Lays of the Weekend: Brighton and Preston vulnerable

"Charlton have lost just one in four against the Seagulls and on a mere one of their previous five trips to Brighton."
Lay Brighton to beat Charlton @ 1.845/6

Michael Lintorn sticks to the strategy that has yielded five winning lays out of six: a team from each Football League tier...

Lay Brighton to beat Charlton @ 1.845/6

This writer is unconvinced by Brighton boss Sami Hyypia due to how rapidly and irreparably things soured at Bayer Leverkusen last season. Though two wins and two losses might appear a reasonable Championship start for the Finn, the fixture list has been gentle, the victories arriving against lowly Leeds and Bolton while they were felled by unremarkable Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham.

Meanwhile, Charlton's dramatically reconfigured squad have blended swiftly, occupying a play-off place following an unbeaten start in which they have defeated two of the early title favourites in Wigan and Derby. Two further advantages for the Addicks are that they have lost just one in four against the Seagulls since promotion and on a mere one of their previous five trips to Brighton.

Lay Preston to beat Sheffield United @ 2.01/1

Sheffield United's tally of six points from four League One games won't unnerve Preston, but it is a decent return given that they opened the campaign against a quartet of viable top-six contenders (Bristol City, Coventry, Peterborough and Crawley). They are also beginning to hit form, overcoming Peterborough and Crawley before a shootout success at Premier League side West Ham in midweek.

Preston are two points better off, but acquired those from a less taxing set of matches, and have been unintimidating at Deepdale, being held by Notts County and creeping past Oldham 1-0. They only vanquished one fellow top-seven adversary at their long-term home in 2013/14, with Sheffield United yet to experience defeat on their three League One visits, winning two and drawing one.

Lay Cambridge United to beat Carlisle @ 2.111/10

This is the least conviction-coated of this week's recommendations because Carlisle haven't settled too snugly on their return to League Two, yet some straightforward mathematics indicate that they warrant some support. The Cumbrians were two divisions and 28 places superior to the U's last term and there hasn't been enough evidence to suggest that gap has been eroded in less than a month.

Cambridge's sole triumph since regaining Football League status came when riding post-promotion momentum through Plymouth on the opening day. They have since exhausted that supply with a four-game winless run. Carlisle by contrast were suffering the effects of a relegation hangover to lose their initial three 2014/15 encounters, improving to draw the latter two against top-eight clubs.

Amazon Watches Center

Lays of the Weekend: No joy for Rochdale in derby

Product reviews and advice for best reference

Gordon Ellliott: The views on my weekend runners at Gowran and Naas

Gordon Elliott on Barneys Honour

"He has to contend with a full 16lbs rise in the weights here and he will have to improve significantly from Navan to overcome that."

The weekend's action sees Gordon with four runners, and after a superb double last Saturday at Navan and his in-form string gearing up for the Cheltenham Festival next week, we get his thoughts on their chances...

Saturday

15.55 Gowran Park - Barneys Honour

I was very pleased with how he won at Navan last Saturday, but unfortunately we couldn't get another run into him before his new chase mark of 118 came into effect, because the ground had gone against him at Downpatrick on Wednesday. He has to contend with a full 16lbs rise in the weights here and he will have to improve significantly from Navan to overcome that.

He came out of the race at Navan very well and he has been in good form since then and thankfully we have Paul Carberry booked to take the ride again. It looks like an extremely competitive race, but there's a big pot on offer and I'd be delighted if he could finish in the money. He ran well here over hurdles in January finishing second of 11 runners behind Rory Anna only beaten 4 ½ lengths, so we know he handles the track, and with soft ground forecast he should have conditions to suit.

17.35 Gowran Park - Rockdown

He finished second on his debut outing in a point-to-point at Nenagh at the end of January, and then he won well next time out at Killaloe on February 24, staying on nicely to land the spoils. He will have to improve on what he has been showing us at home to be competitive and I'm just not quite sure if he will be as well suited to bumpers as I'd like, but the experience will certainly do him no harm.

Both of his point-to-points were over three miles on soft ground, so he will relish the conditions and the extended 2m2f should also be in his favour. Nina Carberry is booked to take the ride on the same day she saddles her first runner as a trainer, and having such an experienced rider will help the horse immensely. He may be one to keep an eye in the future, and I'm just hoping for a good showing from him on his first time under rules.

Sunday

14.10 Naas - Shrapnel

He can be a bit tricky, and his form has been a bit in and out of late. He had an off day when he ran at Clonmel in February finishing a well beaten 30l, fifth of seven runners behind Willie Mullins Inis Island. He had been running very well up to then, winning two on the bounce at Galway and Fairyhouse, and then finishing a very respectable second to Si C'Etait Vrai at Punchestown in January.

I have no doubt he is a very talented horse and if he was on a going day here he would have a good chance. It looks a very competitive race, and he has to give 4lbs to Mullins' talented mare Zuzka. She may be hard to beat on those terms, and with the likes of Clonbannon Lad and Moscow Mannon also in opposition he will have to be at the top his game to land this. Davy Russell is booked to take the ride, and if he can return to the same for he was showing at the end of last year I would be quite hopeful.

15.35 Naas - Tarquinius

He's been in good form since finishing a head second to Jandanli in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park towards the end of January. He was ready to run in the Eider Chase at Newcastle on February 23 but unfortunately the card was abandoned on the day. He was due to run off an OR of 136 that day, but gets in here off a mark of 129 so he is definitely a better handicapped horse on this side of the water.

He's gone up 6lbs in the weights since the Thyestes but he is ultra-consistent and is as tough as they come, and if he can reproduce the form he has been showing of late he should be in the mix. He will relish the forecast soft ground and he stays all day so three miles will be right up his street, and with Davy Condon booked to take the ride I'd be looking for another solid effort.

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Injuries: Everton left vulnerable without Jags

"Moyes' side haven't kept a clean sheet for eight matches and their quest for another against Wigan will suffer in the England man's absence."
Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 1.8810/11  

Phil Jagielka, Lee Cattermole and Aaron Lennon will all be big misses for their clubs if ruled out this weekend...

Phil Jagielka - Everton v Wigan (Saturday, 12:45, ITV)
David Moyes was left spitting feathers after Adam Le Fondre's overzealous challenge ended the centre back's involvement in their win over Reading after just five minutes. Jagielka was stretchered off and has had to undergo surgery to stitch up a nasty gash to his ankle. This was part of a double defensive blow for the Everton manager who lost goalkeeper Tim Howard after another collision during the Oldham game. Jagielka has been a rock for the Toffees this season, missing just one game for the Merseysiders, which they lost to Leeds in the League Cup. Moyes' side haven't kept a clean sheet for eight matches and their quest for another against Wigan will suffer in the England man's absence.
Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 1.8810/11

Lee Cattermole - QPR v Sunderland (Saturday, 15:00)
Sunderland's combative midfielder has endured a season blighted by injury, limiting him to just 14 Black Cat appearances to date. Cattermole is currently on the sidelines due to an ongoing knee problem which he aggravated against Arsenal on February 9. While the midfielder has his critics, mainly due to his disciplinary problems, Martin O'Neill's side have been seriously lacking someone with his drive and determination as they continue to slide in the wrong direction. Sunderland are in dire form ahead of their trip to Loftus Road, losing three of their last four, and Cattermole is just the sort of character they need against a QPR side fighting for their lives.
Recommended Bet: Back QPR to win @ 2.35/4

Aaron Lennon - Liverpool v Tottenham (Sunday, 16:00, Sky Sports 1)
While Gareth Bale continues to hog the limelight for his virtuoso displays, Lennon's own sublime form has been a little overshadowed. After a standout scoring performance against Arsenal last Sunday, Spurs' diminutive number seven was instrumental yet again in his side's emphatic 3-0 thumping of Inter on Thursday night before getting subbed off late on clutching a hamstring. He's now a real doubt to be available for their trip to Anfield on Sunday. This is a blow for Andre Villas-Boas, but one player who should benefit is Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Icelander is in the middle of a promising return to form, scoring twice in his last three games, and should be guaranteed another start against Liverpool.
Recommended Bet: Back Gylfi Sigurdsson to score @ 5.39/2

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Watches Center

US Weekend Preview: A Host of action on Saturday

Casino Host, a turf specialist with form at very nearly this distance of eleven furlongs, has strong claims in the Del Mar Handicap.

Simon Rowlands takes a look at some of Saturday's major action, with three Grade 1s at Saratoga and big handicap from Del Mar...

"Where have all the young horses gone?", as Pete Seeger might have put it.

The premature retirement of I'll Have Another, Bodemeister and Union Rags means that US racing can no longer call upon either of the winners of this year's Triple Crown races nor the runner-up from the first two legs.

You could usually expect that one or more such individuals would turn up for the G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, but in their absence the race (due off at 17:46 local time on Saturday, 22:46 BST) has a rather second-division look to it this year.

Then again, weak or not, there's a winner in there somewhere. The market is likely to identify Alpha as the most probable one, and the market is likely to be right. But the Bernardini colt only just edges it on Timeform figures and the value may lie elsewhere.

Alpha got to dictate matters when winning the Jim Dandy Stakes on a sloppy track here last month, and a repeat of those tactics could be in the offing in the Travers with little obvious pace in the line-up.

However things pan out, he should again have the measure of most of those behind him that day, but an exception could be Atigun, who got a most unadventurous ride and never threatened in sixth.

Julien Leparoux is replaced by Mike Smith as Atigun's jockey at the weekend. "When will they ever learn?", to push Seeger's lyrics still further.

Leparoux had been on board when Atigun finished third to Union Rags and Paynter in the Belmont Stakes in June. The video of that race shows that Atigun is no stamina glutton, and nor does he need to be dropped out.

You might expect a Belmont third to be close to favouritism in this company, especially as the mile-and-a-quarter trip will hold no fears. But Atigun is likely to go off at odds that are a fair bit bigger- the Morning Line has him at 12/1- and excusing him one excusable defeat seems sensible.

The Travers, with $1m in prize money, may have the limelight at Saratoga, but it is preceded by two other G1s of considerable appeal.
Both the Test Stakes for fillies (due off at 16:38 local time, 21:38 BST) and the King's Bishop Stakes (17:10 local, 22:10 BST) are for three-year-olds, over seven furlongs and promise to be fast and furious affairs.

Contested should be popular in the former, but she is unlikely to get things all her way up front with the likes of Ullapool and Gypsy Robin in the field, and she flopped last time. Book Review was only workmanlike in despatching Ullapool last time, and a better alternative could be Beautiful But Blue.

She has won five of her last six starts, but none of them in Graded company, let alone Grade 1 company. However, she has been beating useful rivals and the small gap in class disappears when her weight allowance is taken into account. Beautiful But Blue's stalking style could match well with the pace scenario here, and she looks worth siding with again.

Trinniberg and Doctor Chit are two of the fastest three-year-olds around and there's a decent chance they will cut each others' throats in the King's Bishop. Currency Swap could well be harrying them, too. So, a leftfield selection is a colt stepping down in distance who could come late and pick up the pieces.

Ever So Lucky has a bit to find, but he's not been around all that long and managed to finish second in a Grade 2 on just his second start. Things could just fall into his lap here and the odds are likely to make the risk worth taking.

If turn-ups prove to be the flavour of the day at Saratoga, one looks less plausible in Del Mar's feature, the Del Mar Handicap (due off at 17:30 locally, 01:30 on Sunday BST).

Casino Host, a turf specialist with form at very nearly this distance of eleven furlongs, has strong claims. Don't worry that he was third to the high-class Acclamation here last time when Interaction was second, as Casino Host was given too much to do and fairly rattled home.

He meets Interaction on slightly better terms and looks to have the measure of Dhaamer and Worth Repeating at his best as well. He should be just about favourite in Timeform's book.

Recommendations

1pt win Atigun
1pt win Beautiful Not Blue
0.5pts win and 0.5pts place Ever So Lucky
2pts win Casino Host

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Watches Center

Timeform Radio Global Racing Podcast: Weekend Preview

Weekend Preview/Review / Oliver Bellwood / 13 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

What will happen Stateside this weekend?

Paul Jacobs previews another great weekend's racing from around the World

Graham Cunningham tells us why he's looking forward to the most famous steeplechase in the World, the Aintree Grand National. Plus, we hear from TVG's Simon Bray on recent US Triple Crown developments and Gary Crispe on the Australian Derby.

Timeform Radio's Global Racing Podcast Player

Timeform preview a weekend that is most certainly headed by the Grand National, but Aintree's undercard is full of quality and there are classic trials at Leopardstown on Sunday......

Timeform look back at a weekend featuring National Hunt racing from Haydock and Fairyhouse, alongside Flat action at Kempton, Musselburgh and in the US......

Timeform look ahead to the weekend's action in the UK and Ireland, with Flat racing from Kempton the highlight on Saturday and the Irish Grand National meeting getting underway at Fairyhouse on Sunday......

Amazon Watches Center

La Liga Weekend Matches: Sporting revenge for Mourinho

Spanish Football / Tobias Gourlay / 13 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Sporting Gijon probably won't win at the Bernabeu again this season

"Pep Guardiola’s men are in cruise control at the moment, getting ahead before half-time and staying there until full-time in each of their last ten league games"

Real Madrid play one of the campaign's easier-looking fixtures and Tobias Gourlay expects them to make no mistake at home to Sporting Gijon - not like last season

Real Madrid v Sporting Gijon
Saturday 19:00
Real [1.07] Sporting [55.0] draw [18.0]

Real Madrid are on a run of difficult fixtures at the moment: Valencia, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao... This match is the exception.

Sporting finally showed the gumption their coach is renowned for on Wednesday night, coming from behind twice to beat Levante with a late Gaston Sangoy goal. Javier Clemente's team are still neck deep in the mire, however, because Villarreal also won in midweek and Sporting remain seven points short of safety.

And it is not clear that gumption is enough to beat Real Madrid, even when the boys from the Bernabeu are shorn of their key playmaker. Xabi Alonso's loss of form goes some way to explain why Real have failed to beat Malaga, Villarreal and Valencia in recent weeks and this one-match suspension might help him. This is a good game to miss too - Sporting have earned only two points from 27 on their most recent away trips.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in the city derby with Atletico on Wednesday. He's matched last season's record (40 league goals) and will pass it at some point very soon. But he's also just one card away from a suspension that would rule him out of el clasico next Saturday night. Real might actually be better off without him for that match (he doesn't usually work hard enough off the ball to contain Barcelona) but Jose Mourinho won't see it that way and is likely to protect his top-scorer once - if - this game is won.

Perhaps this will save Sporting from thrashing, but perhaps it won't. The northerners have conceded more goals than anyone in the last 15 minutes of league games this season (18) and that is exactly the time that Real are most lethal, preying on tired opponents.

It is a concern that Mourinho will be keen to preserve other players too for stiffer challenges ahead, but he will also remember that Sporting won this fixture last season and ended his staggeringly long run of home league games without defeat. They must be made to pay for the impertinence.

This column's backed Real to score at least four goals a few times this season. What Real have often done is score exactly four goals (six times in 16 home games). The defence is in decent shape at the moment, conceding only twice in the last five at the Bernabeu, and 4-0 deserves a punt at [7.6].

Recommended Bet: Back 4-0 @ [7.6] in Correct Score 2 Home

Levante v Barcelona
Saturday 21:00
Levante [17.0] Barcelona [1.22] draw [7.8]

The Handicap Win market is one way to work out which teams in a given league have most outperformed pre-season expectations. In the Primera Division, Levante are heavily odds-on to win this market. Before a ball was kicked they were given a 50-point headstart on Barcelona; that they are currently only 30 points behind this weekend's opponents suggests Juan Ignacio Martinez should be a frontrunner in the coach of the year competition.

The Frogs have not beaten Barcelona in a top-flight game for more than half a century, but they did hold the Catalan giants to a 1-1 draw at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium last season.

Can they derail a Barca team whose coach says they have already crashed and burned out of this season's title race? Probably not.

Pep Guardiola's men are in cruise control at the moment, getting ahead before half-time and staying there until full-time in each of their last ten league games. [1.66] is a generous price for them to make it 11 in a row on Saturday night.

We've mentioned Ronaldo up above, and it's traditional to then mention Messi too. So, Barca's star man has scored 39 league goals of his own this season, finding the back of the net in each of his last nine Liga appearances. Not even he knows where this particular run will end, but you can be sure he'll be odds-on to make it ten in a row this weekend.

If, for some reason, you fancy an upset, then Arouna Kone is your man. On loan from Sevilla, the Ivorian forward has netted in each of his last three outings for Levante.

Recommended Bet: Back Barcelona/Barcelona @ [1.66]

*Follow Tobias on Twitter: @tobiasgourlay

Atletico Madrid's sorry record in the Madrid derby should ensure that Real Madrid maintain their precious four-point lead at the top......

There's plenty to like about this current Real Madrid team, including the sheer number of goals they score over a season. But after a draw against Valencia on Sunday and with a tough tie with Bayern Munich coming up, their...

Despite their busy schedules Tobias Gourlay expects it to be a good Saturday for Barcelona and a good Sunday for Real Madrid...

Amazon Watches Center

La Liga Weekend Matches: Los Leones to submit quickly at Camp Nou

Spanish Football / Tobias Gourlay / 30 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Bully boys: Osasuna's combative style could make trouble for Real Madrid

"Mendilibar’s been beaten only three times in 23 at the Reyno de Navarra, and only once was the margin of defeat more than an odd goal"

Osasuna will have their claws out for Real Madrid, says Tobias Gourlay, but the Lions of Athletic Bilbao will not roar in Barcelona

Osasuna v Real Madrid
Saturday 19:00 (Live on Sky Sports 4)
Osasuna [8.6] Real [1.45] draw [5.0]

After running with the bulls, visiting the Reyno de Navarra is about the next toughest thing you can do in Pamplona. Even the Big Two don't often have it easy: Barca lost 3-2 there last month and Opta reports that Real have scored just once in failing to win any of their last three games away to Osasuna (W0-D1-L2).

Osasuna are having an unusually good season too. Jose Luis Mendilibar's men are unbeaten in six at the moment and nose-bleedingly close to the Champions League places.

Mesut Ozil returns from suspension this weekend, but Real's recent record also suggests it will be a close game. Although Jose Mourinho's men have taken 13 points from 15 on the road, they have won none of those games by more than a single goal.

Mendilibar's been beaten only three times in 23 at the Reyno de Navarra, and only once was the margin of defeat more than an odd goal. What's more, the Big Two between them have only won one of their last ten matches there by a couple of goals or more. The Asian Handicap's the place to go.

Recommended Bet: Back Osasuna +1.5 on the Asian Handicap @ [1.80]

Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao
Saturday 21:00 (Live on Sky Sports 4)
Barcelona [1.13] Athletic [26.0] draw [11.0]

Barcelona have won this fixture in each of the last seven seasons and the teams' 2-2 draw in a sodden Bilbao last November stands alone as a reason to suppose they won't emerge victorious once again on Saturday.

Traditionally unable to compete with Barca and Real Madrid for an entire season, Athletic tend to commit their more limited resources to cup competitions. The Basques have an excellent Copa del Rey record - they've won it more times than Real and are in the final again this season - and it seems that a rare dedication to the Europa League is damaging their league performances.

Athletic have impressed the rest of Europe with their performances around the continent - most recently they beat Schalke 4-2 in Germany on Thursday - but Marcelo Bielsa's game-plan demands huge commitments of energy from his players and since beating Manchester United at Old Trafford early this month los Leones have taken one point from 12 in La Liga.

Barca's nine-game winning streak came to an end in Milan on Wednesday, but the performance was good and, with Real's lead at the top down to six points, the motivation to win this match is strong.

Athletic are safe from relegation, have already qualified for Europe next season via the cup and have hardly stepped off the return flight from Germany. Pep Guardiola might rest a couple of players, but Messi should start, all will be keen to put this game to bed early ahead of next week's return match with AC Milan and Barcelona/Barcelona has paid out in nine of their last ten.

A word about the main man: in all competitions, he's scored in 15/18 at the Camp Nou this season, and on each of his last ten appearances. He's scored at least twice in 11 of those games, including five of the most recent six. And he's fired hat-tricks - or better - in 6/18, including each of the last three.

These numbers are without precedent in the history of exchange betting and some of the layers seem to have trouble adjusting to the heightened reality of the little man. Prices around [1.5] To Score, [2.3] To Score 2 Goals or More and [8.0] To Score a Hat-trick are possible and all would be generous.

Recommended Bet: Back Barcelona/Barcelona @ [1.50]

Malaga v Real Betis
Saturday 21:00 (Live on Sky Sports Xtra)
Malaga [1.7] Betis [5.6] draw [4.0]

Space for just a few words about Saturday's other televised game, but no matter, because the stats say it all: Malaga have won five in a row at La Rosaleda; Real Betis have lost 10/12 on the road.

Recommended Bet: Back Malaga @ [1.7]

*Follow Tobias on Twitter: @tobiasgourlay

Real Madrid are winless in two and pressed the panic button in midweek. Tobias Gourlay expects them to recover their composure at home to Real Sociedad...

Lionel Messi's extraordinary form means that he's likely to set records that will never be broken. It's bizarre then, says Jonathan Wilson, that back home in Argentina the player still has his critics. Could it be that the Barca star...

Real Madrid's draw with Malaga breathed fresh life into Barcelona's ailing title bid and a win this evening will pile yet more pressure on the leaders......

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Racing News: Bastiman keeps faith in Borderlescott

News / Timeform / 25 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Borderlescott may run at Musselburgh.

"It might come a bit soon, but there is a conditions race at Musselburgh in a fortnight's time..."

Robin Bastiman is keen to get Borderlescott back on turf over a straight five furlongs after he was well beaten on his seasonal return at Lingfield...

The dual Nunthorpe winner faded to finish eighth of nine runners in the Hever Sprint Stakes on Saturday.

Bastiman is now keen to give the 10-year-old another run, possibly at Musselburgh in two weeks' time, when conditions are more in his favour.

"I don't want to make excuses for him, but I don't think the pace was fast enough for him and I don't think the track really suited him," said the Wetherby handler.

"He's got that run under his belt now, so we'll get him back on the grass and back on a straight track and see how he gets on then before we make any decisions.

"People are saying he's not as good as he was, but if that's the case we can always lower his sights a bit and drop him in class.

"He's not the sort of horse you can just say we'll retire him now, because he still enjoys it and still has that enthusiasm.

"It might come a bit soon, but there is a conditions race at Musselburgh in a fortnight's time.

"He'd have no penalties there, so we'll try and go that way and we'll learn more then.

"We'll retire him if he doesn't look like he wants to do it, but, at the moment, he's enjoying himself."

Trainer Tom Taaffe has secured the services of Andrew Lynch for the ride on Treacle in the Grand National at Aintree on April 14......

Saturday's Group 1 Coolmore Classic over 1500m at Rosehill saw former champion rider, now trainer Ron Quinton, achieve a unique a milestone when Ofcourseican rallied late to claim the major end of the prize writes Timeform Australia's Gary Crispe......

Premio Loco landed the Group 3 Winter Derby at Lingfield on Saturday under an excellent ride from George Baker......

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Football Round-up: Chelsea resurgent under DiMatteo

Premier League / Ralph Ellis / 19 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Can DiMatteo's Chelsea overcome Manchester City?

"Di Matteo will take his side to The Etihad Stadium on Wednesday full of confidence and they could be value at [4.4] to win there."

It's been a traumatic weekend and Ralph Ellis, like everybody else, is thinking about Fabrice Muamba and his family. Here, our man considers results in the FA Cup and Premier League...

I'm sure all the Betfair community will send their thoughts to Fabrice Muamba and his family. Everyone who cares for football has been united by their concern.

Events away from White Hart Lane got me thinking about how the recipe for success at one club can produce failure at another. Just look at Chelsea and Wolves.

Meanwhile, It is four games since Roman Abramovich reacted to a defeat by West Bromwich Albion and sent Andre Villas Boas out the exit door - and the decision to promote his assistant Roberto Di Matteo has transformed the place. Four wins, including the dramatic turnaround in the Champions League against Napoli, have restored morale and confidence. Goodness me, he's even got Fernando Torres scoring goals again.

Wolves owner Steve Morgan must be looking at that and wondering why. He also took action after losing to Albion and ended up promoting the number two. But Terry Connor's four games in charge at Molineux have lurched from one disaster to another. And a 5-0 thrashing by Manchester United yesterday has now dumped them firmly at the bottom of the table.

Wolves are now [1.26] relegation favourites and [2.34] to finish up rock bottom(http://sports.betfair.com/Index.do?mi=103375374&ex=1&origin=MRL&rfr=3013). And this week will tell us much about the character of Morgan, who made his money building houses and had planned to build his football club with the same care. Will he hold his nerve and stick by his decision to promote Connor? Or will he let himself be rushed into going back to the short list of potential managers he spoke to just a few weeks ago.

There is a sense around Molineux that the players are a bit too comfortable under Connor's control. They like him, they enjoy his training sessions. But they have let him down, failing to properly defend set pieces - and Ronald Zubar's reckless two tackles to get an early red card yesterday was a symptom of a lack of concentration. It's the sort of thing Steve Bruce would focus on if the owner went back to him - and the former Sunderland manager is now just [4.0] in the next Wolves manager market. Betfair's punters doubt Connor will survive. He was appointed until the end of the season but must still be in charge when they play Manchester City on April 22 for the market to pay out. He is now [2.1] to lay.

The big issue at the bottom will be how many points are needed to avoid relegation. Last year, Birmingham went down with 39, but it looks like a much smaller total will be needed this time. Quite possibly Norwich on 36 points already have enough, despite losing to a single goal at Newcastle yesterday.

Albion manager Roy Hodgson reckoned a couple of weeks ago that his side were already safe with 32, so he would have seen Paul Scharner's equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at Wigan as extra insurance. The result still lifted the Latics off the foot of the table and the track record of last season, when Roberto Martinez conjured two wins in their final two games, would make me nervous about backing them at [1.31] to go down.
Swansea are certainly safe after a 3-0 win at Fulham, and those who backed them at anything up to [7.2] to be the top promoted team can safely turn the market green - their price now is [1.25].

The better that Swansea do, the more you wonder whether Abramovich got the wrong former Mourinho aide when he appointed Villas Boas rather than ex-reserve coach and now Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers. But at least the appointment of Di Matteo is working, and that could be good news for Manchester United, now [1.49] favourites in the title race having built a four point lead and brought their goal difference to within three of Manchester City at the same time. Di Matteo will take his side to The Etihad Stadium on Wednesday full of confidence and they could be value at [4.4] to win there.

Despite their upturn Chelsea at [3.6] aren't quite favourites to win the FA Cup. That place belongs to [3.55] Liverpool as the only other side definitely in the semi-finals following a 2-1 win over Stoke in which Stewart Downing scored only his second goal of the season. Sunderland, a side who definitely did benefit from changing manager when Martin O'Neill arrived, still look value at [10] after earning a replay from a difficult tie at Everton.

Five-star United [1.49] for the title after destroying new relegation favourites Wolves...

Carlos Tevez is due to return to Premier League action against Chelsea - something we never thought would happen during the Argentinean's self-imposed strike - and it's a sign that City are getting desperate in the title race, says Richard...

There were just two games in the Premier League today with Wigan held by West Brom and Swansea trouncing Fulham. Joe Dyer has the betting headlines from both matches...

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Review: Grand National contenders largely enhance claims

Timeform Debate / Timeform / 05 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Can Junior win at Royal Ascot, Cheltenham and Aintree?

"Junior was under pressure a long way out but did his Grand National claims no harm for all that his jumping wasn't impeccable..."

Timeform give an overview of the weekend's racing, featuring a number of horses with the upcoming Festivals on their agenda...

It was Greatwood day at Newbury on Saturday and the Gold Cup Handicap Chase went the way of Aerial for Messrs Nicholls and Walsh. Having looked held when not fluent four out, Aerial was the recipient of a vintage ride and got up in the shadow of the post, the 3 lb he had been dropped since his last run enough to make the difference. Short-head runner-up Dan Breen bounced back to form, settling better than has often been the case, while Rileyev showed more stamina than he had previously, sticking to his task in typical fashion to edge out last year's winner Fine Parchment for third.

Earlier on the card, last year's Grand National fifth Niche Market had teed himself up for a return bid with a narrow second to the better-than-ever Marufo in the veterans' handicap chase. The former may be winless since his 2009 Irish National victory but he should give his Aintree supporters a run for their money come April 14. Fellow National possibles Hello Bud and Fair Along finished fourth and fifth respectively, while the lacklustre Blazing Bailey was promptly retired after being pulled up.

Benbens built on his solid effort on his latest outing when seeing things out well to take the Betfair-sponsored handicap hurdle over three miles, whilst French recruit Balgarry defied a massive market drift on his first start for David Pipe to run out a comfortable winner of the two-mile handicap hurdle, suggesting his entries in the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' race are not at all frivolous.

The feature up at Doncaster was the Grimthorpe Chase, a class 2 handicap over three and a quarter miles. With the strong-travelling Pentiffic falling at the last (albeit having looked as if coming to the end of his tether), the race fell into the lap of Ikorodu Road and Junior, the former getting the verdict in a photo finish. Junior was under pressure a long way out but did his Grand National claims no harm for all that his jumping wasn't impeccable, whilst the winner gained a belated first victory over fences and looks well worth trying over the four miles of the Scottish National.

There were also comfortable wins for Corkage, who defied career-high mark in the opening three-mile handicap hurdle, the unbeaten Aland Islands, who successfully returned from four months off in the two-and-a-half mile novice hurdle, and Ultimate, who took advantage of only half the fences being jumped (due to low sun) in the extended two-mile handicap chase.

Further north at Kelso, Master of The Hall was a ready winner of the two-and-three-quarter-mile Premier Chase, travelling easy under a patient ride before responding generously to Tony McCoy's urgings late on. However, for most watchers the race was more about the return of Grand National winner Ballabriggs, who travelled with typical zest before making an uncharacteristic error at the eleventh and seemingly failed for match fitness in the closing stages. Fellow National entry According To Pete stuck on doggedly for second after forfeiting the lead with a mistake at the ninth.

The track also staged the Grade 2 Premier Kelso Hurdle for novices, which saw Lucinda Russell's Tap Night step up significantly to secure his yard's second successive win in the race, staying on strongly to defeat of Tolworth scorer Captain Conan and Bury Parade. Cheltenham is now being considered for him, as it is for handicap chase winner Red Tanber, whose sound jumping enabled him to overcome a drop back in trip to record his fifth win in his last six starts.

There was also intriguing action internationally with Godolphin's It's Tricky (Top Flight Handicap), Calibrachoa (Tom Fool Handicap) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Hansen (Gotham Stakes - read the review HERE) each winning graded events on dirt at Aqueduct, and Dubai World Cup hopeful Cirrus des Aigles getting turned over by German raider Zazou in a fibresand minor event at Chantilly.

Even further afield, Sheikh Mohammed experienced the ups and downs of racing when his outsider Raspberries won the seven-furlong Group 3 at Flemington just 80 minutes after his Dubai-bound favourite Helmet had finished 12th of 16 to Mosheen in the Group 1 Australian Guineas on the same card.

In keeping with most Sunday's, Ireland provided the best action with Jessie Harrington's Champion Bumper fancy Jezki comfortable remaining unbeaten in two and Leanne upholding the form of her Clonmel win by following up in the Carrickmines Handicap Chase. Pittoni justified favouritism in the Ballsbridge Hurdle but was dismounted lame shortly after the race.

...........
Timeform Horses to Follow 2012 is out now! Includes Fifty to follow on the Flat, top trainer interviews & much more! Click HERE for more information.

With the new Flat turf season rapidly approaching, Timeform launch their latest 'Horses to Follow' publication, containing Fifty of the best prospects for 2012, plus big-name interviews and much, much more. It's out on March 3rd, ready for the Lincoln, in good time for the Guineas, and still only £8.95....

If the worst comes to the worst and Kauto Star is forced to miss the Gold Cup, then it's a simple task for Long Run and Sam Waley-Cohen. Or is it? Timeform Chief Correspondent Jamie Lynch gets on his bike to find out......

Timeform look ahead to a weekend featuring a number of Grand National hopefuls running at Newbury and Kelso on Saturday, as well as quality Irish and International action on Sunday......

Amazon Watches Center

Irish Weekend Review: Prince on course for Aintree

Weekend Preview/Review / Timeform / 28 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Graham Wylie: Owner of Prince de Beauchene.

"Prince de Beauchene looks the outstanding candidate for the National at this point..."

Naas and Fairyhouse provided the Irish action this weekend, and we cast our eyes over some interesting horses for the weeks ahead, including the new favourite for the Grand National...

The opener at Fairyhouse was a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle which saw the debut of the much-heralded Minsk, who was so progressive on the Flat for John Oxx last autumn. In the event it was a rather underwhelming start as he went down by a neck to Burrenbridge Lodge, with Bat Masterson close up in third, but he was reportedly found to be suffering from a throat infection post race and will now head back to John Oxx's yard to race on the Flat before returning for a novice hurdle campaign next term. He may well have prevailed here anyway with slicker jumps at the last two flights, but on the downside the pair he split look exposed and no better than useful.

The feature event on the card was the Bobbyjo Chase over an extended three miles. This has been used as a stepping stone towards the Grand National in recent years and Prince de Beauchene was justifiably shortened (now trading at [9.8]) for the Aintree showpiece after an impressive 6 length victory over Black Apalachi.

He jumped well on the whole (only mistake at the fifth), took over two out and eased clear from there, value plenty more than the winning margin. He's still lightly raced, especially for this yard, and looks the outstanding candidate for the National at this point. Black Apalachi was returning from nearly two years on the sidelines so this has to go down as a pleasing display, but while he has an excellent record over the National fences a mark of 154 looks very harsh given that he is now well into the veteran stage of his career.

Sunday's card at Naas also threw up a Grand National contender as Seabass made it six wins on the bounce in the two-mile Grade 2 chase in spite of the trip. In truth it wasn't a strong race for the grade, with Tranquil Sea seemingly a shadow of his former self and Saludos hard to place with his Grade 2 penalty, but Seabass did show a cracking attitude to get back up and win by a length from Zaarito, who is on the comeback trail after an injury-lagued couple of years. Seabass will warrant respect at Aintree, certain to be 'well in' to an extent after this, though on a cautionary note his jumping isn't always foot perfect and he's yet to try beyond three miles.

The other graded action on the card saw wins for Rathlin and Felix Yonger. Rathlin produced another fine display of jumping to defeat Shot From The Hip by eight and a half lengths in the Woodlands Park 100 Club Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase over two and a half miles. He's set to bypass Cheltenham this term, but the Powers Gold Cup is reportedly on the agenda and he'll look well worth his place at that higher level, such is the impression created since he underwent a breathing operation and was fitted with a tongue strap.

Felix Yonger overcame the drop back to two miles in the novice hurdle half an hour later and continued the fine run being enjoyed by Graham Wylie-owned horses who have moved from Howard Johnson to Willie Mullins, the overall record of the quartet who have made it to the track now seven out of ten. Felix Yonger has the scope for further progression, too, but one of the Grade 1 novices at Cheltenham will require a marked step up for him to get competitive, while his target remains up in the air, so he makes little appeal for ante-post betting purposes.

....................
Timeform ratings are in fine form! Among 5 top-rated winners at Kempton on Saturday was Nacarat (BSP [5.58]). Click HERE for today's cards & ratings.

Timeform review a weekend featuring a win for Nacarat in the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton alongside a whole host of Cheltenham pointers......

Timeform preview an weekend that includes some last-minute Cheltenham Festival trials at Kempton and Grand National trials at both Newcastle and Fairyhouse......

Timeform look back at a weekend featuring a winning return for Riverside Theatre in the Betfair Ascot Chase, a double for Donald McCain on the Ascot card and a battling victory for Giles Cross in Haydock's Grand National Trial......

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Review: Nacarat lands the Kempton spoils again

News / Timeform / 27 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Nacarat regained the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton.

"The grey, who was also successful in 2009 and has finished in the placings on two other occasions, looked as good as ever on Saturday, running to a Timeform rating only 1 lb inferior to his career-best."

Timeform review a weekend featuring a win for Nacarat in the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton alongside a whole host of Cheltenham pointers...

The Tom George-trained Nacarat added to his fantastic record in the three-mile handicap when beating Hector's Choice by 11 lengths. The grey, who was also successful in 2009 and has finished in the placings on two other occasions, looked as good as ever on Saturday, running to a Timeform rating only 1 lb inferior to his career-best. His trainer has stated that a defence of his Aintree Bowl crown is his target, and with him having a good record there and likely to be granted good ground, who's to say he can't follow up.

The Triumph Hurdle market took on a more defined shape on Saturday and, with the defeat of Minsk and his subsequent removal from the picture owing to a throat infection, it was left to Baby Mix and Grumeti to highlight their claims.

The former made a deeply promising British debut, comfortably beating Hinterland at Cheltenham, but disappointed back at that venue last month when failing to settle and looking awkward under pressure. However, he got back on track in winning the Adonis with just about as good a performance as has been seen in a juvenile hurdle this winter, jumping well and quickening decisively. The quirks shown on his penultimate start were again shown to some extent though and they'd be the main concern with regard to his Festival prospects.

Grumeti landed the Grade 2 Dovecote Hurdle later on the card, a race more slowly run than the earlier contest and resulting in a victory more about style than substance. His jumping was very slick and his acceleration impressive, his experience clearly an advantage against a pair of hurdling newcomers.

Grumeti is right up with the pick of the four-year-old hurdlers and merits serious consideration for the Triumph, presently heading the market at [6.2], whilst Baby Mix can be backed at [8.0].

Another name to bear in mind for the future is the Paul Nicholls-trained Dodging Bullets, runner-up to Grumeti on what was his hurdling debut. He was useful on the Flat, beating subsequent Grade 1 winning hurdler Hisaabaat on his last start, and made a highly promising start to life over timber. Given his inexperience he may now head to Aintree rather than Cheltenham, and he looks sure to win good races.

Cristal Bonus, also trained by Paul Nicholls, landed the Grade 2 Pendil Novices' Chase in impressive style, beating Duke of Lucca by 13 lengths. It is disappointing that his two main market rivals, Zaynar and Minella Class, failed to complete, somewhat weakening the form, but Cristal Bonus has certainly made a bright start over fences with his jumping looking fluent both on Saturday and when winning at Chepstow last month.

He has a host of Cheltenham entries, including the Arkle and the RSA, but the betting would suggest that the Jewson is his most likely target with him currently second-best in the market at [6.6].

The remarkably progressive Hunt Ball continued his upward curve when successful for the sixth time in his last seven races, winning of a BHA mark of 127 having begun his winning sequence on a mark of just 69. His progress shows no signs of abating and he will warrant respect in valuable handicaps from now on, currently heading the Byrne Group Plate market at [11.5].

Newcastle's feature event was the Eider Chase, with the 2012 renewal going the way of Portrait King, trained in Ireland by Maurice Phelan. The seven-year-old was successful at Punchestown on his previous outing, looking one to follow in marathon handicaps, and he duly confirmed that impression when beating Posh Bird by three lengths.

A final mention on Saturday goes to Aldermoor, who won a competitive Sprint Series Final at Lingfield. The participants had all been putting up good displays in the various rounds of the series, meaning there is every reason for the form tp prove solid, but it was Aldermoor that sealed the win in a first-time visor for trainer Stuart Williams.

Moving on to Sunday, which saw Fontwell host the Grade 2 National Spirit hurdle over two and a half miles. Trainer Colin Tizzard has been in excellent form of late, going at a 24% strike rate this month, and Third Intention bolstered that statistic when landing the feature. The five-year-old was not seen to best effect in the Betfair Hurdle, held-up in a slowly run race, but the step up in trip and the first-time tongue-tie may have been the catalyst for improvement.

Barbers Shop, prominent in the betting for the Gold Cup in 2009 and Ryanair in 2010, continued his resurgence in hunter chases at Fontwell, having previously won on his debut in the sphere at Fakenham. Seeing him travel and jump with enthusiasm again is a definite positive and, although he was pushed to within half a length by runner-up Merry Vic, he is still prominent in the Foxhunter Chase betting at [15.5].

Union Rags, and arguably unlucky runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November, got his three-year-old campaign off to a winning start when comfortably landing the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in North America. Clearly impressive in victory, he now heads the market for the Kentucky Derby at [4.2].

There was excellent racing in Ireland over the weekend, at Fairyhouse on Saturday and Naas on Sunday. Prince de Beauchene cemented his position at the head of the Grand National betting, with Seabass also highlighting his claims for that race, whilst Rathlin and Felix Yonger were also impressive in victory.

....................
Timeform ratings are in fine form! Among 5 top-rated winners at Kempton on Saturday was Nacarat (BSP [5.58]). Click HERE for today's cards & ratings.

With opposition to reigning champion Quevega thin on the ground, Emma Lavelle is keen to run Kentford Grey Lady in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham......

Union Rags has shortened markedly in the ante-post betting for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5, following his authoritative success in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sunday....

Kauto Star is reported to be in tremendous shape ahead of his bid for a third Cheltenham Gold Cup success on Friday February 16....

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Review: Riverside takes to Ascot stage

Weekend Preview/Review / Timeform / 20 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Riverside Theatre winning the Betfair Ascot Chase.

"Riverside Theatre demonstrated that he retains all of his ability, jumping and travelling fluently..."

Timeform look back at a weekend featuring a winning return for Riverside Theatre in the Betfair Ascot Chase, a double for Donald McCain on the Ascot card and a battling victory for Giles Cross in Haydock's Grand National Trial...

Twelve months on from his last racecourse appearance, Riverside Theatre made a most impressive return to action to land back-to-back runnings of the Betfair Ascot Chase. A stress fracture of the pelvis enforced a year on the sidelines but Riverside Theatre demonstrated that he retains all of his ability, jumping and travelling fluently before being kept up to his work as the improving Medermit stuck on well.

Riverside Theatre, rated 171 by Timeform, will head to the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival with the strongest claims on form and, whilst his sole visit to Cheltenham resulted in a somewhat disappointing fifth in the Arkle in 2010, that effort can be put down to inexperience (just his third start over fences) and he would look the one to beat in the season's renewal, making his current price of [7.2] look incredibly tempting.

Another to enhance his Cheltenham claims was the Alan King-trained Invictus, who landed the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase. Having disappointed in the Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on his previous start, Invictus took the step up in trip in his stride to win readily.

Jumping much more fluently than at Cheltenham, Invictus quickened well to beat Bobs Worth by three lengths. However, he is essentially a speedier type than the runner-up and would not be sure to confirm the placings in the RSA on 3 lb worse terms. Invictus can currently be backed at [13.0] for the RSA, whilst Bobs Worth is available at [6.8]. A more suitable race for the winner could well be the Jewson, for which he is presently trading at [21.0].

Massini's Maguire, making just his ninth appearance over fences in a three-and-a-half-year timespan, showed himself still capable of smart form when beating Tullamore Dew by a head in the staying chase at Ascot. He may take some time to get over the exertions of Saturday's attritional contest, though he managed to highlight his Grand National claims.

Of more interest for that race, however, and currently available to back at [32.0] is the third-placed Cappa Bleu, who also filled that position in the Welsh National. The suspicion is that he may have been trained with Aintree in mind, so this was a promising effort on the whole.

Also on the Ascot card, Cholmondeley trainer Donald McCain landed a Saturday double with Super Duty and Bourne.

Super Duty is most certainly one to bear in mind for novice chasing next year, sure to be suited by further than two and a half miles in time, whilst Bourne, owned by the Timeform Betfair Racing Club, produced a very useful effort on his handicap debut with the promise of more to come given the likely strength of the form.

Moving North to Haydock, where the admirably tough and consistent Giles Cross won the Grand National Trial. Having finished as the runner-up in the Welsh National for the second consecutive year, Giles Cross was gaining his fifth career success under rules. The ten-year-old seemingly thrives on stamina sapping races of this ilk, and currently be backed at [29.0] for the Grand National, although prevailing ground conditions would likely be a factor in his participation.

Other winners of note on Haydock's card were Restless Harry, who seemed to bounce back after an unsuccessful stint novice chasing and two creditable and typically determined efforts behind Big Buck's, the Lucinda Russell-trained Brindisi Breeze (notched a fourth victory over hurdles and is available at [12.0] for the Albert Bartlett) and British debutant Une Artisite, previously trained in France, who stayed on well to deny High Samana after making a mistake at the final flight.

2010 Champion Hurdle winner Binocular very much thrust himself back into the 2012 reckoning, showing all of his old dash in winning Wincanton's Kingwell Hurdle. Currently trading at [8.8], Timeform rate him as the leading British-trained hope for the Champion Hurdle, with only the minor obstacle that is Hurricane Fly ([1.98]) to overcome.

The review of this weekend would not be complete without mentioning the terrific Black Caviar, who equalled her best Timeform rating of 135 when winning the Lightning Stakes. For more on her nineteenth consecutive victory, read Gary Crispe's review "Black Caviar equals career-best Timeform rating".

There was also some informative racing across the Irish Sea this weekend, at Gowran on Saturday and Navan on Sunday, with the likes of Rubi Light, Zaidpour and Mourad all advertising their Festival claims.
...........
Timeform ratings were in fine form at the weekend. Click HERE to see the top rated roll call, or click HERE to get race cards & ratings for today's meetings.

Timeform preview an excellent weekend of racing, featuring action from Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton on Saturday, and Navan on Sunday......

Red Mills Chase day is one of the feature meetings of the season at Gowran and this Saturday's card promises to be informative with several Cheltenham contenders likely to be having their final prep run before the festival....

Timeform look back at a weekend featuring National Hunt racing from Musselburgh on Saturday, as well as mixed action on the all-weather, and some notable international results......

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Round-Up: Strong line-ups equal strong results

Premier League / Ralph Ellis / 20 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Squad rotation was unheard of during Liverpool's successful 1984 season

"Sunday was the first time Dalglish has been able to start Suarez, Andy Carroll and Steven Gerrard in the same side and that might just give some momentum to make [4.4] for a top four finish some real value."

Both Norwich and Tottenham made changes ahead of their FA Cup ties last weekend, and both failed to win, whilst Arsenal left out their first choice goalkeeper. Ralph Ellis discusses team selections.

George Orwell thought 1984 would be when Big Brother Is Watching You. In the event Big Brother was probably too busy watching Liverpool.

The Reds played 66 games that season as their team won a treble of the League, the European Cup and the League cup. When I say the team, that is the right word - definitely not the squad. They used only 15 players in that epic season - and one of them, David Hodgson, started only one of the 42 matches in the old First Division.

I suspect the memories of that campaign have helped form Kenny Dalglish's view that, by and large, he doesn't do rotation when it comes to picking teams for Cup matches. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina made his 34th appearance in Liverpool's 6-1 romp over Brighton yesterday out of 34 matches in the season so far, and it's a certainty he'll take that record to 35 in Sunday's Carling Cup final.

Incidentally there was probably one more memory of 1984 that informed Dalglish's selection for yesterday's game and that was the one black spot when they got knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round - by Brighton. It was one that, very rarely, he missed because of injury but enough to drive home the point that the threat of an upset is always there.

Liverpool's commitment to cup competitions has been clear since they began the Carling Cup campaign at Exeter back in August with Reina in goal and Luis Suarez in the starting line-up. It's why I think the Reds deserve to be [1.43] favourite for Sunday's meeting with Cardiff and ought to be clear favourite rather than second at [3.85] for the FA Cup.

Dalglish is still talking optimistically of a treble with a top four finish too. His side are only four points off the Champions League places at the moment. Significantly Sunday was the first time he's been able to start Suarez, Andy Carroll and Steven Gerrard in the same side and that might just give some momentum to make [4.4] for a top four finish some real value among the clubs chasing the Champions League.

I'm not saying Dalglish hasn't used the chance to give some squad players a game in the knockout matches. It's just you sense he always picks a team to win the game, rather than choose one which might win.

Norwich, for instance, have done great things in their first season back in the Premier League but boss Paul Lambert was clearly not too bothered about getting through Saturday's tie with Leicester. He gave England youth goalkeeper Jed Steer a game among four changes and duly got beaten 2-1.

And what was Arsene Wenger doing with Lukasz Fabianski in goal at Sunderland? Doesn't giving the second string goalkeeper a game send out the message that this match doesn't really matter quite as much?

But it should have mattered. A 2-0 defeat means it's now seven years without a trophy and the critics who have been picking at Wenger were out in force on Saturday night. Wenger has two years of his contract left and, quite rightly, has the support of the board if not a growing band of fans who want change. Arsenal are in the top four currently, but would you back them even at [2.76] to stay there?

Wenger's critics hate his insistence on signing kids for the future rather than established stars for the present. Ironically it was one of those prospects, Japanese teenager Ryo Miyaichi, who got one of the goals for Bolton that clinched a 2-0 win at Millwall. He was part of a strong side selected by Owen Coyle who must have fancied that a Cup quarter-final would boost confidence for the relegation fight. Bolton are currently [1.8] to go down.

Tony Pulis knows all about marathon seasons. Yesterday's 2-0 win at Crawley was Stoke's 41st game of the season and they have at least another 15 to go. He's also followed the principle of trying to win cup games rather than not caring - skipper Ryan Shawcross has missed only six of them while striker Jon Walters, who tucked away the first goal from the penalty spot, has played in 40.

I love Stoke's attitude and between [7.4] and [15.5] in the early market for them to turn round a 1-0 deficit and qualify over Valencia in the Europa League on Thursday has to be the best long odds punt of the week.

Tottenham are [3.75] favourites for the FA Cup despite still needing a replay over Stevenage to take their place in the quarter-finals. Harry Redknapp did make loads of changes for yesterday's tie and it showed. Surprising, really. He might not know too much about George Orwell's version of 1984, but I bet he could name every one of Liverpool's 15 players!

Lifelong Man City fan Lee Dixon believes most City players would be prepared to forgive Carlos Tevez if the Argentinian returned to the team in goalscoring form......

Arsenal have endured a miserable few days and, unless they buck their ideas up very quickly, they could be humiliated by their local rivals on Sunday, says Richard Aikman....

Norwich have been one of the surprise teams in the Premier League, thanks in no small part to John Ruddy, says Hannah Duncan. Next stop, England?...

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Preview: Betfair Ascot Chase the Saturday feature

Weekend Preview/Review / Timeform / 17 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Ascot stages some excellent racing on Saturday.

"Riverside Theatre was last seen when winning the corresponding race last year, beating Gauvain in authoritative style..."

Timeform preview an excellent weekend of racing, featuring action from Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton on Saturday, and Navan on Sunday...

The opening mention has to go to Black Caviar, who will be seeking a 19th straight win in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday morning, the race due off at 05:10 GMT. For more on the contest, read Timeform's preview: "New challenge awaits Black Caviar".

Ascot's feature race, the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase staged over two miles and five furlongs, is a fascinating contest with a number of Cheltenham hopefuls in the line-up. Kauto Stone, a half-brother to the outstanding Kauto Star, will make just his third start for Paul Nicholls having previously been trained in France and will be seeking a second win. His success in a Grade 2 at Down Royal was impressive and the drop to two miles in his following race was unlikely to be ideal.

However, on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings he has 9 lb to find with the returning Riverside Theatre and 3 lb with the Alan King-trained Medermit. The former was last seen when winning the corresponding race last year, beating Gauvain in authoritative style, although his fitness will have to be taken on trust. Medermit, runner-up in the December Gold Cup on his most recent appearance, is likely to be the strongest challenger to Riverside Theatre.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Bobs Worth is the headline entry in the Reynoldstown Chase, Grade 2 a novices' event over three miles. The seven-year-old, rated 153p over fences by Timeform, won the Albert Bartlett at last season's Cheltenham Festival before embarking on a chasing career which has, so far, resulted in a narrow victory over Cue Card at Newbury and a creditable third to Grands Crus at Kempton.

Bobs Worth is likely to have improved for that experience and is a strong candidate, although Silviniaco Conti, who finished a place in front of him at Kempton, is also in the line-up. Invictus, another Alan King runner, adds further intrigue as he steps to the distance for the first time.

Ascot's 14:25 appears to be a fairly open 13-runner handicap, with the Paul Nicholls-trained The Minack, successful on his last visit to the track, heading the weights. Pearlysteps, Cappa Bleu, Exmoor Ranger and Tullamore Dew would be others to consider.

Haydock's feature event is the Grand National Trial, in which the Welsh National first and second (Le Beau Bai and Giles Cross) are currently tied at the head of the market. Aintree hopeful Neptune Collonges will carry top-weight, ensuring the likes of Sona Sasta, Rey Nacarado and King Fontaine run from out of the handicap.

Moving on to Wincanton, where the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle is the stand out race, boasting a line-up that includes Binocular, Celestial Halo and the returning Starluck. Binocular comes out 4 lb clear on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, with the other two tied, giving hope of a fairly tight-knit affair.

Ireland plays host to some interesting races over the weekend, at Gowran on Saturday and Navan on Sunday. To find out more about the Irish action, read Timeform's preview "Rubi Light to return in Red Mills".

....................
Timeform's Horses to Follow Extra Ascot Chase issue is out now and features no less than six big-race previews and an interview with Alan King.

Red Mills Chase day is one of the feature meetings of the season at Gowran and this Saturday's card promises to be informative with several Cheltenham contenders likely to be having their final prep run before the festival....

Timeform look back at a weekend featuring National Hunt racing from Musselburgh on Saturday, as well as mixed action on the all-weather, and some notable international results......

The adverse weather conditions have scuppered a fantastic days racing at Newbury, but the racing world will plough ahead with Musselburgh and a trio of all-weather tracks staging cards on Saturday, and Exeter, Hereford and Southwell all looking to race on Sunday......

Amazon Watches Center

Premier League: Apologies aplenty during sorry weekend

Premier League / Ralph Ellis / 13 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Mick McCarthy has been sacked following yesterday's 'sorry' performance

"Mick McCarthy has never said sorry for his team’s performance in 20 years as a manager but felt the need to do so after a humiliating 5-1 local derby defeat by West Brom."

When football should have been the main talking point, it was an incident at Old Trafford that made the headlines. Ralph Ellis explains why saying sorry, in most instances, doesn't usually work.

I'm reading Mike Calvin's brilliant fly-on-the-wall book recording a season behind the scenes at Millwall. There's a chapter where Steve Morison, struggling to find his feet after moving from non-League football, gets called into the manager's office after another game without a goal.

Kenny Jackett has been studying the DVD and noticed his centre forward smiling after a collision with the Wycombe defender who was having far too easy a time marking him. "What did you say to him?" asks Jackett. "I just said sorry," says Morrison. "Sorry?" queries his boss. "Sorry? You are Millwall's centre forward, you don't say sorry for anything. You tell him: 'you come near me again and I'll snap you in two.'"

It was the moment that turned Morison's attitude and career round, and he's now knocking people round in the Premier League for Norwich and on the international stage for Wales. He came on as sub in Saturday's 3-2 win at Swansea and presumably he wasn't saying sorry to anybody there, either.

So I wonder what he and Jackett, still fighting to keep the Lions in the Championship on a meagre budget, would have made of this weekend full of apologies. Luis Suarez and Kenny Dalglish were offering them yesterday - and so was Mick McCarthy.

The Wolves boss has never said sorry for one of his team's performances in 20 years as a manager but felt the need to do so after a humiliating 5-1 local derby defeat by West Brom. It dropped his club into the bottom three on goal difference and left them odds on at [1.76] to go down. And sorry might have been the hardest word but it didn't save him - Wolves announced this morning they had sacked him.

The truth is that saying sorry and success don't go together. Winners have that bit of steel that they don't care, and while I certainly don't approve of what Suarez did - or didn't do - at Old Trafford I do admire the nasty edge of arrogance which is one of the facets that make up any top sportsman.

Arsene Wenger never felt the need to explain himself when people were panning him for bringing back Thierry Henry. A last minute winner by the Arsenal legend at Sunderland on Saturday, his third in just 117 minutes of football, shifted the Gunners back into the top four and they are [2.56] to stay .

Blackburn manager Steve Kean has been every bit as resolute in the face of all that's been thrown at him. A lesser man might have admitted he was out of his depth long ago and walked away, but he has stubbornly kept on fighting. A 3-2 home win over QPR was a fantastic boost for him, although there are still trials to come - next up is away to Manchester City - and anything up to [8.8] to finish rock bottom still looks fantastic value.

Roberto Mancini's side continue to set the pace after Joleon Lescott's goal at Aston Villa yesterday secured a 1-0 win that maintained their two point lead over Manchester United. Alex McLeish must be wishing his defenders would stop saying sorry for failing to mark people at corners and start doing their jobs. Another set-piece goal was their undoing yesterday. Villa have not finished outside the top half since 2007 but are [3.0] to reach the top ten this time.

Meanwhile City boss Mancini is steadfastly refusing to back down over his insistence that Carlos Tevez must apologise before he can wear the shirt again. The signs are the Argentinian is ready to do that, and bringing his talent back to the squad would certainly increase the firepower of a club who are already [1.69] to land the title.

Spurs could still make it a three-horse race, of course, after demolishing Newcastle 5-0 in a White Hart Lane love-in for Harry Redknapp on Saturday night. Harry is now [1.4] to be the next England manager. Don't expect him to apologise for leaving - but Tottenham fans will be more than sorry to see him go.

Steve Bruce is being linked with a speedy return to management after Wolves decided to sack Mick McCarthy in the aftermath of their 5-1 home hammering against neighbours West Brom......

There were huge prizes up for grabs on Betfair if you correctly called the scorelines of the games involving Tottenham, Norwich, Everton, Brighton and Barcelona......

City won at Villa Park as Wolves were humilated at home by West Brom, a game that proved to be Mick McCarthy's last in charge......

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Review: Grand Annual pointers at Musselburgh

Latest News / Timeform / 13 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Musselburgh staged National Hunt action on Saturday.

"de Boitron is likely to head straight to the Grand Annual from a lower BHA rating than when fourth last season..."

Timeform look back at a weekend featuring National Hunt racing from Musselburgh on Saturday, as well as mixed action on the all-weather, and some notable international results...

The Donald McCain-trained Tara Royal landed the spoils in the Scottish Champion Chase, beating Woody Waller and de Boitron into second and third respectively. Tara Royal found everything clicking into place for him, matching his highest ever Timeform chase rating of 136 after jumping and travelling with enthusiasm (jumping had previously looked an issue) throughout.

The race is likely to prove one of the best two-mile handicaps run in the north this season, potentially providing a very good guide to the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival next month. The winner was authoritative in his victory but it is the third, de Boitron, who really appeals for the aforementioned race.

The eight-year-old is indicative of his yard in that he tends to come good in the spring, and he is likely to head straight to the Grand Annual from a lower BHA rating than when fourth last season. Ferdy Murphy's record in Cheltenham handicaps is an excellent one, and Saturday's race may well have provided the perfect springboard to the Festival.

Stormy Weather was given a masterful ride to win the Scottish County Hurdle, gently coaxed into contention by Denis O'Regan before gradually getting the upper hand after the final flight. The Brian Ellison-trained gelding has shown signs of temperament in the past, but he may well be a handicapper to stick with now that he has recorded two successes on the bounce.

Bold Sir Brian's 22-length novice chase victory was undeniably impressive, almost certainly improving to some degree, but the race is difficult to assess accurately with the departure of Chester Lad at the twelfth fence. However, the winner overcame being hampered by that rival, looking a smart chaser in the making, and one that would be more than worth a second look if lining up in the Jewson, for which he is currently available to back at [42.0].

Moving on to Lingfield's polytrack, where Haadeeth and Nubar Boy took a division of the Sprint Series qualifier each. The former had the run of the race on his first start for David Evans and his overall record is far from convincing, but Nubar Boy looked better than ever, helped by the strong pace, and is likely to continue to give a good account.

Taajub, having caught the eye on numerous occasions in the past couple of months, confirmed previous impressions to beat Sulis Minerva by half a length in the five-furlong handicap. He will remain well treated having been runner-up in both the Gimcrack and Cornwallis as a juvenile, but seemingly needs everything to drop right in order to give his best.

At Caulfield, Australia, outstanding mare Black Caviar extended her unbeaten run to 18 in the CF Orr Stakes, where she stepped up to seven furlongs for the first time. She is likely to be seen again in the near future, possibly as soon as next weekend, before potentially heading to the Dubai Carnival and then on to a tilt at Royal Ascot.

Southwell staged a "Jumpers' Bumpers" card on Sunday, where Abergavenny showed himself to be in good heart back from a short break when recording an eight-length victory. He is likely to be of interest in high-end handicaps in the future (he could yet run in Friday's rescheduled Betfair Hurdle), and may be worth a step up in trip when returned to timber.

There was fascinating racing in Ireland over the weekend, from Naas on Saturday and Leopardstown on Sunday, with the likes of Last Instalment, Quel Esprit and Bog Warrior all in winning form.

Voler La Vedette is to head for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham without another racecourse appearance....

French-bred Quel Esprit gave Willie Mullins his eighth Grade 1 Hennessy Gold Cup success when making all under Ruby Walsh in the Leopardstown showpiece on Sunday....

Colm Murphy faces a race against time to get Quito De La Roque ready for Cheltenham after the Grade 1 winner scoped badly last week....

Amazon Watches Center

Weekend Review: Grand Annual pointers at Musselburgh

Latest News / Timeform / 13 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Musselburgh staged National Hunt action on Saturday.

"de Boitron is likely to head straight to the Grand Annual from a lower BHA rating than when fourth last season..."

Timeform look back at a weekend featuring National Hunt racing from Musselburgh on Saturday, as well as mixed action on the all-weather, and some notable international results...

The Donald McCain-trained Tara Royal landed the spoils in the Scottish Champion Chase, beating Woody Waller and de Boitron into second and third respectively. Tara Royal found everything clicking into place for him, matching his highest ever Timeform chase rating of 136 after jumping and travelling with enthusiasm (jumping had previously looked an issue) throughout.

The race is likely to prove one of the best two-mile handicaps run in the north this season, potentially providing a very good guide to the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival next month. The winner was authoritative in his victory but it is the third, de Boitron, who really appeals for the aforementioned race.

The eight-year-old is indicative of his yard in that he tends to come good in the spring, and he is likely to head straight to the Grand Annual from a lower BHA rating than when fourth last season. Ferdy Murphy's record in Cheltenham handicaps is an excellent one, and Saturday's race may well have provided the perfect springboard to the Festival.

Stormy Weather was given a masterful ride to win the Scottish County Hurdle, gently coaxed into contention by Denis O'Regan before gradually getting the upper hand after the final flight. The Brian Ellison-trained gelding has shown signs of temperament in the past, but he may well be a handicapper to stick with now that he has recorded two successes on the bounce.

Bold Sir Brian's 22-length novice chase victory was undeniably impressive, almost certainly improving to some degree, but the race is difficult to assess accurately with the departure of Chester Lad at the twelfth fence. However, the winner overcame being hampered by that rival, looking a smart chaser in the making, and one that would be more than worth a second look if lining up in the Jewson, for which he is currently available to back at [42.0].

Moving on to Lingfield's polytrack, where Haadeeth and Nubar Boy took a division of the Sprint Series qualifier each. The former had the run of the race on his first start for David Evans and his overall record is far from convincing, but Nubar Boy looked better than ever, helped by the strong pace, and is likely to continue to give a good account.

Taajub, having caught the eye on numerous occasions in the past couple of months, confirmed previous impressions to beat Sulis Minerva by half a length in the five-furlong handicap. He will remain well treated having been runner-up in both the Gimcrack and Cornwallis as a juvenile, but seemingly needs everything to drop right in order to give his best.

At Caulfield, Australia, outstanding mare Black Caviar extended her unbeaten run to 18 in the CF Orr Stakes, where she stepped up to seven furlongs for the first time. She is likely to be seen again in the near future, possibly as soon as next weekend, before potentially heading to the Dubai Carnival and then on to a tilt at Royal Ascot.

Southwell staged a "Jumpers' Bumpers" card on Sunday, where Abergavenny showed himself to be in good heart back from a short break when recording an eight-length victory. He is likely to be of interest in high-end handicaps in the future (he could yet run in Friday's rescheduled Betfair Hurdle), and may be worth a step up in trip when returned to timber.

There was fascinating racing in Ireland over the weekend, from Naas on Saturday and Leopardstown on Sunday, with the likes of Last Instalment, Quel Esprit and Bog Warrior all in winning form.

Voler La Vedette is to head for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham without another racecourse appearance....

French-bred Quel Esprit gave Willie Mullins his eighth Grade 1 Hennessy Gold Cup success when making all under Ruby Walsh in the Leopardstown showpiece on Sunday....

Colm Murphy faces a race against time to get Quito De La Roque ready for Cheltenham after the Grade 1 winner scoped badly last week....

Amazon Watches Center