Wednesday’s best bets, by Tony Paley
There has been a lot of talk about the changing face of betting shops after the news broke that Ladbrokes and Coral are in merger talks. Daffydd Bynon, from our picture desk, found the publicity snap at the top of the blog - after all, it’s about time we had a talking horse in Talking Horses.
Are horses, the ones that race and not the pantomime ones, getting faster? Sit down those at the back shouting ‘Not the ones I back.’ We’ve all heard that one before. The subject is back in the news today, thanks to a new study. The author was interviewed on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning and you can listen to that via the i-Player link here (he was on at 8.40am). Our racing correspondent Greg Wood will be back later today with the answer, or one at least as close as he can get to. Keep watching this site.
There were some fast horses at Royal Ascot last week. I backed Ajman Bridge (each-way, of course) in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap in which he finished second. Luca Cumani has campaigned this horse with an eye to middle-distance handicaps this season and it’s pretty certain you will see the horse at Glorious Goodwood (aka the Qatar Goodwood Festival) in the 12-furlong handicap that his trainer likes to target. Ajman Bridge, whose best speed figure was recorded at the track last term, will go well over that easier course.
Cumani’s King Bolete and the Andrew Balding-trained Scottish, second and fourth respectively in the King George V Handicap, a race Space Age “stole” from the front, are another pair to put in your notebooks from the Royal meeting.
As far as today is concerned, Sir Alex Ferguson’s appropriately named Hairdryer (2.10) runs for the first time in the opener at Salisbury. He’s been well backed already - no one’s going to get rich backing unraced two-year-old favourites first time but this is certainly a colt to keep an eye on given his breeding and his connections.
Ryan Moore, who had such an outstanding Royal Ascot and who will be on board Hairdryer, looks set to go close in the day’s feature race at the track, the Bibury Cup, on board top weight Darshini (3.45). The Sir Michael Stoute runner has the cheekpieces fitted and goes up in trip. Ryan will make up his mount’s mind for him, I reckon.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Gold Club 9-2
Mullionheir 11-4
Harwoods Volante 5-2
Tuesday
Malih 9-2
Relight My Fire 4-1
Dubai Prince 5-2
And our leaders are …
wilkesb +10.25
… who had a fourth winner of the week in Dubai Prince. Wiggy12 (+8) had all three winners on Day Two.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.35 Carlisle, 3.45 Salisbury, 4.45 Carlisle.
This week’s prize is a copy of Sean Magee’s new book, The Irish Derby, published to coincide with Saturday’s renewal, which will be the 150th running. We haven’t seen the book yet but the press release describes it as “superbly illustrated throughout” and “a fitting tribute to Ireland’s flagship race”, won in years past by Ballymoss, Nijinsky, Shergar and Galileo.
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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And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
