National Jockey Day returns tomorrow
Just to alert you all to the fact that tomorrow is National Jockey Day, featuring fundraising activities on behalf of the Injured Jockeys Fund. Here’s a video that has been put together in support of the occasion.
Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
A three-runner novice chase is, on the face of it, an unlikely source of thrills but such a contest at Haydock today is required viewing for fans of jump racing, thanks to the identity of the three runners. Minella Rocco, the odds-on favourite, makes his chasing debut, having been a deeply impressive winner of his two hurdles runs earlier in the year.
Tony McCoy was aboard for both of those, the second win coming soon after he’d announced his impending retirement. I remember asking Jonjo O’Neill who would be riding Minella Rocco in the Gold Cup the year after next.
Barry Geraghty gets the privilege today and we should get a fair idea of whether the five-year-old is actually going to be any good at this chasing malarkey. Up against him is the mudlark Silsol, a highly rated hurdler who has already won over fences and perhaps the toughest opponent one could have imagined for Minella Rocco in these circumstances. Even Private Malone, the outsider of three, is worth considering, being unbeaten in three hurdles starts.
So it should be a fascinating race at 2.30pm but I shall watch without a betting interest. For that, I turn to a Venetia Williams runner at Ascot.
Tenor Nivernais (2.40) made a winning reappearance at Kempton in November last year and has now returned to the handicap mark he had that day. He failed to win again in six runs last winter but was contesting much more valuable races than this and ran with credit on some occasions. With Williams once more making a strong start to the core season, he appeals in a winnable heat, even at 5-2 after early support from 4-1.
Forest Bihan (3.50) has also attracted interest and is now 5-1 for the hot handicap hurdle that closes the card. This ex-French four-year-old travelled strongly for a long way on his first start for Brian Ellison at Ayr last month, with a 7lb claimer aboard. Richard Johnson (8/27 for the trainer in recent seasons) rides this time.
At Wolverhampton, there has been no interest in Demonstration (7.20), who has joined William Jarvis on the retirement of James Toller. Odds of 20-1 look big about a three-year-old who broke his maiden over this course and distance last time on his first try at all-weather racing, with cheekpieces fitted for the first time. He looks worth his rating on that effort and is well drawn for a prominent racer.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Ashcott Boy 11-2
Sir Valentino 4-1
Maria’s Choice 9-2
Tuesday
Nebula Storm 15-2
Marky Bob 9-2
Pithivier 11-4
Wednesday
Big Society 7-1
Arthamint 13-8
Moonrise Landing 10-1
Thursday
Sky Khan 10-1
Hope’s Wishes 11-4
Arnold Lane 25-1
And our leader is. . .
BearRides +27.50
... thanks to finding Arnold Lane on top of Marky Bob and Big Society. Other good scores: moidadem +15.13, kmill68 +15.03, 16heathermac01 +14, Stephen Peter Phillips +11.75, Ormrod76 +10.75, LansonUproar +8.25, orso +7.13, chris1623 +7, AndieAndson +7, hubertfarnsworth +6.38, Crasivo +5.50, waltersobchak +5.50.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.05 Haydock, 3.50 Ascot, 5.15 Wolverhampton.
This week’s prize is a copy of At The Festival (Racing To Glory At Cheltenham in March) by the Racing Post’s excellent Spotlight writer Richard Austen. A history of some of the great Festival moments from 1981 to 1991, this new book has drawn the following praise from Racing UK’s Lydia Hislop, who has written for this parish in the past: “He writes with rare skill, combining poetry and precision. This book has the power to delight racing fans and inform others of the richness of experience they are missing.” If you don’t win, you can buy a copy 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).
Good luck!
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And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
