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.
In-form Easterby gelding fancied to land hat-trick
The big betting race on Saturday is the Ayr Gold Cup (15:40), a hot Heritage Handicap run over 6f at the Scottish venue. Staxton goes into the race at the top of his game and makes plenty of appeal at the odds on offer.
This Tim Easterby trained five-year-old got back to winning ways on his fourth start this season in the David Chapman Memorial Handicap at Ripon, scoring by a nose from Watchableon quick ground.
After showing plenty of pace to chase the leaders travelling well on the stands’ side, Staxton was forced to switch at a crucial stage before flying home to get up on the nod off a mark of 84.
Given how the race panned out, it was a terrific effort. As the runner-up has scored twice since, the form has been boosted.
Staxton now has to race off a revised rating of 94, but that still looks very exploitable judged on his efforts last year.
Booking of Fentiman also a plus
The son of Equiano’s sole success last season came in a class 2 at Newcastle when scoring by 1 1/2 lengths off a mark of 95. He backed that up with a solid third of 13 to Air Raid in the class 2 Scottish Stewards’ Cup off 100.
Staxton was also far from disgraced in the Ayr Gold Cup 12 months ago when a 3 1/4 lengths 10th of 24 to Angel Alexander off 98. He is clearly still on a mark off which he can win.
The fact that Staxton has sneaked in at the foot of the wights here is also a plus. His owners, the Ontoawinner syndicate, have also had this has his long-term target since the start of the campaign.
Jockey Duran Fentiman also gets a great tune out of Staxton and has ridden him to three successes in seven starts. He’s also versatile as regards ground.
So, taking everything into account, there is simply nothing not to like about his profile for this. Hence, at 12/1 with Bet365, Staxton looks worth siding with in a typically fierce and wide-open renewal of the Ayr Gold Cup.
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Major Jumbo a player dropped in class
Now eased in grade, Major Jumbo looks a fascinating contender for trainer Kevin Ryan and weighted to make his presence felt.
This six-year-old is a tough and consistent sort who has won seven of his 38 career-starts and also hit the frame on 18 occasions.
He posted a string of decent efforts at the start of last season, finishing a two length third to Mabs Cross in a Group 3 at Newmarket before being runner-up Invincible Army in a Group 2 at York.
Major Jumbo was also far from disgraced when a 6 1/4 lengths ninth of 12 to Ten Sovereigns in the Group 1 July Stakes at Newmarket. After that he gained a deserved success in a Listed affair at Chester off an official rating of 105.
The form of those races read well in relation to the lower grade Ayr Gold Cup. Major Jumbo comes into it on the back of some solid runs.
They include when a staying on 1 1/2 length third to Far Above in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes on return to action and when runner-up to Judicial in a Listed affair at Chester.
Major Jumbo now drops back into handicap company off a rating of 105. That is 3lb lower than when last successful.
It is also 3lb lower than when a 4 1/4 lengths 14th of 24 to Angel Alexander in this 12 months ago, so that gives him very chance at the weights on the pick of his form.
Megan Nicholls also takes off a handy 3lb with her claim and the yard does well with its runners at the track.
So, at 25/1 with Betfair who pay five places, Major Jumbo looks well worth considering from an each-way betting perspective.
Spanish City also has an each-way Ayr Gold Cup shout
In a race where cases can be made for plenty of the 25 runners, Spanish City is another that appeals each-way.
This Roger Varian trained seven-year-old is a hold-up performer who ideally needs to come off a strong pace. That is something he looks sure to get in the Ayr Gold Cup.
He ran a blinder on seasonal reappearance when a fast-finishing length third of 22 to Hey Jonesy in the Wokingham over this trip at Royal Ascot off a mark of 98, and backed that up with a solid seventh of 17 to Motakhayyel in the 7f Bunbury Cup at Newmarket off 99.
Spanish City also wasn’t beaten far last time out over 6f at Ascot when fifth of 11 to Fortamour and is able to race in this off an unchanged mark of 98.
That is just 3lb higher than when last successful at Yarmouth in August of last year. Connections have booked crack apprentice Ray Dawson to partner Spanish City for the first time.
He is riding on the crest of a wave at present and tremendous value for his 5lb claim. If taking it into account, Spanish City is racing off 93 and looks weighted to run a huge race on the pick of his form.
Varian also has a terrific overall strike rate of 33 per cent with his runners at the track. It makes odds of 22/1 with BetVictor, who also pay five places, about Spanish City look tempting.
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