SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Andrew Riley, Social Media Manager at Oddschecker, is the latest Guest to take the Tipster Challenge. He will be providing expert horse racing tips for today’s 7-race card at Salisbury.
As usual, he will be up against SBC News, Timeform and Stephen Harris, the resident Horse Racing Guru at bettingexpert. The previous army of Guests will be hoping for a positive response from Andrew, after a disappointing set of results for Trevor Keane (Sportego) at Ascot last time out.
The action gets underway at 2:10, with the final race scheduled for 5:20. Sea Fox, Next Stage and Wave Reviews are the big favourites for the day, but as we’ve seen over 21 weeks, nothing is straightforward in the Tipster Challenge!
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2:10
SBC News: Sea Fox
Promising debut run at Newbury where he should have won. Easily the horse to beat.
bettingexpert: Sea Fox
Shaped nicely on debut at Newbury on debut and is expected to put experience to good use with Fran Berry an unusual booking for the yard.
Timeform: Sea Fox
Only inexperience prevented Sea Fox from making a winning start in a minor event at Newbury 13 days ago, and given he is bred to be useful, he should take some stopping granted normal improvement.
Oddschecker: Crucial Moment
Sea Fox will be the deserved favourite having shown the best form of those who have had a run. However, it’s another one with a run to their name who is the pick. Crucial Moment has been of the track since finishing 8 of 10 in the season opening Brocklesby at Doncaster. He did go off a 5/1 second favourite that day so is obviously thought of quite highly by connection. The 81-day absence could be a concern, but the hope is he will have come on physically and mentally in that time.
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2:40
SBC News: New Rich
Steps up after a narrow defeat at Brighton last week. He will be looking to prove himself on the soft ground after victories on synthetic surfaces.
bettingexpert: Angel Way
Slipping down the weights after a quiet spell and could represent a bit of value after a seven week break.
Timeform: New Rich
Narrowly beaten from the front at Brighton last week and could be the way to go in a change of headgear.
Oddschecker: Silverrica
It doesn’t get any easier in the next with a 0-80 5f veterans’ handicap. None of these have really shown any real form of late so it’s anyone’s guess who will win this. We’ll plump for the top weight Silverrica, who looks the only genuine 5f specialist in the field and will hopefully come on for his recent reappearance.
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3:10
SBC News: Mistime
On course for a hat-trick after recent victories at Chelmsford and Goodwood.
bettingexpert: Groupie
Has run with credit on both career starts to date and perhaps has more scope to improve than Mistime.
Timeform: Mistime
Mistime already looks an uncomplicated ride, and with further improvement on the cards, victory number 3 would come as little surprise.
Oddschecker: Groupie
More of an appealing race than the other two but still full of unexposed runners. Richard Hannon has a good form line for most of today’s rivals so he’ll know the standard Groupie will have to reach to take this. Tom Marquand’s 3lb claim could also be very useful in a tight looking contest.
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3:45
SBC News: Rex Bell
Arrives off the back of a victory on similarly soft ground, and will be well backed here.
bettingexpert: Combative
Looked promising when making a winning debut at Lingfield and had excuses when disappointing at Sandown last time.
Timeform: Master Blueyes
Alan King has another progressive handicapper on his hands, and the hat-trick is very much on given a 4lb rise for his Chester win looks very fair.
Oddschecker: Rex Bell
This looks very tough! A 6-runner race full of progressive handicappers. Form wise Rex Bell is probably the pick with solid runs behind horses who have gone on to be highly tried. Michael Stoute has had a great season with his 3-y-o and Mainstream looks to have every chance under Ryan Moore. On balance though, favour is for Rex Bell who showed a liking to the soft conditions last time out and is taken to take the step up in trip in his stride.
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4:20
SBC News: Touch The Sky
Boring pick, but top weight Touch The Sky is bidding for a hat-trick after his recent wins at Pontefract and Sandown.
bettingexpert: Forced Family Fun
Caught the eye last time when poorly placed after a slow start, and has been given a chance by the handicapper on just his third run for George Baker.
Timeform: Dell Arca
Dell Arca is a useful hurdler/chaser when on his game, and while it’s slightly surprising that connections haven’t attempted to exploit his handy Flat mark before now, he looks the one to be with.
Oddschecker: Touch The Sky
An event that revolves around David Pipe’s jumps star Dell Arca. Plenty will be in for a horse rated above 135 over jumps, but preference is for the David Elsworth trained Touch The Sky, who bids to complete the hat-trick under Oisin Murphy.
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4:50
SBC News: Next Stage
On paper the easiest prediction of the day. Impressive on debut at Lingfield on debut, and unlucky to run into Defrocked on return at Doncaster last month.
bettingexpert: Cordite
Returned to form when fifth at a big price at Epsom last time out and has good claims if building on that.
Timeform: Next Stage
Next Stage chased home last week’s Britannia winner Defrocked on his return at Doncaster, taking a marked step forward from his successful debut, and he is hard to get away from here.
Oddschecker: Next Stage
One horse race. Next Stage surely wins this. Next…
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5:20
SBC News: Gibbs Hill
We’re ready to take on a favourite who has failed as a short price favourite on both runs this season. Gibbs Hill, trained by Roger Varian, gets our pick.
bettingexpert: Wave Reviews
Has been turned over at short prices on both runs this season, but sets a high standard on form (Wolverhampton effort when 2nd to Defrocked has worked out superbly).
Timeform: Wave Reviews
Has shown more than enough to suggest he can win a maiden and this looks a good opportunity for him.
Oddschecker: Gibbs Hill
William Haggas and Ryan Moore is usually a very good combination and they team up on the favourite Wave Reviews. However, he’s been a beaten favourite on his last two runs and instead we’ll plump for Roger Varian’s charge Gibbs Hill who should have more improvement in him than the favourite.
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