Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
I’ll start with a just a quick weather update for those of you who, like me, are hoping for a big field of star names for the Charlie Hall on Saturday. The forecast I use says that Wetherby is due to get 7.5mm of rain this afternoon, considerably more than was expected just a day ago, with perhaps another 6mm before Saturday.
That will certainly avoid the need for artificial irrigation at the Yorkshire track and should hopefully produce ground with enough give for Many Clouds and others to take part. Here’s hoping every drop arrives (with apologies to anyone in the area who may have hung up the washing and gone to work).
My main interest today is at Chelmsford, so weather worries are a non-factor. Jam Jar (3.30) has been well backed but 7-2 is still available with at least one firm about Hughie Morrison’s filly.
Modest in maidens and in her handicap debut on turf, this three-year-old sprang to life when scoring at this track a fortnight ago. A 4lb rise looks very fair and the extra quarter-mile should, in view of her pedigree and run-style, be a help. Oisin Murphy, who has a 21% strike-rate at the track, rides for the first time.
Nottingham stages an interesting, if trappy, card, starting with two divisions of the maiden race that last year saw Golden Horn beat Storm The Stars. It would be fairly amazing if the race proved as significant this time, especially as John Gosden’s Palmerston is a non-runner now.
The market can’t get away from Al in the staying handicap but I think there’s value at 9-1 in Azzir (2.50), a Tim Jarvis horse who broke his duck last time on his return from a three-month absence. This three-year-old managed to win despite not handling Epsom that day and I should think there is plenty more juice in his handicap mark, despite a 9lb rise.
The extra distance should be fine and this flatter track should help. Soft ground is a possible problem but I’m prepared to take the chance at the available odds.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far: MondayNoble Gift 14-1, Azamesse 5-2, Monbeg River 13-8, TuesdayArnold Lane 14-1, Ashdown Lass 12-1, Georgie Lad 7-2
And our leader is. . .
BearRides +22 ... who added Ashdown Lass to Noble Gift. Bocuma_TJ lies second on +16.13, with Knottlamag third on +11.50.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.00 Chelmsford, 3.40 Fakenham, 6.55 Kempton.
This week’s prize is a copy of Mark Howard’s One Jump Ahead for the coming winter, a 188-page guide to the new season, packed with insights and horses to follow, both in England and Ireland. If you don’t win, you can buy a copy 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.
Good luck!
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