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.
Haggas filly can maintain unbeaten record in Valiant Stakes
In the 1m Group 3 Valiant Stakes for three-year-old fillies and upwards at Ascot on Sunday (15:05), the unexposed and progressive Miss O Connor looks value to land the spoils and maintain her unbeaten record.
This four-year-old looked a smart prospect when trained in Ireland by John Feane and making a winning debut in a 15-runner maiden at Gowran Park in May of last year where she kept on strongly to readily account for Romantic Proposal by just under two lengths.
She then moved to join William Haggas and destroyed the opposition on debut for the Newmarket handler when romping to an 11 length success at Nottingham.
That facile success saw connections pitch the daughter of Roderic O’Connor into Listed company and she put in a dominant display when landing the Dick Hern Stakes at Haydock by 2 1/4 lengths from Red Starlight.
Miss O Connor then went on to round off the campaign with victory in a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud in France where she fought off challengers at the furlong marker and gamely found plenty to beat Kourkan by a length.
She had the smart 113-rated Plumatic a further short-neck back in third, and as it was the first time that she had been really made to battle there was lost to like about the performance.
It was one which suggested there was even better to come from Miss O Connor and, although now stepped up in grade, this does not look a strong renewal of the Valiant Stakes.
Miss O Connor also hails from a yard in fine form. Haggas knows what it takes to land this having won it three times. She is thus taken to land this en route to even better things.
Agincourt appeals each-way under Moore in Valiant Stakes
Billesdon Brook is the highest rated in the line-up and heads the betting, but isn’t getting any younger and looks worth taking on.
Agincourt, who finished behind her last time out, could well reverse the form now reunited with Ryan Moore.
That came in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket where the David O’Meara trained five-year-old held every chance a furlong out before being unable to quicken and be beaten 3 1/2 lengths.
She shaped a bit better than the end result suggests in a race which wasn’t run so suit and Billesdon Brook finished a neck second to Nazeef.
Prior to that, Agincourt had run a stormer when chinned on the line and beraten a head by Nazeef in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
That run commands the daughter of Declaration Of War the utmost respect in this and the booking of Moore to do the steering is an eye-catching one.
He has only partnered Agincourt on one other occasion and that resulted in success in a Listed contest at Kempton on her final start last season.
Moore has also only teamed up with the yard four times in the past 12 months – winning once and finishing in the frame on two occasions.
Hence, Agincourt looks a solid each-way betting proposition in a Valiant Stakes renewal lacking any real strength-in-depth.
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Princess Margaret Stakes Betting Tips – More Beautiful can bounce back
More Beautiful failed to live up to expectations last time out, but was far from disgraced and now eased on grade is taken to bounce back to winning ways in the 6f Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes for juvenile fillies (15:40).
That run came at the Royal meeting here last month where the Aidan O’Brien trained daughter of War Front was sent off a heavily-backed even-money favourite, but could finish only a six-length ninth of 18 to Campanelle.
However, More Beautiful showed plenty of early speed to chase the leaders before getting outpaced at the furlong marker after which she was considerately handled by Moore.
It was an effort which suggested that the run may have come too quick for her following a stunning debut success in a 16-runner maiden at Naas just 12 days earlier.
More Beautiful strode effortlessly clear from the furlong marker that day to score by 3 1/2 lengths from Roses Blue in the manner of a top notch prospect.
The third and fifth home, Nimbostratus and Measure Of Magic, both won next time up – so that also gives the form a solid look.
More Beautiful remains an exciting prospect going forward and is sure to have learnt plenty from her run in the Queen Mary.
She could prove a totally different proposition following a 36 day break and this is easier. More Beautiful is thus taken to justify favouritism under Moore.
Santosha feared most in Princess Margaret Stakes
The David Loughnane trained Caroline Dale finished in front of More Beautiful when third in the Queen Mary and has won since, so commands plenty of respect.
However, her stable companion Santosha is the top rated in the line-up and feared more following a blinding effort last time out.
This daughter of Coulsty belied odds of 50/1 to make a winning debut in an 11-runner novice contest at Lingfield when showing a smart turn of foot to beat Beverage by 1 3/4 lengths.
It was a most taking display and Santosha again outran huge odds of 50/1 at Newmarket earlier in the month when pitched into Group 2 company and a fast-finishing three-quarters of a length third to the hugely exciting and previous Royal Ascot scorer Dandalla.
The second home that day Fev River has scored since, whilst the fourth Timescale went into the race on the back of a brace of taking successes.
It suggests that it was not a fluke effort by Santosha. If trained by a more fashionable stable, then she would arguably be much shorter in the betting than she is.
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