4:40 Chelmsford Racing Tips (15th March)

The meeting starts off with 2 divisions of a 6-furlong class 5 amateur jockeys handicap, in my opinion, you should either leave these races alone or keep your stakes to the minimum if you do have a bet, a poor piece of jockey-manship can soon upset any chance of winning, in the 

4.40 Chelmsford - 

I might (depending on the price but im expecting it to be an each way price) have a small wager on PLUCKY DIP 50/1. If you look at its form from this year you wouldn't give it much of a chance but it is capable of springing back to form without warning and that's what im hoping will happen here at this generous price. 

Plucky Dip 50/1 8th 

5.20 Chelmsford - 

A race I will bet smaller stakes. MONUMENTAL MAN 8/1 hoping again for an each way price (which might not happen if the Man Utd fans back it just because of the jockey) it made the frame in 3 of its 4 runs this year and it has a chance to go close again here and if this front runner gets to the front it could be hard to catch but price-wise it is just about an each way price but I hope if drifts to a better price. 

Monumental Man 8/1 7th

6:00 Chelmsford - 

This is a relatively poor race with a few horses with little form to work with so again my stakes will be kept low, there looks to be plenty of early pace in the race and im hoping my selection *ZIPEDEEDODAH 7/1 can bounce back to form here and has a chance of at least making the frame despite being in stall 9, it should be able to lead or at least contest the race and the 2 other known front runners have been known to fade quickly if taken on and that could happen here so im hoping my selection can take advantage of it and at least make the frame but i have to admit its been quite a while since it last won (27 runs ago) but it could pay to back it for a place on the exchanges. 

*NR

6:30 Chelmsford - 

A lovely looking class 3 race where half of the 10 runners, You're Cool, Boom The Groom, Bosham, Green Door and Shamshon, have been known to lead before so it should be a fast early pace, there's 2 horses near the bottom of the handicap that is well weighted on their best form and Something Lucky and Primos Comet are my joint 3rd top rated pair, my 2nd top rated is *BOOM THE GROOM 6/1 who isn't well drawn in the outside stall but it might not be all doom and gloom, now im a poet, and if it can get away well and get to the front it should prove hard to catch but I do have *DYNAMO WALT 12/1 rated a bit higher and this one could stay on strongly at the finish with a clear run and is maybe worth an each way wager, so I will be backing them both to cover the angles. 

*NR

5:55 Eric Winner Racing Tips (14th March)

SOUTHWELL 5.55

Quite a poor class 6 race with just 4 runners that have done a recordable time, Fortinbrass is my 4th top rated then taking off the apprentices 7lb claim it would move it into 2nd top spot but the jockey has had 3 previous rides for this stable without winning so not sure if its a positive booking or not, Poppy May is 3rd top rated and is the only known front running type in the race but the jockey is 0-8 for this stables older horses, Diamond Pursuit comes out 2nd best and likes to track the leaders so stall 7 should be ok, if my top rated DREAM ALLY 6/1 can reproduce its best time from last year it could win this race a shade cosily but at this level nothing is guaranteed and my stakes won't at full strength. 

Dream Ally 33/1 7th 

SOUTHWELL 7.00

Theres 5 in this race that has been known to lead before in this competitive class 4 race, Crosse Fire won for me on Tuesday and could be competitive if they let it runbut im not sure this drop in trip will suit it and could get outpaced but its sure in good form, Mininggold starts off as 4th best but is being ridden by a 5lb claiming apprentice, Classic Pursuit also moves from its 3rd best spot by using a 5lb claiming apprentice, Samovar is 2nd top rated and usually likes to track the pacesetters, Point Zero starts off in 6th top spot but this one's 7lb claiming apprentice moves it into 2nd top spot and this one is a possible front runner so if getting to the front it could prove hard to catch and it does have good trainer, 17%, and jockey, 19%, stats which points to connections expecting a big run here but if WARRIORS VALLEY 5/1 can repeat the time it ran when finishing 2nd over this c/d on Tuesday it could this time get to the front and hold on for the win.

Warrior Valley 5/1 1st 

See Eric's recent winner 8/1 1st 

2:35 Lingfield Racing Tips (13th March)

LINGFILED 2.35 

HOLY TIBER has a time from Chelmsford that would put it in my top 6 and usually stays on at the finish at this trip but I doubt it will win this race. 

ROYAL MEZYAN hasn't run here before and I think it ought to like this surface but I think its a better horse over shorter distances so I doubt it will win so a lay at 6/1.

BILLYOAKES hasn't shown much lately timewise but its best time from 2017 would see it make the frame here but its 3 runs this year been below par.

CUBAN SPIRIT hasn't any surface form and may find this trip too short on this faster surface and could struggle and the jockeys 0-7 record doesn't inspire confidence another 6/1 lay. 

TAVENER is versatile with its racing tactics and the jockey booking looks a positive move and is top rated on c/d times from this year. 

HOLDENHURST has only produced slow times at this distance both here and at Kempton but does usually stay on at the finish as though further would suit it better, so not for me here and too short at 13/2 so another lay in the race. 

LITTLE MISS DAISY hasn't any previous c/d form and looks a much better horse over the five-furlong trip so another I won't be backing to win. 

LETMESTOPYOUTHERE has a time from last year that would make it very competitive but its 4 runs this year have been way below what's required to even win this class 6 race. 

SPIRIT OF ZEBEDEE has been in form recently winning its last 2 races over c/d but they have been relatively slow times but there's not a lot of known early pace in this race so could go well. 

KNOCKOUT BLOW is capable of doing a competitive time over this c/d as long as the early pace isn't too fast so could go ok here. 

FALCAO has only poor recent form on show and may prefer a longer distance to show it best but it does have good trainer/jockey stats. 

DARING GUEST has run once over today's c/d and is usually staying on at the finish but hasn't won for a while now, 16 runs to be exact. 

SUMMARY: As they say there's more than one way to kill a cat, I've mentioned a few in the above comments that I say I doubt can win and I usually lay these on the exchanges, so I can still make a profit if I don't find the winner as long as a lay doesn't win. In this race I will be backing TAVENER 8/1 who could lead all the way in this race, the fact its had 17 losing runs is a bit off-putting so my stakes won't be at full strength.

Tavener 8/1 1st

3:05 Southwell Racing Tips (12th March)

SOUTHWELL 3.05 

Only 6 runners but a competitive class 4 affair with half the field having been known to lead before and they are the 3 shortest priced horses, The Great Wall and Ballyquin are joint 3rd top rated and possible pacesetters but im not sure this surface will suit the likely favourite, Ballyquin,, my 2nd top rated is Global Exceed and this one could do best of those racing off the pace but the bottom weighted horse CROSSE FIRE 5/1 is my top-rated but my stakes won't be at full strength mainly because it had 23 runs since its last win. 

Crosse Fire 5/1 1st

SOUTHWELL 4.25 

Warriors Valley has led before and won last time out over c/d but it was a relatively slow run race and may need to step up a bit more to win this race but if allowed to set a slower early pace it could go well but its not for me, Cuppacoco has a fastish time from Newcastle but im not sure this surface will suit it looking at its form on turf and the jockey booking doesnt inspire me with any confidence as the record is 1-26, I will have to go with 2 selections, VICTORS LADY 7/1 is joint top rated on c/d times but it was from last year but has decent trainer/jockey stats which makes me think they are expecting a big run here on its first race of this year and it could go very well, my other selection, BLUELLA 16/1 who has the fastest time from 2019 and nothing negative in its trainer/jockey stats and should be staying on strongly at the finish and with a potential fast early pace this race could be run to suit it and has to be worth an each way wager at the price on offer.

Victors Lady 7/1 8th 
Bluella 25/1 Unp

Racing Tips: 4:25 Wolverhampton (9th March)

4:25 WOLVERHAMPTON  RACING TIP  

A very nice class 2 affair with 2 known front running types so it should be a true run race, El Hombre and Raucous are my joint 3rd top rated and both can be held up or track the leaders, MERHOOB 5/1 is the most likely pacesetter and my 2nd top rated so it could go well here and could lead all the way to follow up its win last time out when I backed it but I do have one horse rated higher so SHAMSHON 4/1 could stay on strongly and catch the leaders if getting a clear run throughout the race, both have got good trainer/jockey stats in their favour I will back both of them to cover the angles. 

Merhoob 11/2 2nd 
Shamshon 7/1 7th


5:30 KEMPTON RACING TIP 

A class 7 race and I've only got 3 horses with recorded times fast enough to register with me on my unique speed rating, Storm Lightning is my 3rd top rated using a 2017 time but may struggle to stay the trip if there's a strong early pace but could possibly make the frame but I couldn't myself back it to win this race as it would need my top 2 to both run badly, Mr Potter has the best time if only counting 2018 times but its best time at Chelmsford would make it top rated so has to be considered, I've only got 1 known pacesetter in the race and that's QUEEN OF KALAHARI 7/1 and it has the plum draw in stall one, on the downside is that it has 15 runs since it last won and the trainer is 0-13 at this course but it could lead all the way here and is hopefully worth a small wager. 

Queen Of Kalahari 7/1 8th

8:00 KEMPTON RACING TIPS 

In this 12 runner class 3 affair I would be going all out for my top rated but there's no known front runners in the race which always makes things difficult, I hope something sets a decent pace, the topweight Roman River is my 4th top rated using a 2018 time from Chelmsford, my 3rd top rated is Erissimus Maximus a hold up type but its best time comes from Southwell and im not sure this surface will suit it, Equitation is my top-rated using a Chelmsford time but this one looks to need a fast early pace to aim at to show its best and this race may not be run to suit its style but it could still go well, my overall 2nd top rated but top rated on c/d times is DOC SPORTELLO 7/1 who won last time out over this c/d and looks to have been found the ideal opportunity to follow up in this race.

Doc Sportello 11/1 Unp

3:15 Lingfield Racing Tips (8th March)

LINGFIELD 3.15 

Only 5 runners as some trainers are boycotting Arena owned courses over a dispute about prize money (things will never change when everything is about putting as much money as possible into shareholders pockets, its a shame our racing isn't Tote run like other countries, in France its cheap to go to the big race meetings and a lot of the provincial course's entry is free) anyway back to business, 3 of the 6 have been known to lead and my 2 top ratings are front runners, Warriors Valley is my 2nd top rated and could go well but I do have RED STRIPES 7/2 with a few spots in hand on what's been shown so far by the others so has to be the horse I will be backing. 

Red Stripes 4/1 3rd

NEWCASTLE 6.30 

Only 5 runners here but a hard race to analyse properly, Fair Cop, who is making its all-weather debut so could be anything on this surface so could be a possible danger, and Another Angel is possible front runners and the latter is my top rated on this years c/d times but its only 1lb ahead of Pea Shooter but this one is 3lb claiming apprentice takes it to top spot but the top weighted TOMMY G 11/2 has the top speed figure using 2018 times and is dropped in class from what level it was racing in earlier last year so I will back it but my stakes won't be at full tilt. 

Tommy G 11/2 2nd

NEWCASTLE 8.00 

At least this race has 8 runners but its certainly not the best class 6 race I've seen, Climax and Isle Lodge Babe could be hidden dangers here which automatically means my stakes won't be at full strength, Spoken Words is 3rd top rated and usually tries to stay on strongly at the finish in this type of race and could make the frame, Decision Maker is still a maiden on the all-weather tracks after 15 attempts and most of its best form has come at Southwell so im not sure this surface will suit it, my selection has to be WINDFORPOWER 4/1 who comes out 2nd top using just 2019 times but top rated using 2018 times as well and I will be backing this horse to smaller stakes than usual because of the possible hidden dangers and the fact that it hasn't won once in its last 20 attempts.

Windforpower 4/1 2nd

5:55 Chelmsford Racing Tips (7th March)

CHELMSFORD 5.55 

In this field of 14 runners I have got 6 that have recorded times that will at least make them competitive, Enthaar could a bit of a dark horse in the race so cant be dismissed but I have got 7 of them with a negative against their name, Cappananty Con has a c/d time from 2017 that would put it 2nd top spot but needs to show some worthwhile recent form before I could back it but never say never, Spennys Lass and Tavener can both produce fastish times but look better horses in class 6 races, Strategic Heights is my top rated using a Kempton time at this distance but usually needs a run for fitness after being off for a while so not for me in this race, that leaves me with Top Boy and Mont Kiara as the 2 most likely winners, Top Boy has a decent time from Kempton last year that looks a positive but has only produced slow times over this c/d and stall 13 may not be ideal but it is a hold up type and needs some luck to get a clear run while MONT KIARA 14/1 is my top rated using c/d times from 2018 and has won once this year so isnt in bad form, its a versatile type when it comes to racing tactics and in the make-up of this race im hoping its raced at least prominently if not actually leading from stall 8 and then prove the stronger nearing the finish and will be the one I back in the race with an each way wager at the price available.

Mont Kiara 16/1 7th

See How Chelmsford Racecourse Was Developed

How the Cheltenham favourites got their names

When a foal is born, there are often debates about what to name it. Although it has become increasingly common to call the horse something completely random, there are still many horses that are named after their sire and dam.

Red Rum is a famous example of a horse taking his parents’ names, having been named after his sire Quorum and dam Mared. With less than a week to go until the Cheltenham Festival, we take a look at some of the race favourites and how they got their names.

Native River 

Last year’s winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the third favourite to win this year’s race. The Irish-bred horse was named after his sire, Indian River and his dam, Native Mo. His sire was a top-class jumper in France, while his dam, Native Mo was an unraced horse. 

He’s yet to win so far this season, having finished in second at Haydock and third at Kempton, and this might go some way to explaining why he is only the third favourite to win the Gold Cup this year, despite winning last year’s race. He was not the favourite when he won it last year, so don’t write him off entirely, but beware, his form heading into last year’s Gold Cup race was far superior. 

Presenting Percy

For most of the build-up to the Gold Cup, Presenting Percy has been the favourite to race home to victory, however, in recent weeks, he has been joint-favourite with Clan Des Obeaux. Last year’s RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase winner was named after sire Sir Percy, but in an unusual twist, wasn’t named after his dam Hunca Munca, but instead took his dam’s sire’s name, Presenting, creating Presenting Percy. It’s hard to read anything into his form, as he has only raced once in the new season, winning at Gowran Park. 

Al Dancer 

Al Dancer is the favourite to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, being priced at 10/3. The French horse was sired by Al Namix and his dam is Steel Dancer. Al Dancer is undefeated this season, having raced home to victory in all four races he has competed in. Under jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, Al Dancer is certainly one to watch out for this festival. 

Shantou Flyer

It has been a good start to the season for Shantou Flyer, as he has picked up two wins from three races so far. He is currently the fifth favourite to win the Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham, at a price of 7/1. 

Shantou Flyer was named after his sire, Shantou, and his dam, Carrigmorna Flyer. Shantou was a top-class performer, winning six of his 14 races, while Carrigmorna Flyer was an unraced horse. 

Not all horses use names from their lineage to create their whole name, sometimes it is just one name from either the dam or the sire which gets used, as is the case with the following horses. 

Clan Des Obeaux 

The joint-favourite in Cheltenham Gold Cup 2019 odds on Betfair, Clan Des Obeaux doesn’t take any part of his name from sire Kapgarde. Instead, the latter part of his name was taken from his dam, Nausicaa Des Obeaux. 

Ahead of the big race, he has demonstrated a mixed bag of form, having come fourth in his first race of the season, before following this up with two victories. 

Defi Du Seuil 

When Defi Du Seuil enters the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, he will line up as the favourite, having been given a price of 5/2. Much like Clan Des Obeaux, he didn’t get his name from his sire, but rather his dam. Voix Du Nord was his sire, while Quarvine Du Seuil was his dam, and there is no understanding of where Defi came from. 

Two victories in four races so far this season suggests that he certainly has the potential to win, but those two losses highlight a lack of domination that the likes of Altior have established at the festival.

8:30 Kempton Racing Tips (6th March)

KEMPTON 5.00 Div I 

This 1st division has 9 runners but no known front runners which as usual makes it hard to analyse properly and to be truthful it looks more a race to leave well alone unless the prices provide something of extreme value to either lay or back for a small stake. 

KEMPTON 8.30 Div II 

JUST FOR THE CRAIC looks as though this trip is a bit too far for it if there's a fast early pace and it might need this run for fitness. MIRACLE GARDEN has only shown poor form recently and it's another that might find the distance a little too far. 

SECONDO has only slow recent time at this c/d but does have a time from 2017 that would see it possibly make the frame but hasn't won in its last 19 attempts. 

HOLLANDER hasn't any form over this c/d and its best from Lingfield wouldn't be enough to win this race and also could struggle with the trip. 

PICKET LINE has the best c/d time but it was recorded last year and would need to spring back to form without warning to win here. 

MAXIMUM POWER has the best time from 2019 and usually stays on at the finish at this distance but would need to improve a little to win the race unless others falter. 

AFRICAN BLESSING hasn't any form at this c/d and runs on at this trip as though further would suit it better its best Southwell time puts it 2nd top. 

DREAMBOAT ANNIE has only 1 run here but in a slow run affair but its time from Chelmsford makes it top rated and its the only known front runner in the field. 

MONARCH MAID hasn't shown much timewise so far this year despite making the frame and is on a 19 race losing run. 

SUMMARY: Timewise using all tracks there's 5 runners, African Blessing 3/1, Picket Line 20/1and Hollander 25/1, that could have a chance here, while 2 of them, Secondo 13/2 and Dreamboat Annie 12/1 are on long losing runs which is a little off-putting but they could still run well, I think the winner will come from these 5 and dutching them could be the answer but if pushed I would go with an each way bet on DREAMBOAT ANNIE 12/1 but only to a small stake.

Dreamboat Annie 16/1 7th

6:00 Wolverhampton Racing Tips (5th March)

WOLVERHAMPTON 6.00 

Another 5 front runners in this 5 furlong dash, the topweight A Sure Welcome is my 3rd top rated and could be the one to do best of those coming from off the pace, the bottom weight Pink Flamingo is my 2nd top rated and a top runner come from stall 4 which is quite good apart from my top rated BIG TIME MAYBE 9/2 another front runner who is drawn just inside it in stall 3 and if this one gets to the front it could prove hard to catch and the trainer does have a decent 17% win ratio at this course, it has been beaten in its last 9 runs but is coming to hand this year and can go one better than last time out and get back to winning ways here.

Big Time Maybe 9/2 3rd

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