Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Somebody, somewhere appears to think it’s funny to spoof the betting market with apparent gambles on Daniel Steele horses. There was a 2015 plunge on four horses he owned, which went nowhere in particular as all four were stuffed, and there was another last night on three horses he trains under permit for today’s races which immediately looked silly when Steele himself said one of the trio, Landscape, had scoped dirty and wouldn’t run.
The remaining two, According To Them at Lingfield and Pulsating at Wolverhampton, were both down to 6-4 at one stage but have now drifted back out towards their original odds. As in 2015, it looks as though there is no real reason to imagine these horses have a better chance than their form would suggest.
Steele has told the Racing Post: “Pulsating has an obvious chance, but I’d be shocked if According To Them won as he’s shown zilch in two starts this season. I’ve booked Gavin Sheehan and put blinkers on but he has to improve markedly.”
So perhaps the most interesting runner today, though by no means the most backable, is Champ, a bumper horse making his debut in the 2.35pm at Southwell. His naming looks highly significant, considering he’s owned by JP McManus, longtime employer of AP McCoy, or Sir Anthony as I must learn to call him, whose nickname to many in racing was ‘champ’.
Surely McManus would give that name to a promising young animal, from the many he constantly acquires? The market seems to think so, as Champ was odds-on when the market opened and is now 8-11, which is short even by the standards of a Nicky Henderson / Barry Geraghty runner at a minor midweek meeting.
I’ll watch with interest, though backing an unraced animal at 8-11 is not my idea of fun. Lady Buttons (3.40) is rather more of an established talent and I’ll take this mare to follow up her impressive Newcastle success under a penalty. She took a few goes in handicaps to show the ability hinted at in bumpers early in her career but, now that everything is falling into place, I really fancy her to go in again with an extra 7lb, though the 6-4 is by no means generous.
Surely 11-1 is too big about Somewhere To Be (3.10) in the preceding novice race. Martin Keighley’s charge, owned by someone called Zara Tindall, showed plenty of ability while racing keenly in better races at Newbury and Ascot before blowing up. That is an obvious risk once more but this is a much more winnable contest, with the drop back in trip and the easy circuit likely to help. Listen To The Man is hot favourite but she was really disappointing when beaten at odds of 1-9 last time, admittedly by a subsequent winner.
At Wolverhampton, the best option may be High On Light (3.50), who had looked progressive in any case but seemed to take a step forward when sharing first place on her first start for David Barron last month. Raised 5lb, she should have more to offer at 5-2 for this fillies’ handicap.
Tuesday tips by Chris Cook
Lingfield
1.50 Tangley 2.25 Sea Wall 3.00 Cheat The Cheater 3.30 Queen Odessa 4.00 Mr Muddle 4.30 Denny Kerrell
Southwell
1.00 Pearl Swan 1.30 Un Prophete 2.00 Second Time Around 2.35 Champ 3.10 Somewhere To Be 3.40 Lady Buttons (nap) 4.10 Gale Force Oscar
Wolverhampton
2.10 Pillar 2.45 Oor Jock 3.20 Dandy Flame 3.50 High On Light (nb) 4.20 Poetic Force 4.50 Absolute Blast 5.20 Fast Landing 5.50 Dark Confidant
