Today’s best bets, by Greg Wood
During his record-breaking 20 years in the saddle, it has often seemed as though the only times when Tony McCoy struggled for a winner were when he was on the verge of breaking another record or reaching another landmark. A large contingent of reporters and TV crews chased him all over the country for what felt like several weeks in the run-up to his 3,000th winner, and it was much the same before he reached 4,000 winners at Towcester in 2013. My immediate memory of the aftermath of that win is of two well-known “colour” writers high-fiving each other on the press balcony because it meant that they would not have to go to Southwell the following day.
Since announcing his retirement after winner 200 for the season last Saturday, though, McCoy has not broken stride for a moment, and having ridden Carlingford Lough to victory in Ireland’s premier steeplechase on Sunday afternoon, he has had winners on the first two legs of his retirement tour of the tracks at Catterick and Ayr. On Wednesday afternoon, McCoy moves from Scotland to Wales, and if his winning streak is to continue at Chepstow, where he has booked rides in the first three races, it will probably be in the opener, where he rides Sebastian Beach (1.50) for Jonjo O’Neill.
Sebastian Beach was steadily progressive on the Flat last season and has made the frame in his two starts over hurdles to date. His Flat form suggests that better ground this afternoon will be to his liking and it will be disappointing if he cannot come home in front. Nordic Nymph (nap 4.35), who can race off the same mark as when a close second behind Capard King at Huntingdon last week, is another likely winner on the same card.
Dresden (3.30) put up his best performance of the season when second at Ludlow last time out and is another runner today who may appreciate a quicker surfrace, while on the other jumps card at Musselburgh, Streets Of Newyork (next best 3.55) looks like the best bet of the meeting. He was a ready winner over course and distance last month, put up a good show in the Scottish Champion Hurdle earlier this month and will be running off a 5lb higher mark in future as a result.
On the Flat at Lingfield, Stormbound (4.45) may be worth waiting for in the final event for apprentice riders. He was beaten by an improving horse last time out and is a straightforward ride, while at Kempton, Dreams Of Glory (5.45) has a better chance that his price of 9-2 might suggest.
BoyleSports tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Dewala 2-1
Saint Are 9-4
Catchin Time 3-1
Tuesday
Always Bold 13-2
Yes Tom 2-1
Try It Sometime 9-2
And our leader is…
orso +20.25
… who has officially made the best start in the history of Talking Horses (about six years), having had THE FIRST SIX WINNERS! Crazy. Well done, orso. We want nine! His nearest challenger is sandiuk (+9.50).
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.20 Musselburgh, 4.05 Chepstow, 4.35 Chepstow.
This week’s prize, kindly offered by those sporting fellas at Boylesports, is a £25 ante-post bet on a race of your choosing at the Cheltenham Festival (provided it’s one of the 15 on which Boylesports are taking bets just now). The bet must be placed by Saturday 21 February.
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 -6.
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!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
