Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Oh, the poor old King George. I love that race, want it to prosper and feel that some criticism in recent years has been unfair but there’s no denying Saturday’s renewal will be a weak one, following this morning’s news about Postponed. In case you haven’t heard, last year’s winner is out after an unsatisfactory scope, indicative of a respiratory infection.
“We will let the horse recover from this setback before making a plan of where he runs next,” his trainer, Roger Varian, said. “We still have many big days ahead to look forward to.” The plan was to have been next month’s Juddmonte International at York but there must be a fear that may come too soon. Postponed should still make the Arc in October and possibly the Breeders’ Cup in the US after that.
It does now seem a mistake for Godolphin not to have supplemented Hawkbill into the King George on Monday. The Eclipse winner would surely have been a solid favourite in the absence of Postponed. On the other hand, only Godolphin know how much the Eclipse took out of their chestnut and perhaps he is simply not ready for a second Group One in the space of a month.
Anyway, royalists have new cause to be excited, as the Queen’s Dartmouth is now the King George favourite at odds of just 7-4. Highland Reel is a 5-2 shot with Wings Of Desire on 7-2.
At Sandown tonight, Touch The Sky (8.05) is the nap, on the basis that David Elsworth’s son of Love Divine can be forgiven defeat on soft ground at Salisbury last time. He had won his previous two handicaps on much drier ground and is back on good to firm tonight off what still looks a fair mark. He’s 7-4.
Solveig’s Song (6.00) has been in good heart since spring and the 5-1 is tempting for the opening apprentice race, in which she’ll have the help of Edward Greatrex. She was a useful third over an inadequate mile at Epsom last week.
The in-form Ed De Giles has a chance of a double at Bath, where the ground will be lightning fast. Swanton Blue (3.10) is off his lowest mark yet for the sprint handicap, having taken a big step forward last time when finally getting a dry surface. Carcharias (5.10) has a penalty for an easy success over a big field at Chepstow and looks quite well placed to cope with the step down in trip. Silvestre De Sousa rides for the first time.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday: Definite Ridge 16-1; Dream Walker 15-2; Go On Go On Go On 5-2
Tuesday: King Of Spin 8-1; Under Approval 12-1; Cote D’Azur 13-8
And our leader is: cerises +23.50
... who claims to be “a short runner” but extended his fine run into Day Two, at least, by picking King Of Spin. BatmanKaisers (+11.50) comes next.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 4.20 Lingfield, 5.00 Catterick, 7.35 Sandown.
This week’s prize is a pair of Richmond enclosure tickets for the last day of Glorious Goodwood next week, Saturday 30 July. The beautiful Sussex track will stage the Nassau Stakes and the Stewards’ Cup that day, one of the most enjoyable cards in our racing year. 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!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
