Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
The Group One action this afternoon is at Newmarket, where Usherette (4.15) is very difficult to oppose in the Falmouth Stakes, but the best bet of the day could well be Mayfair Lady (4.00) at a much better price in the Group Three Summer Stakes at York.
It is hardly breaking news that the gap between good handicappers and Group-class performers is much smaller over sprint trips, and Richard Fahey’s filly should looked ready to take the step up in class when she bolted up from a mark of 100 over this track and trip last month.
Course form, in fact, is another point in her favour, as she produced a similar performance in a nursery on the Knavesmire last August, and while her form tailed off a little towards the end of her juvenile campaign, her seasonal debut four weeks ago was the best run of her career and recorded in a stong time. It is a match for anything on offer against her this afternoon and at around 100-30, she is an outstanding bet.
Back at Newmarket, Nasimi (3.45) should take the Group Two which, for many of us, will always be the Cherry Hinton Stakes. Charlie Appleby’s filly was very green on her debut but still recorded an impressive success, and can improve past Bletchley today.
High Grounds (4.45) should also go well at a fair price on the Newmarket card, while at Ascot, Bess Of Hardwick (4.10) is the one to beat in the fillies’ handicap. Luca Cumani’s four-year-old has only two runs behind her and so does not have the experience of Peloponnese, her main rival in the market, but she showed enough in the maiden at Wolverhampton last October which concluded her three-year-old campaign to suggest that she will rise through the ranks this year.
Masterpaver (3.35) has excellent prospects earlier on the card, while the time of Afandem’s (3.00) latest run at Brighton suggests that he has the best chance at the weights in the nursery.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Dark Defender 100-30
Bashiba 15-2
Montsarrat 100-30
Tuesday
Spirit Raiser 2-1
Johnny Cavagin 10-1
Nigel 7-2
Wednesday
Brigliadoro 11-2
First Wheat 6-1
Generalship 14-1
Thursday
Big Orange 8-1
Dancing Star 7-1
Soie D’Leau 9-2
And our leader is:
Topspeedspurs +18
… who added Dancing Star to a week that was already excellent. Other good scores: kingklynch +14, chris1623 +12, BatmanKaisers +11.83, pkhughesy92 +11.50, jackboyle1892 +11.50, slain24 +10.83, ID0330506 +8.83, Shrewdette +8, 16heathermac01 +5.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.35 Ascot, 3.45 Newmarket, 4.45 Newmarket.
This week, we’re offering you a second chance to win a copy of the much-praised Mr Darley’s Arabian, by Chris McGrath, who used to turn out high-quality prose about horse racing for the Weekender, the Times and the Independent. This is a history of our sport, described in an Observer review as offering “a teeming, colourful survey” of its many stories, drawing on “a cast that takes in aristocrats and nouveaux riches, playboys and industrialists, Smithfield meat salesmen and the rulers of Dubai”, according to a press release from the publishers. 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 -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).
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
