Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Jacquotte Delahaye, a four-year-old handicapper with David Brown, is named after a ginger-haired 17th-century pirate who faked her own death and, after her enemies were horrified to learn that she still lived, became known as ‘Back From The Dead Red’. There is a horse with a proper name.
I can’t work up quite the same enthusiasm for Jack Naylor (4.30), having found out from the internet last night that she’s named after a character in Holby City. Jac Naylor, as the character is called, appears to be a hard-nosed heart surgeon. The BBC’s page for her offers this sample quote: “I kicked him in the balls. That’ll do for me.”
Any stallion asked to cover Jack Naylor in future years will have to hope the filly is a shade less combative. At any rate, she’s my idea of today’s Oaks winner and, although well backed in recent days, remains a fair bet at 7-1.
Considering that a mile ought, on breeding, to be her minimum this year, she turned in a tremendously promising reappearance in the Irish Guineas. Just about last of 18 with two furlongs to go, she came widest of all and flew home up the centre of the track to be fourth.
Even in this smaller field of 11, I wouldn’t want her to be last at the turn for home, but I don’t imagine that’s the plan. She has the quality to take a handier position, as she showed when scoring three times last year.
One of those wins was over Legatissimo, to whome Jack Naylor gave 5lb when holding her off at the Curragh in August. I accept that Legatissimo has since improved but Jack Naylor looks more likely to relish this extra half-mile.
There are other last-time-out winners to consider but Together Forever concerns me most, despite being pipped in the Musidora on her reappearance. She’ll be sharper here and I liked her Fillies Mile success in October.
I see that Ryan Moore has a couple of rides for David O’Meara on the card. Boy, there’s a dangerous-looking combination, although they’re only one from nine so far. Would it surprise you if Moore found a way to make all from the inside stall on Fattsota (2.35)? I’d say not and, while the horse is hardly thrown in, 14-1 looks too big. I’ll forgive the last run on a completely different surface.
Abseil is favourite to repeat last year’s win in the mile handicap but he’s 7lb higher despite six straight defeats since then. At 8-1, I’ll try Gratzie (3.45), who finished last season with back to back wins here and ran into trouble when fourth on her reappearance.
The nap is in Catterick’s fillies handicap, where Breakable (4.00) is interesting at 5-2 from the same mark as when a close third in an amateurs’ handicap at York on Saturday. She has been ridden a few times by an amateur or an apprentice but seems to respond well for professional handling and scored over this course and distance the last time Andrew Elliott was aboard.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Queen Catrine 9-4
Great Page 4-1
Tropics 7-1
Tuesday
Sarangoo 9-4
Instant Attraction 9-1
Honeysuckle Lil 9-2
Wednesday
Big Baz 13-8
Mutatis Mutandis 12-1
Mississippi 15-2
Thursday
First Sitting 9-2
Bartel 3-1
Spirit Raiser 8-1
And our leader is …
jamesstod +11
… despite a winless Thursday. Sportingbest (+10.50) is a close second after picking First Sitting, while diegoisgod (+9.75) had all three winners yesterday. Other good scores: cheriton +9.75, PHILYERBOOTS +9.50, hubertfarnsworth +8.25, BatmanKaisers +7.88, 15244 +7.25, judge2301 +4.25.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.35 Epsom, 3.45 Epsom, 4.30 Epsom.
This week’s prize is a £25 bet on the Derby, offered by those generous souls at Coral! IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE WON, keep an eye on your email inbox, as we’ll have to contact you on Friday evening to arrange your bet. You could specify in advance how you’d like your bet to be placed in the event that you win.
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 -12.
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!
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