Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
As if there wasn’t enough risk in the life of a jump jockey, it appears they must now contend with pugnacious types entering the weighing room without so much as a ‘by your leave’. It was shocking to hear of events at Southwell yesterday and I feel very sorry for Aidan Coleman, who has always struck me as one of the most pleasant and approachable of men and seems simply to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
There could be no more popular winner at Chepstow today and it so happens that I quite fancy one of his mounts, Set List (3.35), a six-year-old from Emma Lavelle’s yard who scored nicely on his recent chasing debut, having been winless over hurdles. An 8lb rise is manageable and the extra half-mile should help in this more competitive contest, so odds of 5-1 are quite healthy.
Earlier, Kim Bailey could continue his run of form (three winners from six runners in the past fortnight) with Ballyknock Lad (2.30), last seen breaking his maiden in a similar event over course and distance in April. He is a chaser for the future but still looks well treated over this marathon trip, which he was trying for the first time when scoring, and he seems to like a decent surface, so Bailey must have been focused on getting him ready for an early start.
At the risk of trying to repeat a recently successful trick, there’s an Alan King juvenile at Nottingham who might be worth a look. King is, of course, a jumps trainer for the most part but he’s had four two-year-old winners this month from just 11 runners and I think we can hope for an improved showing from his Primitivo (3.10) as he makes his handicap debut today.
This colt ran on really nicely despite traffic to be third at Kempton on his third maiden start and is bred to appreciate the extra two furlongs here. I like his chance of turning round the form with the runner-up, Celebration Day, and 6-1 is fair.
Vibrant Chords (8.10) was the one that jumped out of Kempton’s card for me. He’s 4-1 despite having the obvious excuse of soft ground for his disappointing defeat at Haydock last time.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Jigsaw Financial 5-1
Scots Fern 6-1
Regal Ways 13-2
Tuesday
Drifter 4-1
The Big Dipper 11-2
Edgar Balthazar 3-1
And our leader is …
royal1scot +11.50
… who marginally improved his score thanks to Edgar Balthazar. Donlewis (+11) and 72luca (+8) give chase.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.35 Chepstow, 3.45 Nottingham, 4.00 Salisbury.
This week’s prize is a copy of the Racing & Football Outlook Jumps Guide 2015, currently at the printers and expected in plenty of time for the Charlie Hall. It’s packed with its usual features, stats and expert views and can be purchased here if you don’t happen to win a copy.
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.
