Wednesday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
I’m a fan of the work of the Racing Post’s new Irish editor, Richard Forristal, and I smiled at one of his lines about Paul Carberry in today’s paper. He said that asking Carbs to straighten out, behave himself and be a professional would be like “asking Michelangelo to paint between the lines”.
Swashbuckling, buccaneering and all things piratical, that was Carberry. Steve Smith Eccles was not, after all, the last of the cavaliers.
On the day of the 2005 Champion Hurdle, I was in the offices of the Racing Post, where I worked on one of the weekly sister papers. I remember how the atmosphere in the room turned against Carberry about halfway up the run-in; lots of those present, especially the lads on the sports desk who didn’t usually watch the racing, resented the fact that he seemed to be showboating in a major race.
When Carberry finally made a visible effort on Harchibald and it was immediately clear that they were going to get beat, the cheer was the loudest I ever heard in that place. Punters are a hard-nosed lot but at least a part of me shared that sentiment.
I would far rather have seen Carberry make an earlier effort and discover whether or not his mount had the heart for it. It would have been worth it, even if Harchibald had finished unplaced instead of second, just so that we could be sure about the horse’s limitations. It was his first Champion Hurdle, so use conventional tactics and then try something different next year if it doesn’t work, would be my approach.
Ah, but if Carberry had done that, would we still be talking about that finish 11 years later? As unsatisfactory as it was, it has become part of racing lore and the memory makes me smile whenever I think of it. And there’s no doubt that the Carberry approach worked famously on other occasions.
Anyway, since the great man has now retired, here’s a last chance to round up opinion on the subject. Carberry on Harchibald in March 2005: ride of genius or folly? Please let me know what you think.
Today’s Listed race at Salisbury is, in my submission, all about stable form. The favourite is Sharja Queen, despite the fact that she comes from the stable of Roger Varian, whose charges seem to have suffered from the virus now afflicting Newmarket. Varian has had just seven runners in the past fortnight, his only winner coming in a four-runner affair at Ripon nine days ago; that winner came out again this week and finished last at 11-10.
I hope that Varian emerges from the doldrums but it seems mad to take 2-1 about his runner in a Listed race until we seem some evidence of same. I much prefer Chain Of Daisies (3.50), from the Henry Candy yard that is now among the winners after a slow start to the year.
Four times a winner from five starts in the second half of last year, this filly ran miles below her best in May, as many of her stablemates were doing. She fared better next time, in June, and should now be ready to show something like her best, which would probably be good enough. She’s 5-1 from 9s.
At Bath tonight, you can get 2-1 about Go On Go On Go On (6.50), a progressive sprinter from Clive Cox’s yard who should still have more to give on her revised mark. An inside stall is useful and the fast ground should help show off her pace.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Shawaahid 3-1
Robinnielly 4-1
Permian 11-10
Tuesday
Seamster 9-2
Gold Hunter 3-1
Kingsgate Native 20-1
And our leaders are:
moidadem +5.60
factormax +5.60
… so we have joint-leaders, as we did after Day One, but completely new people. Both moida and max have had three winners so far, including Seamster yesterday.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.30 Beverley, 3.50 Salisbury, 4.40 Newton Abbot.
This week’s prize, generously offered by Doncaster racecourse, is a pair of County Enclosure tickets to St Leger day on Saturday 10 September. This is your chance to see the final Classic of the season, which this year may feature a clash between those classy youngsters Idaho, Red Verdon and Wings Of Desire. Or you can opt for Doncaster Cup day on the Friday if you’d prefer. If you don’t win, you can read more about Doncaster’s four-day Leger meeting and 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.
