Sport is made for betting

Once again, it's a solid support card at York and William Kedjanyi, @keejayOV , has focused on the more attractive betting races. -------------------------- Betfred 'Supports Jack Berry House' Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (4YO plus) (2.10) Lexington Abbey was a bitter disappointment when caught on the outside of the field at Pontefract last time, but deserves to be forgiven for that effort and can go well here. Second twice here last year over 5 and 6 furlongs, he steadily kept improving and was often coming too late in decent sprint contests last year, including when flying to beat nearly all of the field on his return in a strong Doncaster contest at the Lincoln meeting, flattening out only in the last furlong. Drawn around plenty of pace, including Tangerine Trees, he can make a bold bid today. Everything would appear to have gone just right for Monsieur Joe, running off the same mark as when landing this last year, and he is just the second name of the longlist wh...

The quality racing continues at York with the headline event of the festival, the Dante Stakes. For those not so familiar with British flat racing, this is the premier prep race for the Derby. Whatever happens today will have a huge bearing on the markets for the jewel of British flat racing. which ridiculously, they run on the GOAT TRACK called Epsom. So if you fancy one of these for the derby, like our previewer does, get in early or take a significantly reduced price. Back in the ring for another swing today is William Kedjanyi, @keejayOV . You can read more of his musings across a plethora of sports and events on his blog . --------------------- Betfred Dante Stakes 3.15 York Group 2, Class 1, 3YO Winner £90,736 Elm Park: Has always looked a natural for middle distances, going unbeaten in four races after his debut, most importantly knuckling down to beat Nafqa for the Royal Lodge (good to firm, Newmarket) and then coming right away to land the Racing Post Trophy in st...

William's in a prolific mood in front of the keyboard, here's the rest of his analysis for today at York! @keejayov , and his blog - keejayov.wordpress.com ----------------------- 888sport Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (4YO plus) (2.10) It’s hard to get away from the lightly raced front pair in the market, Mahsoob and Field of Fame , first and third in another big field event at Newbury on only their second runs. The form of that has only been boosted since, with the second going close again afterwards and no other top 10 runner disappointing when seen since. Field of Fame has been given a 4lbs turnaround for just over a two length beating, and if not bouncing on what was his first run for 563 days, should be upto going close but the feeling is Mahsoob, despite being landed with the widest draw and an 8lbs rise, may prove to be the better of the pair. This is no two horse race however, with First Flight – who bumped into a group horse in Air Pilot before getting sh...

Early on the Wednesday card at York is this puzzling handicap, 20 runners down the straight six furlongs on the Knavesmire. William Kedjanyi, @keejayOV , isn't afraid of the challenge! ------------------ Infinity Tyres Stakes Handicap, Class 2 4YO plus, 6f, 14.40 This is a fiendishly difficult puzzle to solve with several of the runners interlinked through key races, all of which look strong. The Ripon handicap won by Pipers Note from Another Wise Kid , Tatlisu, and Algar Lad with Fast Shot and Kimberella further behind looks to be one of the most important contests. That day the field split into two groups, with Another Wise Kid finishing well on top of his side, and Pipers Note and Tatlisu leaving their group behind before drifting into the centre. All of the first four can be thereabout at the finish today but it looks notable that Pipers Note and Tatlisu came several lengths clear from the of a smaller group that was well beaten overall; The third from the nearsid...

The York May meeting, better known as the Dante Meeting, kicks off today, and it looks like being a great three days of racing. Returning to the blog after a lengthy recess to preview a few races is prolific blogger and astute judge, William Kedjanyi. ------------------------- Hello there! It’s been a long time – about two years – since I last had the pleasure of writing on these pages and Scott – still doing the good deed of giving bloggers a platform for their work – has kindly given me the gig to be your York guide for the week’s two big races. Examples of this, and all my other work, can be found on The (New) Vic Page ( keejayov.wordpress.com ), and any other bets I’m having that can’t be put into words can be put on @KeejayOV . Duke of York Stakes 6f Group 2 Class 1 £110,000 1515 BST Caspar Netscher: Well placed to land the Neartic Stakes in Candada, but found the opposition to good at the Breeders’ Cup before returning with a good third at Meydan. Found the Al Quoz...

Later on the card at Doomben, it's the half a million dollar BTC Cup, as previewed by Josh Langdon, @wenin_rome . ------------------------------- UBET BTC Cup Doomben $500k G1, WFA, 1200m Race 8, 1607 local, 0707 BST Speed will be genuine, but the loss of Time For War as a late scratching no doubt changes things a bit. Srikandi and El Roca are likely to cross from wide gates and take up the early running, while Our Boy Malachi and Hot Snitzel won’t be too far behind. The 1200m at Doomben offers around about a 300m run to get into position before the first turn, so those coming wide looking to find a spot on pace will need to have some serious early speed. Our Boy Malachi has been simply outstanding since making the trip down from Rockhampton and deserves his place in the market. He is unbeaten over his past five starts, and the step up to Group level last start was passed with relative ease. It’s also worth noting that his win in Hall Mark G3 was on a Soft 6 surface, whic...

After the fun and frivolity in the freezing weather, the focus on Aussie racing heads north to Queensland and their 'winter' carnival. There has been plenty of rain in recent weeks down the east coast, but at the time of posting, the track rating was Soft 5. Returning to the blog after a healthy spell in the paddock is Joshua Langdon, @wenin_rome . ---------------------- The Bundaberg Rum Doomben Cup Group 1, WFA, 2000m Doomben 15:27 local time, 0627 BST Pace looks average at best with Leebaz and Pornichet the likely leaders, Addictive Habit and Banca Mo should not too far off. It’s a long run to the first bend for the 2000m at Doomben, so drawing a wider gate may not be too much of a disadvantage. The Hollindale had no less than eight runners there who are turning up today and that should very well be the best guide. Leebaz led all the way to just hold on from a charging Sir Moments in the Hollindale and despite there being no Sir Moments here today due to injur...

Time for the regular weekly contribution from @AFLRatings , it's the Round 6 preview of the greatest sport in the world! --------------------------- AFL Round 6 Preview aflratings.com.au @AFLRatings With three favourites finding themselves on the wrong end of it last week, what will Round 6 deliver? Here are out thoughts for all nine games. Collingwood v Geelong The most alarming stat heading in to the Friday night clash is that Collingwood are ranked first for contested possessions (157.2) per game and Geelong are ranked 18th (125.6). Yes the Magpies have won four games against teams that have a combined 4-16 win/loss record so far in 2015 but don’t be put off because they are an emerging team. Geelong were substandard last week but it was good enough to get the job done against Richmond, a team that used to score quite easily in recent years is struggling with only 75.6pts FOR per game this season. The Cats offensive struggles may just play in to the hands of the Magpi...

One down, one to go at Newmarket. The impressive Gleneagles did the job for Coolmore and Ryan Moore with ease today, who does it tomorrow? Completing his set of Guineas previews, it's Sam Preen, @sampreen . --------------------- QIPCO 1000 Guineas Newmarket 1540 Group 1, One Mile, 3yo fillies Good to Firm It was this time last year when I was sitting on 20/1 for Rizeena for this race – it still hurts. Ante-post nightmares aside, 13 fillies line up to tackle the 1000 Guineas, with some star names in the mix. Here’s the field. Fadhayyil Easily brushed aside by Marsh Hawk on her debut, but quickly made amends a month later when landing a Salisbury maiden, despite being bumped leaving the stalls and racing freely throughout, and ran a creditable length second to Lucida when the pair locked horns in the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes last September. Claims over this extra furlong, if she’s learned to settle. Irish Rookie Shocked everyone here on her debut, by winning her maiden by...