Today’s best bets, by Tony Paley
I have been keeping an eye on Cantlow all season. The Paul Webber-trained runner is definitely capable of winning a good race following his drop in the ratings by a stone after a series of disappointing displays. He ran well in last year’s Irish Grand National and is clear favourite for this year’s running of the race today at Fairyhouse. Cantlow has been supported in from 25-1 to a best-priced 11-1, a gamble inspired by the fact that the soon-to-retire Tony McCoy is on board.
McCoy, who is also due to ride the favourite Shutthefrontdoor in Saturday’s Aintree Grand National, will be afforded a huge reception if Cantlow wins this afternoon. Punters are banking on improvement from his mount now a tongue-tie has been fitted to Cantlow for the first time, but that may not be as relevant as the ground with McCoy’s mount much better on a faster surface than he will experience this afternoon.
Webber told the Daily Mail : “Cantlow has worked well with a tongue-tie twice since [he ran at Kempton] with AP on board but I hope it dries up, as it is soft to heavy which wouldn’t help.”
There are no such problems on soft ground for the Jim Dreaper-trained Los Amigos (5.00), who goes well fresh and has had this race as the plan since returning with a success at this track in January. The step up in trip should be in his favour and the form he displayed as a novice last season has worked out well. The selection was fancied to run a big race in this event last season only to be pulled out owing to a setback the day before the event.
If there is one place I would like to be today it would be Fakenham which is my favourite venue on Easter Monday. Punters won’t go far wrong banking on previous course winners at the small Norfolk track and Can Mestret (2.30), who looked very well suited to the unique contours of this course, is the best bet at today’s jumps meetings in Britain. There is likely to be a good amount of pace despite the small field and that should be in the favourite’s favour too.
Tipping competition – a new week starts tomorrow!
Congratulations to walterobchak, who retrieved his lead in the last of our Good Friday races with Mymatechris for a final score of +21. That was enough to see him home ahead of kingklynch (+20.25) and cerises (+20) in a storming finish to last week’s competition. Cerises came from a mile back, having found not only Mymatechris on the final day but Lightscameraction (20-1) as well. Poor old Viejo (+15.25) was only fourth after taking the lead earlier on Friday through Grey Mirage (13-2).
Other good scores: Mai11 +14, Copshaw +12, Mulldog +11, sandiuk +7, wemeanyounoharm +6, Sportingbest +5.75, Fixxxer +5, chris1623 +4.50.
As today is a Bank Holiday, we’ll start our new competition tomorrow and we hope to see you then. Those of you who happen by today, do please share your thoughts on the Irish National and the rest of the holiday action.
Good luck!
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