Today’s best bets, by Greg Wood
Silvestre de Sousa increased the tempo in the Flat jockeys’ title race on Monday with a four-timer at Epsom, and he returns to the track on Tuesday with three solid chances, including two probable favourites, to add to his 81 victories this year.
Nouvelli Dancer (3.45) may be the pick of the champion’s rides in a competitive seven-furlong handicap. Ivan Furtado’s three-year-old filly has had seven races already this year, with four victories at all-weather tracks along the way. She showed she can act on turf as well with a close second at Redcar in July and returned to winning ways at Chelmsford last time off a mark of 77. Nouvelli Dancer is just 2lb higher here back on turf, and has been found a good opportunity to record her fifth win of 2016.
De Sousa will also be aboard the favourite for the Terry Mills & John Akehurst Handicap over six furlongs, and his mount Highly Sprung arrives in good form after a two-length victory on the July course earlier this month.
That was a race in which several contenders failed to fire, however, and Tuesday’s race has more depth with David O’Meara’s Highland Acclaim (3.10) possibly the one to back at the prices. He has his quirks and has gone two years without a win, but is capable of winning off this mark and was only nosed out of it in the final stride at Redcar earlier this month. At around 7-1, he is worth a small interest.
Jim Crowley, De Sousa’s principal rival in the title race, also has three rides but down at Goodwood. Bee Case (3.35) is definitely up to winning the card’s nursery handicap to keep his jockey ticking over, while later on the card, Oriental Fox (4.10) can improve Mark Johnston’s fine record at the track in the stayers’ handicap. La Casa Tarifa (5.10) and Cersei (7.15), meanwhile, stand every chance at Hamilton and Ripon respectively.
Tipping competition – a new week
Congratulations to GandT123, who picked two winners on Friday to take last week’s competition on a final score of +7.75, somewhat stealing it from beneath the nose of 16heathermac01 (+6.25). Well played, sir! We’ll be in touch by email.
This week’s prize, somewhat prematurely, is a copy of RFO’s Jumps Guide for the 2016-17 season, which will be posted to you on publication in October. A tremendously useful prep-guide for all jump racing fans, the annual promises interviews, horses to follow, analysis of last season and tips for forthcoming winter highlights. If you don’t win you can buy a copy here.
Because Monday was a bank holiday, this week’s competition starts today. To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 3.10 Epsom, 3.35 Goodwood, 4.00 Hamilton
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.
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.
