Timeform's Tapeta Tips: Thursday 25th February

Tipping / Timeform / 25 February 2010 / Leave a comment

Timeform ratings were in fine form at Meydan last week, 5 out of 7 top-rated winners on Thursday plus a whole host placed on Friday. Dubai handicapper Stephen Molyneux has indentified some value bets for Thursday's action.

"There should be a good pace with Star Crowned, So Shiny and Instant Recall all in the line-up and, from stall 8, Escape Route can quicken past them down the outside once again"

2.35 - The first selection comes with a government health warning and is speculative to say the least. The horse in question is Red Rock Canyon whose former employment was as sacrificial pacemaker to some of the leading lights at Ballydoyle. That's not to say he doesn't have ability_he was third to Dylan Thomas in the Irish Champion Stakes after all_but the fact is he has only one win to his name, and that was a maiden at Roscommon. His attitude is the main reason, but then again you would feel pretty sorry for yourself if you had been run into the ground to service others, and it's hoped that a change of scenery has perked him up, his effort last time when fifth to Roman's Run certainly hinting as much. He travelled noticeably well held up, the race all but decided by the time he was asked for maximum effort, and even then considerately handled in a bid to restore some confidence in him. Antinori will be popular as favourite, and rightly so after his third to King of Rome, but he has his quirks too and Red Rock Canyon is where the value lies.

3.10 - Escape Route is capable of defying the handicapper and winning for a second time at the Carnival this year. He has reinvented himself at short of a mile and showed an impressive turn of foot to beat Swop last time, with Green Coast and Silverside further behind, and that pair went on to finish first and second in a handicap last week. There should be a good pace with Star Crowned, So Shiny and Instant Recall all in the line-up and, from stall 8, Escape Route can quicken past them down the outside once again. Alo Pura is worth saving on if the price allows. She was left with too much to do behind Global City last time and that form has worked out very well.

3.50 - Two stand out in this handicap and on the basis that Mr Brock is sure to get the run of things whereas Re Barolo is more dependent on a sound pace, which he is unlikely to get here, so the former gets the nod. Mr Brock was sent for home too soon in a much better race than this last week, eventually finishing fourth behind Allybar, and a reproduction of his win earlier in the Carnival will be good enough to take this. Re Barolo is certainly a big danger having caught the eye last time behind Lizard's Desire.

Recommendations

2.35 - Back Red Rock Canyon each-way
3.10 - Back Escape Route to win
Back Alo Pura each-way
3.50 - Back Mr Brock to win