Today’s best bets
Somehow, it appears almost to be Christmas time again, despite the Shergar Cup having been run just the other day, in my memory. So it must be time for our annual quiz of the horse racing year, which we’ll hold on Friday 18 December, 11 days from now, at 1pm GMT.
Do turn up on time if you hope to win this year’s honours, as all the questions will go live at the same time, making it rather a mad scramble to be first to give some answers. Here’s what last year’s quiz looked like.
Today’s jump racing is at Musselburgh, where Aidan Coleman has gone for just the one ride on Mountain Fighter (2.20). This John Ferguson beast has had a disappointing season so far but it seemed to me that the yard was in an unusual doldrum when he was last seen at Cheltenham’s Open meeting.
He has been amateur-ridden for his two tries in handicaps so far. Coleman last rode when the horse came out best at the weights in a Plumpton novice hurdle in September, beaten half a length. This will be the softest surface he’s faced since hurdling and he’s bred to be suited by it. At 7-2, I’ll take him to overturn Gingili, who has a string of ‘1’s next to his name from points, bumpers and novice hurdles but makes his handicap debut from a stiff-looking mark. As well as being his first run for Rose Dobbin, this will be his first try on soft since his pointing days and his pedigree suggests it will undermine his chance.
For those of you who take an occasional swing at an outsider, there might be interest in Formidableopponent (1.15) at 25-1. Now eight, he won several times in Ireland, though he was trained by Noel Meade. Perhaps I might win over obstacles if Noel trained me.
He certainly seems in decline and was sold for a song at an auction in September. But this is a weak contest and it is possible a horse with his past could be dangerous on a handicap mark that has dropped 10lb for just two recent defeats, in one of which he was ridden by a low-profile amateur. Formidableopponent was competitive for a long way when Daragh Bourke took the ride last time. Perhaps they can take another step forward 10 days later, on the softest ground he has met since leaving Meade.
Tipping competition – a new week
Congratulations to William36, who picked Conas Taoi (7-4) on Friday to secure his win on a final score of +23.83. Sportingbest narrowly came up short on +20.25 after a late 8-1 winner.
This week, we’re offering a second chance to win a copy of the Racing Post Annual 2016, featuring 208 colour pages of the best writing and photography from racing’s daily paper. The blurb promises “ the moments to treasure and unusual stories of the year, plus a look forward at the top prospects for 2016”. If you don’t win, you can buy a copy here.
To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 2.30 Lingfield, 2.50 Musselburgh, 3.40 Chelmsford.
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!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
