11.30am Elm Park heads field of eight for the Racing Post Trophy
Ante-post favourite Elm Park will face seven rivals in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday.
Since finishing third on his Sandown debut at the end of March, the Phoenix Reach colt has racked up a hat-trick of victories, culminating in his impressive success in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket at the end of last month.
Aidan O’Brien was responsible for six of the 13 horses confirmed for this weekend’s Group One feature on Monday, but has whittled his team down to two. Royal Navy Ship and Jacobean were first and second respectively in a Curragh maiden a fortnight ago and although Royal Navy Ship was a possible runner on Town Moor, he does not make the trip and the runner-up Jacobean has emerged as the chief Ballydoyle contender.
O’Brien also saddles Aloft, who was second on his Gowran Park introduction before going one better at Newmarket three weeks ago.
Trainer Sir Mark Prescott and jockey Luke Morris combine with the unbeaten Celestial Path. The formidable combination of John Gosden and Paul Hanagan are represented by an interesting contender in the hat-trick seeking Snoano.
The Scott Dixon-trained Cock Of The North won the Brocklesby on the first day of the season at Doncaster in March, but will be an outsider on his return to the track. William Muir’s Autumn Stakes second Restorer and Tupi from Richard Hannon’s yard complete the line-up. PA
Thursday’s best bets, by Tony Paley
Keith Dalgleish is a trainer who can readily improve horses who come into his care and that looks to be the case with Montoya’s Son (2.50), who lines up at Carlisle today under a 7lb penalty for a smooth success at Sedgefield on his debut for the stable ten days ago. The selection is due to run off a 10lb higher mark in future races and is clearly still well treated.
At Ludlow Kings Apollo (4.50) appears the best bet on the card. He looks ready to come into his own over fences and is readily forgiven his initial foray over the larger obstacles when he was unseated after being hampered at the first. He is just 3lb higher than his highest winning mark over hurdles today and has plenty in his favour in a weak race of its type.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Prince Gagarin 4-1
Seventh Sky 13-2
Madam Lilibet 7-1
Tuesday
Court By Surprise 11-2
Thundering Home 25-1
Amadeus Wolfe Tone 14-1
Wednesday
Demographic 8-1
Fruit Pastille 15-2
Set The Trend 20-1
And our leader is:
goofs +26
... who had both Demographic AND Set The Trend yesterday. He is hotly pursued by Joehow (+24.50) and Ellandback (+22.50). Apologies for our failure to notice yesterday that Rivercity and Fixxxer (both +17) had picked Thundering Home.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.25 Carlisle, 4.10 Southwell, 4.20 Ludlow.
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to Sandown’s first jumps meeting of the new season on Saturday 8 November. It’s Gentlemen’s Day, with live music from Rockaoke (who offer you the chance to join in, apparently) and a best-dressed gent competition. You can read more about it and buy tickets 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!
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And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
