Thursday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
The last Northumberland Plate Festival to be staged on Newcastle’s turf track gets underway this afternoon with no fewer than eight races on the card, but little quality to back up the quantity since three of those are Class 6 events and two more are Class 5. It will be interesting to see how the card compares in 12 months’ time, following £11m of investment and the installation of a Tapeta track.
For now, the feature event at 3.20 is probably the one to focus on, as the £19,000 prize has attracted an ideal eight runners and is currently betting to around 107% at best prices. Lacan is the obvious favourite following a win on the all-weather at Chelmsford City last time, but Manchestar (3.20) makes more appeal at the prices. Richard Fahey’s runner was a little below form on easy ground last time out but previously put up a career-best performance when second in a well-run race at Thirsk on good-to-firm. A return to a similar level of form would take him very close today and he is well worth backing at around 11-2.
It could be a rewarding afternoon for Fahey as Astley Hall (2.10) looks like a value bet against the favourite Gifted Master in the opening maiden, and his Fullon Clarets (3.10) has a live chance on the card at Newmarket. This is a first try in all-aged company for the three-year-old, but he has several pieces of form on his record to date that suggest he will be up to the challenge.
Fairway To Heaven (4.20) did not get much luck in running when beaten a short-head at Goodwood last time, while Gen I Am (8.00) at Newbury is still reasonably handicapped after two good recent runs.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Gold Club 9-2
Mullionheir 11-4
Harwoods Volante 5-2
Tuesday
Malih 9-2
Relight My Fire 4-1
Dubai Prince 5-2
Wednesday
Ifwecan 17-2
Simple Verse 14-1
Kinema 16-1
And our leader is ...
diegoisgod +26.50
... who had both Simple Verse AND Kinema, which is rubbing it in a bit. Erifder (+17.50) had Ifwecan and Kinema. Shrewdette and sandiuk (+16.50) come next.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.10 Newmarket, 3.20 Newcastle, 4.05 Nottingham.
This week’s prize is a copy of Sean Magee’s new book, The Irish Derby, published to coincide with Saturday’s renewal, which will be the 150th running. I haven’t seen the book yet but the press release describes it as “superbly illustrated throughout” and “a fitting tribute to Ireland’s flagship race”, won in years past by Ballymoss, Nijinsky, Shergar and Galileo.
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.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
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