Dave Metcalf has over 35 years of experience in the media industry having worked for regional and national newspapers. He is a life-long horse racing and football fan, and has done interviews on various radio and TV stations, including talkSPORT and Sky Sports, whilst working as a PR frontman for major betting firm Betfred.
Dave has written for At The Races, provided betting previews for the 2010 World Cup via a website he owned. It was the first time they had covered any football event. He also appeared weekly on Sing When You’re Winning – football and general sports betting show on MUTV to provide odds and tips alongside former Manchester United striker Lou Macari.
More to come from O’Brien’s improving colt
Dawn Rising looks value to take the step back up into Group 3 company in his stride and provide in-form Irish handler Aidan O’Brien with another winner in the 1m 5f Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on Thursday (13:25).
This three-year-old son of the mighty Galileo has only had three outings and shown improved form in each.
After finishing a promising not knocked about fifth in a Group 3 at Leopardstown on his sole start as a juvenile, Dawn Rising ran very well on return to action at The Curragh last month when a keeping on 1 1/2 lengths fourth of 8 to Galileo Chrome.
In what looked a warm 1m 2f maiden, he finished 3/4 of a length in front of stable companion Serpentine who has since bolted up by nine lengths at the same venue before going on to Classic glory when springing a 25/1 surprise in the Epsom Derby.
Dawn Rising has since opened his account in facile fashion when relishing the step up to 1m 4f and making all to cruise home by 12 lengths at Limerick.
Although he beat little of note that day, Dawn Rising was visually impressive and it will have done his confidence the world of good.
The extra furlong of this also promises to suit and Dawn Rising is clearly going the right way and looks well worth a crack at this level.
With Ryan Moore now partnering him for the first time, odds of 100/30 with William Hill make plenty of appeal and Dawn Rising is taken to land the spoils en route to better things.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
In what is a wide-open looking renewal of the Bahrain Trophy, the lightly-raced and promising Al Aasy is feared most.
This colt hails from the red-hot yard of Newmarket handler William Haggas and shaped nicely on debut when third at Newmarket back in October.
He then shaped much better than the bare results suggests on seasonal reappearance here last month when a 10 1/2 length fifth of nine to Mishrif in the Listed contest over 1m 2f.
Al Aasy showed plenty of pace to race on the heels of the leaders before fading out of contention two from home, shaping as if badly in need of the outing under a tender ride from Jim Crowley.
The winner is a very smart sort who has since landed the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, whilst the runner-up Volkan Star has gone on to land a Listed contest here in good fashion.
That gives the form a decent look and Al Aasy comes into this on the back of a very taking success here when striding clear to win with his head in his chest by 10 lengths.
This demands more, but Al Aaasy is a son of Derby winner Seas Of Stars out of a Shamardal mare who is bred to be useful.
Haggas can also do little wrong at present and is currently operating at a strike rate of just under 33 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing. Al Aasy can be backed at 3/1 with Coral to provide him with another.
Miss Yoda the each-way bet in Bahrain Stakes
The John Gosden Miss Yoda is a likeable type that now drops back in grade, so at 6/1 with Paddy Power appeals most from an each-way betting perspective.
This daughter of Sea The Stars has won three of her five starts and impressed in the last of those at Lingfield when beating Golden Lips by just over a length in a 1m 3f Listed contest.
After being slowly away, Miss Yoda was caught short of room when closing two from home. Rab Havlin had to switch her out wide to get a run, and when Miss Yoda did see daylight she found plenty to be well on top at the finish.
Given how the race panned out she was valued for more than the winning margin, and Miss Yoda has since been far from disgraced when pitched into Group 2 company and finishing a keeping on nine length sixth of 11 to stable companion Frankly Darling in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot.
She was sent off the 4/1 joint-second favourite that day, so better was clearly expected, and this represents a return to calmer waters.
It should enable Miss Yoda to be very competitive and she appeals as the type to quickly bounce back and win lore races going forward.
With Havlin, who is three form four on her, once again in the saddle a big run is expected and Miss Yoda thus had to feature as the each-way angle in this Bahrain Trophy betting tips preview.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via ‘My Offers’ page within 30 days. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play, min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max. extra winnings £100. Once claimed, 30-day expiry. Cashed out, System & EW bets do not qualify. Other Promotional Play Restrictions Apply. T&Cs apply.
GET £30 IN FREE BETS+ 100 FREE SPINS When you bet £10
T&Cs apply
8.2/10
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 10 days of registration. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
