Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
More Of That, the 2014 World Hurdle winner, is the biggest name on the card at Cheltenham this afternoon as he makes his first start over fences, but Jonjo O’Neill’s seven-year-old is uneasy in the market this morning and does not make much appeal as a betting proposition even at his current price of 9-4.
It is not just an absence of nearly a year which causes concern, though the memory of More Of That’s first defeat over hurdles at Newbury last November is still quite strong. He was also ruled out of this year’s Festival meeting having reportedly suffered a bleed on the gallops, and has clearly been a difficult horse to get back to the track.
This being Cheltenham, he faces several opponents with proven talent and scope to improve over fences, so while he has plenty in hand on his hurdles form, it would be no great surprise if a lack of peak fitness found him out. Dell’Arca (1.40) is, in effect, also making his seasonal debut today, but does have a chase win to his name in late May and represents a stable which has done well at this meeting in recent seasons. At around 9-1, he could be the value bet in the race.
Minella Present (1.05) has been progressing steadily over fences and remains unexposed after four chase starts. He was giving 6lb to Violet Dancer, the winner of the Betfair Hurdle in February, at Towcester last time and should be better for that outing, his first since early June, and starts his handicap chasing career on a fair mark.
Penglai Pavilion (2.15) put up a useful performance to win at the Showcase meeting in October and should follow up today, while Josies Orders (2.50) has already shown enough over the Banks course at Punchestown to be a worthy favourite for the card’s cross-country event.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Salubrious 11-4
Fourth Act 4-1
The Steward 7-2
Tuesday
Bivouac 4-1
Raven’s Tower 20-1
Doctor Phoenix 3-1
Wednesday
Foxcub 6-1
Legion D’Honneur 13-2
Judicial 16-1
Thursday
Road To Riches 8-13
King Massini 3-1
Howlongisafoot 9-2
And our leader is …
Toptrapper +36.37
… who found Road To Riches, of course, on a day when no one made significant inroads into his lead. Other good scores: stanflashman +19.25, Fixxxer +19, millreef +14.50, Topspeedspurs +14.50, maghazi +13.50, Mulldog +12, cerises +10.87, dean055 +9.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 1.40 Cheltenham, 2.50 Cheltenham, 3.25 Cheltenham.
This week’s prize, in celebration of three days at Cheltenham at the end of this week, is a copy of WINNER: My Racing Life, the new book from the pen of AP McCoy, who used to ride a bit, as the more senior among you will recall. Billed as “the complete story of his astonishing career”, WINNER allows the 20-times champion jump jockey to reflect on his exploits in the saddle as well as discussing the more private side of being AP. 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.
Good luck!
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