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.
Bunbury Cup Betting Tips – Beckett’s charge value in big betting handicap
Tomfre ran a cracker when a desperately unlucky runner-up last time out, so looks decent value to go one better land the spoils in the 7f Bunbury Cup at Newmarket on Saturday (16:10).
This Ralph Beckett trained three-year-old enjoyed a fine juvenile campaign when winning four of his seven starts.
In the third of those over this course and distance, Tomfre stayed on well to beat Visible Charm by 3/4 of a length off a mark of 86.
The son of Cable Bay was then far from disgraced when last of five in Listed company at Doncaster before resuming winning ways at this venue when showing a likeable attitude to beat Milltown Star by 1/2 a length off a mark of 90.
Tomfre rounded off the campaign with a decent sixth in a Group 3, again at this track, off a rating of 95. He hinted that his time was near on the second start of the season at Sandown when going down by just a short-head to Well Of Wisdom off a mark of 94.
Tomfrre nearly got put over the rails inside the last by William Buick on the winner, so it was to his credit that he rallied gamely to go down by such a short margin.
But for the interference he would surely have won, so a 4lb rise in the weights does not look harsh – especially as he appeals as the type that has more to offer.
Tomfre is also versatile as regards ground, goes well for Harry Bentkley, and hails from a yard in form. So, taking everything into account looks to have the perfect profile for this valuable handicap. He can be backed at 12/1 with William Hill.
Blown By Wind the pick of Johnston’s Bunbury Cup trio
Last year’s winner Vale Of Kent is one of three Mark Johnston trained runners in the 20-runner line up, but faces no easy task under top weight and the pick of the trio looks to be Blown By Wind.
This four-year-old son of Invincible Spirit has a fine record over course and distance having won once and been placed twice from four starts.
He looked as good as ever when scoring here last month when only having to be ridden out to readily beat Pogo by half-a-length off a mark of 100.
The runner-up has since finished a fine third in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royals Ascot and landed a Listed contest at Windsor, so that gives the form a solid look.
Nothing has gone right for Blow By Wind in two subsequent outings as a result of being slowly away.
In the first of those at Royal Ascot he made eye-catching late headway to finish a nine length 13th of 23 to Motakhayal, who is favourite for the Bunbury Cup, in the Britannia Stakes.
Blown by Wind then put in a similar effort at this venue last time out when a fast finishing length runner-up to Arigato having forfeited a huge amount of ground at the start off a rating of 107.
Given how the race panned out it was a terrific effort and Blown By Wind is now able to race off 1lb lower.
It makes him a player at the weights and he looks sure to go close if breaking on level terms under PJ McDonald who is one from one on him.
At 12/1 with Unibet, he thus makes plenty of each-way appeal in a typically fierce renewal of the Bunbury Cup.
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Superlative Stakes Betting Tips – Hudson River the answer to juvenile Group 2
In the Group 2 Superlative Stakes (15:00), Hudson River looks to hold leading claims of providing top Irish handler Aidan O’Brien with a fourth winner of the 7f contest for juvenile colts.
This beautifully bred son of Galileo who is out of top sprinter Mecca’s Angel, created a huge impression on debut when landing a nine-runner maiden at The Curragh after drifting like a barge in the betting beforehand.
Hudson River made all in the hands of Seamie Heffernan and after being pushed along at the two marker found plenty under a hands and heels ride to readily account for Ace Aussie by 1 1/2 lengths.
It was a most taking display from this highly regarded colt and one which suggested he has the potential to be something special given that lots of horses from the yard tend to need the debut run.
It also looks significant that O’Brien has decided to rely solely on him in this as stable companion Battleground, a winner at Royal Ascot, also held a five-day entry and was favourite in the ante post betting.
Hudson River is currently a top-price 25/1 third-favourite in the betting for next year’s 2000 Guineas on the back of his Curragh success and this demands much more.
However, he looks capable of taking the step up class in his stride to land the spoils to further enhance his Classic claims. He can be backed at 4/1 with BetVictor to do just that under Ryan Moore.
Master Of The Seas another player in Superlative Stakes
There are plenty of potentially smart and unexposed in the line-up, but Master Of The Seas is feared most having scored in good style on debut over course and distance.
This Charlie Appleby trained and Godolphin owned son of Dubawi may have only won a four-runner affair but there was a lot to like about the way in which he got the job done.
After showing good tactical speed to track the leader, Master Of The Seas was ridden to lead at the furlong marker before asserting under tender handling to beat William Bligh by 3/4 of a length.
He was well on top at the finish and the pair pulled 10 lengths clear of the third home Yibir who was sent off a heavily-backed 11/8 favourite.
William Bligh has also come out since and bolted up at Haydock by 3 1/4 lengths, so that gives the form a solid look.
That win also came on soft ground, so any further rain at headquarters will not hinder the chance of Master Of The Seas.
Another plus is that he hails from a yard in red-hot form and operating at a strike rate of jusyunder 35 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing.
So, at 5/1 with William Hill, Master Of The Seas looks a solid each-way betting proposition in the Superlative Stakes.
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