Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Ludlow’s card for today has been abandoned because part of the track remains frozen after the temperature dipped to -5C overnight. It’s a great pity because the card averaged 12 runners per race, rather better than has been the norm for jumps cards this winter.
I imagine there are plenty of horses out there needing a run and ready to be sent to the track for some drier ground, which should hopefully be in evidence over the next week or so. Doncaster, which often features a drier surface than can be found elsewhere, reports that its going is mostly ‘Good’ today and has been rewarded with healthy field sizes as a result.
Godsmejudge (3.30) is the interesting one there for me, though we won’t get the 10-1 that was on offer the last time, when he ran well but not quite well enough. That was back in late December, when he was second over this course and distance, beaten only by Ziga Boy, who won a better race from a 16lb higher mark the next time. Godsmejudge gets to run from the same mark as he had that day.
He’s a bit of a sleeping giant, having failed to win since the Scottish National in 2013, when he had a 10lb higher mark. He retained his ability for at least the following year, running second at Ayr and third in Sandown’s Bet365 Gold Cup from a higher mark again.
His 2014/15 winter was disappointing and was followed by a move from Alan King to David Dennis. Perhaps he’s in relentless decline but he’s only 10 and it wouldn’t surprise me if he had at least one more decent performance in him. A tongue tie seemed to help him last time and is retained here. He’s available at 100-30.
The nap runs at Kempton tonight. Kalahari (7.10) has had soundness issues but won impressively on his return from a year off over this course and distance three weeks ago. A 6lb higher mark seems unlikely to stop him here if he retains his physical wellbeing. Lucy Wadham’s runner is 7-4.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Swing Hard 5-4
Boom The Groom 7-2
W Six Times 15-8
Tuesday
Retrieve The Stick 7-2
Royal Vacation 7-4
Wolowitz 13-8
And our leader is. . .
Ormrod76 +5.75
... who had the first two winners yesterday. He has just a 50p lead over Knottlamag.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.00 Doncaster, 3.30 Doncaster, 7.40 Kempton.
This week, thanks again to 32Red bookmakers, we can offer another £25 ante-post bet on any race (for which betting is available) at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. You can see 32Red’s Cheltenham markets 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 -6.
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.
Good luck!
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And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
