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The Guardian - UK

Sport

Will Hayler

Talking Horses

Ascot Races — Tom Queally, pink cap, wins on Frankel in The Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot last month. Photograph: Charliecrowhurst/Getty Images

Today's best bets, by Will Hayler

Frankel fans will be pleased to hear the news coming out of Newmarket that the Dewhurst favourite produced a sizzling piece of work this morning.

The unbeaten Henry Cecil-trained monster worked under Tom Queally on the Short Gallop on the Limekilns and "set the Heath on fire", according to Talking Horses' mole in the town, who is not usually one for getting carried away with such things.

Meanwhile, Chris Cook is in town this morning to talk to Dream Ahead's trainer David Simcock about his big hope for a race that is rapidly shaping up to be the contest of the season. Newmarket may have given away Champions Day for what they believe to be the greater good of the sport, but the meeting is leaving the home of Flat racing with a bang and the bar has been set at an alarmingly high level for Ascot in 12 months' time.

When I saw 8-1 on offer, I was starting to worry that I had got the wrong end of the stick about Pedantic (5.45), but now that the money has started to arrive (plenty of 7-1 still about), I'm encouraged by his chances at Lingfield this afternoon.

Having shaped with stacks of promise on his racecourse debut at Haydock in May, he was hardly sighted at Windsor a couple of months later and looked wholly unsuited by the drop back in trip to seven furlongs on his latest start at Lingfield. However Pedantic did all of his running that day up the middle of the course when all of the winners stuck fast to the stands rail and I'd be confident that there is plenty more to come from this horse.

From a lowly rating of 65, he makes his debut in handicap company today, and returned to a mile and a quarter with Kieren Fallon back on board, there are more than enough positives for me to make him worth a bet.

I'm off to Wetherby this afternoon, and I'll be cheering on Amazing King (3.25) for "my" trainer Phil Kirby (current number of Hayler horses in training = two quarters). This horse has been one of the stable's biggest stars in the last couple of seasons and he wasn't beaten at all far in a valuable handicap at Market Rasen last time out.

Back in a softer-looking event, he'll be able to keep up more easily than he managed that day and the handicapper has been most charitable in dropping him another 3lb for his latest defeat.

Tipping competition, day three

MISTERCHESTER is clear at the top after adding 9-1 Naqshabban to his day-one double, though TurfAccountant is close behind after picking Cruchain (11-2). Kudos to Moremoneythantalent, snowy81 and melonk, who all found both of those winners. Ormrod76 was the only one to pick Goodlukin Lucy (16-1).

Today, we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 3.15 Uttoxeter, 3.55 Wetherby, 5.45 Lingfield. Yes, that last one's a toughie, but there'll be Cheltenham races on here in two days' time.

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 by somebody.

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 -6.

For terms and conditions click here.

Good luck!