Saturday racing tips: Andy Ayres fills punters in on the biggest gambles of the week and picks out his best bet for Saturday’s ITV racing
IT’S a long way from California to Chelmsford.
Top jock Andrea Atzeni has been earning a crust over in sunny Santa Anita, but is back in Blighty after that track was forced to suspend racing following a diabolical run of equine fatalities.
The Sardinian superstar looked colder than Captain Scott at a distinctly chilly Chelmsford City on Thursday night, but that didn’t stop him darting home on well bet French-raider Amade (100-30 to 2-1).
This gelding is lodging at Marco Botti’s gaff, stays all day and will make everything work in the AW Marathon at Lingfield on Good Friday.
Spare a thought for seven pound claimer Emma Taff.
The kid is desperately seeking a first winner and blew a decent chance when losing her irons as Mans Not Trot (15-2 to 6-1) exited the stalls in the opener.
She trailed home doing a decent impression of John Wayne in True Grit and looked bereft after the race.
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The trainer’s boycott left Lingfield feeling like the Marie Celeste on Wednesday.
Only a baker’s dozen horses ran and they outnumbered the `crowd’.
There’s no doubt ARC’s prize money needs improving, but Ralph Beckett’s red-faced ranting has hardly helped.
Bombastic Beckett seems to have learnt his people skills at the Ghengis Khan school of diplomacy and that has alienated plenty at the bottom of the food chain.
Hats off to 888sport who did the right thing by agreeing to honour any Cheltenham ante-post wagers when they bought out troubled bookies BetBright this week.
They weren’t duty bound to do so and leading owner Rich Ricci, executive chairman of BetBright, certainly didn’t side with punters in the dispute.
Hopefully the moneyman will redeem himself at Cheltenham next week where he won’t hear of defeat for his Benie des Dieux in the OLBG Mares Hurdle.
Michael Wigham is a maestro when it comes to teeing one up and landed a proper touch with Jai Hanuman (5-2 to 13-8) at Kempton in mid-week.
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Wiggy and the owners reckon this gelding is still a stone well-in and plan to strike while the iron’s hot at either Lingfield or Kempton next Wednesday.
Biscuit Baron Hugo Palmer is no shrinking violet and was making some bold predictions about Ironclad before his debut in the mile maiden.
Unfortunately the Newmarket toff’s colt was greener than a packet of Birds Eye peas and did well to finish third after fluffing the start.
Jim Crowley jetted in from Dubai to ride Jahbath (6-4 to 8-13) in a valuable pot and bossed the race from the bend to win as he pleased.
The colt is no Charles Atlas, but he’s got a heart as big as himself and could ruffle a few feathers in the UAE Derby at Meydan.
Trackman's Saturday Selection
LESTRADE (6.00 Kempton) caught the eye on his debut at Lingfield and could be a notch above these.
THE KINGS WRIT (4.45) looks the best bet at Sandown today, while little ISLAND OF LIFE (3.15) is worth a few shekels at a decent price over at Wolverhampton.
The day’s nap is LESTRADE (6.00) at Kempton. He came from another postcode to fly home in fourth last time and could be useful.