Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
This year’s Derby looks more and more like an open goal for Golden Horn, just about the only horse to have impressed in any of the recent trials. The news this morning is that André Fabre’s unbeaten Grey Lion will not be crossing the Channel for a tilt at the Epsom Classic, removing one of the more intriguing potential opponents for John Gosden’s star.
There were a couple of reports over the weekend suggesting that Fabre had been making quiet enquiries about sending Grey Lion over for next week’s ‘Breakfast With The Stars’ event at Epsom, as a kind of Derby prep. But the horse missed Sandown’s trial race last month through sickness and the trainer has now told the Press Association that he is not yet back in full training, meaning there is no chance of him being fit in time for the Classic a fortnight on Saturday. Fabre has no alternative plans in mind as yet.
The going at one or two tracks today may be changed by the rain that is currently pouring down outside my window, adding a further dimension of unpredictability to the day’s racing that I always resent. But the forecast is for no more than 2mm at Redcar, so I have hopes that the going there will remain on the fast side.
Rosie Crowe (4.20) is the nap at a generous 11-2, running off a mark just 3lb higher than when she won by a cosy head over the course and distance last month. That was just her third start since joining Shaun Harris and she seems firmly on the up. I reckon the quality of that success can be upgraded because she was held up after being hampered early, while the next three horses home were prominent throughout.
In similar vein, Hidden Rebel (5.20) overcame a seeming bias towards prominent racers when second at Wetherby last time, her handicap debut and her first time in a hood, which she wears again. She gets to run off the same mark and the extra two furlongs should help. She’s 5-1.
At Windsor tonight, look out for Black Shadow (8.05), a 9-2 shot from the in-form Amanda Perrett yard. He lost his form after a strong start to last season but returns on a mark 3lb below the one from which he was second in a Derby-day handicap. He’s been gelded over the winter, which may help, and a bit of cut underfoot is fine for him.
Tipping competition – a new week
Congratulations to BearRides, who won last week’s competition on a final score of +20, despite a winnerless Friday. We shall be in touch by email. Orso and stee33 tied for second place on +11.41, with orso the technical runner-up by dint of having posted his selections earlier than stee.
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to the Duchess Stand on Derby day, generously offered by Epsom. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets to this most prestigious of racing events here.
To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 5.20 Redcar, 7.45 Leicester, 8.05 Windsor.
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.
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!
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