Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Sixteen horses have stood their ground at today’s final entry stage for the Derby on Saturday. There were no surprise withdrawals, the only pair to drop out being Bravery and Beacon Rock, who will now represent Aidan O’Brien in Sunday’s French Derby.
Incidentally, I think we should be looking for mudlovers only for the French race, judging by the news coming from Paris this morning, where so much rain has fallen that the Seine has burst its banks. Epsom, meanwhile, has taken 27mm over the past two days and is mainly soft, though course officials hope it will dry out before their colts’ Classic takes place.
There’ll be some cut in the ground at Lingfield, where we have Flat racing on turf today. I’m interested in In Ken’s Memory (2.40), a debutant winner for Mark Johnston last season, though she couldn’t repeat that form in three subsequent starts.
She’s joined John Butler over the winter and, with that yard among the winners, it could be that first time up is the time to catch this filly. She’s dropped 5lb from her opening mark and is available at 11-1.
In the following race, Bushwise (3.10) returns to wet turf, which was a winning formula for her at Chepstow and Bath earlier this year. She flopped as favourite at Wolverhampton last time but has never won on the all-weather. Back in more favourable circumstances, she appeals at 8-1 with Silvestre de Sousa aboard for the first time.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Tuesday
Triple Dream 8-1
Desert Strike 5-1
Wednesday
Elbereth 8-1
Nicki’s Nipper 20-1
Sign Of The Kodiac 12-1
And our leader is:
Steve Ellis +31
… who already had a share of the lead before being the only tipster to find Nicki’s Nipper! Zubica19 (+17) moved smoothly into second place by finding the other two winners. Mulldog (+13) comes next.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.50 Ripon, 4.40 Lingfield, 8.10 Kempton.
This week’s prize, generously offered by William Hill, is a £50 bet on Saturday’s Derby!
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. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today but you will start on -5.
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.
