Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
I found myself bristling slightly when I read the words of Sara Bradstock, from the Coneygree camp, assessing the possible opposition if her horse should turn up in Kempton’s King George. “Vautour jumped so badly left at Ascot you would think he’d want to go left handed and certainly on that run you wouldn’t mind taking him on,” she is quoted as saying in the Racing Post.
This is a pretty refreshing attitude, given how unwilling most trainers are to find fault with other peoples’ horses. I don’t want to inhibit anyone from speaking their mind. But really, why pick on Vautour, eh?
No, he wasn’t as impressive as he might have been at Ascot the other day but it was his first run for ages and he was big as a house. I’d happily bet there will be a lot better to come from him next time and, even though I’m trying to get my Vautour-love under control, he surely still rates as one of the most exciting young chasers around.
I remember taking against a promising young chaser because he got turned over at odds-on around Ascot early in the season. That turned out to be an expensive error because he was Best Mate and won the next three Gold Cups. Don’t judge Vautour on his first run of this season.
David Dennis is an interesting trainer and I note in particular his 18% record with handicap chasers, generating a 21% profit on turnover. He fields Rebel Benefit (2.10) under Sam Twiston-Davies at Taunton today.
This seven-year-old is a half brother to Rebel Rebellion, who ran in the Grand National on a 43lb higher mark than the one from which Rebel Benefit makes his handicap debut today. He’s a full brother to Touch Of Steel, who has won three times from five handicap hurdles, albeit at a modest level.
Rebel Benefit won his last two points in Ireland in the spring, then had a couple of spins over hurdles in June. He was well held but because he finished third both times, he’s been given a handicap mark on the back of just two runs under Rules and now goes over fences.
Surely, Rebel Benefit is going to be better than this initial rating. At odds of 8-1 and with an attractive jockey booking, I won’t wait to see if he’s any good in the hopes of backing him next time. Today may very well be the day.
In the following handicap hurdle, I’ll take the 4-1 about Doctor Look Here (2.40), who seemed to blow up on his Exeter reappearance after cruising to the fore.
Pick of the Chelmsford card may be Pactolus (5.40) in the hope that he won’t blow the start as badly as at Wolverhampton last week, when he somehow won anyway. He’s 7-2 with Oisin Murphy being the most high-profile rider he’s had since spring.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Tempting 7-1
Itstimeforapint 11-4
Volunteer Point 7-2
Tuesday
April Dusk 2-1
Superciliary 25-1
Transient Bay 5-2
Wednesday
Valid Point 8-1
Truckers Highway 3-1
Trimoulet 11-2
And our leader is. . .
BearRides +11
... who has had Tempting, April Dusk and Valid Point. He has a handy lead over hwjb01 (+7.75) and Topspeedspurs (+7.50).
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.10 Taunton, 2.40 Taunton, 3.00 Warwick.
This week, we’re offering a second chance to win a copy of the Racing Post Annual 2016, featuring 208 colour pages of the best writing and photography from racing’s daily paper. The blurb promises “ the moments to treasure and unusual stories of the year, plus a look forward at the top prospects for 2016”. 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.
Good luck!
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And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
