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Tanya's Blog - Friday 27th April 2012

Can’t believe it the sun peeped through the cloud this morning, was beginning to forget what it looked like! It’s actually stopped raining for a few hours, but still bring the brolly if heading to a racecourse today. Sandown Park start their Bet365 Ultimate Celebration of British Horseracing with a flat card, yet I don’t think weeks before in planning did they ever believe the ground would be heavy! Such a shame as it has blighted the field sizes. Wonderful though it has lured over Famous Name, he is in racing folklore for his achievements, his love for Leopardstown is legendary – ten wins from 14 starts. He runs in the mile at 2.20 this afternoon. His quest won’t be easy. But with Pricewise flagging up Libranno, his odds might even go out to 9-4!

The Bet365 Mile in recent years has been dominated by Richard Hannon and the pressure is on Libranno and Celebration Mile winner Dubawi Gold, who was placed in two Guineas last season.

As for the rest of the card Rafeej is odds-on in the first, which is a bold call in such conditions. Grandeur is very weak in the market in the Esher Cup. Samba King made an impression on me when winning at Yarmouth and he looks a strong sort who could stride through the testing ground with no problems.

Doncaster has a card full of interest be aware the ground is testing. Haajes showed his well being at Musselburgh when third on 8th April. He last visited the winners enclosure at the St Leger Meeting at Town Moor, so we know he like the course, he subsequently ran a fair eighth to the likes of Sirius Prospect and Mayson. He could be worth siding with at 5.00.

Tonight is the start of the Greyhound Derby at Wimbledon, I have had a look at a few of the heats and feel that Ballymac Cryan is a fair price in Heat 3 at 8.30. Mill Bling Bling with a vacant trap alongside in Heat 6 at 9.15 would appeal. Then for a silly interest bet Diesel Malc taking on the reigning champion at 9.30. Taylors Sky won’t be 100% yet it’s a long competition and Diesel Malc was a revelation at Wimbledon last year, he could trap out and gain an early initiative.

Tips

2.20pm Sandown: Famous Name

5.00pm Doncaster: Haajes

Tanya's Pointers

Famous Name is unbeaten in four races in April

Richard Hannon has won the Bet365 Mile six times in the last eight years

The favourite has won the Bet365 Mile seven times in the last ten years

Jeremy Noseda had four winners from his ten runners at Sandown in 2011

Since 2003 the favourite has failed to win Perth’s 2.45

Nigel Twiston-Davies has had five winners from his 14 chase runners at Perth so far this season

From his last 11 runners Nigel Twiston-Davies has had five winners, two seconds and a third