Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Saturday’s foul-up, when The Young Master was found to be an ineligible runner only after winning the big steeplechase of the day, continues to prey on my mind. It was a miserable thing to see connections of the ‘winner’ having the cup of joy dashed from their lips after what would have been a rare success in a major race for trainer and owner.
Of course, connections of the runner-up have also suffered, since, if all had been properly organised, they should have enjoyed the thrill of a major victory instead of the relatively limp experience of inheriting the prize money by default, which has not happened yet but surely will. Those who backed the runner-up to win will never be paid. Nor will each-way backers of the fifth horse, Benvolio, who is surely going to end up in fourth.
Fans of jump racing are also likely to be feeling deflated by it all, given the continuing stramash over whether or not the Charlie Hall was run over the correct distance the previous Saturday. What a rotten way to start the winter, with two major races being undermined by official failings, or at least the appearance of it.
I think many a punter will be wondering whether this is a sport they should really be getting involved in. It’s hard enough to find a winner without having it beaten by some beast that shouldn’t have been allowed to take part.
The BHA needs to get a grip and if I were running it, I’d be looking for someone to fire over what happened with the Wincanton race. The consequences are so damaging that it would show poor judgment to simply shrug and say: “We all make mistakes.” It must be made clear that folk will be held to account when things go so very badly wrong.
I feel there is a general lack of alertness among the various people employed in an official capacity in racing, making us vulnerable to such mistakes. Even if, as seems likely, a software error allowed The Young Master to be entered in the first place, is it asking too much to expect that someone at Weatherbys or the British Horseracing Authority or Wincanton might have spotted his ineligibility before the tape went up five days later?
Among the questions now being considered by the BHA is this: should the handicapper be allowed to raise The Young Master’s rating to reflect what he did on Saturday? That would seem tremendously unfair if the horse is going to be disqualified because his rating is going to go up by the thick end of a stone and the chance to win a valuable pot will be greatly reduced. However, if the horse’s rating is not raised, who will want to race against him the next time?
By the way, The Young Master has been entered for Cheltenham on Friday, so the BHA had better be able to sort this out quickly. This could be the bomb that keeps on exploding.
Tell me what you think, folks. As a jumps fan, I find the episode terribly depressing but a trouble-free weekend at Cheltenham will hopefully do much to cheer us all up.
Carlisle runs a fascinating graduation chase today, in which the big name is the Irish National winner, Shutthefrontdoor. He is predictably to the fore in the betting but the Grand National must be a target for him and connections may spend the winter getting him ready for that, rather than trying to pick off little prizes along the way.
He is already 8lb higher than the last National winner, so I feel he may have done his winning for the time being. For what it’s worth, Jonjo O’Neill is now on the cold list after 45 consecutive losers over 18 days.
Mickie has been well supported for her chasing debut and she certainly looks a tough stayer but she’s done two full seasons over hurdles, so I don’t feel like taking her fencing ability on trust, even though she comes from a yard that traditionally does well with chasers.
I’ll take the 9-2 about Vintage Star (3.00), who has won first time out in two of the past three seasons, including in this race last year, when the going was also heavy.
Tipping competition - a new week
Congratulations to dean055, who won last week’s competition on a final score of +21.10, having done all his winning on Monday and Tuesday. BearRides (+14) finished strongly into second with two winners on Friday.
This week, we’re offering a second chance to win a copy of Cheltenham Et Al, The Best Of Alistair Down, a newly published collection of the best columns by the Racing Post man, who sadly no longer adorns our screens on Channel 4. The book is “by turns moving, uplifting and laugh-out-loud funny,” says the blurb. If you don’t win, you can buy a copy here.
To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 3.00 Carlisle, 3.30 Carlisle, 4.20 Kempton.
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.
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.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
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