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.
Molecomb Stakes betting tips – Speedy filly has plenty going for her
In a wide-open looking renewal of the 5f Group 3 Molecomb Stakes for juveniles at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday (14:45), Sardinia Sunset looks worth siding with to provide in-form trainer Roger Varian with another winner.
This daughter of Gutaifan shaped with bags of promise on debut at Newmarket when 1 3/4 lengths second of 12 to Sacred in a race which has thrown-up subsequent winners.
That fine effort saw connections pitch Sardinia Sunset straight into Group 2 company. She ran a cracker at Royal Ascot when fourth of 18 to Campanelle in the Queen Mary Stakes.
After showing plenty of early dash to lead the field down the centre of the track, the Amo Racing owned filly only got headed inside the last before weakening late on to be beaten 4 1/2 lengths.
Sardinia Sunset finished a head in front of the fifth home Happy Romance, who has since come out a bolted up in the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury.
That gives the form a strong look in relation to the Molecomb Stakes. Sardinia Sunset comes into the race having opened her account in a Listed contest at Doncaster when ridden out to readily beat Furlong Factor by a length.
Given that she was short of room at the furlong marker and quickened nicely when a gap did eventually appear, it was a taking display from Sardinia Sunset.
She appeals as the type to go on progressing now that she has got her head in front and this speed test looks tailor-made judged on her run in the Queen Mary.
Hence, at 5/1 with Boylesports, Sardinia Sunset is a strong fancy to make the most of a 3lb sex allowance she receives from the colts and follow-up here.
Significantly sure to go well in Molecomb Stakes
Significantly has finished runner-up in all his three starts to date, but posted some solid efforts in defeat. He looks a big player for top two-year-old trainer Karl Burke.
After racing very green when an eye-catching neck second to Muker on debut at Newcastle, the son of Garswood was slowly away before looking all over the winner a furlong from home at Doncaster only to get chinned on the line and beaten a short-head by Uncle Jumbo.
Significantly looked a bit of an unlucky loser. That was again the case at Sandown three weeks ago when beaten just half-a-length by Gussy Mac in the Listed 5f Dragon Stakes.
The colt blew his lines at the start completely before making steady headway to chase the leaders three from home. Significantly then quickened up nicely under Ben Curtis and led inside the final furlong, before being unable to find any extra close home.
It was a solid effort against a progressive sort, given how the race panned out and one which commands Significantly plenty of respect in the Molecomb Stakes.
The fact that he has been slowly away in his last two starts has to be a concern over this flying five furlongs. However, Significantly undoubtedly has a big engine.
If getting away on level terms, he would have every chance of opening his account. Significantly can be backed at 9/2 with Paddy Power, to do just that and rates the main danger to Sardinia Sunset.
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Goodwood Handicap Betting Tips – True Destiny the answer to staying test
On the back of two very solid efforts this season, True Destiny looks the one to be on in the extended 2m 4f Goodwood Handicap earlier on the card (13:45).
This Roger Charlton trained five-year-old is a progressive and consistent sort who has won five of his 18 starts and also made the frame on six occasions.
After winning at Nottingham and York in May/June of last year, True Destiny ran a cracker in this contest when a length third of 19 to Timoshenko off a mark of 82.
The son of Mastercraftsman raced in midfield before responding well to pressure and finishing off powerfully to be gaining hand over fist at the line.
True Destiny now has to race off 4lb higher, but showed that his current rating of 86 was not beyond him last time out over 2m at Newbury.
He stayed on strongly from off the pace to be nearest at the finish and beaten just a length when third of 11 to Reshoun.
Prior to that, True Destiny had also run a race full of promise on return to action at Kempton when failing by just a head to overhaul Jersey Thunder, again over 2m, in a race which wasn’t run to suit.
A strong end-to-end gallop and the step back up to 2m 4f here will play to his strengths. True Destiny has hit the fame in both his previous starts in class 2 company.
Charlton has also been back among the winners of late and underfoot conditions are fine. There is nothing not to like about the profile of True Destiny for the Goodwood Handicap, then.
At 7/1 with BetVictor, then, he looks well worth a wager in a typically wide-open renewal of this stamina sapping test.
Smart Champion has an each-way shout in Goodwood Handicap
In a race where a case can be made for most of the 16 runners, the David Simcock trained Smart Champion appeals most from an each-way betting perspective.
This five-year-old overcame trouble in-running when beating powering home to beat Carnwennan by half-a-length three starts back at Newcastle over 2m off a mark of 83.
He then ran a cracker at Royal Ascot off 4lb higher when racing towards the rear before flying home to finish a never nearer 1 1/2 lengths fourth of 19 to Coeur de Lion in the Ascot Stakes over the 2m 4f trip of this.
Smart Champion appeared to have been ridden conservatively in order to get the marathon trip, which he was tackling for the first time. He now meets the winner and third home Summer Moon on 1lb better terms.
Given how the race panned out, that gives the son of Teofilo every chance of turning the tables on those rivals.
Smart Champion then appeared to find the race coming too soon at Newcastle 11 days later when ninth of 18 to Caravan Of Hope in the Northumberland Plate.
He has since been given a break to freshen up. The yard is now in good form and operating at a 20 per cent strike rate in the last 14 days at the time of writing.
So, if bouncing back to the form he showed in the Ascot Stakes, Smart Champion looks a big player in this under Callum Shepherd. He is well worth considering each-way at 12/1 with William Hill who are paying five places.
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