Tanya Stevenson's Racing UK Blog
	Wednesday 16th April 2014

We’ve got the best of both worlds on Wednesday

Spring may be here but it isn’t that warm. On Tuesday morning I was scraping ice off the windscreen.

We saw a red-hot performance, however, in the Greenham Stakes which I watched from the sofa on Saturday.

I had to pinch myself when I heared of Kingman’s initial quotes for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas in a few weeks. 

Prices of odds-against seem large still.  I know we haven’t seen Toormore yet, that treat is in tomorrow’s Craven Stakes at Newmarket, and Kingston Hill will go straight to the Classic, as will potentially Australia. 

I like Noozhoh Canarias, the Spanish raider in the 2,000 Guineas, as you already know if you read this blog. He will certainly give Kingman a good lead. 

On Wednesday we have the best of both worlds; Classic clues at Newmarket and action from Cheltenham as we draw close to waving goodbye to GL50 for another memorable season.

I’m obliged to put up Vieux Lion Rouge in the Citipost Novices’ Hurdle, having touted him as the next best thing before needing radar to find him in his respective Cheltenham Festival race. 

I’ll be on the sofa again to watch both meetings on as I can’t be in two places at once!

I also like Buywise in the feature race at 3.50.

Evan Williams’s runner rattled up a quick hat-trick before his respectable effort when only seventh at the Cheltenham Festival, but the problem may be the quick ground. 

As for Newmarket Queen Catrine seemed reliable all last season culminating in her excellent third in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in October. 

Prior to that she was second to Lucky Kristale and Princess Noor.  She is my pick in a tricky-looking Nell Gwyn Stakes. 

Whatever transpires there will be plenty to glean from the next few days as we head towards the Classics. 

Elsewhere in racing I was taken aback by the potential of Arod on Monday, like Kingman he was another emphatic victor and the Investec Derby is shaping up nicely. 

In France Ectot beat Karakontie at Longchamp on Sunday in the Prix Fontainbleau. I’m not sure of the form, but Daraybi, who was fifth, is very talented so I’d say it’s pretty good. 

While we are on the subject of decent French horses look out for Bawani - she could pick up some black type in France and with Racing UK covering several meetings on the other side of the Channel she even may be caught on camera.

I was glad to see Jim Cremin mention in his Racing Post column on Tuesday the worrying decline in bookmaker numbers on course, particularly in mid-week.

It will only get worse, and that is at virtually all courses round the country.  Many bookmakers have multiple pitches at any one course and if they have to tighten their belts and cut out one or more of those said representations the numbers will fall with haste.  Time for more research I feel, and once I’ve collated some figures I’ll put them in this blog.

There is much to digest from various sports since I last posted.

The FA Cup semi-finals were contrasting, leaving the Gunners to pitch up against the Tigers in the final. 

In the golf Bubba Watson was superb in collecting his second green jacket at Augusta. At the same time we caught sight of a young man in Jordan Spieth, who has not only got the potential to one day call up the tailor for a measuring for his own green jacket, but is going to give Europeans plenty of problems at Gleneagles in September. 

This week though, Spieth will take aim at a Tartan jacket, as he tries to win the Heritage at Hilton Head.  Along with him I will be focusing on Kevin Na and Kevin Stadler. 

Tanya Stevenson’s Wednesday tips:

2.05 Cheltenham: Vieux Lion Rouge at 9-2 with bet365

3.50 Cheltenham: Buywise at 5-2 with Paddy Power

4.05 Newmarket: Queen Catrine at 7-1 with bet365

Tanya Stevenson's Wednesday pointers:

Newmarket:

John Gosden has had 12 winners from his last 20 runners

Eight of the last ten favourites have won the 2.20 Newmarket

Richard Hannon Snr won the 2.20 Newmarket five times in the last ten years. This year the stable relies on Flyball

Charlie Appleby has a 50% strike rate with his juveniles at Newmarket (7 from 14)

Wedding Ring has captured two Tattersalls Million races already and she goes for three from three in the 2.55 Newmarket

Eight of the last ten winners of the European Free Handicap came from the first two in the betting

Seven of the last ten winners of the European Free Handicap finished in the first two on their most recent run

Only two of the last ten favourites won the Nell Gwyn Stakes

Oisin Murphy is yet to ride a winner at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course from 13 tries - I wonder how many more rides before a visit to the winners enclosure?

Mark Johnston has won the Fielden Stakes four times since 2004 today he saddles Somewhat

Cheltenham: 

Fredo has run ten times at Cheltenham without winning

Dr Richard Newland has had four winners from his last six runners

Seven of the last ten winners of the 3.50 Cheltenham had taken in the Festival

Eight of the last ten winners of the 3.50 Cheltenham came from the first three in the betting