Daily Racing Tips: New column starts today!

Tipping / Carl Harris / 01 May 2009 / 5 Comments

Carl Harris joins the BB team and his first piece of advice is this: Quevega will deny Punjabi an historic Champion double at Punchestown.

I stood in the stands at Cheltenham watching in amazement as Quevega won the Mare's Hurdle going away by 14 lengths, making a note to back her the next time she ran. That is today in the Champion Hurlde (5.30) at Punchestown. Stepping up in class, Quevega faces her toughest test yet against much better horses.

Solwhit was a good winner of the Aintree Hurdle, beating Fiveforthree who franked the form winning in easily at Punchestown yesterday. Punjabi won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and now looks to complete the Champion Hurdle double achieved in recent years by Istabraq and Hardy Eustace, who at the age of 12 runs again in today's race.

Punjabi was the winner of this race 12 months ago, beating Sublimity, but crucially the ground was quicker than today's which is less than ideal for Nicky Henderson's gelding. The trainer has been keeping a close eye on the ground but Willie Mullins has no such worries about Quevega. Despite the quality of the opposition Quevega is my bet of the day with Ruby Walsh on board.

Willie Mullins' horses are in spectacular form and Ruby Walsh is well on the way to emulating his Cheltenham haul of seven winners. The pair team up again in the Champion Novice Hurdle (6.05) with Mikael D'Haguenet, winner of The Ballymore Properties Hurdle at Cheltenham. The price will reflect his chances, but this should be a relatively straight forward victory for the best novice on either side of The Irish Sea.

Elsewhere I am hoping that La Capriosa (3.05) lines up in the claimer at Southwell, following his run yesterday at Redcar. That was a much better contest than this one with La Capriosa finishing second.

Alan Mccabe's three-year-old reverts back to fibre-sand on which she last ran out a ready winner with Maddison Belle, who reopposes today, behind. At the weights and on recent form La Capriosa should gain compensation for yesterday's defeat.

I am looking forward to the weekend and to finding the winners of the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, bring it on!

Read more from Carl Harris daily at www.racingdiary.co.uk

Comments (5)

1. Steve twene | 01 May 2009

   6/4, 9/4 and 4/7 ! let me guess your guineas picks will be rainbo high and delegator ? can we not have a tipster who knows the meanin of value to replace nick chamb?

2. Neil Connolly | 01 May 2009

   I have had some great advice from Carl Harris at www.racingdiary.co.uk long price winners, antepost bets,great lays and so on. First day in new job, seems obvious to pick horses that you think will win!

3. Nancy | 01 May 2009

   I am sorry Betfair how can you replace Nick with this chap.Nick is one of the most knowledgeable people in racing and he is am all around decent human being.What is your problem with him

   nancy

4. Rob | 01 May 2009

   Should this bloke be put forward into the public domain? If he wants to 'run' a tipping service and charge for this dross - Brilliant BUT don't waste resources Betfair, in allowing Carl Harris writing sheer dribble whilst self promoting his own service

5. John Groves | 02 May 2009

   Have to agree with Stene AND Nancy, very poor stuff!

   Dont need an expert to tell me 4/7 has a great chance, bring back Nick!