Australian Cup News: Leading fancy Americain now sole Hayes runner

News / Timeform / 05 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Americain is now trained in Australia

"Should Americain oblige on Saturday, he will be Hayes' third Australian Cup winner following Better Loosen Up (1991) and Niconero (2009)."

Australian Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes will rely on former Melbourne Cup winner Americain in Saturday's $1 million Australian Cup having having decided not confirm his three other horses at the latest entry stage...

Hayes' Budai, Extra Zero and Largo Lad have all been removed from the weight-for-age event over 2000m at Flemington on March 10, leaving ex-French stayer Americain, rated 129 by Timeform, to go it alone.

Formerly with Alain de Royer Dupre, Americain will be having his first start since joining the Linday Park trainer in December, a few weeks after his victory in the Zipping Classic at Sandown.

His new trainer has declared himself happy with how Americain's Australian Cup preparation has gone and expressed condifence that the horse can overcome his unorthodox approach to the race - the seven-year-old entire has been subject to strong practice gallops at a range of race meetings in recent weeks.

Americain won "the race that stops a nation" in 2010 and was fourth in it last year, a record that has contributed to him being the most decorated stayer 'Down Under'.

Should Americain oblige on Saturday, he will be Hayes' third Australian Cup winner following Better Loosen Up (1991) and Niconero (2009).

However, joining him at the head of the betting is another ex-European in Lucas Cranach ([3.6]), third in last year's Melbourne Cup on only his second start since joining Anthony Freedman.

David Hayes has also expressed his respect for Manighar, winner of the Catanach's T.S. Carlyon Cup and third in the Young Stakes since joining Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody from Luca Cumani.

Manghar currently trades at [7.8], close in the betting to yet more former Euros Illo ([9.8]) and Glass Harmonium ([14.0]).

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Experienced amateur rider JT McNamara will partner Teaforthree in the Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next Wednesday....

Brian Ellison has his eyes on several handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival, but has his fingers crossed his intended runners make the cut....

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

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Champion Hurdle Betting: Not hard to see Binocular's leading chance

Ante-post / Adam Brookes / 21 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

J P McManus' Binocular

"...Timeform ratings show he's now the leading home-trained hope for the race."

With a number of horses throwing their names into the ring at the weekend, Timeform's Adam Brookes assesses the Champion Hurdle picture and provides a recommended bet for the two-mile showpiece on March 13...

With most recent events freshest in the mind, Binocular is a good place to start and the eight-year-old has returned to his best in winning his last two outings, matching his 2010 Champion Hurdle victory when easily beating fellow Champion Hurdle entries Celestial Halo and the returning Starluck in the Kingwell at Wincanton on Saturday. That strong-travelling performance was much more taking than his two previous 'prep' runs for the Champion (forced to miss last year's race on the BHA's advice having been treated for an allergy leading up to the race) and Timeform ratings show he's now the leading home-trained hope for the race.

Nicky Henderson also has Grandouet amongst the rating principals, the five-year-old having impressively landed a minor event at Haydock and the Grade 2 International hurdle at Cheltenham since crashing out at the second last when upsides winner Celestial Halo in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton in November. Grandouet was due to be the yard's representative in the Kingwell before banging a hind leg and, although he is expected to be fine given a few days' rest, it remains to be seen whether being forced to miss the race will affect his preparation.

Five lengths ahead of Grandouet in last year's Triumph Hurdle was Zarkandar, who was another to stake a firm claim at the weekend when maintaining his unbeaten status with a determined win in a very competitive Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury. The half-brother to unbeaten Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava clearly has stacks of ability and most probably did well to score, having not had the smoothest of passages and reportedly been one of the yard's runners to come back with a dirty nose. Zarkandar obviously has the potential to progress further but he is going to need to do so and he reportedly looked plenty fit enough to do himself justice before Friday's race. At the current prices, he doesn't make great appeal.

While Nicholls also has Betfair Hurdle seventh Brampour and Celestial Halo entered, ratings suggest his best chance of winning the race for the first time is actually last year's Neptune runner-up Rock On Ruby. Rock On Ruby, who had made a much-improved winning return when carrying top weight in a listed 16.5f handicap at Newbury in November, might well have made a successful step up in class but for a sloppy jump at the last when finding only Binocular a neck too good in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. He is sure to be staying on stoutly up the gruelling Prestbury Park hill and is not to be overlooked.

The one they will all have to beat though is, of course, Hurricane Fly, who looks highly likely to retain his crown and record Ireland's sixth success in the last nine renewals. Hurricane Fly ran to a rating 1 lb higher than for last year's Champion win when cruising home in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown (his first start on heavy ground) at the end of last month, which suggests the eight-year-old may even be improved this time round. What's more, he is sure to be benefited by the return to better ground (unbeaten in three starts on good), meaning he'll thoroughly deserve his place as very short-priced favourite.

Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins also has Zaidpour (first in Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran on Saturday), Mikael d'Haguent (second in Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday), So Young (third in Neptune on good going last year but five wins have come on soft or heavy) and Thousand Stars (fourth in 2011 Champion) to choose from, but all currently trade at shorter odds for the World Hurdle on the Thursday.

Ireland's other leading contender looks likely to be the horse Hurricane Fly beat by six and a half lengths last time, Oscars Well, another who performed well at the Festival last March (still going strongly in front when stumbling on landing after the last in the Neptune). While not in the same class as the defending champ, he's in there pitching with the following pack and has minor place claims with the return to better ground and likely generous gallop sure to suit.

The final contender to mention is the admirable Overturn who, with Peddlers Cross nigh on certain to go for the Arkle, looks set to be Donald McCain's only runner. He's another whose overall level of form entitles him to a small place chance, but his style of running means he's always there to be shot at and he was a well-beaten third behind Binocular and Rock On Ruby in the Christmas Hurdle last time.

With Hurricane Fly looking a class apart, the "To Be Placed" and "W/O HFly" markets look more inviting from a betting perspective at this stage. Zarkandar is the only entry who remains open to further improvement but the scramble for the placings looks likely to be a closely-fought one and, at the prices, it could be wise to look elsewhere. Fellow Nicholls contender Rock On Ruby is sure to be overlooked in the betting considering that he's very likely to be deserted by Ruby Walsh (Hurricane Fly) and Daryl Jacob (Zarkandar) but it may be prudent to stick with one who's got the t-shirt, namely his Kempton conqueror Binocular.

Recommendation

Back Binocular @ [4.5] in the Champion Hurdle "W/O Hurricane Fly" market

Sizing Europe will go to Cheltenham with a good chance, but there could be one to topple him in his bid to win at the Festival for the third year in a row. Simon Rowlands reports......

With a quality weekend in prospect, Timeform's Adam Brookes runs the rule over Saturday's Betfair Ascot Chase ......

Timeform's Matt Gardner takes an ante-post look at Saturday's Grand National Trial, run over three and a half miles at Haydock Park......

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Britain's Got Talent 2011: Girls Roc-ket to being leading contenders

Britain's Got Talent / Mike Norman / 11 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Something about Girls Roc caught the eye of our BGT reviewer

"It obviously helps when you’re outgoing, sexy and gorgeous but don’t let that detract from how good these girls actually were."

After a few weeks of disappointing audition shows, Mike Norman is in a far better mood after witnessing some proper talent on Saturday.

Admittedly I've been a bit grumpy of late, so much so that I've been accusing the current series of Britain's Got Talent as being dull and boring thus far.

Well either the guy dressed as Zorro at my last fancy dress party was Simon Cowell, the ITV producers heard my drunken rants about the rubbish being screened, or there is indeed a god out there happy to appease my wishes. But however it came about, Saturday's latest offering of bizarre, disillusioned, and fame-hungry contestants were far better than what we have seen in the three previous weeks.

Of course, when a septet of scantily-clad, none-too-shy beautiful women open the show then it's difficult to envisage BGT as anything but pure heaven and bliss.

Girls Roc really did rock. Ignoring their obvious assets, this bunch of sexy blondes and brunettes got the night off to a fantastic start. Much of what they did - flame throwing, fire eating, power tool stunts or whatever they are called - has been seen many times before, but these girls did it during a very confident and synchronised routine. It obviously helps when you're outgoing, sexy and gorgeous but don't let that detract from how good these girls actually were. It could easily have been seven hairy bikers doing the same routine for all I care, they would have still impressed... honest!

From a completely selfish point of view, it will be an utter disgrace if Girls Roc don't appear in the live semi-finals. But don't worry about that, I'll have a word with Zorro at my next fancy dress party.

Perhaps the silliest act I've ever seen on any series of BGT came when 21-year-old art student Nathan Wyburn appeared on Saturday to create a picture of judge Michael McIntyre from slices of Marmite-covered toast. From an art perspective it was ok, but from a variety act perspective it was brown bread just as much at its conclusion as it was before it commenced.

You only have to be a decent dancer to progress further on BGT; if you're an exceptional dancer then you can suddenly find yourself being touted as the potential winner before you've even had chance to polish your shoes.

On Saturday we saw two such dancers, one in the style of Billy Elliot, the other a cross between George Sampson and the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz.

Eleven-year-old James Hobley found his passion for dancing when his mum took him to a dancing event as a child. James discovered that dancing helps a muscle problem he has in his legs, and it also helps him to overcome his struggle against autism. I'm no expert in the kind of dancing that he enjoys, but living just a stone's throw away from where Jamie 'Billy Elliot' Bell grew up I'd like to think that I know a thing or two to suggest that James can go a long way in this year's competition. His story and appeal are exactly what the British public warm to, so definitely keep him on your shortlist for when the Winner market materialises.

Michael Moral on the other hand just oozed class during the robotic, body-pop style dance routine that he performed. The problem I have with Michael - and it's nothing personal - is that's he was born and still lives in France. This is Britain's Got Talent for Christ's sake! Can you just imagine the announcer at the Royal Variety Performance if this guy wins? "And the winner of this year's Britain's Got Talent is... French!"

But given the talent and entertainment Moral, and the likes of Hobley and Girls Roc demonstrated at least the show is moving in the right direction - quality-wise at least.

Three weeks into the auditions and Mike Norman is far from impressed with what we've seen so far, though a couple of Youtube entries have definitely impressed our hard-to-please blogger....

Mike Norman wasn't overly impressed with Saturday night's Britain's Got Talent auditions, but he believes a few acts are worth keeping an eye on as the show progresses....

Britain's Got Talent returns on Saturday so our resident Reality TV addict Mike Norman outlines what we've got in store for you over the coming weeks....

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