Even with a first prize of just £4,690, the sprint handicap at 4.30 is the most valuable race on the card at Brighton this afternoon, and still the most interesting too despite two scratchings this morning, to leave seven closely handicapped runners to go to post.
It could be significant that one of the two who now misses out is Frenchman, who along with the previous course-and-distance winner Soaring Spirits (4.30) was one of two obvious front-runners in the race.
Dean Ivory has sent Soaring Spirits to this track for five of his last six starts, and has been rewarded with two wins off marks of 55 and 61. The six-year-old also won with a little to spare at Leicester in July off 65, and two recent runs at Brighton have both suggested that another win from his latest rating of 75 is not beyond him. Without Frenchman to harry him for the lead, he makes more appeal at 4-1 than the quirky Upstaging, who wears a hood for the first time today, at 7-4.
Bazzat (3.30) is still a maiden after 14 starts, but he showed distinct signs that there was a win in there somewhere when third at this track last week. He is hardly maximum bet material, but he is better than an 8-1 chance if he can reproduce that form.
Reaver (4.45) stands out on the all-weather card at Kempton Park. Eve Johnson Houghton’s string remains in good form and the three-year-old produced the best form of his career to date when second in a fiercely competitive race at this course in August. He was beaten only a head by Mukaabra in a time that suggests he is still well ahead of the handicapper and 3-1 is a very fair price.
Stratum (5.15) could be the answer to the 12-furlong handicap later on the card, a race that is more competitive than a five-runner field might suggest, while Ablazing (4.50) is a fair price for two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle on the jumps card at Worcester. He ran into a fast-improving horse when second to Deserter at Fontwell last time and is just a pound higher here.
Tipping competition results
Thanks to all those of you who played in our tipping competition last week. As we explained, the competition will no longer appear every week but we will still run one from time to time, in the biggest racing weeks. Talking Horses will continue each day for tips, analysis and news, so we very much hope you’ll join us to chew over whatever racing happens to be going on, especially those of you who have been in the habit of sharing winning tips at good prices.
Congratulations to jakebuckfast, who cemented his win last week with a 16-1 Friday winner for a final score that must rank as one of the best ever achieved in the eight years of our competitions. We’ll be in touch by email, jake!
Final scores:
jakebuckfast +59.63
wiggy12 +32.83
Crasivo +22.83
Bacciodilupo +16
BearRides +11.50
Toptrapper +11
Copshaw +9.50
PHILYERBOOTS +7
Lindsey6677 +6.33
lcprestes +6.13
wemeanyounoharm +5.83
sandiuk +5.50
orso +4.96
FinsburyPark +4.83
Harrytheactor +3.33
GForce1 +2.33
millreef +2
kingklynch +2
MrWinnersSonInLaw +0.33
titusisashambles +0
GandT123 +0
AshleyBrook -1
yasmin11 -1
diegosigod -2.50
slackdad38 -3
cerises -4
LansonUproar -4.37
melonk -6
joehow -6
ID3814422 -6
Goldkid999 -7
Rivercity -7.50
Esherhammer -7.50
ubikubik -9
jamesstod -9
72luca -9
DrKelso -9.50
Mulldog -9.50
moidadem -9.50
elliot45 -9.50
Ormrod76 -10
chris1623 -10
ps4999 -10
TheVic -10
jaxfahy -11
23skidoo -12.37
johne5knuckle -12.37
William36 -12.37
Perry Tang -12.37
Fixxxer -12.37
AndieAndson -12.37
robertkeen -12.37
GipsyHiller -15
Geoff Staddon -15
Renzofan -15
BatmanKaisers -15
donlewis -15
Ellandback -15
JahLion -15
slowhandray -15
gregcwb -15
waltersobchak -15
TL127 -15
LexLondon -15
ID0228872 -15
kmill68 -15
Blitzwing -15
16heathermac01 -15
maghazi -15
Ben Leo -15
Bonzodrongo -15
spudpt -15
goodfellow1 -15
Bigboozer -15
Sportingbest -15
scarletdragon -15
dean055 -15
Cairo -15
jessie69 -15
Post your tips or racing-related comments below.
