Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
Like Newbury on the first two days of the Hennessy meeting last week, Sandown is struggling a little for numbers on the opening afternoon of the Tingle Creek fixture, in the novice events in particular, but at the same time, it is difficult to complain too loudly when one of the races has the depth of the Neptune Investment Novice Hurdle. Four of the five runners arrive with realistic hopes of victory on the way to better things, and this could well prove to be one of the most significant events for young hurdlers this side of Christmas.
At the morning prices, the layers can’t separate the runners from the big two stables of recent seasons: Paul Nicholls, who runs Tara Point, and Nicky Henderson, who fields Vyta Du Roc, the winner of all three of his starts since arriving from France. Both bookies and punters may be focusing on the trainers rather than the horses, though, as Ordo Ab Chao (1.55) has also shown considerable promise in winning twice from as many starts over time, yet he is effectively the outsider among those with a serious chance at 5-1.
The intermediate chase, which is often contested by horses on a fast track to the top, should go to the Nicholls stable via the odds-on chance Black Thunder (2.30), while Baraka De Thaix (12.50) can confirm the good impression he made when third in a hot race at Cheltenham last time out.
Elsewhere, Anastazia (5.30) is the pick of the card at Wolverhampton, while Gorgehous Lliege (3.20) is a worthy market leader for the four-miler at Exeter.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Hold The Bucks 9-2
Ballyvoneen 5-1
Shirley’s Pride 3-1
Tuesday
Jigsaw Financial 7-2
Baraboy 7-2
Rowlestone Lass 9-1
Wednesday
Gorsky Island 9-2
Seaviper 8-1
Crouching Harry 8-1
Thursday
Malibu Sun 9-2
Ziga Boy 3-1
Powerful Action 5-2
And our leaders are:
Wiggy12 +25
Diegoisgod +14.5
72Luca +13
... after all three leaders found Powerful Action yesterday (spooky huh).
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.40 Lingfield, 2.50 Exeter and 3.20 Exeter.
This week’s prize is a copy of the Racing Post Annual 2015, now in its fourth year and running to 208 colour pages packed with stories from this racing year and some of terrific photos of the greatest moments. Interviewees include Willie Mullins and Tony McCoy. If you don’t win, you can buy it here.
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 -3.
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 i.e this day.
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.
