Wednesday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Let us now consider the record of William Haggas, that noted Newmarket trainer who, having been born in Yorkshire, seems to enjoy few things more than sending his horses up to win in that county. While his overall turf strike-rate is 21%, he has done better at Pontefract (29%), Ripon (33%), Thirsk (24%), Beverley (26%) and Catterick (33%).
Most relevant to today is his record at York (22%), where his 26 winners in the past five seasons is more than he has had at any track except Lingfield and Yarmouth. This achievement is the more impressive in view of the typical field size at York, especially in those races Haggas is most likely to target.
His runners are always of interest there and it so happens that I fancy a couple of them for today, the opening day of the Dante meeting. In particular, I like 9-2 for the reappearance in the Duke Of York of Muthmir (3.15), who, on last year’s evidence, is a rocket.
Things went wrong for him in the Stewards’ Cup, which can happen to anyone, but he was deeply impressive over this course and distance in July and bolted up in the Portland despite falling out of the stalls and getting stopped in his tracks with just over a furlong to run. Drying good ground is fine for him and I think Haggas is likely to have him straight enough for this, even though Royal Ascot is the main aim.
Haggas has Satellite (2.10) in the opener, a horse who started last year with promise before his form tailed off in August as he continued to race too freely. He’s been gelded, dropped back in distance to this 10 furlongs and has a hood fitted for just the second time.
His rating looks lenient if Haggas has found the right combination of circumstances for him and Ryan Moore in the plate should not hinder. They’re 9-1.
I like Together Forever for the Musidora but it doesn’t appeal as a betting race. But Spryt (4.20) may be able to outrun his odds of 33-1 in the seven-furlong handicap. A three-year-old who joined David O’Meara over the winter, he has been running well and surely has more to offer, especially if he relishes the likely stronger pace this event may offer.
Seamour (5.20) appeals at 9-1 in the last. A Kempton maiden winner for Jo Crowley in the autumn, Brian Ellison got him to win two from two over hurdles in December and this four-year-old seems on a steep upward curve.
Tipping competition, day two
Our winners so far:
Monday
Twin Appeal 11-1
Shifting Power 10-11
Divine Law 20-1
Tuesday
Heading To First 11-4
Altharoos 9-1
Golden Amber 11-2
And our leader is …
paragoncup +14.41
… who added Golden Amber to Twin Appeal and Shifting Power. Wiggy12 (+12.50) also had Golden Amber, while Steve Ellis (+11.66) had Heading To First.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.40 York, 3.15 York, 4.20 York.
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to Sandown for Britain’s best evening at the races on Thursday 28 May, featuring the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, the Henry II and the National Stakes. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets 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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