When horse racing met UK garage
Let’s kick off the day with some ideas for ITV’s coverage of Royal Ascot next year, in the form of a video which appears to be the work of this pair of funnymen. Those of you with little time to spare might wish to go straight to the race itself at 1:45.
Today’s best bets, by Tony Paley
“[Thistlecrack] was bought to win a Gold Cup, that’s always the dream when you start off point-to-pointing,” says co-owner John Snook in today’s Racing Post. “He’s a chasing type and [trainer] Colin [Tizzard] runs a chasing yard, but he could still win plenty of big hurdles. It’s a mini-quandary and we will give it plenty of thought.”
In February the strong impression was that the Thistlecrack team, the subject of an extensive feature in the Post, would be going over fences next season whatever happened at Cheltenham. The horse’s subsequent demolition of his rivals in the World Hurdle seems to have caused the trainer and owners John and Heather Snook to have another think.
I’m grateful to the Timeform team for researching the best hurdlers to switch to fences in recent times. Thistlecrack, who is currently on 174p, would be the highest-rated hurdler to start a chasing career, with Iris’s Gift (172), Grands Crus (171), More Of That (170p) and Pridwell (167) all rated his inferior.
It would certainly be a shame if Thistlecrack wasn’t given the chance to go the Gold Cup route next season, given his physique and his quality. Thistlecrack is a best-priced 10-1 third favourite for the 2017 Gold Cup.
There is an excellent card at Lingfield on Friday for All-Weather Finals day but the sand action today at a modest eight-race Wolverhampton meeting does offer one decent bet in the shape of the Rae Guest-trained Skylark Lady (5.10). The selection is invariably held up but got much too far back at Lingfield last time and, after being hampered on the home turn, finished to such good effect that she would surely have finished much closer with a better trip.
With a 12-runner field lining up and Schoolboy Error likely to set a decent pace, the selection should get a well-run race to suit. Skylark Lady also has the valuable assistance of champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa in the saddle this afternoon.
The form of Teversham (4.35) tailed off towards the end of last season, but he looks an improved horse this year with two wins already on the all-weather. He is up another 5lb this time round as he attempts to complete a hat-trick of victories, but the handicapper may not have caught up with him quite yet.
Over the jumps at Chepstow, Set In My Ways (3.15) improved on his initial three runs, which were all promising, when second last time and the step up in trip appears sure to suit. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge seems sure to improve for the switch to handicapping and going back up in distance.
The Ludlow fixture is not one with many obvious punting opportunities but Ridgeway Flyer (5.50) could reward backers on the evidence of his debut run. The newcomer New Member from the Nicky Henderson yard needs noting if there’s a market move for him.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Captain Redbeard 4-1
Ganbei 5-1
Being Global 4-1
Tuesday
Three Faces West 6-4
Railway Storm 11-1
Top Cat Henry 17-2
Wednesday
Ceann Sibheal 7-2
Mission Complete 9-2
Stellarta 6-1
And our leader is:
Crasivo +15.50
... who took his tally to four winners for the week with Ceann Sibheal and Mission Complete. Bigboozer is just a point behind.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 4.15 Ludlow, 4.25 Chepstow, 6.10 Wolverhampton.
TOMORROW WILL COUNT for the purposes of this competition, so that we can end with some quality Flat racing, even if it is a bank holiday. Tomorrow’s three races will be 3.15 Lingfield, 3.45 Lingfield, 4.45 Lingfield, in case any of you want to post your selections a day ahead of time.
This week’s prize is a copy of Racing & Football Outlook’s Flat Guide 2016, the handy annual which as ever is packed with facts, analysis, tips and insights into the new season to help lift your spirits from the post-Cheltenham slump. 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 -9.
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!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
