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The Guardian - UK

Sport

Tony Paley

Talking Horses

National Velvet starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney is an obvious candidate for a drive-in movie at Plumpton racecourse. Photograph: Cine Text / Allstar/Sportsphoto Ltd. / Allstar

Today's best bets, by Tony Paley

The news that Plumpton are going to start hosting drive-in movies to make money as the funding cuts start to bite got me thinking. What films should the track put on? A friend suggested National Velvet. "What does it feel like to be in love with a horse?" someone asks of leading lady Elizabeth Taylor.

Seabiscuit (pretty darned good as Hollywood sports movies go) and Champions (Aldaniti as Himself) surely. Personally, I would like to see Dead Cert again, another film centred on the Grand National.

This 1974 movie had a fabulous pedigree adapted from a Dick Francis story, directed by Tony Richardson (of Tom Jones and Charge Of The Light Brigade fame) and starring Dame Judi Dench but was an absolute clinker. The nadir in the acting stakes was Lord Oaksey, who is as wooden as the Aintree finishing post in his (thankfully brief) role as a vet.

Looking ahead to the weekend Hawkeyethenoo has been my long-term fancy for the Ayr Gold Cup. No prizes for originality there but Racing & Football Outlook and ex-Guardian colleague David Myers made a good case for Irish raider Partner yesterday and today that horse is all over the front of the Racing Post. You will have to be quick to snap up the 40-1.

This afternoon Perfect Pastime (2.20) at Sandown makes most appeal. Horses drawn high are the ones to concentrate on in races over five furlongs at the Esher track and the rain overnight which has turned the ground to good to soft has only served to accentuate that bias.

The selection, ideally berthed in stall 10, will be well suited by the stiff five furlongs and comes here in fine form having finished a close second to Loki's Revenge at Warwick last time out when the front pair were well clear.

The jockeys' title race could get interesting today with Richard Hughes taking 12 rides in his bid to cut back Paul Hanagan's lead. When Hanagan gave his first full-length press interview about his championship bid in the Observer back in July there was plenty about the northern racing community helping the jockey out.

Today, 'our friend in the south' John Gosden could give Hanagan a helping hand by booking him for The Shrew (2.35) at Beverley. This two-year-old looks capable of taming (sorry) his opponents following a close second over course and distance from a poor draw last month.

Tipping competition, day three

Already prominent after day one, Rollneck shot into a clear lead by picking Vintage (10-1) yesterday. A few others also found that one but only erifder had Magical Speedfit (14-1).

Today, we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 4.20 Beverley, 5.00 Yarmouth, 5.10 Sandown.

This week's prize is a copy of the new book Rodders Of Arabia, the autobiography of the former trainer Rod "Nipper Reed" Simpson. "When you talk about the 'characters' in racing Rod Simpson is guaranteed to be in the top three," says John Francome in the press release. "On a different path he could have been a Sir Michael Stoute."

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. If you have not already joined in this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -6.

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.

For terms and conditions click here.

Good luck!