Tanya Stevenson
Tanya Stevenson's Racing UK Blog
Saturday 29th March 2014

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Racing UK
Hoof It over to Meydan to get some compensation

A difficult, yet absorbing journey to Doncaster which took in Kempton on Wednesday and Manchester on Thursday has me at the racecourse on Friday. Rain has fallen and in some considerable quantity, as it does at times in Britain.

The change in ground has caused the defection of Doncaster Lincoln favourite Captain Cat.  At this stage there are still 21 to pick from!   Rewind to this time last year and the race was abandoned due to snow! 

So who has my pin dropped on in the Lincoln? Last year's fifth Jacks Revenge, and I'm hoping his trainer George Baker has given a positive mention on the Morning Line by the time you read this.

He was an eye-catcher in last year's race, as was my Spring Mile pick Global Village who just failed to reel in Levitate.  I can’t wait to see both cavalry charges; they are both such great spectacles.

The Cammidge Trophy is a blinder; many will view it as a match between Tropics and Jack Dexter.  But isn't it a missed opportunity for Hoof It?

He instead goes for the 3.30 at Kempton, while his owner Lee Westwood limbers up for another crack at earning a green jacket at Augusta in two weeks.  Surely at this stage the Masters is Adam Scott's to lose.  Don't worry about his dramatic fade at Bay Hill.

I digress. Hoof It's last run at Lingfield puts him in with every chance of finding Kempton's winners’ enclosure. 

Elsewhere there is some fantastic action from Meydan to enjoy culminating with the Dubai World Cup at 6.05.  Before that the price about The Fugue in the Dubai Duty Free looks massive. Is it because bookmakers’ satchels are laden down with all her previous hard luck stories? I think it is time for compensation.

There was a brilliant piece of observational writing by Richard Birch in Thursday's Racing Post, if you haven't read it have a quick browse. I'd like to add to his etchings regarding everyday goings on in a betting shop that I experienced during a recent two-hour spell I spent in such an establishment.

I noticed there are at least two greyhound meetings dovetailing, interspersed with virtual racing, lucky numbers, various promos for lotteries and lunchtime 49s.  Lots of chat on various sports football, super league, cricket, golf and darts.

Whereas the betting for the racing just sits on the screens with pictures from the courses, until the race is off it is very difficult for the shops to promote racing, such are the myriad of distractions. 

Individual firms go out of their way to promote the sport by bringing in key analysts to try to pin-point winners but they are subject to abrupt pauses because another virtual race goes off, or the hare is running at a greyhound track. 

It would be an eye-opener for those with clout in the in the industry – there is too much going on. 

Good luck on Saturday and roll on Aintree.

BetVictor are NON-RUNNER FREE BET and
paying 6 PLACES on the 2014 Grand National.

Tanya Stevenson’s Saturday tips:

3.30 Kempton: Hoof It at 6-1 with BetVictor

4.39 Meydan: The Fugue at 7-2 with William Hill

Tanya Stevenson’s big-race pointers:

The William Hill Lincoln:

Eight of the last ten winners of the Lincoln were making their seasonal debut

Favourites have won six of the last 14 Lincolns

No horse has won the Lincoln twice for over 50 years

Nine of the last 15 winners came from the first four in the betting

Levitate has run at Doncaster seven times to three wins, a second and a third

William Hill Spring Mile:

Six of the last eight winners of the Spring Mile came from the first four in the betting

Only two of the last ten favourites have won the Cammidge Trophy

Jack Dexter has won three of his five races at Doncaster

William Hill Download The App Brocklesby Conditions Stakes:

Bill Turner has won the Brocklesby four times in eight years

Six of the eight winners of the Magnolia Stakes came from the first two in the betting