Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
How extraordinary to read in today’s Racing Post a line from Silvestre de Sousa saying that the ground at Bath racecourse is now so fast that officials in Brazil, his home country, might choose not to race on it. De Sousa added that the ground there remains “safe” but the track famously has no watering system, so of course it will be very dry indeed.
There might be a splash of rain at the Somerset track today but I can see nothing after that for the next week in the forecast I use. This bone dry summer has produced fast ground at other tracks as well and it seems to be having an impact on field sizes. Six of the seven races at Bath’s card on Wednesday have been reopened to allow for more entries.
A GoingStick reading of 6.7 suggests no such problems exist at Newbury, which stages action today on what is presumably a heavily watered track. They’ve been rewarded with big fields for the novice contests, at least. Good luck if you’re playing in those; I’d rather use them to pick out a couple of horses who might have a future.
Hopefully the nap, who goes in the following handicap, is one of those. Rococo (3.05) is a three-year-old filly with John Gosden, bred to need time and distance. Unsurprisingly, when she eventually came good it was her first try at a mile and a half, at Newmarket last month.
This is only her fifth start and, being a half-sister to a horse who was third in the Leger for Gosden behind Encke and Camelot, she should have plenty more to offer from a mark of 87, stepped up in distance by another furlong. Naturally, the market sees her chance and she’s 2-1.
If you want a last-time winner at a bigger price, there’s 10-1 about Makanah (3.15) at Haydock. Julie Camacho has been patient with this one, who finally got his act together with a maiden win at Redcar in May, prompting encouraging noises from the yard.
His mark looks fair for this return to handicapping and he’s been given time to make another step forward. Camacho has had three winners from her last eight runners.
Finally, I’ll take another chance on Mark Johnston’s splendidly durable Juneau (4.00), having her 13th run of the year at Nottingham. Only one horse has beaten her in her last four runs and it’s not at all beyond her to win under another penalty.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Red Striker has been all the rage and I dare say he’s well handicapped after his three defeats in novice races. But that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to put it all together on this first start for 52 days against hardened professionals and I’m happy with 100-30 Juneau in the circumstances.
Nottingham 1.50 Loch Ness Monster 2.20 Improvising 2.55 Prince Ahwahnee 3.25 Thimbleweed 4.00 Juneau 4.30 Aquarium 5.00 Rebel State
Newbury 2.00 Sheriffmuir 2.30 Magnetic Charm 3.05 Rococo (nap) 3.35 Typhoon Ten 4.10 Lucky Deal 4.40 Dashing Poet 5.10 Dream Catching
Haydock 2.10 Kannapolis 2.40 Cloak And Dagger 3.15 Makanah 3.45 Alsvinder 4.20 Swiss Knight 4.50 Ashington 5.20 Acrux
Newmarket 5.35 Gravina 6.10 Pennywhistle 6.40 George Villiers 7.10 Rawdaa 7.45 Mirza 8.15 Dizzy G 8.45 Golden Slam (nb)
Hamilton 5.45 Souls In The Wind 6.20 Showout 6.50 Mujassam 7.20 Sharp Defence 7.55 Ventura Knight 8.25 Iconic Code 8.55 Here In The Dark
Pontefract 6.30 Hot Team 7.00 Mobham 7.35 Watchable 8.05 First Flight 8.35 Dontgiveuponbob 9.10 Etikaal
Tips by Chris Cook
