Wednesday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
Two runners are out of the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom on Wednesday, which reduces the field to an each-way unfriendly seven, but the two principals remain and an intriguing race is in prospect between a colt and a filly who represent the champion stables in Ireland and Britain respectively.
John Gosden saddles So Mi Dar, a daughter of his exceptional three-time Group One winner Dar Re Mi, because he feels there are no suitable openings for a filly against her own sex before the Guineas meeting. She has attracted some money this morning, but Aidan O’Brien’s runner Claudio Monteverdi (2.30) is a solid favourite and the son of Galileo will be an interesting marker ahead of the major Classic trials to come.
O’Brien was originally considering Claudio Monteverdi for one of Chester’s Derby trials, but clearly now has others in mind for those races - and the trials at York and Lingfield too, for that matter - as Claudio Monteverdi is a rare runner for the yard in this afternoon’s race.
O’Brien also attracted support from 33-1 to 20-1 with Hills earlier in the week to become the first trainer ever to win all five English Classics in the same season. He failed at the final hurdle four years ago, when Camelot was narrowly beaten by Encke in the St Leger, and will saddle the strong favourites in both the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas.
Elsewhere on the Epsom card, Roudee has been well backed this morning to follow up his win at Doncaster earlier this month, but Bouclier (2.00) will give him plenty to think about if he can reproduce anything close to his recent all-weather form. Prendergast Hill (3.05) will enjoy the step up to 12 furlongs in the Great Metropolitan Handicap and is a very fair price at 9-2, while Pacify (3.40), who is the same price for the City & Suburban, should continue the good recent run of Ralph Beckett’s stable.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Perfect Pasture 14-1
Carre Noir 7-1
Englishman 7-1
Tuesday
Alzammaar 6-1
Loose Chips 9-1
Cottersrock 9-1
And our leader is:
Copshaw +19
… who was already close up before picking Cottersrock. Yasmin11, zubica19 and Simon Popplewell (all +12) come next.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.05 Epsom, 3.40 Epsom, 3.50 Perth.
This week’s prize is a copy of Timeform’s ‘Horses To Follow’ for the new Flat season, featuring 50 animals picked by Timeform’s team of experts, with plenty more to read in the features section at the back, including Irish horses to follow and ante-post tips. 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!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
