10.50am Stars set to go straight to St Leger
Tony Paley: Storm The Stars is set to go straight for the St Leger at Doncaster in September following his third in Tuesday night’s Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.
Third in the Investec Derby and second in the Irish equivalent, the William Haggas-trained colt took minor honours behind two previously unbeaten horses, Erupt and Ampere.
Storm The Stars has an entry in the Great Voltigeur Stakes York next month, but as he has now had seven races already this season he is expected to go straight for the final Classic of the season on 12 September.
“We were hoping he’d win, but he ran a very good race and I think he’s been beaten by two very good horses,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner SheikhJuma Dalmook al-Maktoum. “I imagine William will wait for the St Leger.”
Wednesday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
The ideal eight runners declared at the 48-hour stage for the opening sprint handicap at Sandown this evening has been cut to seven with Kassbaan now a non-runner, but that may serve to make Major Pusey (6.00) an even better nap bet at around 11-2.
Seve is strong in the market this morning, but he will have plenty of competition for the lead and the best recent form on offer appears to be the race at Windsor on 28 June in which Kassbaan short-headed Major Pusey. The latter was narrowly weighted to reverse the form off a 3lb higher mark, but the absence of Kassbaan increases confidence that John Gallagher’s runner will emerge in front.
Coolcalmcollected (6.35) and Early Morning (7.40) also go to post with solid chances at the odds, while The Cashel Man (next best 3.40) is improving rapidly and should extend his winning sequence in the stayers’ handicap at Lingfield. The card at Catterick does not have a great deal to recommend it, but Best Trip (4.00) is possibly the pick of the prices in the sprint handicap.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Handsome Dude 11-4
Zacynthus 7-2
Edge Of Heaven 8-11
Tuesday
Minty Jones 11-1
Rathaath 6-1
George Bailey 5-1
And our leader is ...
William36 +8.73
... who had Rathaath and George Bailey. Copshaw (+6) lies second after being the only one to select Minty Jones.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.40 Lingfield, 3.50 Uttoxeter and 4.00 Catterick.
This week’s prize, very generously offered by Salisbury racecourse, is a pair of top-enclosure tickets to their two-day Splendour meeting in mid-August, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th. The Thursday features Salisbury’s best race of the year, the Group Three Sovereign Stakes, won last year by Captain Cat. It’s two excellent days’ racing in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, with free childrens’ entertainment laid on for those of you needing to keep little ones occupied. 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 -3.
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.
