11am Stevens back from operation for the Breeders
Tony Paley: The evergreen Gary Stevens will ride at next week’s Breeders’ Cup after making a remarkably swift recovery from knee replacement surgery. The 51-year-old rider underwent the operation on his right knee in July and had hoped to be back in in action on Boxing Day.
However, Stevens has made rapid progress in his recovery will now feature at two-day Santa Anita fixture. “I came along a lot faster than I thought I was going to,” he told HRTV.
“I put a target date of December 26 and after getting on horses after three days, I knew I’d be back a lot faster. My fitness level was a lot better than expected. Two thumbs up.”
Stevens partnered Mucho Macho Man to win the Classic last year and also claimed the Distaff aboard Beholder. He already has a mount lined up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies next week aboard Sivoliere.
Friday’s best bets, by Tony Paley
Today’s Fakenham meeting used to take place in half-term week when I was able to make the trip. Still I’m glad to see that both the Norfolk track and Cartmel, my two favourite jumps courses, were given extra days in the 2015 fixture list. Fakenham is a pretty unique track, the tightest in the country, and course winners are always worth a second look. Midnight Charmer (4.50), who won the corresponding race last year, catches the eye following his reappearance run this term in the Class 5 handicap chase today.
The best bet of the day is at Newbury where King To Be (1.35) looks a good bet in the opener for the Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes combination following an excellent second on debut at Kempton while at Doncaster a potent trainer-owner partnership in Sir Michael Stoute/Ballymacoll Stud have obvious prospects with the beautifully bred Yarrow (1.50).
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Prince Gagarin 4-1
Seventh Sky 13-2
Madam Lilibet 7-1
Tuesday
Court By Surprise 11-2
Thundering Home 25-1
Amadeus Wolfe Tone 14-1
Wednesday
Demographic 8-1
Fruit Pastille 15-2
Set The Trend 20-1
Thursday
Captain Clayton 18-1
Camachoice 16-1
First Fandango 8-1
And our leaders are:
millreef +24
yasmin11 +24
... both having picked Camachoice. Impressively, millreef also had Captain Clayton and was the only one to find him. Other good scores: goofs +23, joehow +21.50, Ellandback +19.50, Fixxxer +14, Rivercity +14.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.55 Newbury, 4.40 Doncaster, 4.50 Fakenham.
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to Sandown’s first jumps meeting of the new season on Saturday 8 November. It’s Gentlemen’s Day, with live music from Rockaoke (who offer you the chance to join in, apparently) and a best-dressed gent competition. You can read more about it and buy tickets 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!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
