Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
So it seems Jeremy Noseda is annoyed with Kent Desormeaux about the ride given to Mister Brightside in the Hollywood Derby on Saturday. But before you say, ‘Oh, Jeremy’s a hard man to please, he’s always cross with somebody,’ have a look at the race, which is here.
Mister Brightside starts from Trap One against the inside rail, in pale colours with black hoops on the sleeves and a black cap. Things go wrong for Desormeaux from an early stage, as he wants to settle his mount, so he accepts a position behind the horses drawn close to him, who then allow others from wider stalls to cross in front of them.
His fate is just about sealed halfway down the back straight when a gap opens on the rail in front of him and he goes forward into it. Horses to the right of him, horses in front of him, others trying to close around the outside … I was reminded of what Peter Walwyn said about Bosra Sham in the Eclipse: “It was like a rat going into a bottle and not being able to get out. I had to close my eyes.”
Anyone can be denied a clear run around one of those tight US circuits but what was most odd about the Desormeaux ride was his reaction after repeated frustration in his search for a gap. While other jockeys behind him were still riding a finish, he gave up and sat motionless for the final 75 yards or so.
The chance to win prize money had gone, so perhaps Desormeaux thought he would be thanked for looking after the horse. If so, he was proved wrong when Noseda tweeted: “First time I have ever had a jockey ‘school’ my horse in a Grade 1”.
In the circumstances, you’d have to be a saint not to be upset about what happened. But Mister Brightside certainly looks capable of winning a race on fast turf over there, so let’s hope he gets a clear passage next time. I imagine there may be a change of jockey.
Two all-weather cards in Britain present the risk of similar frustration but I still find the Kempton card more attractive than the heavy-ground jumps meeting at Plumpton. I note with particular interest the support which has shortened Spirit Of Gondree (3.20) to 17-2 from 25-1.
Twice a course and distance winner and also a winner from a higher mark earlier this year, this seven-year-old probably needed the spin last month, having been off since July. He’d be dangerous if properly on his game today and there’s every chance he will be, since he comes from the Milton Bradley stable which is suddenly on fire.
From six runners in the past fortnight, Bradley has had winners at 33-1, 10-1 and 25-1. All of them were partnered by Franny Norton, who is booked for Spirit Of Gondree and has a 19% strike-rate for Bradley this year.
The 9-1 looks big about Midnight Dance (5.20), an unexposed three-year-old filly from the Ralph Beckett yard that continues to get occasional winners. She has a better draw then when stuffed here last month and has since gone in at Chelmsford. The step up in trip is a risk but she has more to offer.
In the closer, the eye is drawn to Richard Hughes’s first-time-out winner The Big Lad, but this 12-runner handicap is a lot to ask for a horse who looked green in his maiden a fortnight ago. Maymyo (5.50) at 9-2 is preferred, with James Doyle taking over from a 5lb claimer and the tongue tie being fitted for only the second time.
Tipping competition - a new week
Congratulations to TIMEFORM, who swooped from midfield on Friday to seize last week’s prize by picking all three winners on the final day for a final score of +14.50. That was enough to pip Moidadem by just 50p.
This week’s prize is 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: 2.40 Plumpton, 3.00 Wolverhampton, 5.20 Kempton.
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.
