Paul Nicholls: The views on my three runners in France and Ireland today

15:05 Down Royal - Wonderful Charm

"This has been the plan for him for a while, and hopefully he will go well in a race that has cut up, though he meets three in-form rivals and he doesn't have that much in hand of two of them on official ratings."

Betfair Ambassador Paul Nicholls sends one raider to France and two to Ireland this afternoon for a couple of races that he has a great record in. Read the Ditcheat handler's exclusive thoughts on their chances here...

14:30 Down Royal - Rocky Creek

We have been lucky enough to win this race four times in recent seasons but this looks the hottest renewal for a long while. The likes of Gold Cup runner-up On His Own, Boston Bob and First Lieutenant are proven Grade 1 horses, while Nicky's Ma Filleule clearly has to be respected after running away with the Topham off a mark of 150 last season.

But hopefully Rocky Creek can take the step forward up to that level this season. He had his niggles and setbacks last season but he still delivered excellent performances in the Hennessy and Argento and - despite getting a case of ringworm before the race - he got us a bit excited when running so well for a long way in the Grand National, I can tell you!

But I just wondered that he wasn't finishing off his races, so we checked him out and gave him a breathing operation in the summer. It is a long season ahead and this is a proper race, but he is in good nick, he went well in a racecourse gallop with Silviniaco Conti at Chepstow last week, and does go well fresh, and this will tell us whether we go to the Hennessy with him or maybe aim higher.

14:45 Auteuil - Zarkandar

Take out Gemix and this Grade 1 lacks strength in depth, so for nearly £140,000 to the winner, we will happily take our chances. After beating The New One in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle in 2013, it was a little disappointing that he didn't get his head in front last season but he ran some excellent races, not least first time up at Ascot when failing by only five lengths to give Annie Power 11lb and when fourth in the World Hurdle.

And he ran ok in his two runs here over the summer. But he has had a good rest since and at one stage we were considering going for the Cesarewitch with him. However, that race came a touch too soon for him but he is in good order here. He runs in blinkers again and the services of Vincent Cheminaud, who is a good young French jockey who I think leads their jockeys' title by 20 or so winners.

Gemix is clearly the one to beat, and you'd have to give last year's winner Reve De Sivola a fair shout if he is at his best, but I think Zarkandar has a big chance. Three miles in heavy ground will be fine for him, he has a strong form chance and we recauterised his palate in the summer, which will hopefully help, too.

15:05 Down Royal - Wonderful Charm

If we have a good record in the JNwine.com Champion Chase then we have a pretty formidable one in this, as we have been lucky enough to win this race for the past six seasons. And we know that we are coming here with a fit and in-form horse with Wonderful Charm after his reappearance win in a good race at Newton Abbot.

I thought that I had him straight enough there, but it was still pleasing to see him get the job done, and I would have thought that would have brought him on again. This has been the plan for him for a while, and hopefully he will go well in a race that has cut up, though he meets three in-form rivals and he doesn't have that much in hand of two of them on official ratings.

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Paul Nicholls: The views on my three Musselburgh runners today

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Follow The Money: Three selections from Fontwell today

Recommended Bets

Back Mount Gunnery @ 5.95/1 Fontwell 14:10
Back Peut Etre Sivola @ 6.86/1 Fontwell 15:40
Lay Chestnut Ben @ 3.39/4 Fontwell 16:40

After a snow-hit few days in England we have some national hunt racing to enjoy from Fontwell, and it is from this venue that the Follow The Money team provide today's selections...

After competing in point-to-points in remote corners of Ireland, Mount Gunnery ran a shocker on his British debut, where he showed a tendency to jump left. Timeform rated him a 40/1 chance for today's 14:10 Fontwell, but after initial trades over 30.029/1, our selection has been hammered down to a current 5.95/1. Clearly, he's expected to be competitive on today's figure-of-eight course.

Peut Etre Sivola arrives for the 15:40 with even worse form, having been pulled up last time. Since transferred a few miles to Kevin Bishop (whose stable rewards backers with an outright profit on selections) he's been gambled from 16.5n/a in to 6.86/1. Dig back a bit and you will find he has the credentials to carry the money in a heavy ground marathon that promises to be no picnic.

On that note, Chestnut Ben is unlikely to enjoy his outing today in the 16:40. Over C&D last time, he buckled on the run-in under Tony McCoy. Matched at 2.68/5 he has been drifting this morning out to a current 3.39/4. He still holds sway at the head of the market, but with doubts about him finishing the job, we advise a lay.

Recommended Bets

Back Mount Gunnery @ 5.95/1 Fontwell 14:10
Back Peut Etre Sivola @ 6.86/1 Fontwell 15:40
Lay Chestnut Ben @ 3.39/4 Fontwell 16:40

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Jamie Lynch's Cheltenham Day Three Preview: Staying ain't what it used to be

"What's especially pertinent about flagging up the discrepant demands of the old and new ahead of this year's World Hurdle is that stamina is the pivotal issue regards the pivotal player."

The World Hurdle mightn't be a wholly accurate name for the day-three feature, but it's arguably better than one that gives unwarranted heart to plodders, argues Jamie Lynch as he tries to make a case for third-time-lucky over three miles of the New Course.

There's a school of thought that the World Series, the annual Baseball championship that's global in name but exclusively North American in practice, gets its title not from any mild pomposity but from the newspaper that first sponsored it, the New York World. 

It's a blow to those who snipe and say that only in America could there be such blind arrogance as to take a sporting contest that's so conspicuously municipal, never leaving its shores, and label it as a 'World' event. On an unrelated matter, the big race of the day at Cheltenham is the World Hurdle, though only since 2005 has it had such a grandiose title. 

A name change sometimes does more harm than good. In the 'nineties, when Kellogg's dared to mess with Coco Pops, in the scandalous misbelief that what we actually wanted was Choco Krispies, so fierce was the public backlash that within a year, tail firmly between legs, order had been restored. In the racing industry, where renaming of races is epidemic, even at the major festivals,  there was little more than the shrugging of shoulders and rolling of eyes when it was announced in 2005 that, as part of a new sponsorship deal, the Stayers' Hurdle, which did exactly what it said on the tin since 1972, would henceforth be the World Hurdle. More shiny, less relevant. 

However, there's evidence to suggest the race was in fact overdue a name change and that the 'Stayers' tag was something of a misnomer, at least compared to the original design. Prior to 1993, the race was run on the Old Course over a distance of three miles and a furlong. The last winner under those conditions, in what is widely considered to be one of the strongest ever renewals, was Nomadic Way, who clocked a time of 6:33.93, on good ground.

Since its switch to later in the week on the New Course, the average winning time in the Stayers' Hurdle, using the 14 of the 19 runnings when the going was good, is 5:47.23. That's significantly less staying to be done, equivalent to over three furlongs. 

Wholesale remeasurements undertaken by Cheltenham after the 1999 Festival did see an official reduction in the Stayers' Hurdle distance by half a furlong to a flat three miles, but there's more to it than that, and it seems that 'declinism' - the idea that things ain't what they used to be - applies to championship races at Cheltenham and not just to meat, Arsenal and Quality Street - both the tin and the sweets.

What's especially pertinent about flagging up the discrepant demands of the old and new ahead of this year's World Hurdle is that stamina is the pivotal issue regards the pivotal player. The universal acceptance that Oscar Whisky is the best horse in the World Hurdle is qualified by his doubted staying power, but, as highlighted, staying isn't necessarily the name of the game, or the race, anymore.

It can't, though, be brushed under the carpet that Oscar Whisky is working on the premise of if at first - or second - you don't succeed, try, try again, because he's already had two tries over the World Hurdle course and distance, but with mitigation both times. In last year's World Hurdle, he paid a heavy price for trying to match the unmatchable Big Buck's from a fair way out, and then in this season's Cleeve Hurdle, the major trial, Oscar Whisky was much more convincing, beaten only a neck by Reve de Sivola when the ground was heavy and the ride was more exploratory than excavatory. 

If we were in the 1980s, the halcyon days of unprocessed meat, a reliable Arsenal, quality Quality Street and a stamina-sapping Stayers' Hurdle, then Oscar Whisky wouldn't have a prayer against the relentless Reve de Sivola, but we're in the age of fast food, fast connections and faster times in the 'staying' championship, and Oscar Whisky can make his class count.

Every Which RSA But Jewson

Dynaste is only one letter away from Dynasty, a soap opera that specialised in cliffhangers and regularly held its followers in suspense. When I attended the David Pipe media day two weeks ago, I thought he was just playing the game when he suggested that he didn't know whether Dynaste would run in the RSA or the Jewson, but it turns out he wasn't, and still doesn't, looking at the Betfair markets for both races. 

If the ghost of Grands Crus still hasn't been exorcised by next week and Dynaste swerves the RSA for the first race on Thursday then it's a win-lose situation for me: Dynaste wins and my ante-post bet on Aupcharlie loses. It's as simple as that.
The Make-Or-Breaker

While the Dynaste missile is yet to receive exact coordinates, the Ballynagour bomb looks to be locked onto the Byrne Group Plate. The fifth race on the third day is deep enough into the Festival for Ballynagour to be a "sod it" bet, or a "(worse word than sod) it" bet, by which I mean some people will just go 'all in' with what's left of their Cheltenham bank, myself possibly included. In that eventuality, we'll all be sitting tight, including Tom Scu hopefully.

Thursday's C.H.I.L.D. Is Old And Slow

Old, slow and exposed aren't usually the qualities you look for in a handicapper for Cheltenham, but the Pertemps Final is different, and Junior fits the bill very nicely. Six of the last 14 Pertemps winners have been aged nine or older, while three have been returning to hurdling after a spell chasing, and Junior qualifies on both counts. Previous Festival form also seems an advantage, and Junior scores highly in that regard, having won the Kim Muir in 2011 and finished third in the Coral Cup three years earlier. 

Two runs since a winning reappearance this season have been in races he literally had no chance, but safeguarding his handicap mark for hurdles, and the ironically-named Junior might just show the youngsters a thing or two in a race the Pipes have won three times, including twice with the old, slow and exposed Buena Vista.

Read Jamie's Previews of days One, Two and Four.

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The Lord's Lays: Three to oppose at Romford

The Lord selects three to go against from Wednesday night's lively card at Romford...

Express Rover (20:15)

Comes from a kennel very much in form and certainly has a burst of pace that could take him clear. However, that applies to most in this puppy final and he will have to time it right from the boxes to hit the bend in front, which is vital to his chances.

Bubbly Jaytee (20:35)

Has one or two terrific lines on his lightly-raced card, not least in the heats here when running away from his field. However, his wasn't the quickest time clocked and, while local support will ensure he goes off a short price, he surely does not represent value here.

Gilbeyhall Ned (21:10)

Proved himself a fast dog with a fluent win in the heats, and he will repeat the dose if given the chance. But there is element of doubt about him repeating that effort now switched to five, from six. He now has huge pace outside to contend with, and might be worth taking on.

Recommended Bets
Lay Express Rover in the 20:15 at Romford
Lay Bubbly Jaytee @ in the 20:35 at Romford
Lay Gilbeyhall Ned @ in the 21:10 at Romford

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Racing Post Greyhound TV Tips: Bets for three top nights

At Henlow, Ballymac Jones (19:25) takes a drop in class and can be rewarded with victory, providing he copes with the track for the first time.

Eyes down for another three nights of top-class greyhound racing on RPGTV (Sky Channel 212) tonight, with Hove and Henlow kicking off proceedings with a bunch of open races - and The Lord is back with a host of good things.

Starting at Hove with the start of the Courage Olympic and six quality heats. The star turn, of course, is the superstar greyhound that is Ballymac Eske (21.06), fresh from his sensational 29.30 trial over C&D, surely the fastest ever trial run there has ever been at Hove.

Barrie Draper's dog, winner of the Puppy Classic at Nottingham, is not a betting proposition, certainly to punt. However, the layers will no doubt take him on, knowing that his one weakness if from the traps, and something like Go Go Sonic night get away. But he wins easily in a clean-run race.

The first heat at 19.46 sees Sawpit Sensation bid to follow up a weekend Irish victory and this strength can come through, while other heats can go to the speedy Bridge Honcho (20:02), Mutual Consent (20:18), unlucky Romford elimination Westmead Maldini (20.34) and well-drawn Rockburst Lenny (8:50).

However, one of the best bets on the card might prove to be Big Local (21:40) who showed great pace when crowded at Doncaster last time and might take advantage of the draw, with Mullingar Mer set to make the market here after last week's victory.

At Henlow, Ballymac Jones (19:25) takes a drop in class and can be rewarded with victory, providing he copes with Henlow first time. He can quickly grab the rails where he's most comfortable, and deny impressive last week scorer Tolerton Dasher.

Flaming Honey (19:39) is another likely short-shot to oblige. Stephen Fletcher's popular bitch produced the goods when we least expected her to last week, especially after failing to lead. But she was game off the back, but can dictate terms tonight for the spoils.

Henlow, who only returned to the screens last week after a summer break, is counting down to the Primus Telecom Derby and another clutch of trial stakes take place tonight, with Any Dak (20:58) taken to bounce back after defeat at Yarmouth.

Hazel Kemp's dog has previously shone over this C&D and has the draw to lead out wide, while another dog to blaze a trail looks set to be the classy Freedom Chief when he goes at 21:15.

Katie O'Flaherty's dog has searing early pace, runs Henlow well and would be an early contender for the event proper when it starts. Making the market tonight will be Bush Bandit, who impressed on debut and will be fancied by many to follow up. But two can get first run.

Westmead Melanie (22:03) doesn't win many these days but it was a better effort last time when just denied by Brave The Times, and she can continue the better run but outgunning her rivals over 550m.

On to tomorrow and Romford, continues its open-race frenzy with another 13-race bonanza just two days after a Sky Sports spectacular for the Champion Stakes final and two days before the start of the prestigious Puppy Cup.

The best bet might prove to be Uh Oh Chongo (22:26) who is fancied to make the most of his red-box berth to get first run on his rivals over 400m.

The final on the card is a maiden over 400m in which Alis Avenger (21:24) looks the dog with the most scope on his heat performance, with Dave Mullins's greyhound also coming up trumps with the inside draw.

Other bets which catch the eye are Knights Pride (19.30pm) in the opening two-bend dash after some solid runs in better class, while strong-running Mays Millhouse (22.40pm) can also take advantage of a slight drop in class and a plum draw in the closer.

Thursday
Sawpit Sensation (Hove 19.46)
Bridge Honcho (Hove 20.02)
Mutual Consent (Hove 20.18)
Westmead Maldini (Hove 20.34)
Rockburst Lenny (Hove 20.50)
Big Local (Hove 21.40)
Ballymac Jones (Henlow 19.25)
Flaming Honey (Henlow 19.39)
Any Dak (Henlow 20.58)
Freedom Chief (Henlow 21.15)
Westmead Melanie (Henlow 22.03)

Friday
Uh Oh Chongo (Romford 22.26pm)
Alis Avenger (Romford 21.24pm)
Mays Millhouse (Romford 22.40pm)

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Three Ball Betting: BMW Italian Open

Recommended Bets
2pts Back David Horsey @ 2.68/5
2pts Back Robert Rock @ 2.89/5
2pts Back Bernd Wiesberger @ 2.89/5
2pts Back Kristoffer Broberg @ 2.68/5
2pts Back Matteo Manassero @ 2.68/5

Dan Geraghty makes five first round three ball selections from this week's tournament at Royal Park in Roveri...

First round three balls

Ah, good results last week in America. Hope springs eternal. No tournament over the pond this week so I've had a good look at the European Tour's Italian Open.

David Horsey has had a pretty abysmal season, the results rarely lie. However, the Englishman is adamant that low rounds aren't far away and that his game is in "great" shape. I think we'll see an improvement from Horsey this week at a course he finished second on last year. His opening day partners are Felipe Aguilar, who hasn't played this tournament while at Royal Park golf club, and Tom Lewis, who continues to struggle.

Considering his second half of the season, I wouldn't really fancy backing Robert Rock to beat an egg, unless the circumstances were too good to refuse. Rock has finished in the top 20 both times he's teed it up at the Italian Open at Royal Park and won last year's renewal in fine style. His round one three ball partners are Eduardo Molinari, who is playing his first tournament since having a wrist operation, and Alvaro Quiros, who has also been in terrible form himself and has taken the past month off amid rumours of a coaching change. Rock's price of 2.89/5 appeals in the circumstances. Let's hope he doesn't emerge with egg on his face.

All the shrewdies fancy Bernd Wiesberger to go very well this week, and who am I to argue. The Austrian has been in fine form since last year's 15th place finish at the Italian Open, I think he may have an edge over Anders Hansen, who is also in fine form but has yet to tee it up at Royal Park. Raphael Jaquelin makes up the three-ball.

Following his remarkable performances on the Challenge Tour, there was a lot of attention on young Kristoffer Broberg at the Omega European Masters, a disappointing missed cut ensued, but that was the Swede's fifth week playing in a row and it's perhaps understandable the occasion got to him. Broberg has since had a week off and I suspect we'll see him make the cut and possibly even trouble the upper reaches of the leaderboard here. His playing partners are Johan Edfors and Andrea Pavan.

Finally, I am standing by out-of-form young veteran Matteo Manassero. From recent interviews it's very apparent that all roads lead to the Italian Open for Manassero, he knows the course inside out and I will be shocked if he's out of the top 20. Following a great week last time out, the main danger looks to be Gonzalo Fernandez Castano, whilst troubled Robert Karlsson makes up the trio.

Recommended Bets
2pts Back David Horsey @ 2.68/5
2pts Back Robert Rock @ 2.89/5
2pts Back Bernd Wiesberger @ 2.89/5
2pts Back Kristoffer Broberg @ 2.68/5
2pts Back Matteo Manassero @ 2.68/5

Season Profit/Loss: -2.79pts

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Three for the mud at Catterick and Carlisle

"Bryan Smart’s Commanche has form on testing ground and boasts 2-y-o form that makes him look well treated off 66."

Back Commanche @ 6.25/1 in the 15:00 at Carlisle

Timeform's Martin Dixon has waded through the form at these two rain-soaked northern tracks to pick out three recommended bets...

Just as the weather looked to have turned the corner, the rain has come again in bucket loads, in the North at least, and that means we're racing in the mud at Carlisle and Catterick this afternoon.

This could be crucial in the sprints in particular, as at both these tracks the fields tend to come stand-side in the straight on soft/heavy ground, changing the effect of the draw. My advice: opt for higher drawn horses in 5f/6f races, leading us nicely on to a couple of today's bets.

I'm taking a bit of a risk backing Commanche in Carlisle's 15:00, as in three starts so far this year he hasn't fully fired, but I'm hoping that a 51-day break will have had a positive effect, and stall 11 (of 11) could well ensure he gets an optimum position. Bryan Smart's inmate has form on testing ground and boasts 2-y-o form that makes him look well treated off 66.

Ingenti is a filly that's caught my eye recently, looking as if she's working her way back to peak form with placed efforts the last twice, and in Catterick's 17:45 she looks to have been found a weak race to gain a second career win. Most of her form is on quicker ground, but she's shaped with sufficient promise a couple of times on soft to suggest she handles the mud, and it's a plus that her small yard have had a recent winner.

Red Orator is another that I'm backing this afternoon in the 3:30 at Carlisle. Mark Johnston's 3-y-o is hard to assess after just two runs but his pedigree suggests that he should appreciate a thorough test of stamina and be better than a mark in the low 70s (his dam won the Group 1 Prix Royal Oak over 15.5f).

Recommended Bets
Back Commanche @ 6.25/1 in the 15:00 at Carlisle
Back Ingenti @ 9.08/1 in the 17:45 at Catterick
Back Red Orator @ 6.05/1 in the 15:30 at Carlisle

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The Omega European Masters: Wiesberger value to make it three, says The Punter

“Berndt Wiesberger is an in-form clinical closing multiple European Tour winner and he’s far too big at 60.059/1 in this grade.”

Flushed with success after Paul Lawrie's win in Scotland, Steve takes a look at this week's European Tour action from Switzerland. Could our man pick back-to-back winners on the Race to Dubai?

Tournament History
With an illustrious list of champions that includes Bob Charles, Nick Price, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros (three times), José María Olazábal, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, to name but a few, the Omega European Masters has a rich history dating right back to 1923.

It's been a European Tour event since 1972 and it's a bit disappointing to see a relatively weak field this week, thanks to its current slot in the schedule - opposite the second PGA Tour playoff event, the Deutsche Bank Championship, which starts on Friday. The tournament has been co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour since 2009.

Venue
Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans Montana, Switzerland

Course Details
Par 71, 6822 yards
Stroke index in 2011 - 70.55

Winding its way through the beautiful mountains of Crans Montana, Crans-sur-Sierre is a visually stunning venue. At way below 7,000 yards, it's very short by modern standards and the last three winners have all achieved a total of at least 20 under-par.

With small upturned-saucer like greens, accuracy is most certainly the key attribute and Greens In Regulation and Scrambling are the two main stats to concentrate on. Three of the last four winners ranked 1st or 2nd for GIR and the three winners between 2007 and 2009 all topped the Scrambling stats.

Although a neat and tidy short game is what usually gets the job done here, the longer hitters can take advantage of the scoring holes. The par five opening hole, measuring just 540 yards, always ranks the easiest on the course, holes 6 and 7 are drivable par fours and the back-to-back par fives, 14 and 15, also offer great birdie/eagle chances.

Useful Sites
Tournament Site
Tee Times
Weather Forecast

TV Coverage
Live on Sky all four days - 10.30am and 3.30pm on Thursday and Friday and 12pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Last Five Winners
2011 - Thomas Bjorn -20
2010 - Miguel Angel Jimenez -21
2009 - Alexander Noren - 20
2008 - Jean-Francois Lucquin -13 (playoff)
2007 - Brett Rumford -16 (playoff)

Is there an identikit winner?
As mentioned, accurate iron-play and good scrambling pay dividends - the players will be hitting an awful lot of wedges into the greens this week, setting up plenty of birdie chances so a great short game is key but its also worth noting that in-form players have fared well in recent years too.

Last year's winner, Thomas Bjorn had won the Johnnie Walker Championship seven days earlier and Edoardo Molinari finished second in 2010 after winning in Scotland the week before. And both Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2010 were winning their third event of the year.

In-Play Tactics
A fast start is important at Crans. Its 14 years since any winner was worse than five strokes off the lead after day one or three back at halfway, so it makes sense to concentrate on the front of the leaderboard from early on.

The harder holes come in three sets of three - the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, the 11th, 12th, and 13th and the final three. If your pick has hit the front after playing the reachable par five pair of 14 and 15, it might make sense to take some profit before they encounter the long par 3 16th, which always ranks the toughest hole on the course.

Market Leaders
Favourite Peter Hanson makes very little appeal. His 7th placed finish at the US PGA Championship last time out was impressive but he has no course form to speak of and it's now two years since his last success.

Last week's winner Paul Lawrie is bidding to emulate Bjorn of last year and achieve the unique Qatar Masters, Johnnie Walker Championship and Omega European Masters treble. That really would be quite bizarre and I can't see him doing it. His form at Crans isn't great, although he did finish second ten years ago, and he's often a slow starter, something that will really hamper him here. I imagine he's celebrated his latest success and that won't help either.

Former winners Bjorn and Alex Noren are both respected but both are a shade short for my liking and I liked Matteo Manassero at first glance but he also looks a bit short given his poor form of late.

Selections
Nobody in the field has a more solid bank of course form than 2010 winner Miguel Angel Jimenez and he looked a more than fair price at 36.035/1. He hasn't had the greatest of seasons but he turned the corner in no uncertain terms at last month's Open Championship, where he finished in the top-ten - ranking 1st for putting. Next time out, he finished 27th at the US PGA Championship, where he ranked 4th for both Driving Accuracy and GIR and 16th for putting. A missed cut at Gleneagles last week wasn't ideal but was he only there to support his Ryder Cup captain anyway?

Miguel will be buoyed by last week's announcement that he's Olazábal's fourth and final vice-captain at the fast-approaching Ryder Cup and given he's finished inside the top-ten in each of the last four years here, it would be no surprise whatsoever if he featured again this time around.

As previously mentioned, the last two winners were winning their third event of the season when they found success here; could lightening strike for a third time? Considering he was beaten in a playoff there 12 months ago, I was quite surprised that Austria's Berndt Wiesberger wasn't in the field at last week's Johnnie Walker Championship and I did wonder if there might have been a slight problem with the recent Austrian Open winner. It seems not, he was actually acclimatising himself well for this week's event, winning the Zurich Open pro-am with two rounds of 67.

Berndt missed the cut here on his only appearance but that came off the back of that disappointing playoff defeat last year and I'm happy to dismiss it. The Austrians an in-form clinical closing multiple European Tour winner and he's far too big at 60.059/1 in this grade.

Argentines often prosper at mountain venues and I've decided to make a small play on the only two in the field this week. Ricardo Gonzalez won this event in 2001 and he'd love to emulate his fellow countryman Eduardo Romero and win it twice.

Tano Goya zipped over to Switzerland after missing the cut in Scotland last week and very nearly won. A triple-bogey at the 15th hole in the second and final round of the Zurich Open stopped him in his tracks but he still finished second to Wiesberger.

Selections:
Miguel Angel Jimenez @ 36.035/1
Berndt Wiesberger @ 60.059/1
Ricardo Gonzalez @ 200.0199/1
Tano Goya @ 400.0399/1

The week's other event, the Deutsche Bank Championship doesn't start until Friday but I'll be back tonight or early tomorrow with a preview.

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Sectional Debrief: Day Three Newmarket July Meeting

Mayson’s success in the Group 1 July Cup took many by surprise, but the evidence of the clock is that he is bordering on high-class...

Simon Rowlands, Timeform's Head of Research and Development, reviews the sectionals from the third and final day of Newmarket's July Meeting...

A substantial amount of rain on what was already just about soft going turned conditions "heavy" for day three, though nowhere near unraceable as some were suggesting. Furthermore, overall and sectional times indicated that conditions deteriorated a negligible amount as the card progressed.

The following are the headline figures from the day, provided by TurfTrax:

• The fastest opening furlong was recorded by Reply (14.61 sec, 30.80 mph from a standing start) in the Group 1 July Cup, in which he finished last of 12.

• The fastest individual furlong was recorded by Ortensia (11.41 sec, 39.44 mph) in the third of the six furlongs of that race. The mare's effort was short-lived and she finished fourth.

• The fastest closing furlong was recorded by Hasopop (14.13 sec, 31.85 mph) in the steadily-run two-year-old conditions stakes which followed the feature event. Hasopop won by seven lengths and eight lengths in a field of three.

• Mayson's success in the Group 1 July Cup took many by surprise, but the evidence of the clock is that he is bordering on high-class, if not quite so good as a face-value interpretation of the result might suggest. He set a good pace after the opening furlong, registering three successive sub-12-second furlongs in the middle of the race, on his way to a good overall time. His last two furlongs sectionals were both faster than any of his rivals'.

• The first furlong of the opening one-mile handicap was remarkably slow (16.25 sec, 27.69 mph), and the horse that set it, Ocean Tempest got back up having quickened to challenge again with a sub-12-second furlong between three furlongs and two furlongs out.

• Olympic Glory had just enough left to hold off Birdman in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes, his final furlong a fairly slow (compared to his overall time) 14.57 sec, raising some doubts about his stamina for still further when conditions are testing.

• Bonnie Brae had as many in front of her as behind her mid-race in the 15-runner Bunbury Cup Handicap but jockey Ryan Moore had judged things well, and she recorded close to optimum sectionals as she overhauled pace-setters Captain Bertie and Captain Ramius, posting the fastest sectionals for the last two furlongs for good measure. Captain Ramius, in particular, probably deserves marking up.

• John Louis made all in the concluding handicap, though sectional analysis shows he was plodding by the end and that his overall time will have suffered by going as fast as he did earlier. This sectional profile - of a leader running his rivals into the ground and holding on for a win in a slowish time - is seen more often over jumps but was also in evidence in Cape Blanco's 2010 Irish Champion Stakes success on the Flat.

Full details of by-furlong individual sectional times for the first two days of the Newmarket July Meeting can be found on the TurfTrax website: http://www.turftrax.co.uk/tracking-data-julymeeting-2012.html

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Aintree Day Three: Graham Cunningham's In-Play Tips

Daily Tipping / Graham Cunningham / 13 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Will Ballabriggs follow up last year's victory by winning the Grand National again?

"Ballabriggs was simply brilliant in this race last year, attacking the big fences with real gusto from the start and forging clear of the well handicapped Oscar Time."

The 2012 Grand National is finally upon us and Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham feels last year's hero might be on the verge of another historic feat at Aintree this weekend.

They call it the worlds's greatest steeplechase with very good reason. You need to jump 30 formidable fences and stay four and a half miles thoroughly to go down in history as a Grand National hero.

Slowly but surely, the Grand National short list has been whittled down.

Shakalakaboomboom was at the top of it when the weights first came out, while Becauseicouldntsee and Always Right have been lurking on the fringes for at least a couple of weeks. However, as the big day dawns I've finally plumped for Ballabriggs and Giles Cross as my two against the field in this year's race.

In truth, there is no flash story behind backing either horse with a view to laying off to save the stake in running.

Ballabriggs was simply brilliant in this race last year, attacking the big fences with real gusto from the start and forging clear of the well handicapped Oscar Time as the pair drew well clear of the 2010 National winner Don't Push It.

Stats followers will point out that he's 10lb higher in the weights this time and that there hasn't been a back to back National winner since Red Rum in 1974.

But take another look back at the video of last year's race. Ballabriggs just looks an extremely good horse round this course and looks bound to give us a great run, while Giles Cross has eased in the market since the rain went away but looked an ideal Aintree type when winning at Haydock and is another with the potential to trade much shorter in running than his current big price.

As ever, the Aintree Hurdle is the chief supporting event on National day and this year's renewal promises to be a belter with Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby taking on last year's principals Oscar Whisky and Thousand Stars.

This looks a complex puzzle to solve from a punting viewpoint, but there is one other horse on Saturday's card who commands my attention. And the horse in question is Kazlian in the Handicap Hurdle at 17:05.

This unexposed gelding was high on my list of handicappers to follow at the Cheltenham Festival. However, his rider Tom Scudamore asked him a huge question in setting off so hard at the head of a huge field. Sectional times show that Kazlian went harder from the first flight to the third last in the Fred Winter than the top-class Overturn did in a truly-run Champion Hurdle.

It came as no surprise to see Kazlian find no extra when challenged up the hill that day, but he gave the strong impression that he's still firmly on the up and I'll be looking to snap up the best early price with a view to trading out at much shorter in running.

Saturday Recommended Bets
Back Ballabriggs and Giles Cross (16:15) and lay off to save the stake at [5.0] in running
Back Kazlian (17:05) and lay off to save the stake at [2.5] in running

Timeform run the rule over the runners for the most famous race in the world, the Grand National at Aintree......

A nicely priced outsider in the opening race on the second day of the Grand National meeting......

Timeform run the rule over the 2m4f Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday afternoon......

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Aintree Day Three: Graham Cunningham's In-Play Tips

Daily Tipping / Graham Cunningham / 13 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Will Ballabriggs follow up last year's victory by winning the Grand National again?

"Ballabriggs was simply brilliant in this race last year, attacking the big fences with real gusto from the start and forging clear of the well handicapped Oscar Time."

The 2012 Grand National is finally upon us and Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham feels last year's hero might be on the verge of another historic feat at Aintree this weekend.

They call it the worlds's greatest steeplechase with very good reason. You need to jump 30 formidable fences and stay four and a half miles thoroughly to go down in history as a Grand National hero.

Slowly but surely, the Grand National short list has been whittled down.

Shakalakaboomboom was at the top of it when the weights first came out, while Becauseicouldntsee and Always Right have been lurking on the fringes for at least a couple of weeks. However, as the big day dawns I've finally plumped for Ballabriggs and Giles Cross as my two against the field in this year's race.

In truth, there is no flash story behind backing either horse with a view to laying off to save the stake in running.

Ballabriggs was simply brilliant in this race last year, attacking the big fences with real gusto from the start and forging clear of the well handicapped Oscar Time as the pair drew well clear of the 2010 National winner Don't Push It.

Stats followers will point out that he's 10lb higher in the weights this time and that there hasn't been a back to back National winner since Red Rum in 1974.

But take another look back at the video of last year's race. Ballabriggs just looks an extremely good horse round this course and looks bound to give us a great run, while Giles Cross has eased in the market since the rain went away but looked an ideal Aintree type when winning at Haydock and is another with the potential to trade much shorter in running than his current big price.

As ever, the Aintree Hurdle is the chief supporting event on National day and this year's renewal promises to be a belter with Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby taking on last year's principals Oscar Whisky and Thousand Stars.

This looks a complex puzzle to solve from a punting viewpoint, but there is one other horse on Saturday's card who commands my attention. And the horse in question is Kazlian in the Handicap Hurdle at 17:05.

This unexposed gelding was high on my list of handicappers to follow at the Cheltenham Festival. However, his rider Tom Scudamore asked him a huge question in setting off so hard at the head of a huge field. Sectional times show that Kazlian went harder from the first flight to the third last in the Fred Winter than the top-class Overturn did in a truly-run Champion Hurdle.

It came as no surprise to see Kazlian find no extra when challenged up the hill that day, but he gave the strong impression that he's still firmly on the up and I'll be looking to snap up the best early price with a view to trading out at much shorter in running.

Saturday Recommended Bets
Back Ballabriggs and Giles Cross (16:15) and lay off to save the stake at [5.0] in running
Back Kazlian (17:05) and lay off to save the stake at [2.5] in running

Timeform run the rule over the runners for the most famous race in the world, the Grand National at Aintree......

A nicely priced outsider in the opening race on the second day of the Grand National meeting......

Timeform run the rule over the 2m4f Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday afternoon......

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Michael Vaughan: Swann needs to take early wickets on day three

Test previews / Michael Vaughan / 27 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Chin up. Graeme Swann has a smile after a good individual performance but there's plenty of work still to do.

"It may just be worth taking a chance on England at [3.7] with a view to laying off at [3.0]. This isn’t a pitch that’s easy to get used to and the two men currently at the crease –Dinesh Chandimal and Suraj Randiv - will have to start all over again. So a couple of early wickets could well be on the cards."

Michael Vaughan tells us just why England find themselves in such a precarious situation at the moment and how Graeme Swann needs to strike early when Sri Lanka resume their innings on the morning of day three.

First things first. I've got no problem with the way England went about picking their XI. They chose the side that they thought gave them the best chance of winning the match and Samit Patel bowled well, taking two wickets on Test debut, which is a decent return. He misjudged the flight of a good delivery when he was batting but didn't look out of his depth at any stage. He didn't fare any worse than most of the England's batting order.

England's problems lay elsewhere. Firstly they let Sri Lanka off the hook last night - Monty Panesar twice dropping Mahela Jayawardene, who cashed in after being given two lifelines. You wouldn't expect any less from a player of his calibre. We'll have to wait and see just how important those extra runs he scored will be but they could end up making all the difference.

Secondly, England made a right hash of batting on what looks a pretty decent wicket. The England of a year ago would have posted 350 and put pressure on Sri Lanka, who would then be playing catch-up. To not match Sri Lanka's total on a decent wicket against a bowling line-up that is conventional and solid but lacks any true world-class performers was nothing short of criminal. Rangana Herath is a good spinner who doesn't bowl too many bad deliveries but England have made him look like Muttiah Muralitharan if his figures of 6/74 are anything to go by.

Andrew Strauss' side looks mentally scarred from that series against Pakistan. And if they were guilty of being too defensive and focusing too much on just on not getting out in the UAE, this time they've gone the other way and batted too aggressively. Erratically at times. There's been something of a mental failure, no doubt about that.

The only positives to come out of today's proceedings as far as England are concerned were that Ian Bell looks in good touch and that Graeme Swann bowled beautifully. The only reason they're still in with a chance of winning this match at all is because the Notts spinner took the prize scalp of Mahela Jayawardene, as well as the wickets of Kumar Sangakarra, Lahiru Thrimanne and Thilan Samawareera. He'll need to take quite a few more and do so pretty early on in the proceedings if England are to limit the hosts to anything that they could realistically chase.

It may just be worth taking a chance on England at [3.7] with a view to laying off at [3.0]. This isn't a pitch that's easy to get used to and the two men currently at the crease -Dinesh Chandimal and Suraj Randiv - will have to start all over again. So a couple of early wickets could well be on the cards.

I see that a finish on day three is currently trading at odds-on and that may be worth laying. Sri Lanka may yet bat for another session and if someone like Alastair Cook or Jonathan Trott gets in they could hang around and just bat time, knowing that the longer they stay at the crease the more of a chance they have of chasing a total. Nothing silly, the runs will come naturally. We've seen those two play like that before and if they build a couple of good partnerships that may well be enough to take the game into day four.

Given the way the England top order (Bell excluded) managed to find ways to get out, I'm not sure any of them deserve my money behind them for second innings top bat honours! But Jonathan Trott rarely fails twice in the same match and if it's patience that is required to play a big innings here, then he's the man to side with.

1pt Back England at [3.7], lay off if they trade below [3.0]
1pt Lay Test Match end Days One, Two and Three @ [1.98]
1pt Back Jonathan Trott to be England second innings top batsman @ [5.0]

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene was, not for the first time, the thorn in England's side as the hosts moved on to 289/8. It will mostly be trial by spin when England bat tomorrow but how will they cope?...

Ed Hawkins, the Betting Writer of the Year for the second year in succession, has all the stats and analysis ahead of the match, which starts on Monday...

England can survive without Ravi Bopara as a bowler but they'll have their hands full trying to contain the devastating duo of Kumar Sangakarra and Mahela Jayawardene. Sri Lanka are unlikely to win but they offer a fine trading opportunity,...

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Three trophies still up for grabs as Bayern Munich return to form

German Football / Michael Lintorn / 21 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Arjen Robben scored a penalty-aided hat-trick at Hertha Berlin on Saturday

"Bayern Munich already showed at the start of this season, when winning ten straight games and keeping a dozen clean sheets, that once momentum is on their side, anything is possible."

After months of poor results, criticism of coach Jupp Heynckes, underperformance by stars and even a brief Mario Gomez goal drought, Bayern Munich are back.

And fittingly for a club who flit between brilliance and ineptitude, incapable of locating a middle ground, their revival has been more sudden and spectacular than anyone could have predicted, their last three matches won by an aggregate scoreline of 20-1. Naturally, they failed to score in three of the four prior to that.

The Bavarian giants already showed at the start of this season, when winning ten straight games and keeping a dozen clean sheets, that once momentum is on their side, anything is possible, so will hope that their recent resurgence is occurring with precision timing.

A first treble in their history remains a possibility, albeit an unlikely one given the run that reigning Bundesliga champions and current leaders Borussia Dortmund are on as they bid to become the first team besides Bayern to finish top twice in a row since they last did it in 1995-96.

Bayern's thrashings of Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin saw the gap closed from seven to five points, but with just eight fixtures to play and Dortmund unbeaten in 20, they are [2.62] to dethrone Jurgen Klopp's ensemble, who look great value at [1.65].

The Champions League on the other hand feels very much obtainable at [7.4] following a quarter-final pairing with Marseille, who are somehow in the final eight despite a fairly calamitous campaign.

The 1992-93 winners are ninth in Ligue 1 and had lost six successive encounters in all competitions before perhaps their most undignified defeat yet on Tuesday away to third-tier relegation battlers Quevilly after extra-time in the Coupe de la France.

On that sort of form, it is arguably an even less complicated tie than Real Madrid's with APOEL, and that quartet are on a semi-final collision course, guaranteed to avoid Barcelona until the final.

For now though, Bayern's attention will be focussed on Wednesday's domestic cup semi-final away to Borussia Monchengladbach, who are third in the Bundesliga and did the double over their visitors.

Arjen Robben, who is in discussions about a new deal, has warned fans not to expect another dominant victory like the Hoffenheim and Hertha ones. Given their struggles against Gladbach this term, it might instead prove wise to lay them for 90-minute success at [1.76].

Currently five points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund face Werder Bremen this weekend. Michael Cox assesses the tactical battle....

Our Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard casts his eye over three of the division's bottom four this week, starting with a Kaiserslautern side looking for their first league win in five months....

Bayer Leverkusen were shredded by a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona in midweek, and Kevin Hatchard believes Wolfsburg may suffer a Bayer backlash this weekend....

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Day three Festival Yankee

Daily Tipping / Rory Delargy / 15 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Can Rory land his day three Yankee?

"Big Buck's faces his stiffest test yet in his bid for a fourth World Hurdle, but that's no reason to believe that the champion is vulnerable and, while he might provide in-running fun, he will surely put his rivals to the sword."

It's day three of the Festival and Rory Delargy is continuing his bid to land a lucrative, four leg Betfair multiple...

Jewson Novices' Chase - 13:30

With questions over Peddlers Cross' preparation for this, and with Sir des Champs arguably in need of a stiffer test, this looks a good opportunity for the exciting Cristal Bonus. He was hugely impressive last time at Kempton, particularly with the accuracy of his jumping. Going left handed isn't a problem, and he has plenty in his favour.

Pertemps Final - 14:05

All eyes here will be on the veteran Buena Vista, racing at his eighth Festival and going for a third consecutive win in this contest, a feat only previously achieved by the legendary Willie Wumpkins. His form this season gives him little chance, but he's clearly been trained to peak for one race, and the drying ground (assuming it hasn't been overwatered) will suit him ideally. Another major positive is the jockey booking - claimer ridden for both previous wins here, he has the services of the excellent 10 lb claimer Tom Bellamy, and it seems to me the jockey has also been saved for this race in order to retain that full allowance. He impressed with his maturity when guiding Swing Bill to victory here earlier in the season, and can repeat the dose here.

Ryanair Chase - 14:40

A hugely competitive and high-class field have justified the Ryanair's status, and even the biggest curmudgeon wouldn't begrudge its place as a true championship race now. I've long been a fan of Rubi Light, and while his ante-post odds have been unappealing for some time, he's finally drifted to a realistic price. He hasn't needed to improve on his 2011 third to win twice this season, but there are reasons to believe that he has a bigger performance in him, and I believe conditions will hold no fear for this bold jumper.

Ladbrokes World Hurdle - 15:20

Big Buck's faces his stiffest test yet in his bid for a fourth World Hurdle, but that's no reason to believe that the champion is particularly vulnerable, and while he might just provide some in-running fun, he will surely put today's rivals, of whom Smad Place is the most intriguing, to the sword. If you want to bet in the "without" market, then Alan King's grey, who is totally unexposed as a stayer, looks a decent price.

Byrne Group Plate -16:00

Niceonefrankie, on a roll for Venetaia Williams, has been my long-term fancy for this race, and I think he is still ahead of the handicapper under a 5 lb penalty for a recent win at Newbury. At much bigger prices, I think Life of A Luso will surprise a few. He ran poorly when I tipped him at Ascot earlier in the year, but his form otherswise reads well, and he's exactly the type of unsexy horse who could go off at ridiculous odds before making the frame.

Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Chase - 16:40

My pair against the field in this tricky finale are Becauseicouldntsee (an excellent second in the National Hunt Chase here in 2010) and Brackloon High, who jumps well for a novice, and has the assistance of Richard Harding, who has won this race on both You're Special and Ballabriggs.

Rory's Yankee
13:30 Cristal Bonus
14:05 Buena Vista
14:40 Rubi Light
16:00 Niceonefrankie

Back Rory's Yankee here

It's Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival and Timeform's SmartPlays team bring you another three recommended bets, headed by a top-class chaser from the in-form yard of Nicky Henderson......

With three tricky handicaps to navigate the Cheltenham Placepot could pay well this afternoon as Timeform's Joe Szekeres heads to Prestbury Park to offer his permutation......

Nick Shiambouros explains why he's backing a certain gelding to complete a Ryanair hat-trick on Thursday afternoon......

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Day three Festival Yankee

Daily Tipping / Rory Delargy / 15 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Can Rory land his day three Yankee?

"Big Buck's faces his stiffest test yet in his bid for a fourth World Hurdle, but that's no reason to believe that the champion is vulnerable and, while he might provide in-running fun, he will surely put his rivals to the sword."

It's day three of the Festival and Rory Delargy is continuing his bid to land a lucrative, four leg Betfair multiple...

Jewson Novices' Chase - 13:30

With questions over Peddlers Cross' preparation for this, and with Sir des Champs arguably in need of a stiffer test, this looks a good opportunity for the exciting Cristal Bonus. He was hugely impressive last time at Kempton, particularly with the accuracy of his jumping. Going left handed isn't a problem, and he has plenty in his favour.

Pertemps Final - 14:05

All eyes here will be on the veteran Buena Vista, racing at his eighth Festival and going for a third consecutive win in this contest, a feat only previously achieved by the legendary Willie Wumpkins. His form this season gives him little chance, but he's clearly been trained to peak for one race, and the drying ground (assuming it hasn't been overwatered) will suit him ideally. Another major positive is the jockey booking - claimer ridden for both previous wins here, he has the services of the excellent 10 lb claimer Tom Bellamy, and it seems to me the jockey has also been saved for this race in order to retain that full allowance. He impressed with his maturity when guiding Swing Bill to victory here earlier in the season, and can repeat the dose here.

Ryanair Chase - 14:40

A hugely competitive and high-class field have justified the Ryanair's status, and even the biggest curmudgeon wouldn't begrudge its place as a true championship race now. I've long been a fan of Rubi Light, and while his ante-post odds have been unappealing for some time, he's finally drifted to a realistic price. He hasn't needed to improve on his 2011 third to win twice this season, but there are reasons to believe that he has a bigger performance in him, and I believe conditions will hold no fear for this bold jumper.

Ladbrokes World Hurdle - 15:20

Big Buck's faces his stiffest test yet in his bid for a fourth World Hurdle, but that's no reason to believe that the champion is particularly vulnerable, and while he might just provide some in-running fun, he will surely put today's rivals, of whom Smad Place is the most intriguing, to the sword. If you want to bet in the "without" market, then Alan King's grey, who is totally unexposed as a stayer, looks a decent price.

Byrne Group Plate -16:00

Niceonefrankie, on a roll for Venetaia Williams, has been my long-term fancy for this race, and I think he is still ahead of the handicapper under a 5 lb penalty for a recent win at Newbury. At much bigger prices, I think Life of A Luso will surprise a few. He ran poorly when I tipped him at Ascot earlier in the year, but his form otherswise reads well, and he's exactly the type of unsexy horse who could go off at ridiculous odds before making the frame.

Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Chase - 16:40

My pair against the field in this tricky finale are Becauseicouldntsee (an excellent second in the National Hunt Chase here in 2010) and Brackloon High, who jumps well for a novice, and has the assistance of Richard Harding, who has won this race on both You're Special and Ballabriggs.

Rory's Yankee
13:30 Cristal Bonus
14:05 Buena Vista
14:40 Rubi Light
16:00 Niceonefrankie

Back Rory's Yankee here

It's Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival and Timeform's SmartPlays team bring you another three recommended bets, headed by a top-class chaser from the in-form yard of Nicky Henderson......

With three tricky handicaps to navigate the Cheltenham Placepot could pay well this afternoon as Timeform's Joe Szekeres heads to Prestbury Park to offer his permutation......

Nick Shiambouros explains why he's backing a certain gelding to complete a Ryanair hat-trick on Thursday afternoon......

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Jamie Lynch: Guide to Day Three at Cheltenham

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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......
Read more - Ante-Post Betting

Timeform Radio previews the Championship races over fences at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival......
Read more - Latest News

Timeform Radio previews the novice chase races at the Cheltenham Festival......
Read more - Latest News

Timeform Radio have another podcast for you, with next week's Champion and World Hurdles under the microscope......
Read more - Latest News

Timeform Radio previews the novice hurdle races at next week's Cheltenham Festival......
Read more - Latest News

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Jamie Lynch: Guide to Day Three at Cheltenham

Join Betfair and get a free £25 bet

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......
Read more - Ante-Post Betting

Timeform Radio previews the Championship races over fences at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival......
Read more - Latest News

Timeform Radio previews the novice chase races at the Cheltenham Festival......
Read more - Latest News

Timeform Radio have another podcast for you, with next week's Champion and World Hurdles under the microscope......
Read more - Latest News

Timeform Radio previews the novice hurdle races at next week's Cheltenham Festival......
Read more - Latest News

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Third Test Day Three Analysis: Ali takes game away from England

Pakistan v England / Ed Hawkins / 05 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Azhar Ali and Younis Khan, pictured, left Andrew Strauss with plenty to ponder

"England record’s in the fourth innings in Asia is, unsurprisingly, not good enough for the impossible."

Ed Hawkins eats a bit of humble pie over the scoring ability of Azhar Ali and pours cold water on any faint England hopes of an unlikely victory...

Yesterday the old master. Today the new master? Azhar Ali got a bit of a bad press from this column at the start of the series. Talented but ill-disciplined we reckoned as we overlooked him for top bat wagers. Taking a leaf from Younis Khan - who helped build Pakistan's advantage - he looked every inch the coming man.

On day three of the third Test between Pakistan and England at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, he embarrassed England, taking the game away from them with staunch defence and no little class. His maiden 150 - and only his second Test century - underlined Pakistan's extraordinary production line of young talent.

It is worth pausing, for a moment, to wonder just how they do it. Ali is keeping the talented Umar Akmal out of the team while do not forget that they are without Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asid, two of the finest, if not flawed, bowlers in the world.

Yet Pakistan still produce players. One wonders which other sides could cope with such a drain and hit back with a series victory over the No 1-ranked side in the world. And with a whitewash by the looks of it, too.

If Younis and Ali together laid the groundwork for Pakistan's monstrous lead, it was the youngster who went on to build its impregnability. England must be sore in body and mind. They can't get home fast enough, knowing they have been outplayed in three consecutive matches.

There could be more ignominy to come. Memories of their 72 all out humbling last time out will surely haunt them. Indeed, England record's in the fourth innings in Asia is, unsurprisingly, not good enough for the impossible.

Since 2000, they average 27 runs per wicket. It is a statistic which suggests that we should have been expecting an implosion at some stage.

And as if you didn't already know that England were cooked, there have been only 14 occasions in history when a side has made 320 or more in the fourth innings in Asia - and only three resulted in victories for the batting side.

As a gauge for how the innings runs market should play, the average all out fourth-innings total in Asia is 233 in the last two years.

Recommended Bet:
Pakistan to win at [1.46]

England's bowlers made a good start, then their batsman let them down before Younis Khan starred on day two. It all leaves Michael Vaughan feeling glum despite the fact that his match odds bet looks likely to come in......

Ed Hawkins marvels at Younis Khan's innings as Pakistan take firm control of the third Test. Meanwhile, our man recommends a lay bet on an England batsman whose technique leaves a lot to be desired......

Ed Hawkins was not impressed by the tourists, who showed exactly why the series has already been lost...

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Final day three

Timeform Radio Tip / David Cleary / 30 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will David's picks be first over the line?

"The Group 1 Nassau Stakes at 15:10 brings together three top-class fillies or mares, but at the likely prices Crystal Capella has to be backed."

David Cleary has selected a trio of promising bets on day five at Glorious Goodwood...

Glorious Goodwood has been providing a feast of exciting, top-quality racing all week and the final afternoon should produce more of the same.

The Group 1 Nassau Stakes at 15:10 brings together three top-class fillies or mares, but at the likely prices Crystal Capella has to be backed. She hasn't stood much racing in recent seasons but she showed just what she's capable of in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket last time, a career best effort. In contrast, both her main rivals were below form last time, Midday particularly so in Ireland, while Snow Fairy, with just one run this year, has yet to show she's fully trained on. The drop back to a mile-and-a-quarter seems to be the main reason behind Crystal Capella's price, but she was good enough to beat Dar Re Mi at the trip as a four-year-old.

The Stewards' Cup at 15:45 looks predictably hard to solve, with the absence of too much obvious pace and the usual conundrum of the draw. Perhaps the most interesting runners are drawn low, with Macs Power and Mon Cadeaux nearest the far rail. Macs Power has an obvious chance, while Mon Cadeaux is among the best handicapped in the field and shapes as if he could even benefit from dropping back to six furlongs.

The staying handicap at 14:35 is open but Sharaayeen has untapped potential and a step up in trip could be just the thing to unlock it. Investissement rates the danger.

Recommended Bets
Back Crystal Capella @ [6.0] in the15.10 at Goodwood
Back Sharaayeen @ [8.4] in the 14.35 at Goodwood
Back Mon Cadeaux @ [42.0] in the 15.45 Goodwood

Glorious Goodwood's Friday card is perhaps the most punter friendly of a very tough week. Handicap good thing Green Destiny and unbeaten juvenile Harbour Watch are among the leading attractions as Timeform Radio Pundit Graham Cunningham runs the rule over the best of the action....

Almost anything would seem humdrum after the brilliance of Frankel yesterday but the third day of Glorious Goodwood will do its best not to. Punting won't be easy, with some wide-open looking races all the way, but there are a couple of races which appeal to David Cleary....

David Cleary is off to Glorious Goodwood this afternoon and he's opted for the value on day one......

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