11am McCoy’s intended ride Benvolio misses Scottish National
Tony Paley: Tony McCoy’s intended Scottish Grand National mount Benvolio has been declared a non-runner in Saturday’s race.
The multiple champion jockey was due to partner the horse for Paul Nicholls in what would have been his final ride in the Ayr contest before he retires next week. However, the trainer has taken his runner out of the contest owing to the drying ground.
With Nicholls making an early decision regarding Benvolio, it means the first reserve, Sue Smith’s Vintage Star, gets to take his chance.
McCoy has three rides in total on Saturday’s card in the 2.35, 4.25 and 5.30 races.
Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
It is a relatively low-key card at Newbury ahead of the Greenham Stakes and Spring Cup tomorrow, and three of the eight races are maiden events in which punters have little or nothing to go on bar pedigrees, trainer form and perhaps, in desperation, the runners’ birthdays and horoscopes.
There are certainly a few interesting pedigrees on offer, though, including that of Yet Again (1.40) in the opening race. Sir Michael Stoute’s filly is by Oasis Dream out of the high-class mare Quiff, who won the Group One Yorkshire Oaks by 11 lengths back in 2004. Her jockey Ryan Moore is also booked for Sanaadh (2.20) who is by Exceed And Excel out of Queen’s Logic, a high-class Group One-winning two-year-old in in 2001 whose three-year-old career was curtailed by injury after a single race.
The sprint handicap at 3.55 is the most valuable race on the card and Robot Boy (3.55) is worth backing to finally get his head in front after a string of highly-promising performances. Winters Moon (2.50) is a solid favourite on the book for the 10-furlong conditions event, while Roger Varian’s Mujassam (3.25) has an excellent chance at the weights on his juvenile form and comes from a stable that rarely sends a runner to the track undercooked.
At Ayr, a chance is given to Tap Night (3.05) who is undeniably well treated on his old form, has a good record at Ayr and has AP McCoy on board.
Tipping competition - final day
This week’s winners
Monday
Squire 5-1
Lear’s Rock 5-1
Lord Brendy 9-2
Tuesday
Courtown Oscar 14-1
Tiger O’Toole 7-2
Thomas Wild 9-2
Wednesday
Long House Hall 3-1
Anay Turge 12-1
Osaila 4-1
Thursday
The Govaness 3-1
Astaire 9-2
Signore Piccolo 5-2
It’s all to play for as the leaderboard after yesterday’s action when no one made any significant progress is: Blitzwing +12.5, KingKLynch +7.5, JL127 +6.5, GForce1 +6.
This week’s prize is a copy of Racing & Football Outlook’s Flat Racing Guide 2015, including tips for the season ahead, profiles of horses to follow, detailed results from last year and trainer interviews among many features. If you don’t win, you can buy it here.
Today, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 2.30 Ayr, 3.05 Ayr and 3.25 Newbury.
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. Non-runners count as losers.
In the event of a tie at the end of today, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
