In-running Week: Winter Derby yields promising signs

In-running / Neil Munro / 27 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Neil was a keen observer at Lingfield (above) this week

"Cai Shen's premium conditions seem to be when the ground is good to firm, although he has won on good ground."

Neil Munro has a spring in his step as he considers some pointers for the upcoming Flat season as well as one that might return to big fences soon...

I love this time of year. We have just had the thrill of Cheltenham, we have the excitement of the Grand National Aintree meeting coming up, and the flat season is sneaking up on us. The first sign of that was the Winter Derby at Lingfield where we saw one of my in-running list horses for the flat season.

Cai Shen

Cai Shen made his All-Weather debut in the Winter Derby and, despite having a very wide draw, ran really well to go down a close second. Richard Hannon's four-year-old colt is tactically versatile but, with no obvious pace, I thought Jamie Spencer would try to get near the front and dictate from a prominent position. I should have known better as he settled Cai Shen on the outside near the back of the pack. But the colt travelled supremely well, as he always does, despite not taking the final bend very well, and traded at deep odds-on. Overall, he has traded at half his BSP in ten of his 12 races, with four victories. I don't have any issues with him and he will pick up a decent race or two this season. His premium conditions seem to be when the ground is good to firm, although he has won on good ground.

Advice: Back Cai Shen pre-race at BSP and then lay out your stake at half BSP in the run. Put up a further offer to lay at deep odds-on.

Noble Storm

This column studies all forms of racing but my heart will always be with sprinters. For me, nothing is more fulfilling than analysing a sprint handicap. So I was so looking forward to seeing Noble Storm run in the Listed sprint at Lingfield having been off the track for eight months. He loves to try and travel on the pace and Graham Gibbons managed to get him there, but after so long off, he never really settled and was never going to see out the race. He traded shorter but not to half his BSP. Overall, he's hit his mark 24 times in 28 runs so he will throughout the season.

Advice: With a 29% win ratio, I'm happy to back Noble Storm pre-race at BSP and then lay out my stake at half BSP in the run.

Petit Robin

Another to come back from a long lay-off, Petit Robin ran well enough in defeat over hurdles at his favourite track of Newbury. It will be interesting to see if connections head back over the bigger fences as he had quite a serious shoulder injury. But wherever connections go I would be using a back-to-lay strategy for this natural front-runner.

Advice: Back Petit Robin at BSP prior to the race and lay out your stake at half BSP in the run with an additional offer to lay our more at odds-on.

After four days of ups and downs at the Cheltenham Fesitval, Neil Munro reflects on what in-running bettors learned at Prestbury Park......

Neil Munro provides an entertaining account of a race that was run exactly as he thought it would be. He also two profiles a pair of horses for you to add to the in-running portfolio......

Neil Munro identifies seven horses that it could pay to bet on in-play at this year's Cheltenham Festival......

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Copa America: Tim Vickery signs for Betfair

Copa America / Dan Thomas / 21 June 2011 / Leave a Comment

Lionel Messi's Argentina are favourites for the Copa America

"Tim will be reporting from the ground out in Argentina on all the latest results, performances, gossip and analysis in a daily diary."

Betting.Betfair has signed up the BBC's South American football correspondent Tim Vickery to lead our Copa America coverage.

Tim will be reporting from the ground out in Argentina on all the latest results, performances, gossip and analysis in a daily diary which will be published the morning after the previous day's action.

Betting.Betfair will also preview every Copa America match and have pre-match analysis of the winner and top goalscorer market as well as look at some of the top stars you can look forward to seeing in action in South American football's blue-riband event, which kicks off on July 2.

Leo Thompson, sports marketing manager at Betfair, said: "Signing up Tim - acknowledged as the leading authority on South American football in UK media - continues our strategy of providing best-in-class opinion and insight to help our customers make better informed betting decisions."

Argentina at 2.04 and Brazil at 3.3 lead the market on Betfair to win the competition.

You won't miss a minute of the action as every Copa America match is available via Betfair's fantastic Live Video service.

A few weeks ago, Carlos Tevez didn't even look likely to make Argentina's Copa America squad, but the latest signs are that he could yet play a significant role....

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Razavi Signs completes Black Belt Poker

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Online Poker Room Signs Captain

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Everst Poker Signs More Pros

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Poker Site Signs Jackie Glazier

Online poker room Full Tilt Poker has signed Jackie Glazier to their sponsored pro list. This is the first Australian woman to join the site’s sponsored pros. She is thought to be one of the best female poker pros in Australia. The online poker room has made her a Red Pro as an online poker player. She built her reputation over the last couple of years, with a record last year of $89,275 in live poker winnings. Part of her role will be to represent the online poker room both online and in live poker events, and to be an ambassador to women poker players.

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