Sport is made for betting

The premier handicap chase of the season takes place every year at Newbury in early December. After decades of being called the Hennessy, the owners of that brand thought there was no longer any point paying for naming rights of a name which will stick with most people for at least another generation. A shame, but entirely understandable especially if the new owners have little appetite for racing (assumption). I've only been to this meeting once, and it's the one most judges class as the best in recent memory - when the mighty Denman won carrying top weight in 2009 . Being an Aussie with a strong appetite for top class handicap racing rather than small fields and set weights, I love seeing a champion take on the challenge of conceding weight to the field, and even more so when connections are rewarded for doing so. Preview rights to this mighty race have been claimed by the sharp-eyed Kiaran O'Brien. Enjoy. =================================== Ladbrokes Tro

Huge weekend of international racing and one of the first big global races was the Japan Cup. It may have been overshadowed a little by other international races and festivals, but it still attracts a premium field - especially of locals who rarely need to travel because the home prizemoney is so spectacular. This year we have raiders from Australia (first time in over a decade), Germany and Ireland - can any of them overcome the strong home representation? For the preview, it's over to international racing aficionado Luke Humphreys,  @WorldRacingLuke . ======================== 2017 Japan Cup 648,000,000 Yen  (approx AUD$7,636,000) Race 11 - 1740 AEST, 0640 GMT Longines Japan Cup 2400m Group One 3yr old+ 1: CHEVAL GRAND: Third in this last year and also second in the Spring version of the Tenno Sho earlier in the season. Returned well in a G2 race over 2400m at Kyoto last month when getting to the line well for third. Primed for this and Hugh Bowman rides. 2:

A new feature on the blog, a regular column from on-course expert Kiaran O'Brien. ================== THE ON-COURSE EYE The On-course Eye is a view from the racecourse where Kiaran O’Brien will attempt to pinpoint future winners based on recent performances. As we know there is no proven scientific formula to finding winners but with over twenty years of racecourse experience he hopes this column will highlight horses that may have slipped under the radar or could still be ahead of the handicapper.   All views are his own.   For many the countdown clock for the Cheltenham Festival in March is activated at Prestbury Park with a fantastic three days of National Hunt racing. Reputations will be enhanced, bubbles will be burst, gambles will be planned and ante-post portfolios built.    Finding winners as ever will not be easy. High on the list of ‘must see’ participants will be the Colin Tizzard-trained  FINIAN’S OSCAR  who holds an entry on Friday in the Steel Plate

I was going to pen a lengthy analytical preview for the Race That Stops The Nation but that was rendered futile when I got the email notification for this magnificent piece of work - Andrew Hawkins' Complete Guide to the 2017 Melbourne Cup . For all the background, all the detail, video links, back stories (read the one about Tiberian especially), go there, you won't find a better analysis anywhere. So instead I'll keep it short and sharp, which based on the lack of sleep I've had in the past week, can only be a good thing! EMIRATES MELBOURNE CUP AU$6 million Group 1 Handicap, 3200m Flemington 1500 local, 0400 GMT 1. HARTNELL - third last year when looked poised to win at top of straight. Has been 'running more like a two-miler' this prep according to trainer, but hasn't run beyond 2000m either. History isn't kind to horses coming back a second time to win (actually it's his third attempt) especially high in the weights. No. 2. ALMANDIN

There are many different ways of analysing a horse race and thankfully, they don't all come up with the same answer. Some rely on weight ratings, others focus on time or their own visual assessment. On Cup Day, it's incredibly popular to use a dart or go by colours, when you'll always hear about the winners from your once-a-year punter friend, but never any evidence based on a useful sample size.  Another angle of research which some people swear by is by deep analysis of the breeding. You'll hear plenty of debate about certain horses and whether they can stay 3200m, That's when you look to the pedigree analysis from experts such as Winning Edge Investments . ========================= Melbourne Cup Preview By Geoff Mcmurray @mcmurray_geoff www.winningedgeinvestments.com   Overview So who will and who won’t run the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup. Let’s review all this year’s runners and make an assessment from pedigree as to who will be the s