Today’s best bets, by Greg Wood
Unsettled weather means there are plenty of non-runners already on the afternoon’s only Flat card at Catterick, where there was 20mm of rain yesterday after declarations were made and the official going has changed for the second time to 24 hours, to good to soft. With more rain forecast mid-morning, there is no way to be sure it will stop there, so horses who have form with some cut are the only way to go.
Noah Amor (2.30) is one who qualifies, having run well to finish third in a Ripon maiden on good to soft ground last time out. The race was run in a solid time too, which suggests his opening mark of 60 may well underestimate him.
San Cassiano (3.00) is now favourite for the 12-furlong handicap following the scratching of Pertuis and has a solid chance at around 7-2. He has produced several decent efforts in recent weeks, including a good second at Musselburgh in May, and is 7lb below his last winning mark.
The consistent Atreus (4.30) also catches the eye at around 7-2 on the same card, while Banham (6.30) should get off the mark at the sixth attempt in the 10-furlong handicap at Bath this evening. He ran well to finish fourth in a hot race at Sandown last time out and has far more scope for improvement than most of his rivals.
Franco’s Secret (7.40) and Pecking Order (8.40) are the best bets at the prices on a competitive card at Kempton this evening, while Gordon Elliott’s Irish raider Blake Dean (3.10) could be the answer to a well-contested handicap hurdle at Perth this afternoon.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday: Gran Canaria Queen 8-1; Matidia 11-4; Slemy 13-2
Tuesday: Spirit Of Zeb 11-2; Roy Rocket 3-1; Duke Of North 6-1
And our leader is: PHILYERBOOTS +16.50 ... who had both Spirit Of Zeb and Duke Of North, giving him a two-point lead over BearRides. Fixxxer (+11.50) shot into fourth place after a perfect Tuesday.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.30 Catterick, 3.40 Perth, 8.10 Kempton.
This week’s prize is a copy of the much-praised Mr Darley’s Arabian, by Chris McGrath, who used to turn out high-quality prose about horse racing for the Weekender, the Times and the Independent. This is a history of our sport, described in an Observer review as offering “a teeming, colourful survey” of its many stories, drawing on “a cast that takes in aristocrats and nouveaux riches, playboys and industrialists, Smithfield meat salesmen and the rulers of Dubai”, according to a press release from the publishers. If you don’t win, you can buy it 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.
