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.
Improving stayer primed to strike for Fanshawe
The progressive Selino ran a stormer when runner-up on seasonal reappearance, so looks worth a punt to go one better and land the spoils in the Marsh Cup at Newbury on Sunday (16:00).
This James Fanshawe trained four-year-old showed improved form when stepped up in trip last year.
He opened his account in game fashion over 1m 6f at Redcar when coming from off the pace to get up in the last stride to beat Funny Man by a nose off a mark of 79.
Selino then defied a 6lb rise in the weights with consummate ease when forging clear to easily beat Charlie D by 10 lengths over 2m at Windsor.
That most taking display suggested that he was a stayer going places and one to keep onside this season.
That view was confirmed on return to action last month at Royal Ascot where the son of Champs Elysees finished a 3 3/4 lengths second of 16 to Fujaira Prince in the 1m 6f Copper Horse Handicap.
Although no match for the easy winner, who looks a smart pattern race performer in the making, Selino stuck to the task well to be nearest at the finish without ever threatening to land a blow.
It was a huge run after 243 days on the sidelines. The way in which he finished off suggested that the step back up to 2m here will be right up his street.
Selino has been raised a further 5lb for that and now has to race off a career-high rating of 102, but is clearly going the right way and appeals as the type that has plenty more to offer.
With underfoot conditions ideal, Selino thus looks worth a wager at 5/1 with BetVictor to get back on the scoresheet.
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Themaxwecan appears to be building up to a big performance, so despite having to shoulder top weight is feared most.
This Mark Johnston trained four-year-old showed battling qualities to win on debut at Bath and went on to follow-up at over 1m 2f at Chelmsford when running on strongly to score by three-quarters of a length.
He then ran well when a 3 1/4 length runner-up to Technician over 1m 4f at Leicester and the winner, to whom he was conceding 10lb, has since won a Group 3 and a Group 1 to officially be rated 116.
Themaxwecan went on to land the Brown Jack Handicap at Ascot and a six-runner affair at Goodwood off 93 and 98 respectively.
The son of Maxios now has to race off a career-high rating of 103 but that should not be beyond him, judged on his second to Technician.
Themaxwecan also comes into the race having ran really well off just 1lb lower last time out when fourth of 16 to Fujaira Prince in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot when staying on to be beaten five lengths.
He now meets Selino, who finished just over e length in front of him, on 4lb better terms. That gives him every chance of turning the tables with that rival.
It was also just the second start of the campaign for Themaxwecan, so he should now be fully tuned to do himself justice. Other pluses are that he is two from three over the 2m trip of this and hails from a yard in fine form.
So, taking everything into account, Themaxwecan has lots going for him and looks well worth considering at odds of 8/1 with Betfred.
Just Hubert a lively outsider in Marsh Cup
In a typically fierce and wide-open renewal of the March Cup, the William Muir trained Just Hubert looks capable of outrunning his odds.
After finishing a decent seven length third to subsequent St Leger winner Logician on seasonal reappearance last season, this four-year-old went on to win three of his next four starts.
In the last of those in the 2m Edinburgh Cup at Musselburgh, Just Hubert took up the running at the furlong marker and drew clear near the finish to beat Aneonecanhaveitall by 1 1/2 lengths off a mark of 86.
It was a dominant display and one which saw Just Hubert sent off just 5/1 to follow-up in Listed company at Ascot, but he failed to live up to expectations and trailed in a well-beaten fifth of eight to Hereby.
The son of Dunaden has also failed to trouble the judge in two starts this season.
He ran a bit better than the bare result suggests last time out in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle, when doing some late work to finish 11th of 18 to Caravan Of Hope having been slowly away and poorly positioned as a result.
Just Hubert has since been dropped another pound by the assessor and is now able to race off a rating of 88 – just 2lb higher than when last victorious.
It makes him a contender at the weights on the pick of his form. The booking of the in-form Hollie Doyle to partner Just Hubert for the first time also catches the eye.
So, at 25/1 with Betfair, Just Hubert had to feature as the each-way angle for this Marsh Cup renewal.
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