Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
It is always risky to make a sweeping statement about a race as venerable as the Doncaster Cup, which was first staged in 1766 and is therefore 10 years older than the world’s oldest Classic, the St Leger. But if there has ever been a more open renewal of the race in its 249-year history, it must have been a sight to behold, because the 11-runner field for today’s Group Two highlight had three 6-1 co-favourites at the best price available overnight, and six horses in all at single-figure odds.
Seamour (3.05) could prove to be the pick of the prices, however. Brian Ellison’s gelding won twice in as many starts over hurdles this winter, but is still unexposed on the Flat too, with just half a dozen starts in the book. He put up a big performance to finish sixth from a wide draw in the Northumberland Plate, and then did well to chase down an opponent who had got the first run to win off a mark of 93 at Ascot in July. He is the horse in the field with most scope for improvement and a decent bet at around 7-1.
Gutaifan (1.55) is a shorter price but a solid 7-4 chance in the opening Flying Childers Stakes. He was beaten only by the hugely promising Shalaa in a Group One last time out, and has enough in hand of today’s rivals to be a little shorter in the betting. Not Never (2.30) and Hawksmoor (3.40) are also at fair odds on the Doncaster card, while Guilty Twelve (3.50) is another with scope for improvement on the card at Chester.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Equity Risk 4-1
Equally Fast 14-1
Light Wave 8-1
Tuesday
Almuheet 15-2
Justice Day 5-4
Kakatosi 16-1
Wednesday
Cotai Glory 11-4
Gannicus 7-2
Ingleby Angel 8-1
Thursday
Gretchen 5-1
Mr Lupton 10-1
Blue Waltz 10-1
And our leader is …
spudpwt +24
… for whom Gretchen was a fifth winner this week! Other good scores: Sportingbest +13.50, Knottlamag +10.25, AndieAndson +8, jakebuckfast +6.25, 72luca +5, kmill68 +5, kingklynch +3.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.05 Doncaster, 3.40 Doncaster, 4.15 Doncaster.
This week, we’re offering you a second chance to win a copy of Value Seeker by Anthony Gibson, in which the author offers his system for identifying value bets from “statistics allied with form”, leading to picks that are “overlooked by the general betting population”. It’s the sort of book which may have insights to offer that could help your own strategy, although we certainly don’t recommend adopting anyone else’s system blindly. If you don’t win this competition, you can read more about the book and order it here.
[Yes, we’re aware that we carried the wrong prize details in this space on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, erroneously repeating the St Leger tickets blurb from last week. A thousand apologies]
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.
