SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Alan Alger, PR Manager for Betway takes on Stephen Harris from bettingexpert and Timeform in the third week of the jump season Tipster Challenge for 2016/17 at Fontwell Races.
Michael Shinners assumed the lead in the competition last week, after collecting 4.00 points from a pair of winners at Wetherby. Ed Nicholson, Head of Unibet UK Marketing Operations, sits at the bottom of the table after managing just 0.73 points in the opening week at Ludlow.
The leaderboard, which will be published on Thursday morning, can be sorted according to both points won and number of races won. Each Guest will be shown individually, with totals from bettingexpert and Timeform shown as a weekly average.
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1:40
bettingexpert: Affaire Dhonneur
Should have little difficulty defying a penalty for his win at this venue on his seasonal reappearance.
Timeform: Sleep Easy
Made an impressive transition to this discipline when scoring with plenty to spare at Stratford in March, and whilst he has been absent since, he undoubtedly remains with potential for better still and gets the nod.
Betway: Sleep Easy
Has to cope with the penalty from an easy success at Stratford back in the spring. But Neil Mullholland’s 4-year-old had plenty in hand that day and can strike again under Noel Fehily.
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2:10
bettingexpert: Tom Neary
Caught the eye when third last time out, and might just be running himself fit this season (and the Walford stable had a welcome winner on Monday).
Timeform: Fergal Mael Duin
Won this last year off only 3lb lower, and can follow up on return/first start for Colin Tizzard.
Betway: Fergal Mael Duin
Has had plenty of time to get over a crashing fall when tired at Market Rasen way back on Boxing Day last year. The 8-year-old grey can win this race for a second successive season under the handling of his new trainer Colin Tizzard.
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2:45
bettingexpert: Hawkhurst
A lot more talented than his form figures suggest, and with Nicholls in prolific form he can win from a very generous looking mark at Fontwell.
Timeform: Hawkhurst
Cost connections plenty after winning a point on debut, and he appeals as the type to leave last season’s form behind and rack up a sequence now handicapping for a yard that can do little wrong at present.
Betway: Chartbreaker
There have been two 20/1 winners of this race in the last three seasons and I’m going to go for an outsider to back up that trend. Chartbreaker had three goes at staying distances on the flat over the summer, but recapturing the form of his two runs at Kempton over hurdles in the spring could put him right there in contention for this Class 3 prize.
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3:20
bettingexpert: Charmix
Has long looked a chasing type, and is sure to be well prepared by his excellent young trainer.
Timeform: Charmix
Made a good start to his hurdling career last term, scoring twice prior to being pulled up in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham in January.
Betway: As De Mee
The favourite, or second favourite, has won all six running’s of this Beginners Chase since 2010. We shouldn’t be looking beyond As De Mee or Charmix, with my preference for the former as Paul Nicholls looks to take this race for the fourth successive season.
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3:55
bettingexpert: Earls Fort
Can’t have been right when tailed off at Carlisle last time out, and ought to be capable of taking a hand in this weak handicap at Fontwell.
Timeform: Earls Fort
Doesn’t look on a bad mark on a couple of his efforts in the summer, and could be worth chancing back from a break.
Betway: Flash Crash
Harry Cobden is a decent conditional jockey and there are glimmers of decent form if you read between the lines of Flash Crash’s runs over hurdles. I’m prepared to chance Barry Brennan’s 7-year-old at a nice price.
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4:30
bettingexpert: Bisoubisou
Hails from the best stable in the country and seems sure to go well if the market vibes are strong close to the off.
Timeform: Peggies Venture
Showed a good turn of foot when making a winning start at Lingfield in March, and could be up to defying a penalty on debut for her new yard.
Betway: Bisoubisou
Bridget Andrews had a 25% strike-rate when riding in Bumpers last season and she takes the eye on Dan Skelton’s Bisoubisou.
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5:00
bettingexpert: No No Jolie
Bred for the game, hails from a stable in terrific form and the booking of Geraghty is a huge hint that he will be primed first time out.
Timeform: Earth Lady
With Tangley a non-runner, Earth Lady gets the vote in the final race of the day at Fontwell.
Betway: Bold Image
Bold Image, by St Leger winner Milan, could improve the decent strike-rate of the Suzy Smith stable in Bumpers. The price looks massive compared to rivals from ‘more fashionable’ stables.
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Tipster Challenge 2016/17 Leaderboard
| Rank | Tipster | Race Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Shinners - Sky Bet | 2 | 4.00 |
| 2 | Timeform | 1.50 | 2.62 |
| 3 | bettingexpert | 1 | 2.00 |
| 4 | Ed Nicholson - Unibet | 1 | 0.73 |
