Talking Horses: win tickets to King George VI Stakes day at Ascot

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/jul/08/talking-horses-racing-tips-competition

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Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook

For any fans of jump racing, saddened by the death yesterday of Michael Scudamore, I recommend this Pathé newsreel of his win on Oxo in the 1959 Grand National. It’s a fascinating bit of archive, suggesting (among other things) that Oxo was an enormous beast.

In addition to winning the race, Scudamore held a Grand National record for almost half a century: number of consecutive rides, which he set at 16 before his career in the saddle was ended by a nasty fall at Wolverhampton. He was proud of that achievement and also of the fact that neither he nor his National mounts were injured at Aintree, so it’s a pity that the record is not more widely recognised. I see it has not been mentioned in today’s Racing Post piece, though of course that will have been hastily put together after the sad news broke last night.

While we’re on the subject, we should recognise the achievement of Richard Johnson, who matched the record in 2012 and has now reached 18 consecutive National mounts. In his case, the record is slightly double-edged, in that he has not actually managed to win the National, though he has been second twice. He also holds the record for most rides by any jockey who hasn’t won it. I don’t suppose either of these are badges that Johnson will wear with pride but he is young enough to have a few more goes, turning 37 later this month.

Hurray for Pontefract, saviours of midweek racing, who stage another fine card this afternoon. Tower Power (3.00) is the nap, despite being 11-4 favourite in a field of 14, which is not how I generally like to do things.

He comes from the Ismail Mohammed yard in Newmarket, where they have a fairly clear modus operandi (9% in maidens, 21% in handicaps) and, surprise, he turned out to be ahead of his mark for his handicap debut at Ripon last month, travelling well and battling strongly. On that showing, he should not be stopping at the end of today’s race, which always matters a great deal around here. A 5lb higher mark is quite good news.

Keep an eye on the weather at the Yorkshire track. Plenty of rain is forecast for the area and, if it arrives in time to soften things up a bit, remember Orient Class (3.30), who would then have a good chance, although the morning’s ‘good to firm in places’ would be no use to him.

He won a weak race last time but is going the right way since being moved into handicaps and has another race in him if meeting the right conditions. He’s 5-1 as I type.

Tipping competition, day two

Our winners so far:

And our leader is:

Sportingbest +26

… who said before racing that he couldn’t use the prize and was therefore naturally doomed to find both Sartori and Gladiatrix. Following moidadem last week, it seems there is nothing like futility for improving one’s tipping. The only other one of you to find Sartori was lcprestes (+18), while Fixxxer, 72luca and 23skidoo come next on +5.

Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 4.00 Pontefract, 4.30 Pontefract, 7.40 Brighton.

This week’s prize is a pair of Premier enclosure tickets to Ascot for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday 26 July. It’s one of the highlights of our summer Flat racing and, in a good year, is one of the best races in the world. This year’s renewal is likely to pitch the Eclipse 1-2, Mukhadram and Trading Leather, against Telescope and Magician. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets here.

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 -3.

In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.

For terms and conditions click here.

Good luck!

Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.

And post your tips and racing-related comments below.