Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
Opal Tiara and Tasleet have attracted the money this morning for the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes this afternoon, the feature event on an interesting card at Newbury.
Plagiarism (3.40), by contrast, has been on the drift, which is a little worrying given the strong overall form of Mark Johnston’s string. There was more than enough to like about Plagiarism’s debut success at Newcastle last month, however, to suggest that the market may have under-rated her chance.
The time of the race was impressive for a juvenile first time up, while Plagiarism’s starting price of 8-1 suggests that she might not have been quite as forward as many runners from this yard. She quickly noticeably too, and with normal improvement for the run, can be expected to go very close this afternoon. Opal Tiara is certainly the one to beat on form, but she has had three races now and it would be no great surprise if she finds an improver to beat her, with Plagiarism the most attractive option at the odds.
Live Dangerously (4.15) is another to catch the eye on the same card. His last three runs have all been at Brighton, where he recorded a double before running into the fast-improving Zaeem last time out. Live Dangerously runs off the same mark here, and has the speed to cope with a drop back to seven furlongs.
Lexington Abbey (3.30) is worth backing at Nottingham to confirm recent form with Greeb while Mister Brightside (6.50) and Justineo (7.20) are solid choices on the evening card at Newmarket, albeit with prices to match.
Tipping competition - final day
Our winners so far:
Monday
Handsome Dude 11-4
Zacynthus 7-2
Edge Of Heaven 8-11
Tuesday
Minty Jones 11-1
Rathaath 6-1
George Bailey 5-1
Wednesday
Baileys Pursuit 5-2
Minnie Milan 11-4
Signore Piccolo 8-1
Thursday
Hit The Lights 5-2
Midnight Rider 8-1
Zaria 5-1
And our leader is ...
William36 +9.73
... who selected Hit The Lights, with no one making significant inroads on the day.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.55 Nottingham, 3.15 Haydock and 3.50 Haydock.
This week’s prize, very generously offered by Salisbury racecourse, is a pair of top-enclosure tickets to their two-day Splendour meeting in mid-August, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th. The Thursday features Salisbury’s best race of the year, the Group Three Sovereign Stakes, won last year by Captain Cat. It’s two excellent days’ racing in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, with free childrens’ entertainment laid on for those of you needing to keep little ones occupied. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets 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 the earliest on this, the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
