Today’s best bets
The Monday after the Derby meeting and eight days before the start of Royal Ascot is probably the sort of day that Richard Hughes had in mind when he suggested recently that midweek racing is “saturated with rubbish” but overnight there were just two odds-on shots spread out across a total of 27 races, both in maiden events.
The main afternoon meeting, admittedly, is all the way up at Ayr, making it impractical for most jockeys to ride at Windsor in the evening, too, but it will help to keep punters interested and turnover rolling ahead of the major festival racing next week in betting shops all over the country.
Several of the handicaps on the Ayr card are interesting puzzles, not least the six-furlong sprint at 5.30 in which most of the 11 runners have a piece of form somewhere on their record which would give them a chance.
My Name Is Rio (5.30) may bring the strongest form, however, having finished a half-length second in a well-run race at Haydock last time out. The time of the race suggests it was a career-best performance and the two horses behind to have appeared since – Distant Past (5th) and Barkston Ash (13th) – have finished first and second respectively.
Funding Deficit (3.30) progressed from his seasonal debut to finish second last time out and could go one better, dropping back a little in trip today.
At Windsor this evening, Cartmell Cleave (7.50), who set a suicidal pace over six furlongs at Chester’s May meeting, will be better suited by a return to five.
The feature event at Pontefract may go to Swift Approval (7.40), who had some traffic problems when second at Haydock last time out but still put up a very solid performance in the circumstances.
Vicky Valentine (3.15) and Rochambeau (4.45) are possibilities on the card at Thirsk.
Tipping competition: a new week
Congratulations to TheVic, who stormed to victory last week on a final score of +60.75, having been the only entrant to spot the claims of Qualify (50-1) in Friday’s Oaks. His prize was a bet on the Derby and hopefully he sided with Golden Horn or went each-way on Storm The Stars.
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to Cartmel for Sunday 28 June, which, I’m told by the course, is their first ever Sunday fixture! So you’ll witness a bit of history, as every other British track has already raced on a Sunday at some point. The day has been billed as Big Top Racing because there’s a circus on the site that weekend offering free performances for racegoers before and after racing. Those of you who don’t win can buy tickets here.
To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 5.30 Ayr, 7.40 Pontefract, 7.50 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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