Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
It’s interesting to note the cautious response from French racing to the weight allowance introduced for female jockeys at the start of March. Officials there seem satisfied that things are moving in the right direction and that more opportunities have been created for women, but the change has been anything but dramatic.
The most successful female rider at this early stage of the Flat season is Delphine Santiago, who currently lies in 32nd place by winners ridden and is the only woman in the top 50. Clearly, there has been no ‘gold rush’ by trainers desperate to use the advantage conferred by 2kg (4.5lb) off their horses’ backs.
To my way of thinking, this kind of response (significant but restrained) makes it more likely that other racing jurisdictions will follow the French lead. I’m thinking mostly of the British Horseracing Authority, which is not naturally sympathetic to the idea but might prick up its ears if it felt the change improved the situation of female jockeys without provoking outrage among the men.
But I’d say Britain already has more of a culture of female success in the saddle than France, thanks in large part to Hayley Turner but also to her fellow champion apprentices Josephine Gordon and Amy Ryan. A weight allowance here probably would provoke a faster uptake by trainers and owners, not least because there are quite a few young women around who have already proved they can win, like Hollie Doyle, Jane Elliott, Shelley Birkett, Lulu Stanford and Rachel Richardson. And there seems a ready supply of others who can become like them, 7lb claimers in their late teenage years who appear unpromising at first but get the hang of it after 30, 40 or 50 rides.
York’s Dante meeting, which starts tomorrow, is going to provide the bulk of this week’s betting interest but there are a couple of short-priced runners this afternoon that catch my eye. One is Amadeus Rox (5.35) at 5-2 in the last at Beverley.
This is an Alan King thing who achieved little in three maidens last year but improved for being gelded and switched into handicaps when third at Lingfield last month, staying on as if some kind of penny had dropped. From the same mark, he looks dangerous against a pack of three-year-olds who have shown little collective promise.
The nap is just 10-11 but I think Too Many Diamonds (4.20) has a better chance at Sedgefield than even those odds suggest. This six-year-old ran up a long losing streak in Ireland and then over here for Claire Ellam but, predictably enough, Dan Skelton straightened him out and got him to exploit his basement mark with an easy success at Plumpton on Sunday. He is keen and just a bit challenging for a jockey but there is no way the 7lb penalty is going to stop him if he’s ready to go again.
A couple of interesting ones run late on tonight’s Chepstow card. Eolian (8.10) is upped half a mile on his debut for the in-form Andrew Balding and there’s a couple of siblings who did well at tonight’s distance. He’s also gelded for the first time and fairly priced at 13-2.
Then there’s Aristocracy (8.40) in the last, a first-timer for Fergal O’Brien after being with Sally Randell and Andy Turnell. If he can recover his form of 2014 for his new trainer, he would be very handily treated on his current mark and 14-1 is tempting.
Tuesday racing tips
Sedgefield
1.50 Alys Rock 2.20 Ravens Hill 2.50 Cup Final 3.20 Oscars Boss 3.50 Maxed Out King 4.20 Too Many Diamonds (nap) 4.50 Way Our West
Beverley
2.00 Lord Riddiford 2.30 Whigwham 3.00 Henley 3.30 Yorkee Mo Sabee 4.00 Katebird 4.30 The Raven Master 5.00 Mountain Angel 5.35 Amadeus Rox
Warwick
2.10 Yourholidayisover 2.40 Bardd 3.10 El Bandit 3.40 I’m Still Waiting 4.10 Rocknrollrambo 4.40 Rebel Rebellion 5.10 Rhaegar
Southwell
5.30 Gorran Haven 6.00 Such A Legend 6.30 Galway Jack 7.00 Blue Rhythm 7.30 Back De Clermont 8.00 Workbench 8.30 Lovely Touch
Chepstow
5.40 May Remain 6.10 Valley Of Rocks 6.40 Fit For The Job 7.10 Wink Oliver 7.40 Miss Inga Sock 8.10 Eolian (nb) 8.40 Aristocracy
