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The Guardian - UK

Sport

Will Hayler and Tony Paley

Talking Horses

Richard Hughes looks an interesting booking for Irish raider Bewitched in Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

12.30pm Blues confirmed an absentee for Betfred Sprint Cup

Will Hayler: Deacon Blues has, as expected, been taken out of the Betfred Sprint Cup at Thursday morning's final declaration stage for Saturday's Haydock contest.

James Fanshawe's runner, who was declared a doubtful starter on Wednesday after scoping badly, is the only absentee from the field with the other 16 entries standing their ground.

Richard Hughes is an eyecatching jockey booking for Irish raider Bewitched, off the course since sustaining a minor injury when favourite for the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Kieren Fallon, unable to ride Hoof It at Haydock having been claimed to ride for Luca Cumani at Ascot, has the consolation of what looks a good book of rides, including Eton Rifles who made a winning debut for David Elsworth at Goodwood and must have a fine chance of landing a second valuable handicap in as many weekends.

There are also no surprises among the six declarations for the Irish Champion Stakes, with So You Think heading the three entries from Aidan O'Brien and Snow Fairy offering the stiffest opposition.

Today's best bets, by Will Hayler

While many higher minds than mine were refusing to get excited by last night's Deadline Day excitement in the football, I found it all strangely engrossing.

At one stage, David Pleat on 5 Live started rambling on about the madness of the modern game and I was confidently expecting him to go into mentions of "it's a far cry from boys in the park, jumpers for goalposts".

But the images in my mind of Steve Bruce trying to persuade Nicklas Bendtner that his future lied with Sunderland (for this season, at least) or Peter Crouch trying to decide whether first-team football at Stoke was better than the alternative at Spurs were strangely vivid.

How could racing match this excitement? No horses to move stables apart from within a short window each season? Imagine the excitement as news filtered through from Manton that a horse matching the description of Frankel had been seen arriving for a medical with Brian Meehan. No, never mind, forget that one – it was just an idea.

Today's Salisbury card is a bit of a shining beacon compared to the rest of the action. If you haven't ever been to the track, then you should make the effort. A bit like Wincanton, it's a taste of how racing used to be in the hypothetical good old days before coach parties of drunks and musical fanfares for big-race winners.

Some potential stars of the future are in action at the track and Farhaan (2.40) is very much of one of them. All three of his siblings have been smart performers and he made a real impression in victory in a 17-runner maiden at Newmarket on his latest start, stretching away in the final stages to win by four lengths. That form has been boosted since by victories for the fifth and sixth-placed horses.

Godolphin's Kinglet is the favourite today, and he also impressed when making a winning debut in a similar Newmarket maiden, but my preference is for Farhaan.

Pinning your hopes on Richard Hills is a precarious betting strategy, but I'm hoping he can also do the business on Firdaws (3.15), who can only have improved from her Newbury debut.

For those of a more adventurous disposition, The Absent Mare (8.10) is of interest at 14-1 and bigger off a featherweight at Kempton this evening.

She had scraps of form for Frank Sheridan, and would have gone close three runs ago at Wolverhampton but for getting going too late over nine furlongs. This trip, over which she is already fully proven, looks much more suitable.

The Absent Mare has had just one start for her current stable when well beaten on her hurdling debut at Stratford last month, but that was her first run after a break and should have sharpened her up for a better effort this evening.

Tipping competition, day three

Goofs insisted yesterday that he'd stay on top of the heap and he's kept his promise so far, picking The Name Is Frank (11-1). That's just barely good enough to maintain his lead, however, as ToffeeDan1 and Mai11 also had that winner. ToffeeDan also had Red Current (6-1), while Mai11, a new entrant yesterday, had Dalrymple (6-1).

Today, we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 4.25 Salisbury, 4.50 Redcar, 7.10 Kempton.

This week's prize is a copy of Gamble, the new Dick Francis novel, written by the late author's son, Felix. Published this week, the book tells the tale of a jump jockey whose life is plunged into mystery when a friend is shot dead before the Grand National. Fans of Francis may recognise one or two familiar themses there.

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.

For terms and conditions click here.

Good luck!