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.
Godolphin horse looks impossible to oppose
The world’s highest rated racehorse Ghaiyyath looks a cut-above his rivals and a worthy red-hot favourite to capture more Group 1 glory in the 1m 2f Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday (16:10)
After bolting up by 8 1/2 lengths in a Group 3 at Meydan back in February, the Charlie Appleby five-year-old took the step back up into elite company in his stride when landing the Coronation Cup at Newmarket in June
Ghaiyyath quickly adopted his usual front-running role and established a clear lead. He then stayed on strongly from the furlong marker to win unchallenged by 2 1/2 lengths from Anthony Van Dyck.
He set crazy sectionals throughout the 1m 4f contest to win in a lightning fast time. Ghaiyyath went on to take the scalp of mighty mare Enable next time up in the Group 1 Eclipse at Sandown when scoring easily by just over two lengths.
Ghaiyyath then made it a hat-trick of Group 1 successes this season when landing the 1m 2f Juddmonte International at York.
He once again made all and after going clear two from home stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to readily beat Magical, who re-opposes in this, by three lengths.
Those successes have earned Ghaiyyath a rating of 130. It gives him a whopping 9lb and upwards in hand on his five rivals here.
So, if turning up in the same type of form, this looks his for the taking. Odds of 8/11 with Betfair about Ghaiyyath going in again therefore look fully justified.
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It’s hard to make a case for the aforementioned Magical turning around the York form, but she does look the most likely one to chase home Ghaiyyath again.
This Aidan O’Brien trained five-year-old mare is a top class and ultra-tough and consistent sort who has won 11 of her 24 starts. She also been placed on six occasions.
Magical landed the Group 1 Champion Stakes as Ascot on her final start last season. She looked as good as ever on return to action at The Curragh when easily beating Cayenne Pepper by 4 1/2 lengths in the Pretty Polly.
There was then a sixth win at the highest level for Magical when she beat stable companion Sir Dragonet by 2 1/4 lengths in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the same venue.
She then gave it her best shot in the Juddmonte International but, after briefly threatening, simply wasn’t good enough to get near enough to land a telling blow on Ghaiyyath at any stage.
Magical is also rated 9lb below that rival, so will need him to seriously underperform if she is to win this. She can be backed at 9/2 with Betfred to do just that, but appeals more as one to put with Ghaiyyath in a forecast.
Sottsass an interesting Irish Champion Stakes contender
French raider Sottsass has a 60 per cent strike rate over the 1m 2f trip and some top class form in the book, so can’t be totally discounted.
Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, this four-year-old was described by his handler as “exceptional” after his success in last year’s Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.
He showed a smart turn of foot there to readily beat Persian King by two lengths at Chantilly. The runner-up has recently advertised that form with victory in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin.
Sottsass went on to round-off the campaign with a fine 3 1/2 lengths third of 12 to Waldgeist in the Group 1 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp where he finished 6 1/2 lengths in front of Magical, who came fifth.
After failing to live up to expectations on return to seasonal reappearance in a Group 2 at the same venue, Sottsass got back on the scoresheet when landing the Group 1 Prux Ganay at Chantilly.
The son of Siyouni then shaped as if needing the run following a break when a neck second to Skalleti last time out in a Group 3 at Deauville on bottomless ground.
That should have put Sottsass spot on for the Irish Champion Stakes. The return to a better surface will suit.
It would therefore be no surprise to see Sottsass outrun his odds, and William Hill go a standout 9/1 about him.
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