Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
There was a good quote from Philip Hobbs at Cheltenham yesterday which, in the end, I don’t think anyone published. He’d just had his sixth winner of the three days there and was asked if it was evident at home that his horses were all ready to run for their lives.
“There’s four situations,” he said. “One, the horses are ill, coughing and they’re wrong. Second, horses are running a bit below par and the vets can’t tell you [why]. Third, things are going right, vets can’t tell you why. Fourth scenario is like at the moment, they’re flying and it’s brilliant. Yes, they look well at home and they seem fine but there’s nothing really obvious that they’re that much better than usual.”
Hobbs would be one of the mildest, most even-tempered of men. He enjoyed his weekend but there was no danger of his feet ever leaving the ground.
“It’ll all be back to normal in a minute,” he said at one point. Asked about Arkle hopes for Dunraven Storm, he suggested the horse “wouldn’t be in that league”. When someone mentioned the Champion Hurdle in connection with Garde La Victoire, he felt his Greatwood winner would not come within 20lb of the necessary standard. All in all, he is a bit of a Tim Forster, which is a badge any man could wear proudly.
Paul Nicholls’s Sunday was not as productive as his Saturday had been, particularly after Sam Twiston-Davies left it a bit late to send Vibrato Valtat after Dunraven Storm. The trainer may not be a fan of the winner, having also seen his Far West, carrying the same colours as Vibrato, beaten by him at Exeter last month.
But I do like Dunraven Storm and Far West’s effort in chasing that one home on his chasing debut is better than was perhaps appreciated at the time. Far West (1.30) is 2-1 for a small-field novice chase at Plumpton today and that appeals to me.
Coneygree should make a chaser but is opposable on his first start in 660 days, so that leaves Deputy Dan, the favourite, who looked a bit ploddy on his chasing debut at Fontwell. Today’s deeper ground is a help to him but Far West also goes well on it and, with a strong pace unlikely, his greater zip up the final hill should make the difference.
In Leicester’s beginners chase, Thomas Crapper (2.50) looks over-priced at 15-8 for what is a much more straightforward assignment than his two runs over fences so far. I can just see him building up irresistable momentum up the long home straight.
Tipping competition - a new week
Congratulations to 15244, who won last week’s competition on a final score of +13.32, thanks to Balthazar King and Morito Du Berlais on Friday.
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets for Tingle Creek Chase day at Sandown on Saturday 6 December. The two-mile Grade One is always one of the highlights of the season but, if you can’t make it that day, we can offer you tickets for Friday 5 December instead (also at Sandown). If you don’t win, you can buy tickets here.
To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 3.00 Plumpton, 3.20 Leicester, 5.10 Wolverhampton.
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!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
