Donald McCain: Super Duty out to prove stamina at Wetherby

"I've always thought he (Super Duty) would get 3m well and this looked the right place to come with a view to deciding his target at the Cheltenham Festival....."

Donald is expecting a big run from Super Duty as he heads to Wetherby for the Towton Novices' Chase...

14.05 Ffos Las - Hollow Tree

He's got his share of weight as a result of his smart form last year and by running in a race like this, he does at least have to avoid lugging top weight around. It's going to be very testing ground which he has already proved he likes and although I think he will stay 3m in time, the drop back in trip certainly won't be a problem. It's obviously very competitive but it's what you expect in a £50k handicap - hopefully his proven ability in the mud will see him go well.

14.40 Ffos Las - Red Rocco

This obviously represents a step up in class for him but he's going the right way and the thorough test of stamina should suit him. Having just ten stone on his back will be in his favour in a race like this and although he needs to improve, he is less exposed than his rivals. Again, it's a valuable prize and if he can get into a nice rhythm in the early stages, he is capable of going well.

15.20 Wetherby - Super Duty

I've always thought he would get 3m well and this looked the right place to come with a view to deciding his target at the Cheltenham Festival. In an ideal world, he'd be having his first run at the trip on better ground than this but we need to crack on with him and he has proven he handles the mud - I was really pleased with him at Cheltenham last time. It looks competitive enough but he's still open to improvement over fences and looks to have a strong chance.

15.55 Wetherby - Dunowen Point

I didn't really have him down as a 2 ½ miler but he seemed to stay well enough when he won over hurdles at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and he was strong at the finish here last time. This probably isn't as competitive as it could be for the money on offer and if he does stay, he's got to have a chance - he's had his problems but he hasn't got that many miles on the clock.

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2000 Guineas: Caspar Netscher to have stamina tested in Greenham

News / Timeform / 12 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Charles Wentworth's Caspar Netscher

""I have a gut feeling he's a sprinter. His pedigree suggests he should get further, so that's the way we are going to go with him."

Alan McCabe expects the result of Caspar Netscher's three-year-old debut in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury to shape the rest of his 2012 campaign.

Although the Newark trainer feels his Timeform 115-rated dual Group 2 hero is likely to be suited by sprint distances, he wants to give the Dutch Art colt a try in a Classic trial.

McCabe sees the Group 3 seven-furlong contest in April on a track where he won the Mill Reef Stakes last season as the ideal race to find out.

"He's in good order. We're preparing him for the Greenham and it's fingers crossed. It's a long road, but hopefully we get there," McCabe told At The Races.

"He came back from America after the Breeders' Cup and has had a nice break.

"He was the third best two-year-old in the country last year, so we've a nice horse to go to war with this year.

"I have a gut feeling he's a sprinter. His pedigree suggests he should get further, so that's the way we are going to go with him.

"We can assess after that whether it's speed or that he stays."

Caspar Netscher is yet to enter the Betfair market for the 2000 Guineas, race in which Camelot currently heads the market at [7.0].

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Super League Betting Preview: Hull lack stamina to hold off Leeds

Super League / Stuart Jones / 17 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Can Hull stop Rob Burrow?

"I fancy Leeds to come back from a half-time deficit and clinch the points."

Stuart Jones selects the best bets as the Super League gets down to business in week two. Look out for a Rhino's comeback on Friday and watch the Giants chase victory on Saturday...

It's the calm after the storm as far as Super League XVI is concerned this weekend. After a marathon of live Millennium Magic action last week, the Sky cameras will be at just two games for round two.

Hull play host to Leeds at the KC Stadium on the first of those on Friday evening and the performances of the two sides last weekend could barely have been more contrasting. Richard Agar's side raced into a 14-0 lead inside as many minutes against their fierce rivals KR, only to leak 28 unanswered points as they eventually slumped to a 34-22 defeat.

The Airlie birds have consistently been amongst the biggest spenders in Super League, but whilst last year's sixth place finish was a creditable effort, they are yet to hint at the progression required to challenge the big four.

It was noticeable how quickly Hull began to tire last week and, like last year, it seems too much is being asked of Danny Houghton and Craig Fitzgibbon. The signing of Sam Obst during the week may take some pressure off Houghton, but they still go into the game with too many players out of position. Richard Whiting will never have the pace to be a full back, Jordan Turner isn't up to scratch as a stand-off in Super League and Lee Radford is a hard-working back-row forward, not a prop.

Last week's unlikely victory over Bradford showed just how dangerous the Rhinos are when the game begins to break up. They looked dead and buried when 28-10 down in the second half, but as the Bulls began to falter, Leeds came into their own, the pace of Burrow and Jones-Bishop proving all too much for a tiring Bradford side.

With that in mind, I expect Hull to again start strongly, but the lack of balance in the side will surely play to Leeds' strengths over the 80 minutes, and just like the last meeting between the clubs at the KC Stadium in September, I fancy Leeds to come back from a half-time deficit and clinch the points.

Saturday night's game between Castleford and Huddersfield looks a little easier to call. Both teams impressed when getting off to winning starts in Cardiff, but Huddersfield faced the far sterner test as they beat Warrington 28-18.

Quite possibly the most underrated player in Super League, Castleford's Rangi Chase was a joy to watch as he steered his side to a comfortable victory over Wakefield on Saturday, scoring one try and having a hand in three others.

However, Chase won't be expecting such an armchair ride this weekend and I can't see how the Castleford pack can stop Huddersfield getting on top and limiting the quality of ball he has to work with.

Huddersfield's pack was on the front foot from the word go last weekend and I don't rate the Tigers forwards even close to that of Warrington's. That will make all the difference here and the away side have to be backed conceding -7.5pts.

Recommended bets:
Back Hull/Leeds @ [7.0] in the half-time/full-time market
Back Huddersfield Giants -7.5 pts at [1.91]

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