11.45am Wetherby gets the go-ahead but Leicester abandoned
Tony Paley: Tuesday’s meeting at Wetherby has got the green light after the track passed an 8am inspection but Leicester was abandoned owing to a frozen track.
Wetherby clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson called the morning check due to the threat of overnight frost but he reported temperatures to have been milder than anticipated.
He said: “It didn’t freeze at all overnight. It’s dropped to about freezing right now, but there are no problems and we go ahead.”
Leicester clerk of the course Jimmy Stevenson had called an 8am inspection but after temperatures dipped well below freezing overnight, he called off the meeting a couple of minutes before that planned check.
Stevenson said: “The temperature went to minus 6C overnight and it is still that now. We are forecast a high of 1C at lunchtime so there is no chance of it improving.”
Officials at Catterick have called a precautionary inspection for 8am ahead of Wednesday’s meeting.
Clerk of the course Fiona Needham said: “We are raceable today as it didn’t get anywhere near as cold as forecast overnight. We are forecast a slight frost overnight, nothing significant, but we are on the northern edge of some snow so that’s my main worry.”
Ayr have also called an 8am inspection for Wednesday’s meeting.
Clerk of the course Emma Marley said: “We have frost sheets down over the whole course so it is hard to see what is going on under there, but the parts we have checked we have been happy with.
“We are forecast 2C or 3C today with an overnight low of freezing or minus 1C so we feel it prudent to call an inspection for the morning.”
Tuesday’s best bets, by Tony Paley
Wetherby’s ability to race was a pleasant surprise this morning but there is nothing that leaps out on the card and at Southwell, Red Unico (1.25) looks worth a good look in the opener on the sand. The selection was second on his first run for new connections and should appreciate the step up in trip.
Southwell is a course specialists’ track and Scarborough (2.30), who has won over thrack and trip on three separate occasions, is the value against favourite Zac Brown in the five-furlong handicap.
Tipping competition, day two
Our winners so far:
Monday
Marie Des Anges 5-2
Aroseforoscar 15-2
Dana’s Present 9-2
And our leaders are. . .
goofs +6
Shrewdette +6
. . . .who both had Marie Des Anges and Dana’s Present. No one managed to pick out Aroseforoscar, with the promising Ciaran Gethings aboard. 15244, Crasivo, chris1623 and Lindsey6677 are joint third on +2.50.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.10 Wetherby, 2.45 Wetherby, 3.50 Wetherby.
This week’s prize is a copy of the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide, by Paul Jones. The famous guide to winner-finding at those four days in March is now in its 16th year and more prized than ever. It won’t be printed for another month but whoever wins will get a copy from the first batch posted to them as soon as can be and we hope to offer a second copy nearer the time. 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 -3.
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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