Welcome to the launch of a new feature, to be run on every SKY card going forward.
The punter’s challenge is a team game for four teams. Unlike most tipping contests, where tipsters are simply asked to pick winners, we are attempting to make it more realistic. The aim is to make a profit.
Each players has £100 imaginary pounds to place during the evening on as few or as many televised events as he chooses. (That should cut out the high-fiving when tipping up Roxholme Dream at 1-33)
It is a team game using a squad system with participants representing their particular interest in the sport.
So we have an owner, a trainer, a bookmaker and a representative of the media.
It should be fun!
Tonight’s card features the Molson Coors Three Steps To Victory Final from Sheffield – full form below tips
MARTIN JOHNSTONE (Bookmaker – Jem Racing)
I can’t get too excited about the card. I have automatically scrubbed out the two sprints and although I have high regard for Droopys Woo Hoo, I can let it win at 1/2ish.
Mark Wallis has expertly got Rubys Rascal back on track after his drubbing at Romford. He is three from four around Owlerton and with one of his normal quick exits, he should lead and there is nothing of Roxholme Magic’s ilk to backrun him.
In the big final there does not appear to be any great staying ability amongst any of the field. In that case the sensible option is to rely on who is most likely to lead. Although there is not much between the selection and Droopys Live in that department, the draw in two sways me towards Barry Draper’s local star Ballymac Ramsay.
7.43 £60 Rubys Rascal 9.08 £40 Ballymac Ramsay
DAVE LAWRENCE (Owner)
I have gone for Pointless Pearl in the 660 open. Her connections will concede that she is a bit quirky but she ran well in the Queen Mother Cup and can strike again.
The danger is obviously Rubys Rascal if he slips clear but 6-1, or thereabouts about the selection looks terrific value.
I have gone for Oscar Whisky in the 500 metre race. I thought he had a chance in the Arc after a brilliant trial (28.41) and thought he ran an enormous race in the semis behind Barricane Tiger.
We know he is a bit vulnerable at the traps, and there are some very good dogs up against him tonight, but if he turns early in a decent slot I think he will be way too good for them.
7.43 £50 POintless Pearl, 1 £50 Oscar Whisky
STEVE NASH (Photographer – media)
Main bet would be Candlelight Fire in the 480. He’s drawn nearer the fence than ideal, and has in-form Calco Flyer in red to contend with early, but his home record speaks volumes.
In the following 500, Laurence Tuffin has Tynwald Baz running at the top of his game for late owner Terry Corden. Tuffin was genuinely surprised at having to share the spoils in an Arc night dead heat after leading. In the hope he traps again and gets first run on the classy Oscar Whisky, who found early trouble in the Arc final itself, he may well hold on this time.
Sprints are not usually my cup of tea, but unexposed Westway Gaga has shown noticeable improvement recently at Nottingham, winning last week and a bitch in form is always worth keeping an eye on.
The Three Steps Final, by its very nature, is tricky to weigh up with any confidence. As the only “C&D” winner, Swift Hansel – a first Cat One finalist for young trainer Anneliese Thompson – could prove a spot of value.
7.59 £20 Westway Gaga. 8.33 £50 Candlelight Fire. 8.51 £20 Tynwald Baz. 9.08 £10 Swift Hansel
PAT ROSNEY (Trainer)
I am going for a £25 trixie (three doubles and a treble) and putting faith in my old mate Mark (Wallis) So I am starting with Rubys Rascal. I think he should get clear on the rails and he looks a class apart, though I wouldn’t want to see Pointless Pearl too close up early on. Next up, I like Calco Flyer in the 8.33. He looks ideally drawn in his favourite box on the inside and can make all on the rail.
Finally, I am going for Droopys Live in the Three Steps. We ran against her earlier in her career and she is an absolute machine. I think she will have to do it the hard way but I don’t see Ballymac Ramsay or Shaneboy Freddie staying the trip, but she definitely will. She has the sort of running style that you would probably want to back her ‘in running’ and in six months time I think you could be saying that the 6-4 was a free bet.
Finally – with any winnings 🙂 you may want to put them on Aayamza Breeze, who runs on one of the non-televised races over 720m. I saw her trial at Sheffield over 500m and she looks an outstanding prospect.
£25 Trixie – 7.43 Rubys Rascal, 8.33 Calco Flyer, 9.08 Droopys Live
