Thursday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
It should be fast ground at Newmarket for day one of the July meeting, the GoingStick reading of 8.2 suggesting that ‘Good to Firm’ is indeed the right description. The track’s clerk of the course is already planning to water the home straight after racing today.
Estidhkaar, who would have been favourite for the 5.30pm race, is the most notable withdrawal so far. You can keep up with non-runners here.
Surprise, surprise, John Gosden looks like having another good day with Mr Singh in the opening Bahrain Trophy, which the trainer has won three times in the past four years (though Tommy Doc is again being underestimated on 12-1). An hour later, Gosden will probably land the Princess of Wales for the first time in seven years with Mahsoob. But the market is clear about the chances of his pair, so those aren’t betting races for me.
The July Stakes, second on the card, is another race that has been recently dominated by one stable, the Hannons having won it four times in five years. But it might be worth remembering that two of their winners started at double-figure odds and one looked like the second-string beforehand.
Eltezam leads their charge this time and there is no doubting his chance after his third place in the Coventry. But I think the other Hannon runner, Orvar (2.40), might be the way to go at odds of 9-1.
He won on his debut, which is always interesting in a Hannon horse these days, as they are brought along gradually. He was then a running-on sixth in the Windsor Castle, having come from the side of the draw that did not benefit from the furious early gallops set by the Wesley Ward runner.
An extra furlong should suit and this horse looks more of a live runner than the market anticipates.
Later, I like Awesome Power (3.45) to follow up his Sandown reappearance success from an 8lb higher mark at odds of 7-2. The winner of this race last year had been runner-up in the same Sandown contest, though, being a Mark Johnston horse, he had another run in between.
Maverik (7.30) is an interesting 11-1 shot at Newbury, despite having done nothing in two runs for Ali Stronge. He’s 3lb below his winning mark from August and this is a much less competitive race than he’s been in, which makes me wonder whether a return to the front-running tactics that suit him is being contemplated.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
My Name Is Rio 9-4
Nocturn 16-1
Showstoppa 15-2
Tuesday
Nameitwhatyoulike 8-1
Alaweer 6-4
Cape Victoria 9-4
Wednesday
High Secret 13-8
Rocket Punch 9-2
Acolyte 3-1
And our leader is ...
moidadem +13.63
... who had a fourth winner of the week in High Secret. William36 (+9.50) moved into second with Rocket Punch and Acolyte. 16heathermac01 (+6.38) had a perfect Wednesday, with all three winners, putting her fourth, just behind chris1623 (+6.75).
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.40 Newmarket, 3.15 Newmarket, 3.45 Newmarket.
This week’s prize is a copy of The Bluffers Guide to Horseracing, which none of you will exactly need, of course, but which you are all likely to find entertaining, since it has been written by David Ashforth, one of the best and funniest writers ever to grace racing’s press room. If you don’t win, you can buy a copy 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.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
