French Opera to take centre stage

Let’s start off with a couple of “high-fives” for bloggers who have really hit the back of the net this week, and their information is available to all and costs readers nothing!
TheBlogWinningPost (see adjacent link) is fairly new on the blogging scene, but resident writer Tom Castle came up with a 33/1 winner yesterday from his only selection in MARINGO BAY which he posted-up mid-morning yesterday and also advertised on twitter. This was no “pin-stickers” guide – his reasons were well written and thought-out. A brilliant effort and a man readers should pay attention to.
Sprinterstogo (see adjacent link) is a blog I have advised of before and resident writer “The Laird” knows his stuff when it comes to finding winners amongst the sprint races in the UK. Last Saturday from his only selection he found 14/1 winner GARSTANG, and followed that up yesterday with SHAWKANTANGO at 2/1. He doesn’t post many selections on his blog (2 or 3 a week) but when he does, take note! Back in Oct-Now, he had 5 winners (with one at 8/1) from 6 selections over a couple of weeks.
With free information of this quality on the “net” why buy a racing paper, and why pay professional tipsters for their advice. Most punters I know want to have a wager 2 or 3 times a week, not every day, and they’d rather be on a horse running at decent odds than having £40 of “hard-earned” on a 6/4 fav.

Great meetings today at Sandown and Newbury, with a supporting meeting at Fakenham.
At Sandown, there is a terrific h’cap chase at 2:40 over 3m1½f. Charlie Longsdon has his team in tip-top form and today’s race is perfect for QHILIMAR who is also on the Horse Alert List. This is a very competitive race, but I feel that QHILIMAR is much better than his current rating of OR122 as, on a line thru’ the consistent Sound Stage he is 16lb well-in with Buffalo Bob. We’ve missed the early value, but QHILIMAR is well worth a 1pt win wager at 15/2 for this.

Saturday’s Newbury card is replayed today.
The grade 2 Aon chase should be a walkover for What A Friend now that Riverside Theatre does not run in it. FRENCH OPERA lines-up for the Game Spirit chase at 1:15 and he was a 2pt win bet for this last Saturday, and I’ve not changed my opinion since. He’s even better odds now at 100/30 with Bet365 – lump on! Lastly, ZANIR was my selection on Saturday for the Totesport hurdle and I’ve not changed my opinion, but it’s now only 1-2-3 a place with just 15-runners and he’s 20/1. I’ll go eachway again.

Selections:
Sandown 2:40, QHILIMAR, 1pt win @ 15/2 (Betfred, best odds guaranteed)
Newbury 1:15, FRENCH OPERA, 2pts win @ 100/30 (Bet365, best odds guaranteed)
Newbury 1:50, ZANIR, ½pt eachway @ 20/1 (Corals, best odds guaranteed)
Total = 4pts staked

The Ryanair Chase
Continuing my antepost review of the coming Festival, the Ryanair looks a real betting opportunity. Last year’s 2nd POQUELIN stands head & shoulders above those entered for this on known form. He won LTO, repeating his win in the grade 3 “Gold Cup” h’cap at Cheltenham in December. He looks a better horse this season than last whereas others he met then such as J’y Vole and Albertas Run, have gone backwards. Somersby goes for the Champion Chase, stablemate The Nightingale is seriously over-rated by the handicapper on OR167, and that makes doubtful stayer Kalahari King on OR162 next-best on official ratings, a full 8lb inferior to consistent POQUELIN. At 4/1, POQUELIN is one of my bankers of the week and he should start shorter than his 11/4 odds for the race last year. I know I’ve put Riverside Theatre in my multiple bet for the Festival, but that’s cos I think he’ll be 2nd to POQUELIN and the 16’s on offer then (for Riverside Theatre) were too good to pass-up.

Selections:
Ryanair Chase on 17th March 2011
POQUELIN, 2pts win @ 4/1 with William Hill (best odds guaranteed)

More of the Cheltenham Festival markets tomorrow.

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