In-Running Betting Advice: Two McCain horses are solid back-to-lays

In-Play / Neil Munro / 14 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Two of the horses mentioned in this column as good back-to-lays are trained by Donald McCain

"Tara Royal bowled along in his eye-catching style as he so often does, but maybe a little more prominently than recently has done, and he seemed to revel in this."

In the days of Betfair, being able to back-to-lay a horse can prove as profitable as successfully backing or laying. Here are three to keep an eye on, says Neil Munro.

In Running Week

After the disappointment of Newbury being called off last weekend, I suddenly realised that there was a cracking card at Musselburgh to get my thinking cap on for. It was great to hear that the authorities had the clear thinking to rearrange the Newbury card for later in the week, more of that please. But this was the Edinburgh tracks' moment in the sun. Well...low covering cloud.

Kie

Donald McCain doesn't have a particularly great record up at Musselburgh but he had a pretty decent day that would have been all the better if Kie had dictated all the way. But that is the problem from what we have seen so far of this four year old. If he doesn't dictate and get away from the pack then he tends to fold at the business end or make mistakes. His two wins have been for a combined forty-one lengths, but he becomes of interest when challenged. He already has three odds-on trades in defeats over hurdles, to go alongside the one he had on the flat in six British career defeats. As he is a front-runner, it makes it a simple play.

Back pre-race at BSP and then lay out double your stake at ¼ your matched price in the run. By all means put up further deep odds-on lays.

Ostland

Charlie Longsdon had already had two winners on his first visit to Musselburgh by the time Ostland took to the track under conditions that did not suit, but that didn't stop the pre-race and in-running backers getting involved. He has never won over hurdles and, prefers firmer ground so I was going to take him on, but I took the risk of doing it in the run because of his in-running record. He is a strong traveller who has traded half his BSP in the run eleven times out of fourteen defeats. I was happy as my lay bet was matched at [5.6] but then started to worry as he traded odds-on. In fact, he went as low as [1.38]. But then he found little and ended up out the places. With the form of the Longsdon yard this season, I am sure that Ostland will win over the bigger fences in a field of 11 or less. But protect your stake by trading in the run.

Back pre-race at BSP and then when in a small field chase, lay out your stake at half the BSP, any other conditions lay a little more than your stake.

Tara Royal

Back to Donald McCain and I was so pleased to see Tara Royal return to form. I had put him up as a back to lay on Twitter but suggesting you only lay out your stake as he seemed to have the right conditions. Tara Royal bowled along in his eye-catching style as he so often does, but maybe a little more prominently than recently has done, and he seemed to revel in this. The handicapper won't be lenient with him so it is worth bearing in mind that you should be able to get out on him in the run wherever he turns up next, as he has traded at half his BSP ten times in twelve defeats.

Back pre-race at BSP and then lay out your stake at half the BSP in the run.

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