Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Channel 4 has just announced that it has signed up AP McCoy as a pundit for the coming jumps season. It’s by no means surprising news because, when he retired from the saddle in April, TV punditry was the only future career that was repeatedly and confidently linked with his name, but I remember him pouring cold water on the idea at the time. “I don’t know if that’s for me,” was the line.
But he’s had plenty of time to think about it since then and clearly he’s decided to give it a go. I expect him to be excellent. He has a vast store of insights about jump racing to offer, though of course he will have to get over the initial reticence of every ex-jockey about pointing out when one of their former colleagues has failed in some way.
According to a Channel 4 press release, McCoy will start on Paddy Power Gold Cup day at Cheltenham and will also appear on screen on these days: the Hennessy, the King George VI Chase, Cheltenham trials day in January, two days at the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National, the Derby and two days at Royal Ascot. I’d rather see more of him in the winter but I suppose he must be expensive.
But there’s still some Flat racing on turf to get through this year and I have a couple of fancies at Newmarket today. Paddy’s Runner (3.10) is a well-supported 4-1 shot for the staying handicap, the three-year-old having improved to win a couple of hurdle races since he was last seen on the level.
He didn’t enjoy the experience of racing at speed at Chelmsford last month but that should be less of a factor on wet turf over this extended distance.
There is much less market support in the following race for Rocket Ronnie (3.45), an 8-1 shot despite finishing strongly to win his last two races. Ed McMahon, who got him over the winter, appears to have got this horse back to his best and he has won off his current mark in the past. Yes, there are dangers but I don’t understand why the market has gone so cold on him.
Jumps fans should tune in for the 3pm beginners chase at Uttoxeter, featuring Garde La Victoire, Bristol De Mai and Regal Encore. I expected Garde La Victoire to be odds-on, making Bristol De Mai a fair play but the market has taken a more balanced view of their chances and it doesn’t look a betting race to me.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Noble Gift 14-1
Azamesse 5-2
Monbeg River 13-8
Tuesday
Arnold Lane 14-1
Ashdown Lass 12-1
Georgie Lad 7-2
Wednesday
Bancnuanaheireann 14-1
Milgen Bay 7-1
Revision 7-1
Thursday
Urban Castle 16-1
Lamar 7-2
Roc D’Apsis 16-1
And our leader is. . .
AshleyBrook +30.50
... who bolstered his lead with Lamar. Waltersobchak (+28) is a close second, thanks to Urban Castle. Other good scores: BearRides +24, Knottlamag +20.50, kingklynch +20, Sportingbest +19.63, donlewis +15.50, GForce1 +13.63, Bocuma_TJ +10.13.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.15 Wetherby, 3.10 Newmarket, 7.30 Keeneland. As with other international races we’ve included in the past, we will use the SP for the Keeneland winner as reported on the Racing Post’s results page.
This week’s prize is a copy of Mark Howard’s One Jump Ahead for the coming winter, a 188-page guide to the new season, packed with insights and horses to follow, both in England and Ireland. If you don’t win, you can buy a copy 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 -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 (TODAY).
Good luck!
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And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
