Australian rider killed in fall
News of the worst kind comes from Australia this morning, where Carly-Mae Pye, a 26-year-old jockey, has died of injuries she sustained in a fall on Monday. Pye was apparently taking part in a barrier trial, a training race with no prize money, when her mount broke down, unseating her and then falling on her, causing head and chest injuries.
A statement from the body that runs racing in Queensland said: “Carly-Mae was a true champion of our sport, who will be remembered as a brilliant horsewoman. Racing Queensland offers its sincerest condolences to Carly-Mae’s family and partner Tim Cook. The racing community, particularly in Rockhampton, is in mourning and Racing Queensland will continue to offer its support during this difficult time.”
Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of this young woman.
Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
There is heavy going and plenty of non-runners at both Huntingdon and Leicester today. God knows I love a bit of jump racing, but the Huntingdon card makes little appeal for betting purposes, so I’m looking instead at Leicester’s last, for which Mister Mayday (5.40) is a double-figure price.
I find that a bit surprising, given that this three-year-old has won both his starts when the going was worse than good to soft. Most recently, he scored at Brighton last week, staying on dourly to pull clear of nine rivals on heavy.
There are some interesting rivals in opposition but the one I was most worried about, Charlie Wells, is a non-runner.
In the opening nursery, Chilworth Bells (2.10) looks like a horse who may appreciate this going, despite not having tried it before. He joined David Barron from Mick Channon after winning a selling handicap at Thirsk last month.
The going is only good to soft at Newcastle, so maybe they should be hosting Champions Day, at least until the Flat turf course is ripped up for an all-weather replacement. In the meantime, Gale Force (3.30) appeals at 4-1 for the 12-furlong maiden, since she has run well at Kempton while suggesting that more of a test may help.
Tipping competition, day two
Our winners so far:
Monday
Langley House 9-2
Brave Spartacus 7-2
Latin Charm 7-2
And our leaders are:
goofs +7
GForce1 +7
Ormrod76 +7
EightAce149 +7
PHILYERBOOTS +7
Rivercity +7
… who all had Langley House and one or other of the 7-2 winners.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 4.20 Huntingdon, 5.00 Newcastle, 5.40 Leicester.
This week’s prize is a copy of Timeform’s Chasers & Hurdlers 2013/14, the treasured annual from the long-established ratings firm, retailing at £75 and running to more than 1,000 pages. Each horse that ran last season is described and rated, while there are extended essays on 80 or so of the bigger names, in which Timeform’s writers reflect on the talking points thrown up by the past 12 months. If you don’t win this excellent prize, you can buy it 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 -3.
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.
