Expert Steve Mullington gives his daily racing tips, including a NAP, NB and a Longshot. Scroll down now to find out horse racing tips Wednesday 8th June at Hamilton, Fontwell & Wexford...
Today's NAP (Best Bet)
8.20 Hamilton – Chookie Dunedin
The Keith Dalgleish-trained Chookie Dunedin is in the form of his life at the moment and is well fancied to take this 6f handicap at Hamilton.
Already boasting 13 victories from his 78 career starts thus far, the gutsy seven-year-old was last seen giving a 13-strong field a series beating over seven furlongs at Ayr.
Regular jockey Ryan Sexton takes another 5lb off his back which makes him one of the most attractive horse race bets online on Wednesday.
Of the others, the only conceivable danger appears to be from Jordan Electrics who is a course and distance winner.
Today's NB (Next Best)
1.35 Fontwell – Our Three Sons
He may be at the veteran stage now but Our Three Sons is enjoying a little purple patch of form in this sort of grade and can pick up top honours here.
Trained by Charlotte Fuller and ridden by Page, the eleven-year-old had a productive month in May, winning at Plumpton then running another blinder at Southwell the time after.
Rated 97, Our Three Sons has the standout form in this field of just seven runners, and it would come as a surprise if he doesn’t dominate proceedings.
Those of you looking for a forecast banker should perhaps consider Age Of Wisdom for the Moore’s.
Today's Longshot
4.55 Wexford – Trans Wood
It was June 2018 when Trans Wood tasted his last and sole success at Listowel, but the ten-year-old definitely has an outside squeak in this 2m 4f handicap chase.
Racing off just 10st 10lbs when you include Philip Donovan’s claim, the veteran could well capitalise on his last run at Limerick where he was fairly prominent for most of the race.
He looks certain to be overlooked by many punters down there at the bottom of the handicap, and should be trading around the 16/1 to 20/1 mark come the off. I make him an each-way dark horse for sure.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
Expert Steve Mullington gives his daily racing tips, including a NAP, NB and a Longshot. Scroll down now to find out horse racing tips Tuesday 7th June at Wetherby...
Today's NAP (Best Bet)
7.35 Wetherby – My Little Queens
The Richard Fahey Ebor Racing Club appear to have a found a great little opener for their filly here at Wetherby on Tuesday evening.
The four-year-old grey was a three time winner last season and has really taken to racing over this 1m 2f distance.
She looks sure to go well again under jockey Oisin Orr in what isn’t a particularly deep race.
Vindobala and Saulire Star are probably her main dangers on paper but the pair of them have become very expensive to follow for punters.
Today's NB (Next Best)
8.40 Wetherby – Calvinist
It was interesting to see Calvinist entered for the Stayers Series at Pontefract on Monday night but his trainer Kevin Frost opting for this race instead.
Calvinist has run 13 times on the Flat and won two races and comes here off the back of a hurdles run 29 days ago.
He’s clearly useful under both codes on his day and can reward his each-way supporters here with another solid effort with Callum Hutchinson doing the steering.
Of the others, Infiniti is worth keeping a cautionary eye upon after she rocked up at odds of 40/1 at Market Rasen in early May and is clearly in good heart.
Today's Longshot
6.25 Wetherby – Acoustic
Even though Richard Fahey’s runner has three duck eggs to his name he shouldn’t be underestimated running in handicap company for the first time.
In fact, this is exactly the kind of race that Fahey targets and his Titanium Club owners should have a great day out with their Kodiac colt.
Online horse racing betting is already available on this 1m 0-60 contest and I wouldn’t personally take the current 12/1 price on offer as I think he will possibly drift and get overlooked in the betting.
He has to be considered as an each-way longshot however to small stakes.
Copperline has a not too dissimilar profile to our pick and can be taken for the forecast spot.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
Expert Steve Mullington gives his daily racing tips, including a NAP, NB and a Longshot. Scroll down now to find out horse racing tips Monday 6th June at Pontefract and Southwell...
Today's NAP (Best Bet)
8.30 Pontefract – The Rutland Rebel
The Micky Hammond-trained The Rutland Rebel ran in two of Pontefract’s Stayers Championship races last season and acquitted himself very well, finishing runner-up in both of them.
He looks sure to go well again under Billy Garritty and we make him our 888sport NAP of the day.
Plenty of form lines closely link The Rutland Rebel, Flint Hill, Arabescato and Wynford and they should be the main protagonists here.
Perhaps some combination forecasts/tricasts are in order with the aforementioned names?
Today's NB (Next Best)
1.35 Southwell – Atlantic Storm
Now classed as a veteran, the Rob Summers-trained yard stalwart Atlantic Storm looks sure to run his usual game race in this 2m Handicap Chase.
The ten-year-old is already a course and distance winner having won here back in June 2018.
A browse through his back catalogue of form tends to suggest that he puts in most of his better performances in the summer months which is a highly encouraging trend for betting purposes.
Regular pilot Charlie Hammond is in the plate once more and Atlantic Storm is one of our more fancied horse racing online bets on Monday.
Today's Longshot
6.30 Pontefract – Mr Orange
Mr Wolf was an eight times winner at Pontefract, hence this Mr Wolf Handicap in his honour, and wouldn’t it be apt if fellow prolific Ponty scorer Mr Orange (7 wins) could emulate his fellow Yorkshire sprinter hero?
Mr Orange has yet to fully sparkle so far this season, but his fairly close-up fourth at Thirsk showed that there is still plenty of fight left in him and Monday night’s race could well be his big stage to bounce back to form.
Jockey Graham Lee is as strong as an ox up that Pontefract hill and if anyone can galvanise the nine-year-old in the closing sprint to the line, it’s the former Grand National winning rider.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
Expert Steve Mullington gives his daily racing tips, including a NAP, NB and a Longshot. Scroll down now to find out horse racing tips Sunday 5th June at Chantilly, Perth and Musselburgh...
Today's NAP (Best Bet)
3.00 Chantilly – Modern Games
In what could potentially be a massive weekend for the Godolphin Stud operation in Europe, the Charlie Appleby-trained Modern Games can take the Group One Prix Du Jockey Club (i.e the French Derby) at Chantilly on Sunday.
An impressive juvenile season culminated with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and just three weeks ago Modern Games roared into his 3-y-o season by taking the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at ParisLongchamp.
I have every respect for the Jean-Claude Rouget pairing of Vadeni and Al Akeem, but I can only envisage them fighting it out for the podium spots behind Modern Games,
Betting suggestion: Modern Games, Vadeni and Al Akeem (combination forecast).
Today's NB (Next Best)
4.01 Perth – Minella Trump
This Donald McCain-trained eight-year-old went a small way, and I say small because of his prohibitive odds, to helping me secure a prize berth in the Racing Post Naps Table last season.
Clocking up seven strategically placed victories last season, Minella Trump was only ever beaten the once, and on his last success here in April he looked even better than ever.
If like me, you fancy him in your horse racing online bets to take this valuable Perth Gold Cup, then get on early as his price is sure to shrink come the off.
Today's Longshot
5.15 Musselburgh – Raymond
Everybody at the Keith Dalgleish yard loves Raymond because the versatile seven-year-old stayer has registered victories over both codes and on all surfaces.
He may have to shoulder top weight here but Raymond looks sure to run a big race under his very tactically astute jockey – Billy Garritty.
Dalgleish saddles four runners here and I will personally be perming them all in some small exacta/trifecta bets.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
Premier League legend Vincent Kompany is reportedly taking the reins of a recently relegated Championship side
For the four-time Premier League champion, this is the biggest risk of his career
Success does beckon for the Clarets however if they give Kompany time
It is no surprise to see Vincent Kompany returning to English football, this time in a managerial capacity. The raised eyebrows come from the destination and timing.
When the former Manchester City defender hung up his boots in the summer of 2019, it was widely anticipated that his career path post-retirement would mirror that of another Premier League legend, Patrick Vieira.
First off, the Belgian would earn his coaching stripes abroad, as Vieira did at New York City in the MLS, followed by a decent spell at Nice.
For Kompany this meant a sustained tenure at Anderlecht, the club where it all began for him and there in the Belgian Pro League, away from the brightest spotlights, he could make his mistakes in the technical area and learn how to implement his ideas into a disparate squad of players.
Should he prove to be successful, even to a certain degree, then surely, with his stature, and contacts, and potential, interest would come from the top 5 leagues in Europe and very likely a Premier League outfit, mid-table or below.
This is precisely what happened with Vieira and Crystal Palace and to date it’s an arrangement that is working extremely well for both parties. All the shrewdest football bets back the Eagles to soar next term.
For the first three years after departing the Etihad as a bona fide legend the game-plan played out exactly as expected, even if initially there was one hell of a hiccup.
In Kompany’s inaugural campaign with Anderlecht he oversaw a disastrous start, the club’s worst for over two decades and this resulted in the four-time Premier League winner having serious doubts about his coaching credentials.
Thankfully a recovery of sorts followed, with the Purple and Whites finishing fourth in 2020/21. This season just gone, they came third while altogether appearing to be a much more coherent proposition.
So far therefore, so straightforward, only then – seemingly out of the blue - Burnley came onto the scene, offering Kompany the hot-seat involuntarily vacated by Sean Dyche and to the surprise of many, the 36-year-old willingly accepted the opportunity, officially leaving Brussels via an emotionally-worded statement.
As per the BBC, talks have been ongoing between the Clarets and their respective new gaffer and supposedly the only reason it remains unconfirmed to date is due to red tape, with a work visa now required post-Brexit. It is said to be a routine procedure and his appointment is all-but-inevitable.
All of which leads us to two very pertinent questions, the first being whether this colossal figure, who for many years skippered one of the most successful clubs in England, has bitten off more than he can chew at too early a juncture in his managerial development.
Having just endured relegation to the Championship, Burnley are a club in need of severe overhaul and that’s just on the pitch.
Off it, they are in a financial mire, obliged to imminently pay back a sizable chunk of a £65m loan, a sum that will unquestionably wipe out Burnley’s parachute payments and then some.
Furthermore, a second query arises, as to whether Vincent Kompany and Burnley football club are a good fit for one another?
Let’s start with that conundrum first because when adhering to stereotype it instinctively feels like the pair are somewhat of a mismatch with Burnley famously favouring a direct and combative style of football while Kompany – a noted devotee of Pep Guardiola, who refers to his former charge as the ‘professor’ – is an unswerving advocate of possession-based football with a defence that plays out from the back.
So far therefore, so not-so-straightforward, yet scratch a little deeper and we find that Burnley’s new owners prescribe wholly to data and analytics regarding player recruitment with an overall blueprint designed around developing young talent and selling them on for a profit. This is entirely within Kompany’s wheelhouse.
A natural-born leader, who was always a great captain back in his playing days for the manner in which he would influence proceedings, the Belgian loves working with emerging talent and bringing them through.
Indeed, the chief reason for Anderlecht’s initial and hefty stutter was a direct consequence of Kompany’s dedication to youth as he immediately set about dramatically lowering the average age of his new team.
In the opening weeks alone he either gave debuts to, or brought back into the fold, 13 players who were all under the age of 23 and if this was in hindsight too broad a change, too quickly then hopefully lessons will have been learned.
As for recruitment, as opposed to development from within, again Kompany comes to the fore, with a contacts book and a stature – an important consideration when attracting new players – that is the equal of anyone.
Already we are seeing the Clarets heavily linked with Manchester City’s bright defensive prospect Taylor Harwood-Bellis wholly because of their incoming boss. The England Under 21 captain would absolutely thrive in the second tier.
If all this suggests that Kompany and Burnley would both swipe right on a dating app what of the mess that awaits the new manager? Has the former Belgian defender bitten off more than he can chew when he is essentially still learning his trade?
To a large extent, only time will tell on this, yet it certainly feels like a risk. And his well-laid plans and career trajectory wasn’t supposed to contain any long shots.
It's a risk because frankly Burnley cannot afford to hang around in the Championship for very long at all, and their necessity to again feature in the Premier League odds the season after next completely contrasts with the gradual, sensible evolvement they are bringing Kompany in to administer.
A culture change takes time, and the Clarets don’t have a great deal of that.
As for the man at the helm, from a personal perspective this is a move that is entirely logical for the popular Premier League great. His wife and extended family are all from Manchester and he retains strong links to the North-West.
From a professional standpoint however, that incremental rise to the top of the managerial tree is sure to be accelerated, one way or another.
Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.
A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.
Expert Steve Mullington gives his daily racing tips, including a NAP, NB and a Longshot. Scroll down now to find out horse racing tips Saturday 4th June at Epsom and Musselburgh...
Today's NAP (Best Bet)
4.30 Epsom – Nations Pride
For me York form generally stacks up well when the runners race elsewhere but I was not overly enamoured by the way Desert Crown won on the Knavesmire.
His drifting to the right over the last furlong rang alarm bells for me and I am keen to take him on with something else.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Nations Pride was supplemented into the Derby field at the cost of £75,000 on Monday and connections will be keen on getting a return back for their initial outlay.
The Godolphin-owned three-year-old became a major contender for the Epsom showpiece after his impressive win in the Newmarket Stakes last month.
There is no denying the “boys in blue” pairing of Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick are currently the go to people when it comes to bringing home big race winners, and Nations Pride can follow on in the hoofprints of Adayar last year and Masar in 2018, by landing the Derby.
Today's NB (Next Best)
3.21 Musselburgh – Danzeno
Top weighted and top rated handicapping veteran Danzeno can put his younger rivals to the sword here in this 5f Scottish Sprint Cup.
Even as a ten-year-old, Mick Appleby’s gelding was still mixing it with some of the fastest sprinters around and managed to pick up three more victories last season.
Already a course and distance scorer, Danzeno looks sure to give his supporters a great each-way run for their money and he will be a popular pick amongst the horse racing online bets.
Those of you considering some forecast options should pencil down the serial York scorer Copper Knight plus John Kirkup right down at the foot of the handicap.
Today's Longshot
3.45 Epsom – Mulzim
Eight-year-old Mulzim has clocked up eight career wins on the all-weather thus far, but to date his nine turf starts have borne no fruit.
However, his ½ length second to Copper Knight at York in May of last year leads me to believe he could be the each-way dark horse in this line-up.
Looks carefully through his form and you will find the note “trainer's rep could offer no explanation for the apparent improved form”. Will the same question be posed after this 5f dash? I hope so.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
After six trophy-laden seasons with the club, it looks like Sadio Mane will leave Liverpool this summer.
The Senegal forward has been a revelation at Anfield, taking centre stage for Jurgen Klopp’s juggernaut over the past few years.
However, reports claim that Mane is ready for a new challenge and a switch to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich could be on the cards.
Mane has matured into one of the best players in world football and Liverpool will have to adapt to cope in his absence next season.
Having signed from Southampton for an estimated £34 million, he is likely to go down as one of the club’s best signings in the Premier League era.
Sports betting odds suggest he has one foot out of the exit door and Reds fans are fearing the worst. Here, we look at Sadio Mane’s greatest moments in a Liverpool shirt…
Makes Mark On Dream Debut
The Senegal star endeared himself instantly to the Liverpool faithful as he made a sparkling debut in the Reds’ 4-3 victory over Arsenal.
Critics had doubts over Mane’s suitability in Jurgen Klopp’s system but he quickly silenced the haters by notching a late winner at the Emirates Stadium.
It was a stunning individual effort and one that sparked jubilant scenes in the away end. In many ways, it was the perfect introduction to life at Anfield.
That was a sign of things to come and the Liverpool forward went from strength to strength, ending the 20216/17 campaign with 13 goals in 27 league games.
Merseyside Madness
Four months into his Liverpool career, Mane enjoyed his first taste of a Merseyside Derby and boy was it a sweet one.
With the Reds dominating possession but struggling in front of goal, the Senegal forward popped up with an injury-time winner to claim an invaluable three points.
The blue half of Merseyside were crestfallen while the travelling Reds were overjoyed, with crazy scenes in the away end at Goodison Park that will live long in the memory.
Mane enjoyed plenty of success against Everton but lost his unbeaten record against the Toffees in February 2021 after a shock 2-0 defeat at Anfield.
Champions League Glory
Mane drew Liverpool level in the 2017/18 Champions League final only for Real Madrid to go on and win 3-1, much to the disappointment of Reds fans around the world.
However, 12 months later and Liverpool were lifting the European Cup for the sixth time in their illustrious history – and Mane was key to their success.
His four goals were crucial to Liverpool’s passage to the final, with the brace against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena proving the difference in their last-16 tie.
While Mane failed to score in the showpiece against Tottenham, it was his cross that won the controversial penalty after just 24 seconds.
Ballon d’Or Recognition
Mane was rewarded for his sensational form with a nomination for the sport’s most coveted individual accolade – the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
The Liverpool forward was outstanding in 2019 and finished fourth in the voting, behind Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and teammate Virgil van Dijk.
Messi, celebrating his sixth Ballon d’Or award, admitted that he had voted for Mane after a superb individual campaign and the Senegal forward was incredibly gracious in defeat.
In addition, Mane was directly involved in four goals as Senegal reached the Africa Cup of Nations final, earning a place in the AFCON Team of the Tournament.
Golden Boot Winner
In the same season, Mane shared the Premier League Golden Boot award with Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
All three players struck 22 times in 2018/19 to claim the prize and it was fantastic to see three African footballers at the summit of England’s top flight.
While Jurgen Klopp’s side were unable to clinch the Premier League title, Mane and Salah led by example and the former earned a spot in the PFA Team of the Year.
Mane has been unable to match those goal-scoring exploits in recent years but he has been a key figure in Liverpool’s attack, contributing 45 goals in the past three seasons.
Champions of England
Twelve months on from joining the Premier League Golden Boot winners list, Mane added a Premier League winner’s medal to his glittering trophy cabinet.
Liverpool’s ambition under Jurgen Klopp was to win the Premier League title and the Anfield club did just that in 2019/20 – much to the joy of Reds fans across the country.
Mane and co were ruthless that season, finishing 18 points clear of their rivals and the former Southampton forward was central to Liverpool’s attacking play.
The Senegal striker bagged 18 Premier League goals alongside Salah and Roberto Firmino, with the Liverpool front three proving too strong for their rivals.
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
Expert Steve Mullington gives his daily racing tips, including a NAP, NB and a Longshot. Scroll down now to find out horse racing Tips Friday 3rd June at Epsom, Goodwood & Doncaster...
Today's NAP (Best Bet)
4.30 Epsom - Nashwa
I’m absolutely convinced that destiny will come into play this Platinum Jubilee weekend and that Hollie Doyle will become the first ever female to ride a Classic winner.
Doyle has already tasted Group 1 glory aboard Trueshan, but the Oaks will raise her to another level completely and she has the ideal filly to ride in Nashwa.
By Frankel, Nashwa is out of Princess Loulou, who ran second in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet over 1m2f, and her pedigree looks absolutely A1 for this fillies’ Classic.
She jumped right into the Oaks picture with an impressive success in the Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial at Newbury with the Prix De Diane then being muted as her next target before the Gosden’s had a change of tack.
Those punters placing their horse race bets online with us should consider taking an early price as Hollie Doyle and Nashwa will prove to be a popular choice on the day.
Today's NB (Next Best)
7.02 Goodwood – Adjudicator
Just by their nature, Apprentice Handicaps are often very tricky conundrums; however the booking of the young Gosden ace for this Kevin Philippart De Foy grey gelding stands out like a sore thumb.
Adjudicator finished third last time to Golden Spice, who franked that form this week by scooting up at Leicester.
With the rest of the runners looking pretty average, De Foy’s runner can be backed with a certain degree of confidence.
Today's Longshot
7.16 Doncaster – Golden Apollo
It’s very uncharacteristic to find Golden Apollo in the longshot section of any betting column, but there’s no denying he’s really out of form at the moment.
However, the eight-year-old has slipped to a really attractive mark and racing off just 8st 12lb, and with James Sullivan aboard, has to be worth a speculative each-way punt.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
Expert Steve Mullington gives his daily racing tips, including a NAP, NB and a Longshot. Scroll down now to find out horse racing Tips Thursday 2nd June at Redcar and Leopardstown...
Today's NAP (Best Bet)
4.45 Redcar – Bollin Joan
The Tim Easterby-trained mare Bollin Joan is in rude health at the moment and she can continue the winning thread here in the Zetland Gold Cup.
The seven-year-old is already a course and distance winner here after taking the spoils back in August 2018, and she is a 13-time winner from 52 starts, which a great strike rate for a seasoned handicapper.
After her last win at Ripon she has been raised 4lbs by the handicapper but that really shouldn’t be enough to stop her and she can be backed with confidence in our 888sport online horse racing betting.
Dangers on paper include the very in-form Baryshnikov for the Barron stable, while Cockalorum could well bounce back at this venue where he is also a course and distance scorer.
Today's NB (Next Best)
6.15 Leopardstown – Patrick Sarsfield
Joseph O’Brien’s Patrick Sarsfield looks to have a gilt-edged opportunity on Thursday evening to get his career back on track and can capture this Listed Glencairn Stakes over 1m 1f.
The two-time Prix Dollar contender, hasn’t won now since July 2020 but he been up against some of the best middle distance horses around including St Mark’s Basilica.
This target looks much more realistic for the Australia-gelding and the only conceivable danger in the field appears to be from Ger Lyons’ Georgeville.
It would actually make perfect sense to include them both in a reversed forecast to cover your bases.
Today's Longshot
7.50 Leopardstown – Gibraltar
It’s not so often you see a Willie Mullins runner trading at a double-figure price but his horse Gibraltar is currently trading around the 14/1 mark at the time of writing and I can see those odds contracting in a fair few points on the day.
It’s a mere 669 days since Gibraltar last ran on the Flat, but in the meantime he’s tasted success over hurdles and the switch from Michael Bell to Mullins appears to have rekindled his enthusiasm somewhat.
An entry in this (50-85) Apprentice Handicap looks like a really shrewd placement by Mullins and Gibraltar can run a decent each-way race under Mikey Sheehy.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
Expert Steve Mullington gives his daily racing tips, including a NAP, NB and a Longshot. Scroll down now to find out horse racing Tips Wednesday 1st June at Ripon, Cartmel and Kempton...
Today's NAP (Best Bet)
6.35 Ripon - Mark’s Choice
Formerly trained by Ruth Carr, the now Sam England-trained Mark’s Choice rarely runs a bad race at Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse and can be backed again with confidence over this six furlong trip.
The six-year-old last won here over this distance in August 2021, when taking the consolation race for the Great St Wilfrid at the whopping odds of 20/1.
He’ll be nothing like that price in our horse racing betting on Wednesday evening, but can give his supporters a great each-way run for their money.
Claiming jockey Oisin McSweeney takes a useful 5lbs off his back which further enhances Mark Choice chances.
Of the others, Fortamour is somewhat of a standing dish at Ripon at present and should be in the frame once again. Take City Walk to complete the tricast.
Today's NB (Next Best)
4.50 Cartmel - Grageelagh Girl
The Hunters Chasers are back out in force again this week at Cartmel and Fergal O’Brien’s Grageelagh Girl can give daughter Fern a Cumbrian day out to remember.
The eleven-year-old has been in cracking form of late, dominating proceedings at Garthope just ten days ago, with that victory coming on the back of a comfortable win at Dingley.
Back under rules today, I expect the mare to be in the van all the way and to outpoint the rest of the field with her slick jumping which will be well suited to a unique track like Cartmel.
Those punters looking for an alternative runner to chase our selection home should consider Glen Forsa who is a five-time winner under rules and ran well at Southwell last time out.
Today's Longshot
7.30 Kempton - Bethersden Boy
A 25/1 winner on debut twelve months ago at Newmarket, the Richard Hughes-trained Bethersden Boy didn’t quite progress as a two-year-old and his season somewhat fizzled out.
Now a three-year-old, I dare say he will have filled out and will be a physically stronger horse.
Trading at around the 20/1 mark in our online betting market, he’s got to have some sort of each-way chance on his seasonal bow.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
