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The Guardian - UK

Sport

Will Hayler

Talking Horses

Jim Crowley has big prospects this afternoon at Newmarket where he rides Puff in the Listed race. Photograph: John Walton/Empics Sport

Tension at Wetherby, by Will Hayler

This is an important day for Wetherby racecourse.

A police van with seven or eight uniformed officers is at the entrance to the track, with a further half a dozen burly security men just inside the gates. Stood on the roundabout outside is one apparent protestor, clad in combat fatigues and boots and carrying a loud-hailer, although he looked to be concentrating more upon keeping warm than protesting as I arrived.

The British Horseracing Authority and RSPCA investigations into the recent spate of deaths at the track has failed to find a linking factor and racing has been allowed to go ahead today and tomorrow after further inspections of the track.

But I have already spotted BHA officials and the RSPCA's David Muir walking the course this morning and a camera crew from the BBC are also here – a sign of how seriously we should all be taking the situation today.

There can't be an owner, trainer or jockey arriving at today's meeting who isn't aware of recent developments and who hasn't had to ask themselves some questions about whether they are happy to be sending their horses into action this afternoon.

Never before has the old cliché about "the main thing is that they all come home safely" seemed so usable.

Today's best bets, by Will Hayler

A change of stable jockey might well bring about a change in fortunes for Andy Turnell in the months ahead. Jumping has been the achilles heel of Bible Lord (2.40) in his most recent races, but he ran well off the same mark in a better race than this at Cheltenham on his reappearance last season and if Nick Schofield can get him into a rhythm, he is the type to take to Wetherby where the quick ground won't be a problem.

With a recent spin on the Flat under his belt, Sea Storm (3.45) makes some appeal at a price at a meeting where he was successful 12 months ago.

While Bannville (2.05) should prove hard to beat against three ordinary-looking rivals, providing that Tony McCoy ensures that his stamina is sufficiently tested as he would not be suited if the race turned into a sprint.

Tipping competition, day five

Apologies to those of you who objected to the second race in our competition yesterday. As the week goes on, we have to pick more and more competitive races, to allow for at least the possibility of a big-priced winner, thus keeping alive the hopes of those at the back. Options were lacking yesterday, so we ended up picking a Newcastle bumper for conditional or amateur riders. Yuck, indeed.

And then our leader, factormax, defeated the purpose rather by picking the 16-1 winner, Birch Hill Bedouin. Still, a surprising number of you also had that one and the fat lady has not yet sung. For today's thrilling climax, we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 3.25 Uttoxeter, 3.45 Wetherby, 4.05 Newmarket.

This week's prize is a copy of Lucky Break, the newly published autobiography of Paul Nicholls, which we discussed here. It's a very enjoyable read, full of insights into the man who now dominates jump racing.

As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. New entrants are welcome today, but they must start on -12.

For terms and conditions click here. Good luck!