10.45am Bailey takes Topper off his Christmas list
Tony Paley: Kim Bailey has announced that Harry Topper, who was pulled up on his seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, will not run at Leopardstown or Chepstow over the Christmas period.
The seven-year-old had been a possible for the Coral Welsh National or the Lexus Chase, but the Gloucestershire trainer is not happy with the Grade Two-winning chaser’s well-being.
“Sadly Harry Topper will not be running for at least a month,” the trainer stated on his website, http://www.kimbaileyracing.com. “I am just not that happy with him so he will miss the Welsh National and the Lexus and wait.”
Wednesday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
It is possible to have a certain amount of sympathy for Davy Russell over his recent five-day ban that was reduced to two days on appeal yesterday. In the race concerned, he was, after all, simply trying his hardest to win on the favourite when he took a whip from a rival jockey, having lost his own.
I’d be much more critical of Philip Enright, who appeared to give up his whip willingly when Russell needed it. Both men have received the same punishment but it is only Enright who, by his actions, laid himself open to a charge of making insufficient effort, of practically giving up on his own horse’s chances before they’d reached the second flight.
To get just two days for that counts as real leniency, though, in fairness, I should say that we haven’t heard Enright’s case for mitigation made in public. Future jockeys: do not let other riders borrow your equipment mid-race, however senior they may be and however insistent their request.
Enright isn’t riding today but Russell is over here at Newbury and could get a double. I certainly like his chance on Minella On Line (12.40) for Rebecca Curtis in the staying handicap chase.
Having chased home Sausalito Sunrise on his fencing debut, he was running a big race in a novice handicap at Ascot last month until a last-fence mistake. Even then, he was beaten less than two lengths, despite having shown a tendency to jump left, which is the wrong way at Ascot.
From the same mark and going left-handed this time, he may be hard to beat. He’s 7-2.
Pick of the Ludlow card could be Arkaim (1.20) at 9-2. From the Pam Sly yard that is 3/12 since the start of November, he’s only 6lb higher than when producing a career best to score doggedly over this course and distance last month.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Cadeau George 10-1
Petit Ecuyer 33-1
G’dai Sydney 15-8
Tuesday
Iconic Rose 9-1
Fair Value 8-1
Bosstime 5-2
And our leader is:
diegoisgod +16.50
... who rocketed into a clear lead by finding all three winners yesterday. And diego is sitting pretty, considering the laboured start to this week made by everyone else. The only others on positive scores are: 72luca +4, TL127 +3, Sportingbest +3, slackdad38 +0.38.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 1.50 Ludlow, 2.25 Ludlow, 1.40 Newbury.
This week’s prize is a copy of McCoy: In The Frame, a collection of photographs of Tony McCoy as taken during his career by the Racing Post’s award-winning snapper, Edward Whitaker. 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 -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!
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And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
