Tuesday’s best bets, by Tony Paley
I like going racing at Fakenham. When David Ashforth went on his tour of Britain’s tracks for the Sporting Life, Fakenham earned high ranking for the food and there’s no doubt you will find the best hog roast in the land there.
Fakenham’s a unique track and it can pay to follow those who have done well there before. There’s been a couple of millimetres of rain overnight with up to five more expected during racing this afternoon. Currently the going is good to soft. Ballydague Lady (1.40), who showed improved form at Wincanton earlier this month, figures in a weak race while Larteta (2.10) can go one better than in this race last year. The latter is 3lb lower in the ratings than 12 months ago and is proven on soft ground so won’t mind any more precipitation.
Mission Complete (12.25) is given another chance to take advantage of his slipping handicap mark at Southwell in a race that will suit sloggers and lacks depth, while the filly Starlit Cantata (1.50) has won at Lingfield three times and put up her best display winning over track and trip last time.
Tipping competition, day two
Our winners so far:
Monday
Ashcott Boy 11-2
Sir Valentino 4-1
Maria’s Choice 9-2
And our leader is. . .
moidadem +14
... who started the week in style with all three winners. No fewer than five of you paired Ashcott Boy with Maria’s Choice for a score of +9.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.00 Southwell, 2.10 Fakenham, 2.35 Southwell.
This week’s prize is a copy of At The Festival (Racing To Glory At Cheltenham in March) by the Racing Post’s excellent Spotlight writer Richard Austen. A history of some of the great Festival moments from 1981 to 1991, this new book has drawn the following praise from Racing UK’s Lydia Hislop, who has written for this parish in the past: “He writes with rare skill, combining poetry and precision. This book has the power to delight racing fans and inform others of the richness of experience they are missing.” 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.
Good luck!
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