By Carl Harris

Saturday could be a great day then again it could be a disaster! There are four scheduled jumps meetings, all of which will have inspections in the morning. 

Lingfield is the only card guranteed to go ahead, so it will be fingers crossed, certainlt at Haydock, Wincanton and Ascot.

Saturdays Going;

• Ascot - Soft-Good to Soft in places (Prec Inspection 6.30am).
• Haydock - Chase: Heavy; Hurdle: Soft-Heavy in plcs (Prec Inspection 9.00am).
• Lingfield - Standard
• Uttoxeter - Heavy (Inspection 8.00am).
• Wincanton - Heavy (Inspection 8am).

I am going to assume that all is fine tomorrow and here are my Free Horseracing Tips for Saturday.

1:55 Haydock, Me Voici- Win. This is a really interesting race with the Triumph Hurdle only three weeks away. Me Voici was a really impressive winner at Chepstow last time when beating Sang Bleu by 10 lengths. I think that form is well ahead of anything else here and as such he can win here and put himself in the Triumph Hurdle picture.


3:00 Haydock, Adams Island- Win. I think this is a decent type who can land a three timer with Tony McCoy onboard. His win last time at Newbury was very impressive, winning going away, to get the better of a well regarded Paul Nicholls horse. The price may not be great however, but I really like this one and will have a decent bet.

3:15 Ascot, Planet Of Sound- Win. This was won by Voy Por Ustedes last year and though there are no big names on show this time round I think it will be a good race. It revolves around Planet Of Sound and Alberta Run. When the two met last time it was Albertas Run who came out on top but with six pounds better terms and two below par runs from Albertas Run I am siding with Planet of Sound, although it will be a close one in my view. Planet of Sound is the fresh horse and at the weights is my bet here.

Albertas Run lines up at Ascot

Betfair Chase – Ascot 3.15pm(William Hill bet): 2-1 Planet of Sound, 3-1 Herecomesthetruth, 9-2 Albertas Run, 13-2 Oh Crick, 7-1 Monet’s Garden, 16-1 The Sawyer (EW 1/4 1,2)



3:35 Haydock, Dream Alliance- Win and Place. This is the Blue Square Handicap Chase which is highly competitive, to say the least. Last time out he won the Coral Welsh National, with Silver By Nature and Le Beau Bai behind.  Although he has been raised nine pounds by the handicapper I am prepared to back him to defy that and win again. testing conditions are right up his street, a win and place bet is recommended.

Deream Alliance

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By Carl Harris

Its a Super Saturday with the highlight being the Newbury card which is choc full of quality and intrigue. The obvious double today is Denman and Master Minded, you can’t get bigger than those two, possibly only by adding Kauto Star. It promises to be a great day.

The big betting race of the day is The Totesport Trophy which is a competitive betting heat, to say the least and we have another chance to see Diamond Harry over fences before he heads to Cheltenham. I am really looking forward to Saturday at Newbury and also at Warwick.

1:30 Newbury, Diamond Harry- Win. Not much of a price today but I am interested here with Cheltenham in mind. Some say that Diamond Harry was a fortunate winner on his chase debut, but it was not his fault the others all fell with Harry travelling easily. He would have won either way but we didn’t learn much. He faces better horses here, but should still have a stone in hand and if a serious Cheltenham player you would look for him to win on the steel. If the layers take him on, offering backers value, then I for one will be on. You choose what you think value looks like, but I see only one winner here, Diamond Harry.

Alan King takes him on with Bensalem and the trainer writes on his website:

“Bensalem might not have beaten Diamond Harry at Haydock, but he would have been a good second and the longer trip will definitely help our cause. He took a nasty fall at Haydock, but when we gave him his first school he was straight into it, so clearly it had no ill effects.”

Personally I read that as we will have a go, but I don’t expect to beat him. Diamond Harry could be a very high class chaser who should come on from that debut and win here.

Diamond Harry runs again over fences on Saturday

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2:30 Newbury (Aon Chase), Denman- Win. Denman will be very short, he will win and win well. Tony McCoy takes the ride to get to know ‘The Tank’ ahead of partnering him at Cheltenham in The Gold Cup on March 19. He showed in the Hennessey that he is back to his best and at his best he should win this hard held. Its more interesting than a serious betting event, anything but a Denman win would be a disaster. On official ratings he has over 2 stones in hand.

Paul Nicholls told the press; “The form he was in at the Hennessy, we could quite easily have run him fresh (in the Gold Cup) without a run but he’s a little more stuffy than Kauto Star and it just fits in with his preparation.

What the Champion Trainer is eluding to is that this race now shapes up as nothing more than an exercise gallop, which is exactly how much effort it will take to win this readily, giving McCoy a chance to get to know the horse. This is a ‘gimmie’ for connections, as big Ron would say.

Get the Best Odds with InRunningOdds.com- LIVE (below on from Saturday Morning)

Denman next stop Cheltenham Gold Cup

I will be having a treble on the above two and the dual Champion Chase winner Master Minded, who is back after a break to recover from a stress fracture. He should win the Game Spirit Chase.

3:40 Newbury, Master Minded- Win. There are some who think Master Minded was beaten last time because he is past his best. The simple fact is he was found to have a stress fracture which caused him to run poorly. He is said to have recovered and should run much better. A win here will see him shorten up for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.  Paul Nicholls seems quietly confident ahead of this run, where he meets Voy Por Ustedes. He says;

“I have been very impressed with him since he came back into work, he looks fabulous and when he won the Champion Chase two years ago his run before was in the Game Spirit, so it fits in nicely.”

I have backed Master Minded for the Champion Chase because of the positive noises I heard last week from connections. Closer to the race you tend to find caution kicks in, but I get the feeling that connections fully expect Master Minded to win. I hope I have read that right. He is as good a two miler as I have ever seen and for the last leg of the terrible there are few other horses I would rather rely on than Master Minded. Ruby Walsh rides, no way would he let McCoy take this ride!

Get the Best Odds with InRunningOdds.com- LIVE (below on from Saturday Morning)

Master Minded on the way to the Champion Chase

The Totesport Trophy..Take 10/1 Get Me Out Of Here

3:05 Newbury, Get Me Out Of Here, Win and Place. I have already put my views forward my views about Get Me Out Of Here for the feature betting handicap of Saturday’s card. You can read those comments in full but regular readers will be in no doubt why this one is being nominated. We were on last time, when I actually said the horse should have a mark of 135, which he now has. He was not tested at all and I think he has plenty of scope and ability. As an each-way proposition at 10/1 I think this is a cracker of a bet. I would be amazed if McCoy was not in the frame at the very least here.

This is one of the best double digit bets I have seen for quite some time.

Get the Best Odds with InRunningOdds.com- LIVE (below on from Saturday Morning)

Take McCoy on Get Me Out Of Here at 10/1

2:15 Warwick- Long Run- Win. At Warwick we get another look at Nicky Henderson’s Arkle Trophy hopeful, Long Run who should win before going to Cheltenham. At adjusted weights he probably has a stone in hand and therefore is fully expected to win. Again not a great price but this is another race with relevance beyond today. Sam Waley-Cohen is a decent amateur, the owners son, who will be on at Cheltenham. I have no worries about the jockey, certainly not here but if it came to a tight finish up the Cheltenham hill with McCoy, Walsh or Johnson then that may be a different scenario. Long Run for me to win here, readily.

Get the Best Odds with InRunningOdds.com- LIVE (below on from Saturday Morning)

On the all-weather…

7:20 Wolverhampton, Tiger Hawk- Win. He must be the bet of the day on the level. A good winner on Thursday this is such a poor race that he surely must win. If we have had a good day over jumps a sneaky bet on this one should pay for the Valentines card at the very least!

Get the Best Odds with InRunningOdds.com- LIVE (below on from Saturday Morning)

Free Horseracing Tips, from Carl Harris for Saturday 13 Feb:

A Treble

• 1:30 Newbury, Diamond Harry- Win
• 2:30 Newbury (Aon Chase), Denman- Win
• 3:40 Newbury, Master Minded- Win

Each Way

• 3:05 Newbury, Get Me Out Of Here, Win and Place.

Others

• 2:15 Warwick- Long Run- Win
• 7:20 Wolverhampton, Tiger Hawk- Win

Get the best odds- compare odds at InRunningOdds.com

The Racing Diary Saturday Podcast:

By Carl Harris

Its remembrance day and we should take a moment to pay thanks to all our brave servicemen past and present who have given up so much for us. In Afghanistan our boys are dying and we should not forget them. Have a look at Sky News to see all the young lives lost in that conflict.

So Wednesday, we have two jumps cards and all-weather racing this afternoon at Southwell and tonight at Kempton. I am going to focus on the jumps once again with bets at Bangor and Warwick. The weather is feeling more winter like, after a mild spell, it’s the proper jumps season now, in the cold.

13:40 Bangor- Free World, Win

Free World (13:40) has much to live up to carrying the colours of Kauto Star and Master Minded. He is not that class, but nonetheless is a decent chaser who makes his seasonal reappearance at Warwick in a small but very competitive field. Much has been said that he is a nearly horse but the stats show a 25 percent strike rate, with two wins from eight runs and he has been in the first three in six of those runs.  If he carried different colours I think he would have much less criticism to contend with. Ruby Walsh is aboard, the best horse in my view, and should get the better of Doctor David and the enigmatic Moon Over Miami.

Famous Colours carried by Free World

13:50 Warwick- Topsham Belle, Win

Nicky Henderson has a stable full of promising young horses having won so many bumpers last year. Topsham Belle, (13:50) is one such prospect who has run once, bolting up on her debut at Huntingdon. The stable has a great record with first time out hurdlers, indeed this stable is the hurdle stable boasting the current Triumph and Champion Hurdle crowns. I expect Topsham Belle to confirm the promise of her run in April with a win here.

Carl Harris’ Best Bets for Wednesday 11 November

• 13:40 Bangor- Free World, Win
• 13:50 Warwick- Topsham Belle, Win

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By Carl Harris

Tuesday, usually a day to duck but there are three jump meeting with plenty of decent options, so I will be getting involved at all three venues today. Sedgefield, Exeter and Lingfield are the venues a full day that signals that we really are in the National Hunt season proper.

I have four bets today which may be worth playing in a multi-bet combining doubles, trebles and a four-timer. Here are the horses I suggested perming in what would be a very handsome payout if they all come good;

13:30 Lingfield- Absolute Shambles, Win

Lets hope Absolute Shambles (13:30) is anything but in what looks on paper to be a very modest novice handicap chase. The five year-old ran well to finish second at Wincanton a couple of weeks ago and really should go one better with Colin Bolger in the plate.

14:00 Lingfield- Sonowyouknow, Win

Bought by current connections out of the Ronald O’Leary stable following some decent form in bumpers, Sonowyouknow (14:00) repaid some of that outlay by winning a maiden hurdle at Aintree under Tony McCoy. That was a decent victory which should have taught the five year-old a thing or two about the game. With McCoy back in the saddle I see only one result here.

JUmping at three meetings

15:10 Exeter- Copper Bleu, Win

Philip Hobbs has started the season well and can sore at Exeter with Copper Bleu (15:10) who goes over fences and should have too much class for the field. With a rating of 142 over the smaller obstacles he is sure to have been very well schooled and should really get off the mark at the first time of asking. Nothing in the field has form within the same parish as Copper Bleu who has Richard Johnson in the saddle for assistance.

15:20 Sedgefield- Knockaveen, Win (NAP)

Alan Swinbank does exceptionally well in northern bumpers. Knockaveen (15:20) was another first time out flat race winner at Carlisle. I saw that race first hand, having an interest in a filly that ran down the field. Knockaveen is a very good looking sort and should win here. I think this won without being asked any question at all, by a mere nine lengths, with no telling just how good she could be. Knockaveen is my best bet of the day. The excellent Brian Hughes takes the mount.

Carl Harris’ Multi-bet for Tuesday 10 November

• 13:30 Lingfield- Absolute Shambles, Win
• 14:00 Lingfield- Sonowyouknow, Win
• 15:10 Exeter- Copper Bleu, Win
• 15:20 Sedgefield- Knockaveen, Win (NAP)

Get on with a multi-bet

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By Carl Harris

It was a brilliant weekend at the Breeders’ Cup and yesterday, though not much of a price, Get Out Of Here confirmed that he is a decent horse in the making and one I fully expect to see at Cheltenham in March. The flat season is over so the next few months are all about jumps and all-weather racing which is what we have on offer on Monday; two jumps and one all-weather meeting. Carlisle is where my attention will be focused, despite the heavy going as well as Southwell where I am interested in a hurdle débutante.

1:55 Carlisle, Roll Along, Win (NAP)

Roll Along (13:55) isa decent horse over hurdles, boasting a handicap mark of 160 and exceptionally high class form. He makes his debut today for the Twiston-Davies yard, formally being with Carl Llewellyn, over fences which he last tackled when finishing fourth in a grade one chase in Ireland and was sixth to Kauto Star in the Gold Cup before that. On official ratings he has seventeen pounds in hand and I see no reason why he will not open his account for his new trainer at the first time of asking with Graham Lee taking the ride. Looking at the early prices on offer on Betfair I am rubbing my eyes. Am I missing something? Roll Along should be longs odds on, in my view.He goes well fresh and should hack up here.

We are Jumping at Carlisle and Southwell on Monday

2:45 Southwell- Holoko Heights, Win

Michael Owen was in London with Manchester United on Sunday, seeing Chelsea beat them 1-0 in an important Premier League match so I doubt he will be minded to venture toSouthwell to watch his horse Holoko Heights (14:45) make his hurdling debut. Now in the care of Tim Vaughan, formerly with Nick Vaughan, he has modest form on the flat but  as we know Tim Vaughan likes to get them fit for their first run and has a record of improving horses beyond belief. The booking of Richard Johnson is eye-catching here and there are whispers already that this is one to be on first time out on a very fair course.

Carl Harris’ Best Bets for Monday 9 November

• 13:55 Carlisle, Roll Along, Win (NAP)
• 14:45 Southwell- Holoko Heights, Win

The Carl Harris Daily Racing Podcast, turn off audio below.

By Carl Harris

I am going to focus on the flat today before a winter full of jump racing. The flat season on turf finishes at Doncaster today with the November handicap being the feature betting contest. Sadly for Doncaster it is overshadowed somewhat by the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, which is a fantastic night of racing and I will be focusing primarily on an excellent evening state-side.All my bets today are at the Breeders’ Cup.

We have already done a full preview of the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday and the excellent Nathan Lynch will be posting his thoughts shortly on Racing Diary.

20:10 Breeders’ Cup Sprint- Zensational (Win)

It pains me to say it but Zensational looks a very special horse who should put one on the board for the home team. Trained by Bob Baffert who the Americans say is a ‘hall of fame’ trainer, whatever that means. His record is pretty good having nine grade one wins to his name and has won this race for the last two years and Zensational’s has the form to make it a third.  The 3-year-old Zensational, a son of Unbridled’s Song, has won five of seven career starts, including his 2 1/4-length score in the Grade I Pat O’Brien Stakes.

Zensational has finished out of the money just twice in seven career starts, and comes into the Sprint on a four-race winning streak, including three consecutive grade one races. The three-year-old colt drew the No. 1 post, which Baffert wasn’t happy about, although Zensational has broken from that same spot in two of his three recent wins. “He lives in the one hole, that’s his home,” Baffert said. “I ought to hang a hay net in there for him.”

21:28 Breeders’ Cup Mile- Goldikova, Win (NAP)

Goldikova won really well in 2008, dishing out a lesson to her opponents.  The yanks didn’t like that and on her return to Santa Anita she finds herself drawn in stall 11 of 11, the coffin box. Funny that! Lets hope that she shows them that class can prevail at what is going to be a better than expected price given the draw.

Here is her 2008 win;

Following a slow start to the season she has done nothing but win, taking the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket then destroying group one fields regularly all year. Goldikova, whom he saddled for a popular victory at Santa Anita last year, finished third in her most recent start, which might lead some handicappers to think that her brilliant winning form is over the top. Head thinks otherwise. Trained by Freddie Head the filly is the one they all have to beat he told reporters;

“You need a bit of luck in a race like that, but I’m very confident, She’s very well. I think she’s in the best form I’ve seen her.”

It would be an excellent performance to win but she has the class and is my best bet of the night!

23:45 Breeders’ Cup Classic (grade 1)- Rip Van Winkle, Win

So to the big one, won last year by Ravens Pass. This is a clash between Aidan O’Brien’s Rip Van Winkle and Zenyatta who has won all 13 of her career starts. I share Nathan Lynch’s view that in her last 6 wins not one horse she has beaten has since come out and won a group 1 race, John Sherrifs her trainer has avoided tough assignments having placed her to perfection beating up on very weak g1 fields against her own sex only. This is a tougher test and British punters do not need me to tell them how good Rip Van Winkle is. He is a very highly rated horse who has the class to win.

I would love to see Europe stick it up the Americans and win more races than they do. I think they will!

Carl Harris’ Best Bets for Saturday 7 November

• 20:10 Breeders’ Cup Sprint- Zensational (Win)
• 21:28 Breeders’ Cup Mile- Goldikova, Win (NAP)
• 23:45 Breeders’ Cup Classic (grade 1)- Rip Van Winkle, Win

The daily Racing Diary Podcast- turn audio off here below;

By Carl Harris

After bonfire night it is time for the proper fireworks with the kick -off of the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita. I will be focusing on this in stead of Wolverhampton, Fontwell, Southwell and Hexham. I am sure you will agree that the US cards are of seriously good quality and it could be a good weekend for the Europeans who are there in strength following a successful meeting in 2008.

20:35 Santa Anita- Mastery, Win

23:02 Santa Anita- Ventura, Win (NAP)

23:45 Santa Anita- Rainbow View, Win and Place

I am tempted to back Rainbow View in the closing race on Fridays card, win and place. Firstly John Gosden is one man who knows how to win at Santa Anita having spent many years here as a trainer. He showed that last year with Ravens Pass who was a nearly horse for the first part of the season. Rainbow View may flourish here and at the 6/1 on offer I think we are getting some value. 1m 1f may be her idea trip, she has the speed and the class and is certainly worth a sporting bet.

Here she is working out at Santa Anita…

Carl Harris’ Best Bets for Friday 6 November

• 20:35 Santa Anita- Mastery, Win
• 23:02 Santa Anita- Ventura, Win (NAP)
• 23:45 Santa Anita- Rainbow View, Win and Place

Racing Diary daily Podcast- turn off audio here…

By Carl Harris

Remember, remember the fifth of November and I will be hoping that maxim is true today. Haydock will have to pass a 7am inspection for jumping to take place but no problems at Towcester and the all-weather at Lingfield. I have decided to leave Haydock alone, even if it does go ahead, the ground will affect things so its not for me. No evening racing tonight as the nation enjoys the symbolic burning of Guy Fawkes, who like me was from York incidentally, and fireworks.

The Breeders Cup at Santa Anita takes place on Friday and Saturday and should be the best yet. I will be looking in detail at the cards, but I note with interest that Goldikova has been given the coffin box draw as she looks to repeat her devastating win last year, anyone share my conspiracy theories on this one?

1:45 Lingfield- Sahara Kingdom, Win

Sahara Kingdom (13:45) was very well backed on his debut four weeks ago and won very impressively over course and distance. He reappears in a five runner novice contest at Lingfield, against stronger opposition but can confirm his promise with a quick double. It is a competitive affair with Tom Dascombe’s Bellini Rose looking a decent sort and John Best runs a debutant here in Slip Sliding Away, rather than an easier maiden, which is of note. Sahara Kingdom though looks a special colt who is sure to have come on for his first run.

Godolphin to continue purple patch

2:40 Towcester- Sabre Hongrois, Win

Sabre Hongrois (14:40) may be a decent price in a competitive looking handicap hurdle. Wolf Moon is looking for hat-trick having won in novice company and makes his handicap debut. This is much more competitive and the answer may be Sabre Hongrois who is in great form, coming here following a decent win at Huntingdon. David Pipe has his string in good order and may have a fitness edge here. Sabre Hongrois has run well before at Towcester, which is an important factor and represents a very good value bet, in my eyes.

Carl Harris’ Best Bets for Thursday 5 November

• 13:45 Lingfield- Sahara Kingdom, Win
• 14:40 Towcester- Sabre Hongrois, Win

Daily Podcast- Click Below to PLAY AUDIO

By Carl Harris

When I was growing up the day before fireworks night was the night for causing mischief. Hopefully there will be no mischievous occurrences today on the track and we have another good day. Racing takes place at Nottingham on the flat and over jumps at Warwick and Chepstow. There is an all-weather card at Kempton this evening which is one I will be swerving.

2:15 Nottingham- Alexandros, Win

Godolphin came close to landing the Melbourne Cup with Crime Scene and are in red hot form at present. They saddle Alexandros (14:15) at Nottingham who takes a huge drop in grade and should sign off for the season with a win. He is the class act of the race, a genuine group one performer with a rating of 116 although he disappointed when last seen in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting. This should be a relatively simple task, if he is sound and judging by the stable’s current form  he should run a good race. Alexandros is my best bet of the day.

Godolphin provide our bet on Wednesday

2:30 Warwick- Somersby, Win

Somersby (14:30) makes his chasing debut at Warwick for Henrietta Knight having mixed it at the highest level over hurdles. Last seen at Aintree when third in a grade two hurdle attaining a rating of 141. The five year-old looks a chasing type and can get off the mark over the bigger obstacles at the first time of asking. With McCoy riding the enigmatic Straw Bear Paul Moloney takes the ride, a decent jockey for a decent horse.

Carl Harris’ Best Bets for Wednesday 4 November

• 14:15 Nottingham- Alexandros, Win (NAP)
• 14:30 Warwick- Somersby, Win

Carl Harris’ Daily Racing Podcast….

By Carl Harris

One of each on offer today with flat racing on turf and the all-weather as well as an excellent jumps card at Exeter where the William Hill Gold Cup is the feature race, a good race by any standards but exceptional for a Tuesday. The flat season is in it’s final days for 2009 and we are building up to the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita on Saturday which as always is packed full of quality. The November Handicap is the last big race of the season at Doncaster on Saturday, then its jumping all the way.

2:10 Catterick- Cono Zur, Win

Cono Zur (14:10) hails from the Mark Johnston stable who has had an outstanding season bagging over 200 winners in 2009, an excellent feat for a northern yard. Cono Zur was a very impressive winner at Newcastle on his debut and reappears here for the first time in a handicap, off a mark of 82. He is sure to have improved following his introduction to racing and I think can give weight to the field and win with Joe Fanning in the saddle once again.

Oh Crick - The Answer at Exeter

3:00 Exeter, Oh Crick, Win

Oh Crick (15:00) finished last season with two huge wins at Cheltenham (The Grand Annual) and Aintree (grade 3 chase) for Alan King. He makes his reappearance in the William Hill Gold Cup Chase at Exeter which has attracted a field worthy of the £75,000 prize money. Twist Magic went off favourite last year, finishing a well beaten fourth and may need this run despite being trained by the Champion Trainer. Nacarat may be the main danger but for me Oh Crick is improving and is sure to arrive here fit and ready to land the hat-trick.

Carl Harris Best Bets for Tuesday 3 November

• 2:10 Catterick- Cono Zur, Win
• 3:00 Exeter, Oh Crick, Win

The Carl Harris Daily Podcast, click below to play audio….