Horse Racing Betting Centre

Sporting Life Tips

FRIDAY'S SELECTIONS:

CATTERICK: 6.35 Lady Del Sol, 7.05 Hellolini, 7.35 Point At Issue, 8.05 Select Committee, 8.35 Zaplamation, 9.05 Glennten

CORK: 5.00 Black Johnny, 5.35 Savello, 6.10 Credit Box, 6.40 Whatever Jacksays, 7.10 Beachdale Lad, 7.40 Jack The Ref, 8.10 Sir Loujay, 8.40 Falcarragh

GOODWOOD: 2.00 Fiducia, 2.35 Hey Fiddle Fiddle, 3.10 Indian Art, 3.45 MICHELANGELO (NAP), 4.20 Ahtoug, 4.55 Roberto Pegasus, 5.30 Roxelana

HAYDOCK: 2.20 Romantic, 2.55 Al Khisa, 3.30 Dubai Sunshine, 4.05 Basseterre, 4.40 M'Lady Eliza, 5.15 Ptolomeos

MUSSELBURGH: 6.45 Georgebernardshaw, 7.15 Surely Speightful, 7.45 Los Nadis, 8.15 Here Now And Why, 8.45 Art Dzeko, 9.15 Made In The Shade

TOWCESTER: 5.55 Pasture Bay, 6.25 Run Along Boy, 6.55 Fiveways, 7.25 Border Station, 7.55 South Stack, 8.25 Ballyvoneen, 8.55 Ernie

YARMOUTH: 2.10 Miakora, 2.45 Hippie Chick, 3.20 Warden Bond, 3.55 Join Up, 4.30 Viking Rose, 5.05 Satwa Laird, 5.40 Lytham, 6.15 Bilidn

DOUBLE: Michelangelo and Viking Rose

Michelangelo can supply trainer John Gosden and owner Bjorn Neilsen with back-to-back renewals of the Casco Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on Friday.

The partnership linked up to take this invariably informative Listed affair with Masked Marvel 12 months ago, with the race acting as a springboard for St Leger glory later in the term.

Michelangelo has a long way to go before being able to replicate such beguiling exploits, but he is unquestionably a horse laden with potential - and should be followed accordingly.

Although the Cocked Hat has long been considered a late trial for next week's Epsom Derby, only one horse, Perennial, is still clutching on to a golden ticket.

His sombre return to action in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket last month, however, is enough to see him passed over for Gosden's inmate in Sussex.

The Galileo colt presumably has the King Edward VII Stakes as his mid-summer target, for which he is likely to be a much warmer order with a big display here.

That certainly looks feasible, too, judged by his excellent racecourse debut in Listed company over a mile and a quarter at Newmarket.

The fact Gosden pitched him in at that level was a clear statement of intent, which very nearly paid off as he got to within three-quarters of a length of Noble Mission.

Michelangelo was understandably very green, which might explain why he failed to pick up as well as the winner inside the final 100 yards.

In any event, there should be stacks more to come from an animal whose pedigree lends itself beautifully to middle distances.

North Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan has enjoyed a vintage May, with Tiddliwinks' success in the Duke of York Stakes the obvious highlight.

And with Ryan's juveniles also in the pink of health, now looks the time to support Musselburgh aspirant Surely Speightful.

The Speightstown filly showed plenty of zip on her debut at Ascot a fortnight ago before becoming unstuck in the bog-like conditions.

Surely Speightful should have gained plenty for that blow-out and looks a danger to all in the Bernard Hunter Crane Hire Open Maiden Stakes now the ground is far quicker.

It also seems unwise to scotch the claims of Viking Rose when she again reports for duty at Yarmouth.

The James Eustace-trained filly tends to reserve her best form for the seaside circuit, as evidenced by her plucky half-length defeat of Caramelita on May 1.

The form may not amount to a great deal, but this attractive daughter of Norse Dancer stayed on really stoutly on that occasion to indicate a step up to a mile is the way forward this summer.

While the ground was heavy on her last start, she is crucially proven on a brisker surface, having struck at Brighton last August.

Moreover, the handicapper has also given her a chance by adding just 4lb to her back for the Trafalgar Restaurant At Great Yarmouth Racecourse Fillies' Handicap.

It may also pay to keep close tabs on Basseterre in the PHS Direct Handicap at Haydock.

The lightly-raced three-year-old colt was narrowly denied at Kempton on his last start and ought to prove a bit better than an 80-rated horse on turf.

There appears no gimmes on Catterick's evening card, but at least Zaplamation's nice effort on his return at Doncaster should set him up nicely for the Leslie Petch Handicap.

Pasture Bay has brought more than enough to the table in two starts over hurdles last season to warrant respect at Towcester.

The Fergal O'Brien-trained six-year-old was particularly accomplished on his final start over course and distance in March, when he finished a clear third in what was not a bad race.

Although he may appreciate further as his career becomes more defined, his followers can rightly expect a good run for the money in the Blayze Unguem "Leaders In Executive Search" Novices' Hurdle.

So too can connections of Run Along Boy, who competes in the Blayze Unguem "Decade of Success" Handicap Chase.

SATURDAY'S SELECTIONS:

CHESTER: 2.25 Mandy Lexi, 2.55 All Or Nothin, 3.25 Singalat, 4.00 Grissom, 4.35 I'm Super Too, 5.10 Chabada, 5.45 Legal Eagle, 6.15 Blown It

CURRAGH: 1.40 Slope, 2.10 Dawn Approach, 2.40 Santo Padre, 3.15 Takar, 3.50 Emulous, 4.20 Gunner Lindley, 4.50 Van Rooney

GOODWOOD: 2.15 Misdemeanour, 2.45 Fiorente, 3.20 Grumeti, 3.55 Strong Conviction, 4.25 Sea Moon, 5.00 My Kingdom, 5.35 Ensejaam

HAYDOCK: 2.00 Moidore, 2.30 Gabrial, 3.00 BATED BREATH (NAP), 3.30 Ertikaan, 4.05 Seeking Magic, 4.40 Shahzan, 5.15 Three Am Tour, 5.50 Toymaker

LINGFIELD: 5.55 Lovely Pass, 6.30 Oh So Spicy, 7.00 Picabo, 7.35 Cades Reef, 8.10 Hill Street, 8.40 Vicgernic

NEWBURY: 6.10 Moody Tunes, 6.45 Cio Cio San, 7.15 Good Authority, 7.50 Zhiggy's Stardust, 8.25 Timocracy, 8.55 Cheers

YORK: 2.05 Eltheeb, 2.35 Saamidd, 3.10 Gulf Of Naples, 3.45 Bajan Tryst, 4.15 Pay Freeze, 4.50 Pea Shooter, 5.25 Invincible Hero

DOUBLE: Bated Breath and Gulf Of Naples

Bated Breath can finally deliver the goods in esteemed company by winning the Betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

Consistency sears through the veins of Roger Charlton's popular sprinter, yet, incredulously, he has yet to win a Group race.

The five-year-old entire could not have got much closer, however, as he was denied by a respective half a length and a nose in the Sprint Cup and the July Cup last season.

Dream Ahead was his nemesis on both occasions, but with that excellent animal now tucked away in the breeding sheds, Bated Breath can enjoy his moment in the spotlight.

Charlton's inmate adores a brisk surface, which looks a fair shout given the forecast, and will have no problems reverting to the minimum trip at a galloping circuit like Haydock - even though he has done all of his winning over six furlongs.

The fact his trainer really could not be in better form merely adds credence to the claims of Bated Breath, whose reliable nature, allied to a touch of class, deserves to be rewarded with Group Two honours.

Gabrial could well be the solution to the Betfred Silver Bowl Handicap 30 minutes earlier.

Richard Fahey's three-year-old was a luckless second over this trip at Chester's May meeting, for which he has gone up just 2lb.

The Dark Angel colt has raced just five times and can rightly be considered one of Fahey's big-hitters this year.

He should also far be more suited to Haydock than when looking quite naive on the Roodee.

Fiorente can banish memories of a subdued seasonal debut at Newmarket by winning the 32Red Festival Stakes at Goodwood.

Great things are expected of Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old colt this summer after a promising 2011 which saw him finish second in the Gordon Stakes and the King Edward VII Stakes.

Although this trip is perhaps on the short side, he should be an entirely different prospect than in the Jockey Club Stakes when he badly looked in need of an outing.

The ground was blatantly too soft for Fiorente that day, too, so the recent arid spell can also be construed as a major positive.

Goodwood's other Listed event, the Southern Daily Echo Tapster Stakes, can go to stablemate Sea Moon.

Although some might say he did not fulfil his real potential last year, his second-placed finish behind St Nicholas Abbey in the Breeders' Cup Turf helped ease the bad memories from the St Leger, in which jockey Olivier Peslier was hardly left covered in glory.

Sea Moon's ability to go well fresh - he slalomed clear in the Great Voltigeur last May following a long absence - is also a factor when assessing his claims here after connections swerved the Ormonde Stakes at Chester due to the heavy ground.

Chester's meeting is sure attract plenty of enthusiastic racegoers, who can do a lot worse than supporting Grissom in the Matthew Clark Handicap.

Similarly big crowds will be a given at York, where Gulf Of Naples can win the Stowe Family Law LLP Grand Cup.

Fond recollections of his superb third in the Chester Cup from an awful draw should not be forgotten on the Knavesmire.

Four wins from just eight starts perhaps tells its own story about Mark Johnston's grey colt, while the dip to a mile and three-quarters will hold no terrors, such was the early pace he showed at Chester.

Zhiggy's Stardust was no match for Fort Bastion on his debut, but should be far happier with his lot in the Bathwick Tyres Maiden Stakes at Newbury.

Oh So Spicy can turn up the heat in the Bernard Coughlan 60th Birthday Fillies' Handicap at Lingfield.

The Chris Wall-trained mare will be well primed for this six-furlong assignment following an eye-catching return at Yarmouth in April.