Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
I seem to remember that Captain Tim Forster once opined: “There’s nothing to be said for being a pessimist, except that when things do go well, you are extra pleased,” or words to that effect. Well, that’s how I felt on learning yesterday that Gleneagles is now to be aimed at the York race next week for which Golden Horn is already an intended runner.
The Derby winner versus the Guineas winner at the intermediate distance of 10 furlongs. Wouldn’t it be great if we had that every year? I remember being at York when Rodrigo De Triano ran against Dr Devious in 1992, which may be the last time such a clash happened. This one would be better than that because the 1992 horses had both been beaten since their Classics and indeed both were 8-1 shots at York, whereas this year’s pair are both unbeaten for the season.
We can’t be sure it will happen, of course. “I guarantee it right now that either Gleneagles or Golden Horn will pull out of York next week,” said one Twitter cynic, speaking for many.Well, we’ll see.
I can remember (or think I can) years in which the fine summer form of Golden Horn’s trainer, John Gosden, was starting to peter out at about this point but such is not the case this time and indeed that doesn’t seem to have happened in recent years, when his stable strength has been greater than previously. He has an interesting runner at Salisbury today in Alkawn (3.25), a possible source of value as the 3-1 second-favourite.
A full brother to Piping Rock, Alkawn was frustrating in three maidens in the spring, when he raced from the front. Given a break for almost three months, he settled better and finally won at Newmarket recently.
He looks like a horse who will go on and he has a lot of scope to be better than his mark of 85. Although he carries the second colours and second jockey of Sheikh Hamdan, his chances are more attractive to me than those of Khalaas, fourth of nine after over-racing on his handicap debut and at risk of something similar in this small field. For what it’s worth, I note that the Racing Post’s Newmarket man prefers Alkawn (Khalaas also being trained in the town by William Haggas).
Newmarket also has a big chance in the Listed fillies’ race that follows, thanks to Provenance (3.55) from the yard of Sir Michael Stoute, who has won this race three times in eight years. A half-sister to the Group One winner Integral, Provenance has already been beaten five times at Listed level, which doesn’t look good but I think there have been excuses and explanations and signs of improvement.
Her fifth in the Wolferton is especially easy to like, as she made up five places in the last furlong and was beaten a length and a quarter by Mahsoob. Just a neck in front of her was Mount Logan, who has since won a handicap at Glorious Goodwood.
She couldn’t make up the ground on Tha’ir after he got a soft lead at Sandown last time but there should be no lack of pace in this big field and I can see her finishing stoutly up the long Salisbury straight. The 9-2 about Provenance looks too big.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Gworn 4-1
Bishop’s Leap 4-1
Ingleby Spring 22-1
Tuesday
Scurr Mist 13-2
Sixties Sue 7-2
Clary 5-1
And our leader is …
jakebuckfast +17
… who still has a handy lead after a winnerless Tuesday. Knottlamag and Mai11 share second place on +6 after picking Scurr Mist and Sixties Sue.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.55 Salisbury, 4.40 Beverley, 8.10 Kempton.
This week’s prize, generously offered by Beverley racecourse, is a pair of Premier enclosure tickets for their weekend’s racing on Saturday 29 AND Sunday 30 August. The Saturday card features some of Britain’s fastest horses in the Beverley Bullet, while the Sunday is a laid-back occasion, featuring a beer and folk music festival, with funfair rides and face painting for any children needing entertainment. 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.
