Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Can you imagine Willie Carson as a lifelong factory worker? It could have happened, to judge from the following story of his:
“Working in a racing yard in those days [1962] was unbelievably tough and I often thought about quitting and asking for a job at the local Cow & Gate cheese factory in Middleham, which paid big money compared to racing.”
At this point, Carson was a 19-year-old apprentice, still winnerless after 22 rides for the North Yorkshire trainer Captain Gerald Armstrong. But then Armstrong stuck blinkers on an old rogue called Pinker’s Pond and jocked up Carson for a moderate race at Catterick, there being no other kind of race available at Catterick, and the pair bolted up. It was the first of 3,838 successes for Carson, who is still instantly recognisable to several generations of Brits, by either sight or sound.
I dare say he has told this tale before but it has passed me by up to now. Anyway, his entertaining anecdote is one of many in a new book that has just landed on my desk, “Off Track: magic memories from racing greats”. It costs a tenner, proceeds go to the Injured Jockeys Fund and you can buy it here, if so minded.
Other stories include the time Frankie Dettori hid from an exasperated Jack Berry in the showers at Chester but was hunted down anyway, the time Arthur Stephenson watched one of his work-riders slip from the saddle without evident cause and discovered he was drunk and the time Jim McGrath agreed to take a £10 bet from John Francome mid-race, only to see the beast in question score at 100-1 about a minute later.
There will be no 100-1 winners on this page today, more’s the pity, but I can offer a 7-2 shot at Warwick. No Ceiling (3.20) has been found a winnable handicap chase for his seasonal return by his trainer, Ian Williams, who has been pleasingly productive in recent years.
Now seven, No Ceiling won over fences at the first attempt in August last year but bumped into useful rivals on his next couple of starts and had probably had enough for the time being when last seen in December. Williams is likely to have him straight enough for this return to action and his rivals look a beatable bunch.
Earlier, I like 4-1 about Bill And Barn (1.20) in a novice hurdle. From the Paul Nicholls yard, he’s a dual winning pointer who looked slow in bumpers in spring but should appreciate obstacles and the extra distance. The favourite, Just A Thought, did better in bumpers and was a fair second on her hurdles debut but I worry about the form of the Rebecca Curtis yard, which is 0/19 since the start of October.
At Hexham, there is some appeal in 8-1 about Haul Us In (3.40), from the Lucinda Russell yard that is in form and does so well at this track. This is just her second try in a handicap, she’ll be sharper for her reappearance and cheekpieces may also help.
Tips for all Friday races
Warwick
12.50 We Have A Dream 1.20 Bill And Barn 1.50 Shantou Rock 2.20 Oxwich Bay (nb) 2.50 Lunar Flow 3.20 No Ceiling 3.50 Miss Tynte
Hexham
12.40 Grand Morning 1.10 Handy Hollow 1.40 Niceandeasy 2.10 Bitview Colin 2.40 Princess Mononoke 3.10 Rivabodiva 3.40 Haul Us In
Fontwell
1.30 Lady Of Longstone 2.00 Surtee Du Berlais 2.30 Legend Lady 3.00 Highway One O One 3.30 Stoical Patient (nap) 4.00 It’s Got Legs
Newcastle
5.45 Maricruz 6.15 Evies Wish 6.45 Fruit Salad 7.15 Pouvoir Magique 7.45 Little Jo 8.15 Born To Reason 8.45 Gun Case 9.15 Quick Look
