Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
To Pontefract, a track where the newly retired Kieren Fallon showed early skill by riding his rivals to sleep, according to a tribute put out by Jack and Lynda Ramsden on Monday. Interestingly, Fallon still had a 20% strike-rate at the Yorkshire track in recent seasons, producing nine winners over four years, despite the general decline in his quality of rides. Ben Curtis can’t hope to be in that league yet but he’s two from eight at ‘Ponte Carlo’ this year and has an excellent chance of another win there today on Zebedaios (3.40).
Brian Ellison’s runner is unbeaten in two and dead-heated for a maiden win on his debut here in April. He finished strongly once more to land a Haydock handicap in May, prompting Ellison to describe him as “a superstar” who would be in Listed company at least by next year. But the handicapper has taken a conservative view, raising him just 6lb, which ought to be beatable back at the scene of his first win. He’s only 7-2 in a big field but I’m sticking with him.
Later, the in-form Roger Charlton has an interesting 6-1 shot in Executor (4.40), who surely needed his reappearance run in April, when the trainer’s strike-rate was just 10%. It would be easy to look at his juvenile record and scoff at the fact that his only win was against four rivals at Bath but he looked progressive that day and his two defeats that season were in warm races at Newbury and Newmarket when there was an unsuitable amount of give in the ground.
The handicapper may have made his move a bit soon in dropping Executor 7lb for two defeats and this drying surface should make him a contender once more.Pick of the Wolverhampton card may be the 6-1 about Tulip Dress (3.55), returning to the surface on which she overcame trouble in running to score on her reappearance in May. She can be forgiven her Yarmouth flop, when the turf and the step up to a mile were against her.
Tipping competition, day two
Our winners so far: Monday Dark Defender 100-30, Bashiba 15-2, Montsarrat 100-30.
And our leaders are: slain24 +9.83, BatmanKaisers +9.83, ID0330506 +9.83 ... who all had Bashiba as well as one of the 100-30 winners. Harrytheactor (+5.66) was the only one to find BOTH the 100-30 winners. Pkhughesy92 (+5.50) also had Bashiba.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.10 Pontefract, 3.40 Pontefract, 6.40 Brighton. This week, we’re offering you a second chance to win a copy of the much-praised Mr Darley’s Arabian, by Chris McGrath, who used to turn out high-quality prose about horse racing for the Weekender, the Times and the Independent. This is a history of our sport, described in an Observer review as offering “a teeming, colourful survey” of its many stories, drawing on “a cast that takes in aristocrats and nouveaux riches, playboys and industrialists, Smithfield meat salesmen and the rulers of Dubai”, according to a press release from the publishers. If you don’t win, you can buy it 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!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
