The latest news and best bets in our daily horse racing blog plus our weekly tipping competition
Repeating the trick?
It's low-grade stuff at today's four meetings, but no less than three horses are bidding for repeat victories in races they won last year. Troodos Jet (5.10) has seemed out of form in recent starts, but his handicap mark has slipped back down to 75, just 1lb higher than the rating from which he scored at Carlisle last year.
Similar comments apply to Star Galaxy (3.50), who was in the midst of a purple patch when winning at Chepstow last season, but who seems to have lost the plot this season. Last year it was trainer John Flint's son, Rhys, who had the winning ride, but this time opportunity knocks for his younger brother, Tom. Jake The Snake (8.10) has won seven times at Kempton (and finished placed another nine times) so he knows his way around the track better than most. He has had to drop back to claiming company to win most recently and his handicap mark looks high enough, but he survived trouble in running to come from behind and take this race 12 months ago.
Today's best bets, by Will Hayler
Lucinda Russell will be praying for rain every day for the next fortnight as she prepares Silver By Nature for the John Smith's Grand National.
Although the official line is that he will line up as long as the ground is no quicker than good to soft, from a punter's view it seems a lot more straightforward than that. If it's heavy going Silver By Nature will surely go off as favourite. If it's fast ground, he probably doesn't have a hope in hell.
The horses trained by Russell and her partner Peter Scudamore hit a painfully sticky patch when the weather was at its worst at the start of the New Year, but they are in far better form now and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the stable send out a couple of winners at Carlisle this afternoon.
Quinder Spring (4.35) performed much better than some of his stablemates when times were at their leanest, but produced a notably improved performance when second to a subsequent winner at Musselburgh on his latest start. That effort seemed to confirm the theory that Quinder Spring, who won six on the bounce in point-to-points last season, is a horse on an upward curve and returned to three miles at a track where his stamina will come into play, he is going to be tough to beat despite top-weight against ordinary-looking rivals.
Against The Wind (4.00) is also moving back up in distance, and he too is expected to appreciate a stiffer test, even if he does have questions to answer on the drying ground. Brought along slowly by his trainer, this late-maturing type may be eight but he still has improvement to come.
Mr Macattack is a horse I have had my eye on for a long time and I am absolutely convinced that he is being lined up for something in the next few months, but the handicapper is being very slow to ease his grip and he might need a couple more runs before he is ready to win again. If the money comes for him, I'll be joining in with the gamble, but Street Power (8.10) looks a big player at his ideal track and trip, particularly if the reapplication of cheekpieces helps to focus his enthusiasm in the finish.
Tipping competition, day four
Millario has edged clear of the other two former joint-leaders, thanks to Diddley Dee (7-1), while carl31 had Veiled (7-2). Harrytheactor is now prominent, having found both Veiled and Mad Moose (14-1).
Today, we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 4.25 Chepstow, 5.10 Carlisle, 8.40 Kempton.
This week's prize is a copy of Born To Punt, a year in the betting life of Steve Palmer, the Racing Post's award-winning journalist. By now means to be confused with a 'how to' manual, this book describes "the agony and ecstasy of a punter's life", according to the publicity material.
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 -9.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be that entrant who, from those tied for the highest score, posted his tips earliest on the competition's final day.
For terms and conditions click here. Good luck!?
Standings after day three
millario +33
carl31 +29.50
diegoisgod +25
lonewolfmcquaid +18.50
zizkov123 +12
towerpower +12
Harrytheactor +10.50
moidadembums +7.50
BearRides +6
ToffeeDan1 +6
millreef +6
xwireman +6
waltersobchak +4
TL127 +4
ElMatador1 +3.50
Mulldog +1
stee33 +0
Onmeheadson +0
MauriceNL -1
MLJ78 -1
orso -1
Poodler78 -1
chris1623 -1
Copshaw -1.50
Brochdoll -1.50
melonk -4.50
tom1977 -4.50
Ellandback -4.50
SmokingGun1 -4.50
shears39 -4.50
ianj78 -4.50
triggo321 -4.50
oniztiptoes -9
factormax -9
chanleyman -9
Degs74 -9
chiefhk -9
goofs -9
savoieblue -9
sangfroid -9
scandalous -9
JahLion -9
sandiuk -9
DrSativa -9
abidal -9
twig28 -9
JDK1 -9
mike65ie -9
William36 -9
Beeftodd -9
Mai11 -9
mafu -9
londonpatrick -9
suckzinclee -9
Moscow08 -9
Ormrod76 -9
chrisclark69 -9
TheVic -9
23skidoo -9
pops2 -9
slackdad38 -9
Slicker66 -9
coma88 -9
biganders -9
snowy81 -9
Lameduck -9
mmmdanish -9
grantyno1 -9
Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results.
Click here for today's latest odds.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/mar/24/live-racing-march-24-2011
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