11.15am Sire De Grugy set for crucial scan next week
Tony Paley: Sire De Grugy faces a crucial scan next week which will help determine the full extent of an injury suffered in a workout on Wednesday morning.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase winner misses his intended reappearance in Sunday’s Shloer Chase at Cheltenham and is doubtful for the much-anticipated clash with Sprinter Sacre in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on 6 December
Trainer Gary Moore was happier with his charge on Thursday morning, but will wait to see the results of a scan next week before making any predictions about when he might return to action.
Moore said: “He’s comfortable, and the leg is weight-bearing. He ate up last night and he seems a lot more comfortable than he was. Whether he’s just disguising it or not, I’m not sure. We’ve booked him in for a scan next Wednesday and that will tell us a lot more about where we are.”
Thursday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
Nine-year-olds are not an obvious place to start if you are looking for horses that might show some improvement, but the unique Fibresand surface at Southwell means that sometimes the normal rules do not apply and today might be a case in point.
Captain Dunne (3.50) and Toto Skyllachy (2.50) are have both built up impressive winning records over the years, with the former in particular being one of the best sprint handicappers around in his prime, with a rating of 108 back in 2010 when he finished seventh in the Group Two King George V Stakes at Goodwood. Toto Skyllachy, meanwhile, has 11 wins from 69 starts on his record, but like Captain Dunne, he is relatively unexposed on Fibresand.
Toto Skyllachy looked like a horse with something more to give on this surface last time out, even at his advanced age, as he came six lengths clear in a Class 5 event. Back in a Class 6 here off a 3lb higher mark, he will be difficult to beat and even at around 6-4, he represents a decent bet.
Captain Dunne has made only two trips to Southwell in a 77-race career, winning both off marks of 104 and 83, and while he has not lined up on Fibresand since October 2010, he has a good draw for a front-runner in stall five and obvious prospects off a rating of 75. There will be plenty of pace on but he could still have the class to establish a lead and will be difficult to pass if so, making a price of around 7-2 look very attractive.
Zulu Oscar (2.40) could be the answer to an interesting novice hurdle at Taunton, where the useful Flat performer Area Fifty One is his principal opponent, while By The Boardwalk may also be worth an interest in the novice handicap chase at the same track.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Shutthefrontdoor 2-1
Shouldavboughtgold 11-4
Nigel’s Destiny 7-4
Tuesday
Darna 7-2
Ned Stark 2-1
Jukebox Melody 7-1
Wednesday
Howard’s Legacy 13-2
Tolkein’s Tango 11-4
Sleepy Sioux 5-1
And our leader is:
cheriton +13.25
... who moved up from second place thanks to Howard’s Legacy and Tolkein’s Tango. JahLion (+8.25) also had a double yesterday and now lies second.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.55 Clonmel, 3.00 Ludlow, 3.10 Taunton.
This week, we’re offering a second chance to win a copy of Cheltenham Et Al, The Best Of Alastair 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.
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!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
