SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Ben Cleminson, a director at Square in the Air, has signed up for today’s six-race Tipster Challenge at Newbury.
Cleminson has been with the PR and marketing agency since 2007, and became a director of the business in 2009. He has worked within PR and marketing since 2003 and is co-editor of City AM’s Punter sports betting section.
He will be going up against the 9th placed experts from Timeform, and Stephen Harris from bettingexpert, who dropped to 11th last week despite collecting 4.88 points to increase his weekly average to 2.74 after 14 weeks.
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1:15
bettingexpert: Final Choice
Made a good start over this course and distance earlier in the month and should follow up with ease under a penalty.
Timeform: Final Choice
Has taken very well to hurdling and can follow up his recent C&D win.
Square in the Air: Flying Tiger
This looks like a match and I’m siding with Flying Tiger against hot favourite Final Choice, as he represents better value and will enjoy the testing conditions.
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1:50
bettingexpert: Shantou Rock
Possibly did not stay 2m3f here last time, but had showed plenty from the front on his stable/UK debut at Chepstow and can make all the running here.
Timeform: Hidden Cargo
Has made a sound start to his hurdles career, and with the prospect of more to come, is taken to taste success at the third attempt.
Square in the Air: Hidden Cargo
Ran well behind Jenkins here in November and improved on that to finish a close second to Betfair Hurdle favourite Movewiththetimes at Wincanton last month. That form looks very solid.
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2:20
bettingexpert: Red Devil Star
Comes from a yard in blistering form and is a more straightforward ride than the likely favourite.
Timeform: Max Ward
Was still in contention when falling three out in a more competitive handicap than this at Kempton on Boxing Day, and makes the most appeal if none the worse.
Square in the Air: Max Ward
Tom George and Adrian Heskin combine again having enjoyed a great season so far. Max Ward comfortably beat Querry Horse at Huntingdon in November, who won a fair race at Doncaster last week.
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2:55
bettingexpert: Potters Corner
Raced too freely at Ascot last time, but still shaped well and will relish the true pace expected in this big field of useful handicappers.
Timeform: Potters Corner
Finished fourth in at Ascot in November; this unexposed sort looks fairly treated having been dropped 2lb on the back of that.
Square in the Air: Bob Tucker
Most competitive race of the day and I’m going with an outsider. Charlie Longsdon’s 10-year-old is back down to his last winning mark, hasn’t been disgraced in his past two starts and the yard is in fine form after a couple of decent Saturday winners.
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3:25
bettingexpert: Theatre Territory
Was tapped for pace over two miles at Taunton last time out, and will relish a stiffer stamina test at this more galloping track.
Timeform: Theatre Territory
Was far from disgraced pitched into listed company three weeks ago and with this step up in trip promising to suit, she should be hard to beat back down in class.
Square in the Air: Miss Spent
Theatre Territory is going to be very difficult to beat, but she’s also going to be very short. Miss Spent did the job well at Huntingdon last time and might be able to dictate things from the front.
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3:55
bettingexpert: Pearlesque
Bred to be useful and can make a winning debut if the market speaks positively.
Timeform: Bang On Frankie
Produced a promising first effort when third in a listed bumper at Ascot last month (had five previous winners behind), and with that experience unlikely to be wasted on him he gets the vote.
Square in the Air: Old Harry Rocks
Harry Fry can do little wrong at present and he has a fine record in bumpers at this track. Bang On Frankie has the best form, but at the prices I’m going to take him on.
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Where will Ben Cleminson enter on the Tipster Challenge leaderboard?
| Rank | Tipster | Race Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Alger - Betway | 3 | 11.41 |
| 2 | Phillip Anderson - Before The Off | 3 | 6.17 |
| 3 | Ciaran O'Brien - William Hill | 3 | 5.29 |
| 4 | John Hill - Coral | 2 | 4.25 |
| 5 | Alex Donohue - Ladbrokes | 2 | 4.11 |
| 6 | Michael Shinners - Sky Bet | 2 | 4.00 |
| 7 | Stuart Tilly - Argyll Entertainment | 1 | 4.00 |
| 8 | Trevor Keane - Sportego | 2 | 3.50 |
| 9 | Timeform | 1.93 | 3.42 |
| 10 | Matthew Hulmes - Betfred | 2 | 3.25 |
| 11 | bettingexpert | 1.36 | 2.74 |
| 12 | Charlie McCann - BetVictor | 1 | 1.75 |
| 13 | Stephen Power - @racingblogger | 2 | 1.69 |
| 14 | John Cruces - Dafabet | 1 | 1.25 |
| 15 | Michael Whittle - Team FA | 1 | 0.91 |
| 16 | Ed Nicholson - Unibet | 1 | 0.73 |
