SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
After taking a week’s break, the Tipster Challenge series resumes today at Nottingham for Week 12. In a big week for Racing, ahead of Saturday’s Grand National, we have Charlie McCann of BetVictor representing the table topping Guests.
Charlie has worked for BetVictor since 2011, previously as the Director of Online Public Relations, before becoming Head of Communications in May 2015.
An expert in the betting industry, Charlie has also worked for Stan James and 32Red, and he will be confident of out-tipping SBC News, Stephen Harris of bettingexpert and Timeform.
2:20
SBC News: Stratum
Eye catching debut at Newmarket and should be the star turn in the opener.
bettingexpert: Able Jack
Showed ability in four starts as a juvenile and returns with his stable in terrific form on the all-weather.
Timeform: Stratum
Newmarket debut effort in the autumn was a fairly-encouraging one, and with pedigree/connections offering plenty of hope for better still, he gets the nod to make a winning return.
BetVictor: Stratum
The once-raced Stratum shaped with promise on debut and is bred to be decent; Frankie Dettori takes the ride in a race that should again throw up some future winners.
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2:50
SBC News: A Momentofmadness
Showed great form in victory at Kempton just 3 weeks ago.
bettingexpert: Mysterious Look
Will be a lot fitter than most of these and that could pay dividends in very testing ground.
Timeform: A Momentofmadness
Produced a much-improved performance when making a winning return to action at Kempton last month, and gets the nod in the hope he can prove as effective tackling vastly different conditions here.
BetVictor: Mysterious Look
Has had a recent run to her name, and showed some pretty decent form at Southwell twice in March.
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3:20
SBC News: Spirit Quartz
Returns from a break, but won this race in 2013 and still has plenty to offer.
bettingexpert: Spirit Quartz
Has good form at this venue in the past and the booking of Atzeni really catches the eye on his first run for 251 days.
Timeform: Poyle Vinnie
A potential match between Poyle Vinnie and Spirit Quartz on these terms, with the former preferred on the forecast heavy ground.
BetVictor: Blithe Spirit
A bit of an outsider, but enters fresh and came 2nd in this race a year ago.
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3:50
SBC News: Clever Cookie
Ideal soft conditions; clearly the classiest and most in-form horse in the field.
bettingexpert: First Mohican
Is not getting any younger but has race fitness on his side in what is likely to develop into a real war of attrition.
Timeform: Clever Cookie
Goes well fresh and has his ideal conditions, so should prove too classy for this lot, especially with main form-rival Seismos returning from a lengthy absence.
BetVictor: Clever Cookie
Now an 8-year-old but was, arguably, better than ever last season, goes well fresh, loves cut in the ground and I would be disappointed if he didn’t make a winning reappearance for Peter Niven.
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4:25
SBC News: Greenside
Won on the soft ground with his 1st run of 2015, and repeating the feat in 2016 would be no surprise.
bettingexpert: Simply Shining
Shaped better than the bare result on numerous occasions last season and looks well handicapped here if handling the heavy ground.
Timeform: Greenside
Made light of an absence when an impressive winner at Newmarket last autumn and can show his subsequent effort on AW to be merely a blip and get back on the up on his return to action.
BetVictor: Greenside
Had six months in his box with a plate in his leg before winning a Newmarket Handicap on soft ground back in October by a long looking five lengths.
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4:55
SBC News: Motdaw
Wasn’t beaten by much on soft ground at Brighton and taken to improve on disappointing last showing at Newmarket in October.
bettingexpert: Motdaw
Caught the eye as a juvenile and will find this a lot easier than his final start at Newmarket last season.
Timeform: Hijran
Bred to be better than this grade, and though she lasted only 3 runs for William Haggas, it could be significant that her powerful connections have kept the faith.
BetVictor: Hijran
Steady improver and deserves consideration despite a break of nearly 5 months.
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5:25
SBC News: Gawdawpalin
Won on good to soft ground at Windsor and did enough to suggest he could stay the increased distance.
bettingexpert: Match My Fire
Represents very astute connections and looks to have got into this lightly on handicap debut.
Timeform: Gawdawpalin
This step up in trip should suit Gawdawpalin, who was caught further back than ideal when third in a Chelmsford nursery on his final run of 2015.
BetVictor: Purple Raven
Bred to appreciate this step up in trip having shaped with promise in three starts over 7f and a mile as a juvenile.
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