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.
September Stakes betting tips – Gosden mare has race at her mercy
In the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton on Saturday (14:35), Enable looks in a different league to her rivals and can repeat her 2018 success in the 1m 4f contest en route to another crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Trained by John Gosden, this sensational six-year-old mare has won 14 of her 17 starts. Eleven of those victories have come at Group/Grade 1 level.
She used this as her final prep before landing her second Arc and also ran a cracker in last year’s renewal of the Paris showpiece when a 1 3/4 lengths second to Waldgeist.
Enable has had just two starts this season, finishing a solid second to the race-fit and thriving Ghaiyyath in the Eclipse at Sandown before landing the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot for a third time.
The daughter of Nathaniel looked as good as ever in the latter when cruising clear to easily beat Sovereign by 5 1/2 lengths.
This represents a huge drop in class and Enable has a mighty official rating of 128. That gives her 15lb and upwards in hand on her six rivals here.
It makes her impossible to oppose and she shouldn’t have to break sweat to land the September Stakes again. Best odds of 1/5 with bet365 therefore look fully justified about Enable.
Prince Of Arran the September Stakes forecast choice
Given that he is the second highest rated in the race, the Charlie Fellowes trained Prince Of Arran G looks the obvious one to chase the hot favourite home.
This seven-year-old gelding is an ultra-tough globetrotter who finished a cracking nose second of 24 to Vow Declare in last year’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
He failed to shine last time out in the Ascot Gold Cup, but had previously shaped well on return to action at Newcastle when a 2 1/4 lengths third of 11 to Hayef Road in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes over 2m.
Prince Of Arran now drops back significantly in trip, but showed that he could be effective over it when a 1 3/4 lengths third to Royal Line in this contest 12 months ago.
As with Enable for the Arc, the September Stakes looks the ideal race to sharpen him up before attempting to go one better in the Melbourne Cup.
Fellowes had been bullish about his chances – prior to hearing that Enable would be running! It’s hard to make a case for backing Prince Of Arran to win at 8/1 with William Hill, but putting him a straight forecast behind Enable does.
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Sirenia Stakes betting tips – Mystery Miles the answer
In the 6f Group 3 Sirenia Stakes for juveniles earlier on the card (14:00), Mystery Miles makes plenty of appeal now dropped in class following a fine effort last time out.
That run came in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York where the Andrew Balding trained son of Mehmas finished a fien staying on 2 3/4 lengths third of nine to the hugely exciting Minzaal.
Prior to that, Mystery Miles had won both his races in good style. In the first of those at Windsor he showed a smart turn of foot to score easily by 2 3/4 lengths.
Mystery Miles then ran on well to account for Zamaani by just under a length at Chester, so has nothing to fear from that re-opposing rival judged on the manner in which he got the job done.
His excellent run in the Gimcrack has earned him an official rating of 103 – the highest in the 10-runner line-up. As this represents a drop in class it very much makes Mystery Miles the one to beat.
So, with the promise of even better to come, he looks well worth a wager at 11/4 with Betfred to get back to winning ways.
Lauded has an each-way shout in Sirenia Stakes
In a wide-open renewal where a case can be made for plenty, Lauded has form in the book which suggests he should be capable of making his presence felt.
This Tom Dascombe trained son of Acclamation looked a smart prospect when scoring on debut at Haydock, where he raced prominently before drawing clear inside the last to score easily by 4 1/2 lengths.
That taking success earned Lauded a crack at the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he was far from disgraced in finishing a six-length seventh of 15 to Nando Parrado.
He backed that up with a solid third to Supremacy in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood when showing good speed before weakening late on and only losing out on second close home.
Lauded the failed to live up to expectations last time out at York when dropped into Listed company and finishing eighth of 10 to Acklam Express.
However, the combination of the drop down to 5f and soft ground may not have been in his favour. It’s easy to forgive him that run, so it would be no surprise to see Lauded bounce back now returned to 6f on his polytrack debut.
If that does prove to be the case, then he looks each-way value at 9/1 with Betfair judged on his previous two runs in Group 2 company.
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