11.30am At Fishers Cross will miss Cleeve Hurdle
Tony Paley: At Fishers Cross will miss the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday. The JP McManus-owned runner was last seen finishing fourth behind Lieutenant Colonel at Leopardstown, after which he stayed in Ireland for a short spell for some treatment as he returned from the Christmas Hurdle “slightly sore”.
There is a possibility At Fishers Cross could now run in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock, but that race has already been mooted as a possible comeback date for the fellow McManus-owned More Of That.
“He’s not going to run this weekend now,” said trainer Rebecca Curtis. “There’s a race for him at Haydock and he might go there next.”
Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
We have jump racing at two venues today but alas the card at Huntingdon has been lost after overnight temperatures as low as -7C. I feel their pain, having been unable to move the car this morning because the handbrake was frozen on. Who knew that could happen? Hopefully, it will have cheered up by tomorrow, or it’ll be a long walk to Cheltenham.
Doncaster’s card today has passed a morning inspection, while tropical Ayr never seems to have been at risk. But there are further weather issues over the coming days.
Sunday’s card at Fontwell has already been lost to waterlogging, while tomorrow’s card at Uttoxeter is in doubt because of a partially frozen track, to be inspected at 8am on raceday. Hopefully, Cheltenham will be able to proceed with their Festival trials, the entire track having been covered for about a week now. Their clerk seems confident, despite two nights this week with temperatures of -6C or below.
I’m mildly miffed that my main fancy at Doncaster, Spookydooky (2.50) has been backed down to 9-4. Steel Summit is seeking a five-timer in the race and I thought he’d be a warm order but the market is very sophisticated these days and, if we’re being honest, you’d rather see some support for your beast than have it drifting like something Thor Heyerdahl strapped together in a spare moment.
So Spookydooky it is, despite the shortening odds. He’s a Jonjo O’Neill horse, which would have seemed like poison a couple of weeks ago but that yard is now getting winners at something like the normal rate.
We last saw Spookydooky at Ascot just before Christmas, when, on his second handicap start and in the middle of Jonjo’s awful run of losers, he ran third behind Flintham and The Tourard Man, who won well at Warwick yesterday. Spookydooky gets to run from the same mark this time and I feel he should be ready to show some progress.
There’s nothing much wrong with Steel Summit but there was no depth to the last race he won and he’s up another 10lb. I’d imagine he’ll run well again but he must be getting vulnerable by this point.
I felt that Lady Charlie (2.00) might be an attractive price in a competitive heat today and so it has proved, with the 11-2 enough to make me take an interest in a sand race at horrid Lingfield. From the Jo Hughes yard, this one came to herself at the end of her juvenile season and was last seen breaking her duck in a Wolverhampton nursery.
The style of her success suggested to me she was going the right way in some style and I think a 6lb higher mark gives her a fine chance with an even break here. The market is all excited about a Sir Mark Prescott improver and an unexposed Roger Charlton beast but they have more to prove than Lady Charlie.
By the way, it was -8C in Lambourn last night, so hopefully Hughes had the good sense to park her horsebox with the handbrake off. On a nice, level surface, of course.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Marie Des Anges 5-2
Aroseforoscar 15-2
Dana’s Present 9-2
Tuesday
Stickleback 10-1
Clondaw Knight 10-1
Rayadour 7-1
Wednesday
Grate Fella 7-4
No Through Road 4-1
Deny 7-2
Thursday
The Tourard Man 9-2
Djakadam 9-2
Guishan 6-1
And our leader is. . .
Lindsey6677 +17.75
. . . .who continued to pad that lead by picking Djakadam, who was put up by only two others. Other good scores: slackdad38 +9, chris1623 +8.50, wiggy12 +4.75, melonk +4.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.35 Lingfield, 3.10 Lingfield, 3.20 Doncaster.
This week’s prize is a copy of the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide, by Paul Jones. The famous guide to winner-finding at those four days in March is now in its 16th year and more prized than ever. It won’t be printed for another month but whoever wins will get a copy from the first batch posted to them as soon as can be and we hope to offer a second copy nearer the time. 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 (TODAY).
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
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