The Voice of Value: Inflated price for Red Balloons

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I'm looking forward to the racing today after what was far too busy a day last Saturday where I could hardly keep up. We even have some good jumps action at Market Rasen thrown in and don't forget The Curragh over in Ireland where there is probably the best quality racing of the weekend.

I have four selections for today across three different courses and remember to shop around to get the best prices and extra place offers.

Newbury 2.25pm

This is a tricky staying handicap with quite a few who could be potential improvers for the step up in trip but equally they might not be able to stay the extra distance. I was interested in Saunter but he is now a non-runner presumably because the ground is too quick. Today sees a marked step up in trip for BUZZ who has won his last two and I don't imagine that they would be doing this unless they felt that he would benefit from it. His old Da is Motivator who tends to produce offspring with plenty of stamina and Buzz's win over Dash of Spice a couple of runs back is starting to look like an excellent piece of form. I don't think he should be a double-figure price today.

Market Rasen 3.15pm

There is some lovely jumps action at Market Rasen this afternoon with all the big name National Hunt trainers out in force. There will be a few who have been targeting this prize for a while because it's a decent pot for the time of year and I am particularly interested in the Paul Nicholls runners Alcala and MONSIEUR GIBRALTAR. The former won the race last year and is an obvious choice to go close again off a similar handicap mark but at a bigger price I'm taking a chance on the latter. Monsieur Gibraltar has been running in hunter chases lately for Rose Loxton (she works at Nicholls' yard but also trains horses in her own right for the hunter chase and point-to-point racing). I've seen him absolutely bolt up a few times in hunter chases and it's clear that he is far better than that level so it is interesting to see him thrown into this mcc classier race with his jockey Lorcan Williams taking a weight allowance off that will let the horse run effectively off bottom weight. I think he can cruise round and will still be going nicely when other horses carrying more weight have cried enough on a warm summer afternoon.

Newbury 3.35pm

On paper this looks almost an impossible task with 25 runners in a two year old sprint but when you dig a little deeper there are quite a few who will be nowhere near good enough. The two that I ave narrowed it down to are Little Kim and RED BALLOONS. There is no doubt that Little Kim is a bit better but Red Balloons is getting a weight allowance of nearly a stone which for two year olds is quite considerable so at similar prices he is the solid each way bet for me.

The Curragh 4.55pm

Over to Ireland we go for my last selection of the day and just when you thought I wouldn't be tipping a Danny Tudhope horse today we have tracked my old pal down to The Curragh where he and David O'Meara have two runners today. The duo tend to do quite well on raiding missions across the Irish Sea and I doubt they are taking SO BELOVED over for a bag of Taytos and some Club Orange. He is up against a much talked about horse in the shape of St Patricks Day but that one has been a non-runner on numerous occasions this year and hasn't overly impressed me on the track. So Beloved by contrast is an uncomplicated gelding who has tons of experience and can be relied upon to run more less to his usual standard. At the prices I would far rather be with So Beloved.

Recommended Bets:

Newbury 2.25pm – Buzz – 2pt e/w at 14-1 (Betfair, Paddy Power – both paying 5 places)
Market Rasen 3.15pm – Monsieur Gibraltar – 1pt e/w at 16-1 (Ladbrokes, Betfair, Paddy Power – all paying 4 places)
Newbury 3.35pm – Red Balloons – 2pt e/w at 13-2 (Betfair, Paddy Power – both paying 5 places)
Curragh 4.55pm – So Beloved – 4pt win at 3-1 (Bet365, Ladbrokes, Betfred)