Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
If last year’s attendance figures are any guide, there will be nearly as many - and quite possible more - spectators at Newmarket this evening to see seven Class Three and Class Four events and a performance by the evergreen Nutty Boys from Madness than turned up on the first Saturday in May for the 2,000 Guineas.
Since the Grandstand & Paddock tickets are £35 a head and at least 15,000 fans are expected to converge on the July course this evening, that suggests gate receipts alone of a little over half a million quid before anyone has queued up to buy a round of drinks. Suggs and his gang do not come cheap, of course, but with total prize money for the racing of £67,000, there should still be a chunky profit afterwards which will - Newmarket being one of the Jockey Club’s tracks - find its way back to the sport, probably in the purses for the “good stuff” at the Festival meetings.
It is something to bear in mind, anyway, the next time you hear a purist moaning that all tracks are interested in these days is music nights. As for the action today, Cosmic Statesman (7.25) should not be overlooked for the 13-furlong handicap simply because he has yet to register a success, as several recent runs give him a solid chance at the weights, while Minstrel Lad is also interesting later on the card.
Elsewhere on a busy day with six meetings in all, Princessofthestars (4.10) looked open to significant improvement on her debut at Newbury earlier this month and can get off the mark at Doncaster. Exotic Guest (8.45) looks to have been brought along with this evening’s race at Newcastle in mind and can repeat his success 12 months ago, while Serene Beauty (7.35) and Al’s Memory (8.35) both have decent claims on the evening card at Chester.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Gold Club 9-2
Mullionheir 11-4
Harwoods Volante 5-2
Tuesday
Malih 9-2
Relight My Fire 4-1
Dubai Prince 5-2
Wednesday
Ifwecan 17-2
Simple Verse 14-1
Kinema 16-1
Thursday
Denzille Lane 7-1
Eutropius 8-1 / Red Avenger 10-1
Aprovado 3-1
And our leader is ...
diegoisgod +23.50
... though he is clinging on in front after a winnerless Thursday, when erifder (+22.50) picked Denzille Lane to close up behind him. Other good scores: sandiuk +17.50, Shrewdette +13.50, 72luca +12, charlie_c +12, Ken Woodward +6, wiggy12 +6, ElMatador1 +4.75, Ellandback +4.75, wilkesb +4.25.
Eutropius and Red Avenger had the first dead-heat in a TH race for a long time. As with the bookmakers’ rules, you get paid at full odds to half a point and lose the other half. So Eutropius pays 7-2, while Red Avenger pays 9-2.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 4.55 Cartmel, 7.15 Newcastle, 7.45 Newcastle.
This week’s prize is a copy of Sean Magee’s new book, The Irish Derby, published to coincide with Saturday’s renewal, which will be the 150th running. I haven’t seen the book yet but the press release describes it as “superbly illustrated throughout” and “a fitting tribute to Ireland’s flagship race”, won in years past by Ballymoss, Nijinsky, Shergar and Galileo.
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!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
