Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
There was only a little overnight rain at the tracks due to stage today’s two main meeting, 0.7mm at Newbury and 1mm at Ayr to be precise. The best ground is likely to be at the Scottish track, though, where it is currently good, good-to-soft in places, and if you want to get an idea for yourself, you can watch Emma Marley, the clerk of the course, prodding the turf with a walking stick here.
A bright day is also expected ahead of tomorrow’s Ayr Gold Cup, and the Ayr Bronze Cup will, as always, be taken as a guide towards the likely effect of the draw in the weekend’s big race. All recent evidence suggests that the high stalls are the place to be, however, and Dragon King (3.05), who is in stall 15 of 25, could be the answer here. Michael Dods’s runners has been generally progressive this season and returned to winning form at Newmarket last time out in a style that suggested there could be more to come.
Giddy (2.30) also appeared to have plenty in hand when successful on her debut at Beverley last month, and while today’s ground is a little slower, she is well drawn and has a very fair opening mark of 79. Easton Angel (4.15) will be very difficult to beat in the Harry Rosebery Stakes, while at Newbury, where the going is officially soft, Ascription (4.25) has conditions in his favour in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup. Special Season (3.55) is odds-on, but very much one to note in the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes, having bolted in by seven lengths in a good time on his debut at Sandown last month.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Spending Time 9-2
Great Expectations 12-1
Perfect Pastime 9-1
Tuesday
Willsy 100-30
Scoreline 9-1
Star Ascending 12-1
Wednesday
Threave 7-1
Talmada 7-2
La Superba 5-1
Thursday
Dark Ocean 7-1
Oak Bluffs 8-1
Echo Of Lightning 6-1
And our leader is …
Fixxxer +20.3
… who had two winners yesterday. Manni, who also found a couple, is on +13.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: Ayr 2.30, Ayr 3.05 and Ayr 3.40.
This week’s prize is a copy of Paul Ferguson’s newly published Jumpers To Follow 2015-16, since we’re approaching the core jumps season. Now in its ninth year, the annual focuses on Ferguson’s 40 best prospects, with many additional features and a foreward from the trainer Jamie Snowden. 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.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
