Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Yesterday’s rather odd collection of race-meetings (three jumps cards and no Flat racing on turf in England all day long! In August!) gives way to rather more attractive fare this afternoon with at least four interesting and stimulating cards of Flat racing. Amid the dozens and dozens of options on offer, my eye is drawn to a couple of beasts that could possibly be said to have been unlucky last time.
Eccleston (3.25) was first home on the ‘wrong’ side in the Great St Wilfrid almost a fortnight ago. While ‘unlucky’ is a stretch in his case, he didn’t have the same tow into the race that horses got on the other side and did well to be beaten just three lengths.
He has done well in big fields, beating 14 rivals at Haydock in May from a mark just 1lb below the one he has for a similar contest at Thirsk today. He’s a fair bet at 6-1, though I wouldn’t want to go much shorter than that.
In Newmarket’s closer, Jan Van Hoof (5.50) appeals at 9-2. He won both his starts this year before traffic trouble essentially took him out of the Stewards’ Cup consolation race.
I don’t think the step up to six furlongs was an issue that day and indeed his wins over five suggested today’s longer trip should suit. He’s well treated from a mark just 2lb above his latest win, at this track.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Aussie Andre 8-1
Bimbo 3-1
Unilit 10-1
Tuesday
Doc Charm 7-4
Sahreej 5-2
Gold Prince 6-1
Wednesday
Lexington Place 11-2
Cabelo 16-1
Landwade Lad 11-2
Thursday
Spring Offensive 2-1
Tested 11-8
Rouge Nuage 12-1
And our leader is. . .
JimmyDeuce +19.38
... who followed up Cabelo with both Spring Offensive and Tested, while Carl Jones (+15.50) had a luckless day. Other good scores: Toptrapper +11.50, kmill68 +5.50, AndieAndson +3.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.25 Thirsk, 5.50 Newmarket, 7.30 Hamilton.
This week’s prize is a copy of Value Seeker by Anthony Gibson, in which the author offers his system for identifying value bets from “statistics allied with form”, leading to picks that are “overlooked by the general betting population”. It’s the sort of book which may have insights to offer that could help your own strategy, although we certainly don’t recommend adopting anyone else’s system blindly. If you don’t win this competition, you can read more about the book and order it here.
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.
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 (TODAY!).
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
