Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Even after a couple of non-runners, today’s Catterick card averages a shade over 10 runners per race, which is a fair bit better than we’ve been getting from most jumps cards recently. In fact, a quick search suggests to me that only Warwick has had a better average field size in the past week.
I’ve had a soft spot for Catterick for many years now, partly because it’s a reliable source of competitive, enjoyable racing, albeit a fair way below the best quality. It also seems to me that the results are generally explicable there, even when an outsider wins, and I do not find this to be the case everywhere else. I’ll be very sad if the executive should ever tear up either their Flat or jumps turf tracks to make way for an all-weather circuit of unpredictable character.
Doubtless this will be the day when Catterick turns me upside down but I fancy Tony McCoy to have four wins from as many rides there, through New Street (12.40), Chieftain’s Choice (1.40), If In Doubt (2.40) and Junius Brutus (3.10). Predictably, three of those are short-priced favourites and I can’t say I’m dying to back any of them.
The betting interest will come through Palm Grey (2.10), from the Sue Smith stable that has finally hit sustained form and is working at a 20% strike-rate this month. This six-year-old has shown promise in a handful of starts, including behind Chieftain’s Choice last time, and the handicapper has taken a chance in rating him after just two runs over obstacles.
For his handicap debut, he steps up a full mile to three miles, which, on breeding, is what he will need. He’s been well supported but the 9-2 is still fair.
Tipping competition, day two
Our winners so far:
Monday
Cadeau George 10-1
Petit Ecuyer 33-1
G’dai Sydney 15-8
And our leaders are:
Mai11 -0.12
Grazioli09 -0.12
FinsburyPark -0.12
Toptrapper -0.12
slackdad38 -0.12
... after what might be the worst start to a competition we’ve ever had. Nobody picked Cadeau George and nobody picked Petit Ecuyer. Even when a 15-8 shot won, only five people found him. So I think we can safely say that anyone can still win this week.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.10 Catterick, 3.20 Kempton, 5.20 Kempton.
This week’s prize is This week’s prize is a copy of McCoy: In The Frame, a collection of photographs of Tony McCoy as taken during his career by the Racing Post’s award-winning snapper, Edward Whitaker. 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 -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!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
