saturday, May 6 - Syphax each-way (50/1 with Stan James)

Grand National Outsiders

The world’s greatest steeplechase, the Grand National, is only a few days away and, with the leading bookmakers offering ‘non-runner no bet’, we can afford to dabble at long odds in the ante post market. Who knows, we might just uncover some value. The Grand National has a safety limit of 40, so we’ve concentrated on a few that have realistic chances of getting into the race.

One For Arthur (16/1) has yet to win beyond 3 miles 5 furlongs, but has winning form on soft and heavy going and appears to be improving, so must have every chance if lasting home over and extra 5½ furlongs. Lucinda Russell’s 8-year-old made a promising reappearance when fifth of 22, beaten 3 lengths, behind Vieux Lion Rouge in the Becher Chase, over 3 miles 2 furlongs, on the Grand National Course in December. The way he finished that day suggested that he can reverse the form with the winner over this extra distance, despite being 4lb worse off at today’s weights. The Milan gelding confirmed that promise when winning the Classic Chase, over 3 miles 5 furlongs, at Warwick in January and, although 11lb higher in the weights, should remain competitive.

Double Shuffle (50/1), owned by the aptly-named Crossed Fingers Partnership, also has a question mark against him with regard to stamina, having done all his winning at 3 miles or shorter. However, he comes into the race in good form, having just been touched off in the Betbright Chase at Kempton six weeks ago. That performance – and his previous win at Kempton in December – came on good going, but he’s won on soft and looks reasonably handicapped if lasting home.

Wonderful Charm (66/1) has been running well in hunter chases this season, winning twice and going down by an ever-diminishing neck to Pacha Du Polder in the St. James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Paul Nicholls 9-year-old was pulled up in this race last year, but is 5lb lower in the weights this time around and, with his confidence boosted, could fare much better this time. Again, he has his stamina to prove, but that’s reflected in his price and he has winning form on the prevailing soft ground.

Selections: One For Arthur (16/1 with Betfair Sportsbook), Double Shuffle (50/1 with Bet Stars), Wonderful Charm (66/1 with Sportingbet)

Grand National, Aintree, Saturday, April 8

The world’s greatest steeplechase, the Grand National, is only a few days away and, with the leading bookmakers offering ‘non-runner no bet’, we can afford to dabble at long odds in the ante post market. Who knows, we might just uncover some value. The Grand National has a safety limit of 40, so we’ve concentrated on a few that have realistic chances of getting into the race.

One For Arthur (16/1) has yet to win beyond 3 miles 5 furlongs, but has winning form on soft and heavy going and appears to be improving, so must have every chance if lasting home over and extra 5½ furlongs. Lucinda Russell’s 8-year-old made a promising reappearance when fifth of 22, beaten 3 lengths, behind Vieux Lion Rouge in the Becher Chase, over 3 miles 2 furlongs, on the Grand National Course in December. The way he finished that day suggested that he can reverse the form with the winner over this extra distance, despite being 4lb worse off at today’s weights. The Milan gelding confirmed that promise when winning the Classic Chase, over 3 miles 5 furlongs, at Warwick in January and, although 11lb higher in the weights, should remain competitive.

Double Shuffle (50/1), owned by the aptly-named Crossed Fingers Partnership, also has a question mark against him with regard to stamina, having done all his winning at 3 miles or shorter. However, he comes into the race in good form, having just been touched off in the Betbright Chase at Kempton six weeks ago. That performance – and his previous win at Kempton in December – came on good going, but he’s won on soft and looks reasonably handicapped if lasting home.

Wonderful Charm (66/1) has been running well in hunter chases this season, winning twice and going down by an ever-diminishing neck to Pacha Du Polder in the St. James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Paul Nicholls 9-year-old was pulled up in this race last year, but is 5lb lower in the weights this time around and, with his confidence boosted, could fare much better this time. Again, he has his stamina to prove, but that’s reflected in his price and he has winning form on the prevailing soft ground.

Selections: One For Arthur (16/1 with Betfair Sportsbook), Double Shuffle (50/1 with Bet Stars), Wonderful Charm (66/1 with Sportingbet)