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.
Appleby’s charge a worthy favourite for Newmarket glory
Having created a good impression when scoring on debut, La Barrosa looks worth siding with to follow-up in the 7f Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday (15:00).
That success came in a 12-runner maiden at Ascot filled with nicely bred types on paper where the Charlie Appleby trained colt was sent off the 2/1 favourite and beat Derab by 1 1/4 lengths.
After racing a bit keen but tracking the leaders travelling well, the Godolphin owned son of Lope De Vega made smooth headway between horses a furlong from home to take up the running inside the last.
He then stayed on strongly under a hands and heels ride from James Doyle to be well on top at the finish and was value for more than the winning margin.
It was a most taking display and the runner-up was a well-touted John Gosden inmate. The third home, Greatgadian, also went into the race with a big reputation.
The way in which La Barrosa got the job done was visually impressive and suggested he was a well-above average sort with a big future who needed keeping firmly onside.
This demands more, but La Barrosa is a strong fancy to rise to the challenge and take this en route to even better things. He can be backed at 10/11 with Bet365 to do just that on the Tattersalls Stakes.
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Yazaman has finished runner-up twice at Group 2 level and ran well last time out when second in a valuable sales race at York.
However, the William Haggas trained son of Kodiac has a high head carriage and doesn’t look the most genuine, so looks opposable.
Qaader, an 8/1 shot with Betfair, is therefore feared more following a break as he had some strong form to his name before a poor run last time out when fifth of seven in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
After bolting up on debut at Newbury by four lengths in the manner of a hugely exciting prospect, this Mark Johnston trained son of Night Of Thunder found only outsider Nando Parrado a length too good when second of 15 in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Qaader made good headway to track the leaders two from home travelling strongly in the hands of Jim Crowley and looked the likely winner when produced to challenge at the furlong marker, only to show signs of greenness and wander under pressure close home.
It was a cracking effort and he was then far from disgraced when fourth of nine to Tactical in the Group 2 July Stakes over 6f at Newmarket.
Qaader promises to be suited by the step up to 7f in the Tattersalls Stakes and still has an air of unfinished business about him.
Johnston also knows what is required to win this, having landed two of the last three renewals courtesy of Elarqam in 2017 and Arctic Sound a year later.
Ventura Tormenta also has Tattersalls Stakes claims
In a weak renewal of the Tattersalls Stakes where a disappointing field of just five are set to go to post, it’s very hard to make a case for Albadri or Dark Lion.
However, Ventura Tormenta can’t be totally ruled out despite having to shoulder a 5lb penalty as a result of his success in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at Deauville.
The Richard Hannon trained son of acclamation showed a really likeable attitude that day to dig deep and get up in the dying stride to beat Royal Ascot winner The Lir Jet by a short-head.
Prior to that, Ventura Tormenta has finished a decent staying on fifth of 10 to Master Of The Seas over 7f here in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes.
Those runs have earned him an official rating of 105, the highest in the line-up. It makes him a player on the pick of his form, but his last two runs have been somewhat underwhelming so a bounce back is called for.
Ventura Tormenta also faces no easy task giving weight all-round against some less exposed and more scopey types. He can be backed at 8/1 with Betfred in the Tattersalls Stakes.
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