The merits of the Prince from the Parrott yard
As a jumps fan, it’s alway enjoyable to contemplate the big names entered up for the Charlie Hall at the five-day stage. But I wonder if it might, on this occasion, be sensible to look past the glamour and consider the claims of Wayward Prince from the low-profile Hilary Parrott yard.
Wayward Prince has had one victory since February 2011 but he has been second in this race for the past two years, at 33-1 in 2012 and then at 50-1 last year, when he came within a neck of success. With that in mind, one would imagine that Parrott will have done her level best to get him fit for the race once more, although I note that she has not managed to get a prep-run over hurdles into him, as she did last year.
Now 10, he’s 33-1 again and there are worse each-way bets, even if you have to take a fifth the odds for the place (shudder). The going at Wetherby is currently good and it would hardly surprise if quite a few of the bigger names opted to wait for ground with more cut, possibly reducing the field to the point where those who wait for raceday to have an each-way bet will only be offered two places.
I will not be making the bet myself because I don’t like each-way bets that are basically place bets in disguise and I don’t really think Wayward Prince can actually win. But he is being overlooked again and others may feel more bullish about his prospects.
Perhaps I’m reading the form book upside down this week because there are two or three at Catterick today that look overpriced to me. First up is Forced Family Fun (1.20) in the mile and a half handicap.
Now four, he hosed up when stepped up to a trip on soft ground at Ayr last October, when, like today, he was having his first start for months. He then left Michael Bell for John Quinn, had a fair winter over hurdles and was last seen back on the flat at Newcastle in April, winning easily on ground that was not much softer than it will be today.
He’s only 7lb higher and, although there are other interesting options in this race, I think he may be hard to catch. A point of interest: he’s the first foal of Juniper Girl, a Northumberland Plate winner who seemed to be running just the other day.
Kenny The Captain (1.50) is another soft ground lover and I thought he’d be shorter than 17-2. He won twice last autumn but has now dropped back to a mark 6lb below the one he defied for his most recent success. There was renewed promise on soft ground last time, over a too-short five furlongs.
Finally, there’s Heartsong (2.20), from the in-form John Gallagher yard, who would have needed her first run for five months at Bath last week. She won twice on soft ground in the spring and remains 7lb below her highest winning mark from the summer of 2012. She’s 14-1 on Betfair as I type.
Tipping competition, day two
Our winners so far:
Monday
Trendsetter 13-2
Omid 13-2
Always Right 11-2
And our leaders are:
dean055 +4.50
paragoncup +4.50
orso +4.50
slackdad38 +4.50
Ormrod76 +4.50
diegoisgod +4.50
Mulldog +4.50
chipsolderer +4.50
Harrytheactor +4.50
Crasivo +4.50
melonk +4.50
erifder +4.50
wiggy12 +4.50
goofs +4.50
waltersobchak +4.50
… who had one or other of the 13-2 winners. No one had more than one winner on opening day.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.10 Ffos Las, 3.20 Catterick, 4.00 Windsor.
This week’s prize is a copy of One Jump Ahead 2014, the annual preview book by Mark Howard which has built up such a good reputation over the years. In addition to the usual detail on unexposed horses worth following, this year’s edition includes an exclusive interview with Rich Ricci, who looks like becoming a dominant owner in jump racing. 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 -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!
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