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.
Lightly-raced colt value to get back to winning ways
The feature race at Ascot on Saturday is the Lavazza Stakes (15:05), a hot Heritage Handicap for three-year-olds only. At the odds on offer, Al Qaqaa looks cracking value to get back to winning ways.
This William Haggas trained colt is a lightly-raced and progressive sort. After shaping nicely when third on seasonal reappearance at Yarmouth, he opened his account in runaway style over 1m 4f at Newmarket.
Al Qaqaa made all in the hands of Jim Crowley and forged clear at the furlong maker to slam Moomba by eight lengths. It was then a further five lengths back to the third home.
That taking display earned the son of war Front an opening handicap mark of 88 and saw him sent off a heavily-backed favourite to follow up on debut in that sphere at Glorious Goodwood.
Although Al Qaqaa could only finish fourth of nine to Celpheus, he shaped far better than the 4 1/4 lengths he was eventually beaten suggests. He raced far too keenly out wide in mid-division.
Crowley seemed to get a rush of blood to the head, as he allowed Al Qaqaa to make rapid headway to track the leaders five furlongs from home.
After taking up the running two out, he then had no petrol left in the tank when headed approaching the last and weakened late on.
Al Qaqaa shaped as if he was ahead of his mark and connections are now fitting him with cheekpieces for the first time in a bid to get him to settle better.
That looks a shrewd move. Al Qaqaa also undoubtedly has more to offer after just five starts. Hence, at odds of 10/1 with bet365, he makes plenty of appeal.
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Newmarket handler Roger Varian has his team in fine form and saddles a leading Lavazza Stakes contender in the shape of Shandoz.
This son of Derby winner Golden Horn got off the mark at the third time of asking as a juvenile when overcoming trouble in-running to get up close home and beat Trumpet Man by a cosy head over 1m at Wolverhampton.
Shandoz then picked up where he left off when making a winning return to action on handicap debut over this course and distance last month.
After being held-up, Shandoz made good headway a furlong from home and came with a sustained run under pressure in the final furlong to beat Grand Bazaar by a short-head off a mark of 85.
He showed a really likeable attitude to get the job done. A 4lb rise in the weights could well underestimate his ability given his unexposed and upwardly mobile profile.
Shandoz is also entitled to come on a bundle for that outing, his first in 322 days.
He also hails from a yard that is operating at a strike rate of just under 29 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing and saddled the Lavazza Stakes winner 12 months ago.
Everything points to a huge run and Shandoz can be backed at 9/2 with 888sport to go in again.
Kipps holds solid each-way claim in Lavazza Stakes
Kipps has posted solid form to make the frame in all four starts this season and looks sure to go well yet again.
After being beaten just a nose on return to action at Haydock, this Hughie Morrison trained colt ran a stormer when beaten just half-a-length by Hukum in the 17-runner King George V Stakes over 1m 4f at Royal Ascot.
Kipps only got collared in the dying strides, while the winner has gone on to bolt up in Group 3 at Newbury and is a leading fancy for the St Leger.
The third home Subjectivist has also since landed a Listed contest at Hamilton and bolted up by 15 lengths in a Group 3 at Goodwood last time out.
That gives the form a very strong look in relation to the Lavazza Stakes, a similar class 2 contest. Kipps went on to run a fine race next time up when a staying on fourth to Zabeel Champion at Newmarket.
The son of War Command was also far from disgraced last time out when third of 14 to Coltrane in the valuable Melrose Handicap at York where the 1m 6f trip seemed to stretch his stamina to the limits.
Kipps looks sure to appreciate the drop back to 1m 4f here and undoubtedly has the ability to win a pot like this.
Morrison has also been on fire in the last fortnight, so everything looks in place for a huge run. Thus, at 13/2 with Betway, Kipps had to feature as the each-way option for our Lavazza Stakes betting tips.
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