Tonight’s SKY card features the Bredsmed Northern Sprint Final from Sheffield
Welcome to the second round of the Punters Challenge where representatives of owners, trainers, the media and the betting industry, attempt to demonstrate their punting skill and judgement.
As before, the idea is not simply to tip runners, but to achieve what most of us set out to do, make a profit. Each of the players has an imaginary £100 to wager however they choose, be it one bet, one in every race, or multiples, on the televised races. Steve Nash got us off to a great start on debut with a trading profit of £75. Dave Lawerence finished in front with a fiver profit. The others? . . . .bad day at the office.
We already have our first squad rotation with Martin Johnstone dropping to the bench and Richard Harkness, former odds compiler for Ladbrokes, now working for RPGTV drafted into the bookmaker’s squad.
(If Nasher has a ‘mare, Richard could be re-patronised like a South African cricketer, and switched to the media team – we are also keeping our options open on ex-SKY producer Dave Lawrence – Ed)
Full form is below tips
RICHARD HARKNESS (RPGTV analyst)
To me there is one stand-out bet and it is Ribble Atom in the 8.33. This is my kind of race with only serious contenders, her, with Slick Sebastian in trap six, and neither are even money. I think the draw works in Atom’s favour. I can imagine Aclamon Nani (T2) coming away but I am not convinced she will stay. The fancy should get a clear run on the inside. Slick Sebastian is the obvious danger but he is not guaranteed a clear run from six. So Atom is my nap and is the £75 bet.
There were a couple of others who will be quite short and I have put them in a £25 double. I know Mark Wallis thinks a lot of Bruisers Bullet (7.26) , he wouldn’t have had him in his Trainers Championship team, on debut, unless he really rated him. He is a big dog and should run the track well.
I also like Droopys Live in the 8.51. I thought she ran really well in the ‘Three Steps’ but the key for me is that she is back among the bitches. I can’t imagine Elaine Parker not having a winner or two on a big night like this, and Droopys Live looks the most likely. Ballymac Deirdre is there on class but looks badly drawn. Several in the field look like they want further, as does Droopys Live, but I think she has enough class to win over the 500 too.
8.33 £75 Ribble Atom (betting 11-4) £25 double: 7.26 Bruisers Bullet (betting 6-5) & 8.51 Droopys Live (betting 4-5f)
DAVE LAWRENCE (Owner)
I am staking the lot on Geelo Sapphire in the 7.43 stayers event. Carl Perry’s 3 Steps to Victory champion looks drawn for another all the way success tonight.
Her 695m trial at Hove was disappointing but a fair 16.23 sprint trial back at Sheffield last week was encouraging and a repeat of her sensational 12.74 sectional from the 3 Steps final will make her very hard to beat!
7.43 £100 Geelo Sapphire (betting 9-4)
STEVE NASH (Photographer – media)
7.26 £60 Bruisers Bullet (betting 6-5) 7.43 £30 Geelo Sapphire (betting 9-4) 9.08 £10 Brynoffa Jasmin (betting 12-1)
PAT ROSNEY (Trainer)
My selections for the sky meeting tonight although I do think its a tricky card, I am going for a £25 Trixie
The selections are Swift Hansel – 7.43 – Hoping he can turn the tables on Geelo Sapphire from the ‘3 Steps’, with a better draw tonight, on the back of a smart trial in Kinsley
Candlelight Fire – 8.16 – Often pays to follow the locals at Sheffield so going to go with Elaine’s dog, hoping for a smash break and if he can get round in front I think he can win.
Droopys Live – 8.51 – another one of Elaine’s, a bitch with a lot of potential, and has a slow starter inside her tonight, hoping she can command the rails on the run up, although Marks bitch in 6 probably the best drawn dog on the card, gonna take a chance with Live.
£25 Trixie – 7.43 Swift Hansel (betting 4-1), 8.16 Candlelight Fire (betting 3-1), 8.51 Droopys Live (betting 4-5f)