Congratulations to Joseph O’Brien
Joseph O’Brien has become, at 24, the youngest trainer to win the Melbourne Cup, his Rekindling leading home a 1-2-3 for Irish runners. Read all about it here!
Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
There is some classy jumps racing going on today at Exeter. The Haldon Gold Cup is one of the early markers that the big races of midwinter are on the horizon and I’m hoping for a big run from Forest Bihan (2.00) at 11-2.
There’s something a shade perverse about that choice because he’s worse off at the weights with San Benedeto, who beat him at Aintree in April, and he’s also worse off with Politologue, who may have won if he hadn’t fallen at the last that day. But that fall may also have been a problem for Forest Bihan, who was left in front and appeared to idle, so that San Benedeto was able to run him down.
At all events, I really like Brian Ellison’s chestnut, who came out and won a handicap at Kelso last month. With another 4lb to carry, I bet he’s still ahead of his mark and he’ll have a fitness advantage over some of these. Of the fancied runners, he’s the one I feel is most likely to produce something like his best form. Politologue had his disappointments last term and has something to prove, for me.
You Say What (3.05) is an interesting 20-1 shot in the staying handicap chase. A winning pointer under Jamie Codd a couple of years ago, he was hopeless in three starts over fences for Neil King last winter but the handicapper has given him a chance and he’s a stone below the mark he had a year ago.
He joined David Pipe in the spring and ran respectably once over hurdles in April, in first-time cheekpieces. To those, a tongue tie is now added. With Pipe suddenly winning again (4/13 in the past week), this seven-year-old could outrun his odds.
Vive La Difference (1.20) looks the one to be with at Redcar at 7-2 in a seven-furlong handicap. He ran into a useful sort when second to Straight Away here last week and it’s pleasing to see the handicapper has not adjusted his mark for running so well in that maiden. Bought for six-figures by Coolmore as a yearling, he was in France with Andre Fabre until July but would be scoring here for Tim Easterby.
Tips for all Tuesday races
Redcar
12.20 Indian Admiral 12.50 Catastrophe 1.20 Vivre La Difference (nb) 1.50 Silvery Moon 2.20 Metronomic 2.55 Jan De Heem 3.25 Unblinking 3.55 Cool Strutter
Exeter
1.00 Just A Sting 1.30 Dynamite Dollars 2.00 Forest Bihan 2.35 Ballyoptic 3.05 You Say What 3.35 Arthur McBride 4.10 Silva Samourai
Wolverhampton
1.10 Axe Cap 1.40 Mister Maestro 2.10 Grey Destiny 2.45 Rich Again 3.15 Power Home 3.45 Born To Reason 4.20 Sanam 4.50 Jack Of Diamonds
Kempton
4.45 Magic Mirror 5.15 Gaudi 5.45 Bow Street 6.15 Sauchiehall Street (nap) 6.45 Born To Finish 7.15 Treacherous 7.45 Thankyou Very Much 8.15 Snowy Winter
