17/5

Not a going day for the Irish -only one each way place and Maximo a head/short head and head 4th

250 BANGOR
BETTING FORECAST: 2/1 Ouzbeck, 5/2 Scotland Yard, 3/1 Berings Express, 4/1 Piran, 33/1 For His Sins, 66/1 Flying Jody .

SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: None of the four serious contenders are that solid but the top two will have their work cut out giving 7lb if OUZBECK or Berings Express takes satisfactorily to chasing at the first attempt. The former gets the vote because his stamina is more convincing

Ouzbeck, to me, looks layable if remaining relatively short - tight field - chase debutant

400
BETTING FORECAST: 7/4 Option Money, 7/2 Kilcannon Supreme, 5/1 Heezazari, 8/1 First Blue, Grasscutter, 12/1 Calgary Jock, 20/1 Tootsie Too, 25/1 Diva´s Brother, Empty Sky, Estuary House, 33/1 First Boy, Short Straw, 50/1 Danny John Boy .

SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: No surprise if Kilcannon Supreme fares better than last time after his break, while Option Money is much respected after a promising hurdling debut. However, if HEEZAZARI takes to hurdles he wouldn't have much to find with either of those on the promise (and form) shown in his bumper last December.[SB

A maiden hurdle, and rather than lay Option Money, backing Kilcannon and Heezazari each way may allow us a return even if Option wins

Doncaster begins with an apprentice handicap and 2 maidens - Gawd elp us!

745
BETTING FORECAST: 11/4 Rainbow Fox, 7/2 Charles Parnell, 9/2 Cornus, 6/1 Sir Nod, 8/1 Winthorpe, 10/1 Charles Darwin, Financial Times, 14/1 Yungaburra, 16/1 He´s A Humbug .

SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Given that most of these are hold-up horses, a strong early pace is far from guaranteed. However, CHARLES PARNELL has everything else in his favour and may prove more adaptable than the in-form Rainbow Fox and the consistent Cornus. Charles Darwin could also figure if the headgear works

I'm going speculative here on Financial Times, Charles Darwin and He's a humbg each way, 12/1, 14/1, 14/1 - one placing returns some stake back

135 NEWBURY

Special Reserve - 10/1 Betting forecast and 5/1 / 6/1 currently as well as having a number of placed runs - each way

225 NEWMARKET
BETTING FORECAST: 3/1 Oceana Gold, Viva Vettori, 7/2 Fondled, 7/1 Ace Of Hearts, 12/1 Very Wise, 16/1 Royal Island, Samarinda, 20/1 Billy Dane, Moonlight Man, Srikuantan .

SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: OCEANA GOLD looked better than ever when one of three to pull away in a warm handicap at the Guineas Meeting and is up to defying a 5lb rise in this smaller field. Viva Vettori is another to consider carefully

A 4 horse short list? Fondled and Ace of HEarts each way for me

445
BETTING FORECAST: Evs Missile Dodger, 4/1 Exceptional Art, 5/1 Northern Tour, 10/1 Verlegen, 12/1 Fuaigh Mor, 20/1 I Am The Best, 33/1 Bad Beat, Konka .

SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: It was hard not to be impressed with MISSILE DODGER at Bath and he looks the main reason for the flying visit of Seb Sanders, due to ride a few at Newbury earlier in the afternoon before flying on to Doncaster this evening. Exceptional Art, representing last year's successful stable, could be the pick of the newcomer

Flying in just for the ride on Missile dodger?



NEWBURY
245
Astronomer Royal and HAradasun for the O'Brien stables - no reason to desert them as when you least expect it, they'll get back in the money

A day full of maidens here there and everywhere and handicaps galore mean it's largely a day to be a layer for me. Despite the huge selection of racing, it's difficult to pin point anything with ifs, buts and maybes about leading contenders.

FOOTY

It is on the footy today I think I'll concentrate.

Midweek must have taken a lot out of Rangers and the last thing they'll be wanting is an away trip to improving Motherwell.

We have a potential sequence here - Rangers haven't won an away game in the last 4 - will this sequence be ended sooner rather than later? 1/2 for the away side signifies a close and tight match. If we take Rangers as victors, then draw/Rangers looks the value bet here with Motherwell more than capable of frustrating them.

Again, it is a must win game, otherwise what looked a season full of hope will simply deteriorate into what might have been.

Dutching 0-1, 1-1, 0-2, 1-2 may give s a return.

Portsmouth's inability to score in their last 4 - was that a foot off the pedal or a lack of form? If the latter then under 2.5 goals looks a decent trade bet

Half time score dutching on the 0-0, 1-0, 0-1 returns a nice 5/1 equivalent for Cardiff, evens equivalent for Portsmoth and slight loss for 0-0.

The above I think may come off in the Rangers match too with similar returns

No Jermaine Defoe today is a real pity as an England striker v Championship defence could have been a decent wager

Just incase the game is very tight, Cardiff penalties and Portsmouth penalties can be backed at 12 and 14 -if it were to go to pens then you'd have a no lose bet. ( Of course anyother outcome would lose stake)

I know Barca have nothing to play for at all but 4/7 away to a team who have lost their last 6 looks very enticing. - Trading heads on mind you - Barca lost a 2 goal lead and the match to Mallorca