Thursday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
A field of just six runners has been declared for the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday, including the 50-1 outsider Shantou Flyer, when Harry Cobden is due to ride Cue Card, three times a winner of the race already, for the first time in public.
With Sizing John, the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, missing from the final declarations as expected, Gordon Elliott’s Outlander, a Grade One winner at Down Royal earlier this month, carries Irish hopes of victory in the first leg of the £1m Jockey Club Triple Crown. Tea For Two is a 10-1 chance to give Lizzie Kelly the third Grade One win of her career.
Field sizes are something of a theme at the moment and there was a match race for £15,000 at Warwick yesterday, but they are healthier for today’s two jumps meetings at Wincanton and Market Rasen, where the card includes a £25,000 handicap hurdle.
Arthur’s Gift (1.10) should pick up the £16,000 first prize and continue to make up for lost time, as he has just seven races behind him at the age of six and had been off for 676 days before his return to action at Southwell last month. He has shown significant improvement with every run since, and a 7lb penalty for an impressive win at Worcester last time out means that he creeps in at the bottom of the weights with 10st 5lb.
Copperfacejack (2.10) and Officer Hoolihan (1.40) should both follow up from recent successes on the same card, while Cucklington (1.25) makes most appeal at Wincanton.
The most valuable meetings of the day are both on the Flat, at Chelmsford City and Newcastle. Pastime (7.30) could be the best bet on any card at the Essex track this evening, as he seeks to extend his record on the all-weather to three from three. His form is rock solid and the booking of Josephine Gordon is another plus as he goes for the most valuable win of his career this evening, while Hilary J (4.05), who beat a next-time winner on her latest start, should go well at Newcastle.
Tips for all Thursday races
Market Rasen 12.10 Dans Le Vent 12.40 Bonnet’s Vino 1.10 Arthur’s Gift 1.40 Officer Hoolihan 2.10 Copperfacejack 2.45 Morning With Ivan 3.20 Inheritance Thief
Wincanton 12.20 Daytime Ahead 12.50 Springtown Lake 1.25 Cucklington 2.00 Coeur Tantre 2.35 Storm Home 3.10 Dalaman
Newcastle 1.50 British Art 2.20 Burcan 2.55 Ebqaa 3.30 Alexandrakollontai 4.05 Hilary J (nb) 4.35 Blue Harmony 5.10 Illusional 5.40 Furzig
Chelmsford City 5.55 Rock On Baileys 6.30 Briscola 7.00 Wissahickon 7.30 Pastime (nap) 8.00 Golden Steps 8.30 Clef 9.00 Banta Bay
