10.30am Bangor and Uttoxter are latest cards to be cancelled
Tony Paley: Friday’s jumps meeting at Bangor has been cancelled due to a waterlogged track after course officials moved forward their intended 8am inspection once the situation was found to have been untenable at daybreak. There was also bad news regarding one of Saturday’s fixtures when Uttoxeter’s all-hurdles card become the latest casualty of waterlogging, also on Thursday morning.
The situation has improvement slightly, but the damage had already been done earlier in the week with further showers were also expected on Friday.
A statement issued by the track read: “Despite drier conditions, the course remains waterlogged, with insufficient improvement to suggest it will be safe to race on Saturday - even if the track misses the forecast rain.”
Thursday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
Only half a dozen runners go to post for the Sidney Banks Memorial Novice Hurdle, the feature event on a good card at Huntingdon, but it is a strong and fiercely competitive renewal with a case to be made for two thirds of the field.
Dan Skelton’s North Hill Harvey, who won at Cheltenham’s International meeting in December, seemed the most likely favourite overnight, but Minella Awards, who was second on his debut for Nicky Henderson back in November, has attracted money.
Both will be worthy of a place at the Festival if they can win today, but so too will Ma Du Fou (3.05), the winner of both his starts for Warren Greatrex this season. His trainer does not get quite as much attention as Skelton or Henderson, but is every bit as capable with a good horse and at the prices on offer, Ma Du Fou is the value bet to continue his winning streak.
Castle Cheetah (2.30) made a promising start for Ben Pauling when second at Southwell back in October and has a good chance to open his account for the yard on the same card, while at Chelmsford tonight, Bosham (6.10) is an excellent bet to maintain his outstanding run of form in the sprint handicap. He has really come of age on the all-weather this winter and while Nuno Tristan will be tough opposition, Bosham has a fair draw for a front-runner and should be able to grab the lead and make all.
WINTERLUDE (6.40) has also hit form recently and remains fairly handicapped, while Gracious George (7.40) is also on a handy mark if he can reproduce his recent form at Kempton.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Harleys Max 7-2
Daliance 5-2
So Satisfied 5-2
Tuesday
Snuker 9-1
Spencer Lea 9-4
Clubland 5-1
Wednesday
Jonny Eager 7-2
Pistol 14-1
Justice First 14-1
And our leader is …
Stephen Peter Phillips +19
… for whom Justice First was a fourth winner of the week. Toptrapper (+15) and fatfrank29 (+14) give chase.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.30 Doncaster, 3.40 Huntingdon, 6.40 Chelmsford.
This week’s prize, offered by 32Red bookmakers, is a £25 ante-post bet on any race (for which betting is available) at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. You can see 32Red’s Cheltenham markets here.
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 -9.
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.
Good luck!
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