5.20 Wolverhampton, Thursday, April 5

The Book Tickets at Wolverhampton-Racecourse.co.uk Handicap (5.20) is, at best, a moderate contest, in which it may be worth taking a chance on course and distance winner Zapateado. The Zoffany filly won a similar egg-and-spoon race, off a 6lb lower mark, for Richard Hughes here in November and, although her subsequent efforts in claiming and selling company were less encouraging, she appeared to show some improvement on her debut for Karen George at Lingfield earlier this month.

Although only fourth of eight, she was only beaten 1¼ lengths in that 0-70 contest at odds of 66/1, losing two places close home. On her final start for Richard Hughes, she finished last of five, beaten 12½ lengths, in a seller over course and distance, so her most recent effort represented a huge improvement. Dropped back into 0-60 company off a 2lb lower mark, she looks to have every chance of regaining the winning thread. Tom Marquand takes over from 5lb claimer Rhiain Ingram, which cannot be viewed as anything but positive, so Zapateado must have a sporting chance at decent odds.

Selection: Wolverhampton 5.20 Zapateado to win 7/1

7.45 Wolverhampton, Thursday, March 29

In the Betway Handicap (7.45) at Wolverhampton on Thursday, King Kevin has been kept busy during the winter, but is holding his form remarkably well. Although flattered by his proximity to easy winner Nonios at Chelmsford last week, Ed Dunlop’s 4-year-old recorded a career-best performance and, back over the course and distance where he’s already won three times, off a 3lb lower mark, should make a bold bid to resume winning ways.

The son of Holy Roman Emperor has yet to win in this grade, but has already improved 30lb since September, according to official figures, and may not have finished yet, despite his taxing schedule. He has already run a dozen times since October, so must be due a break soon, but he stuck to his task as well as ever at Chelmsford as is clearly thriving with racing. He’s reunited with Rab Havlin, who’s ridden him to all five victories, including three over course and distance, and he can improve his (already impressive) strike rate on synthetic surfaces.

Selection: Wolverhampton 7.45 King Kevin to win

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018: Who are the contenders for this year's race?

The Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner. The festival is one of the most anticipated horse racing events of the British calendar. The Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018 race will be the marquee event at the festival. This year marks the 90th running of the Gold Cup, and the race will be run on Friday 16th of March at Prestbury Park. 

Although the horses and jockeys are not completely confirmed, there are a few already known that will participate in the event. 

The 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Sizing John, is expected to be back to defend his crown. Last year's winner tasted defeat at the Christmas Chase at Leopardstown. Trainer Jessica Harrington opted out of the Irish Gold Cup to prevent Sizing John from taking another loss. The horse won't run again until the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018, which means a layoff of around three months. Leopardstown was a major disappointment as it saw Sizing John finish a distant seventh. The horse won at Leopardstown a year ago and it led to Sizing John's big win at the Cheltenham Festival. Harrington now has to get the reigning champion back into form.  

Meanwhile, last season's runners up, Minella Rocco and Native River, are also penciled in to start the race. Of course, in the build-up to the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018, some of the expected participants could drop out due to injury or fatigue. It is hoped the top three horses from last year's edition of the Gold Cup will be involved; and that all three will perform well.

Might Bite is another horse being strongly favoured ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018 race. Might Bite won December's King George Stakes race and many feel the horse could go on to have a stellar Cheltenham Festival performance. Might Bite is being held out of an upcoming race at Newbury. The horse's co-owner David Minton wants Might Bite to be fresh for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018, as the horse is being tipped by many experts as the one to beat. 

Irish Gold Cup 2018 winner Edwulf goes into Cheltenham as a slight dark horse. Edwulf was a 33-1 shot at the Irish Gold Cup but came through to win the race. The horse collapsed at Cheltenham in 2017 and nearly died. Now, nearly a year on, Edwulf is a Cinderella story in the making. The horse isn't confirmed yet for the gold cup, but it is believed by tipsters that Edwulf will line up for the event. 

Excitement is high for Samcro, who won a seventh consecutive race on February 4th in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle race. Samcro's trainer, Michael O'Leary, wants the horse to run the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018 event. However, it isn't confirmed which event Samcro will be participate in. O'Leary does know he wants the hype surrounding his horse to die down. Due to Samcro's current winning streak, horse racing insiders and tipsters are building up the six-year-old to unachievable heights.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018 will mark the final day of racing at the famed festival. Last year's festival saw over £4.59 million in prize money awarded. The Gold Cup winner alone saw £625,000 go into their pockets. This year should see even more money at stake as the race for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018 commences on March 16th.

Doncaster Handicap: Ante Post Betting Preview

The eagerly anticipated grand finals of Australian racing begin with the $3 million Doncaster Handicap at Royal Randwick on April 7. The Championships carry more than £20 million in prize money over the two days and feature several prestigious races that attracted an impressive roll call of superstar trainers, jockeys and horses. The Doncaster Handicap is one of the biggest events during the meeting and has had several noteworthy winners over the years, including the legendary Winx in 2016. It is run over 1600m and is therefore also known as the Doncaster Mile, and it has been running since 1866. Some of the best gallopers in history have emerged victorious here, including Tobin Bronze, Super Impose and Sunline. Here are the leading ante post contenders to join them in the history books by winning the 2018 renewal:

Kementari

The Lonhro colt delivered a classy performance to claim victory at a star studded Group 2 Hobartville Stakes over 1400m at the weekend. He beat Pierata, D’Argento, Trapeze Artist, Ace High and other stars to win the $400,000 showpiece, and the odds on him winning the Randwick Guineas and the Doncaster Mile were immediately slashed. The consistent galloper has now won both races since making his season reappearance in the Group 3 Aquis Farm Eskimo Prince Stakes at Warwick Farm on February 10. He is in ominous form heading into this year's classics, and he looks as though he could be racing’s next big thing. “This colt is very good,” said Godolphin representative Darren Beadman after the Hobartville Stakes win. “I think he is top notch. To run past a horse like Trapeze Artist, who has the runs on the board, was very impressive. This was a test for him today and he has put them away nicely. We have seen a star in the making.” If he follows in Winx’s footsteps by winning the Doncaster Mile, Kementari really will have announced himself on the big stage and he is currently the $7 favourite to do so in the racing betting.

D’Argento

Chris Waller’s grey colt rallied well in the closing stages of the Hobartville Stakes to take third and the trainer believes he will relish a step up in trip. The extra 200m could make all the difference for D’Argento at the Doncaster Mile as he was flying at the end of the race. He is progressing nicely at the right time of season and looks dangerous ahead of The Championships at Randwick in April. He was magnificent in winning at Rosehill last year and shows signs of further improvement this time around, so he will give Kementari and co a real run for their money.

Brave Smash

Japan-bred Brave Smash beat stablemate Tosen Stardom to win the Group 1 Italktravel Futurity Stakes at Caulfield for Darren Weir at the weekend. The five-year-old is cementing his reputation as a star sprinter in Australia and can look forward to a lengthy spell in the breeding barn. But before that there is more glory potentially on the horizon, and the Doncaster Mile is now very much in his sights. Brave Smash has already placed at the Group 1 Ladbrokes C. F. Orr Stakes and the $10 million Everest Stakes at Randwick, the richest turf race in the world. That amounts to a mightily impressive CV and Brave Smash will certainly be in the mix at Randwick in April.

Happy Clapper

Happy Clapper has finished second in the Doncaster Handicap for the last two years and will bid to go one better this April. Since his last runner-up finish, the popular Syndey galloper has enjoyed breakthrough Group 1 success at Randwick in the $1 million Epsom Handicap. That was trainer Pat Webster’s happiest moment in a racing career spanning 40 years as it represented his first ever Group 1 victory, and he will be hopeful that Happy Clapper can lead him to further glory this year. However, he has to carry 57kg for the Doncaster Mile, while Kementari has just 51.5kg, so victory will be difficult for him.

The Rest

Tosen Stardom should enjoy the slightly longer trip, while Alizee and Pierata are attracting a lot of attention. Humidor, who won last year’s Australian Cup and Makybe Diva Stakes and got within a neck of Winx in the Cox Plate, carries top weight. There is talent throughout the ante post field, including Aloisia, Cliff’s Edge and Black Hear Bart, and it should prove to be an open and intriguing contest, but right now Kementari stands out.

Author bio

Martin Green is an experienced horse racing correspondent and tipster and has been covering the Doncaster Mile for many years.