Today's best bets, by Will Hayler
On a normal Friday, today's Newmarket card would offer plenty of glitz and glamour, but stood alongside tomorrow's excitement it seems a little pale in comparison.
A drop of rain overnight and the prospect of only light showers still to come this afternoon ought to leave conditions ideal for tomorrow's card with the ground officially "good".
The Richard Hambro Darley Stakes, a Group 3 contest, used to be part of the Champions Day line-up but now stands as the highlight of today's action.
Tazeez (3.30) holds obvious form claims on the strength of his third in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and he hacked up from Steele Tango – winner of this race 12 months ago – at Newbury last time.
Provided that the expected showers hold off until after his race, John Gosden's runner sets a high standard and must be hard to beat, although Godolphin's runners must be respected given the current form of Saeed bin Suroor's team.
Loving Spirit (2.55) would probably be favourite for the conditions event, but for being trained by the unfashionable James Toller yard. He was far too good for his rivals here a fortnight ago, despite hanging when coming through to make his challenge and he can only have improved for the experience.
The homes of Flat and jumps racing are both in action today, as Cheltenham's season gets under way with the first day of the (marketing-speak-warning) "showcase meeting".
Rebel du Maquis (2.45), in receipt of 7lb from Frontier Dancer, can continue the good work started by Paul Nicholls last weekend. He has the size to make a mark as a steeplechaser and although he had a comparable rating over hurdles to these three rivals, we probably never really saw the best of him over the smaller obstacles.
Another trainer who has been in striking form in recent days is Charlie Longsdon and King Ar Aghaidh (3.20) might be worth a small dabble at a best-priced 12-1 on his debut for the yard in the Pertemps Hurdle qualifier.
Decent ground and a thorough test of stamina are what this horse needs to show his best, and while others in the race might have an eye on the final of this series, King Ar Aghaidh is going to need to win this to have any chance of making the line-up next March.
Tipping competition, day five
Nothing Is Forever (9-1) took melonk to the top yesterday, while erifder moved up the rankings with Piddies Power at the same odds. The day's best winner was Daddy's Gift (16-1), picked by fatdeano and Bearrides.
For today's thrilling climax, we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 3.30 Newmarket, 5.05 Cheltenham, 5.15 Newmarket.
Get those tips in early! In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day (ie today).
We will contact the winner by email tonight after 6pm. Please check your email if you may have won, as we have no other way of contacting you to arrange your prize for tomorrow.
This week's prize is a free 16-line entry into Saturday's Scoop6. The bet was not won at the weekend, so £99,700 rolls over in the win fund and there is almost £1m in the bonus fund waiting to be won.
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. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -12.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Standings after day four
melonk +21.25
SussexRH +16.75
MISTERCHESTER +15
snowy81 +13.50
erifder +13.50
TurfAccountant +11.50
BearRides +9.50
Moremoneythantalent +9
sangfroid +6.25
Ormrod76 +5
fatdeano +5
FinsburyPark +4.50
JahLion +3
xerox91 +3
Mulldog +2.50
suckzinclee +2.50
Sportingchad +2
goofs +0.50
tom1977 +0.25
xwireman +0
TheVic -0.75
MauriceNL -2
StableLad -2
londonpatrick -2
scandalous -2
Rollneck -2
millreef -2
supercat007 -2
DrSativa -2
Dandies1903 -2.50
MillieJ -3.75
TL127 -4
Touche1 -4.50
Woadboy -4.50
MrPositive -5.50
sandiuk -7
moidadembums -7
Harrytheactor -7
WalthamstowLad -7.50
slackdad38 -7.50
15244 -7.50
johne5knuckle -7.50
twig28 -7.50
Templegate -7.50
MyBismarcks -8.25
diegoisgod -8.25
mike65ie -8.25
pops2 -8.25
Mai11 -9
gashead1105 -9
carl31 -12
Smidster -12
shears39 -12
Ellandback -12
fatfrank29 -12
Esherhammer -12
robmct -12
Moscow08 -12
itsabanker -12
Onmeheadson -12
chris1623 -12
coma88 -12
23skidoo -12
Rivercity -12
graftonway -12
Viejo -12
tiznow -12
orso -12
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