Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Ah, lovely Taunton, a jumps track which sometimes rewards speed and provides decent ground when other tracks cannot. It looks like plenty of West Country trainers have been waiting for today’s card, since the seven races average 12 runners each. Remember when field sizes was a hot topic?
There’s even (gasp!) a competitive mares race. I like the 11-4 about Kayf Willow (1.40), a Philip Hobbs horse who improved in handicaps and travelled strongly on her way to winning at Newton Abbot last month. The step up in trip must have helped that day, so two furlongs shorter is a possible source of concern, but I feel she has quite a bit more to offer. The runner-up last time won her next two starts and is now rated a stone and a half higher than when Kayf Willow beat her.
Lily Waugh is a significant rival today but this eight-year-old chaser probably has less scope for being well treated and conditions will not be as testing here as when she hacked up at Wincanton last week.
Kim Bailey is on a riotous run of form, with eight winners from 19 runners in the past fortnight and his Ballyknock Lad (2.10) appeals at 4-1 for his fences debut in the novice handicap chase. A points winner in Ireland last year (the fourth won this year’s Persian War), he broke his hurdles duck in the spring when stepped up to three miles.
He improved again for a summer wind op to be second on his reappearance and should still be very fairly treated now that he switches to the job for which he was made.
I shall take a chance on the 7-1 shot Black River (3.40), back at the scene of his triumph last December, when he beat Irish Cavalier for his sole chase win so far. He then flopped in a couple of better races than this one and ended his season with a minor injury from which he has reportedly recovered.
He has been disappointing, particularly in light of his defeat of Vautour before both left France. But first time out may be a good time to catch a talented six-year-old with some fragility about him and I note the addition of a tongue tie.
His stablemate, Howlongisafoot, carries the stable jockey, who was aboard Black River for his success last year. But Howlongisafoot really looks limited to me and I’d far rather take a chance with Black River at bigger odds. Sean Bowen in the saddle is certainly not a negative.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Salubrious 11-4
Fourth Act 4-1
The Steward 7-2
Tuesday
Bivouac 4-1
Raven’s Tower 20-1
Doctor Phoenix 3-1
Wednesday
Foxcub 6-1
Legion D’Honneur 13-2
Judicial 16-1
And our leader is …
Toptrapper +37.75
… who made Judicial his second big-priced winner of the week, after Raven’s Tower. He has a very handy lead over Fixxxer (+22) and stanflashman (+16.75).
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.25 Clonmel, 3.00 Ludlow, 3.40 Taunton.
This week’s prize, in celebration of three days at Cheltenham at the end of this week, is a copy of WINNER: My Racing Life, the new book from the pen of AP McCoy, who used to ride a bit, as the more senior among you will recall. Billed as “the complete story of his astonishing career”, WINNER allows the 20-times champion jump jockey to reflect on his exploits in the saddle as well as discussing the more private side of being AP. 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.
Good luck!
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And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
