Channel 4 Racing Tips: Minstrel to give us that sweet winning feeling

The last 12 hours haven't been too shoddy for British racing.

Three winners at the Breeders' Cup last night courtesy of London Bridge, Outstrip and Chriselliam were perhaps even surpassed by the victories of Ruscello and Side Glance in Australia in the early hours of this morning.

I bet Rod Street, of Great British Racing fame, went to bed a happy - no, make that very merry - man in Santa Anita. If he has hit the sack, yet, that is.

No doubt, the Melbourne Cup is the next stop on the GBR world tour. If so, Street can rest easier that Tony McCoy's bid to reach a mindboggling 4,000 winners looks to have been delayed slightly by this morning's news that At Fishers Cross is a non-runner in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby.

Because you have to think that GBR will go into overdrive on the media front when that happens, and it will be all hands needed on the PR pump then.

Looking at McCoy's other rides at Wetherby, perhaps the 4,000 mark will be reached pretty damn soon though, as he still has a very strong book of rides on a card lacking in numbers.

Wetherby looks a non-betting card to me, even if it offers the best domestic racing of the day.

I think Long Run is a fair price at 2.3611/8 on Betfair to win the Charlie Hall, and I think that Cape Tribulation is the biggest danger to him and not second-favourite Unioniste.

In fact, I would expect Unioniste to drift from his current price of 5.49/2. He is priced up on account of his trainer, and not his exploits on the track. On form, he has shown the least of the seven runners in this field.

In truth, it looks a low-key punting weekend for me, but I am going to have three small-stakes interests at Ascot.

Ascot 14:10 - Temple Lord

First one up is Temple Lord in the 14:10, who rates a decent bet at 15.014/1 or bigger.

There is nothing sexy or flashy about this selection. In fact, he can be a very tricky ride, and an infuriating horse for punters.

But he comes here fit and in-form - he looked all over the winner at Wetherby last time, where he traded at 1.121/8 in running - and should be suited by conditions. And I have little doubt that he is capable of winning off this mark.

However, I would strongly recommend that you put in an in-running lay insurance if backing him. His in-running lows make for grim reading for his backers, because he has been beaten after trading at the following prices: 1.12, 1.51, 1.26. 1.42, 1.6, 1.1, 1.8, 1.53 and 1.25.

Resist the temptation to shout "woof", keep the faith and back him.

Ascot 15:20 - There's No Panic

I am not at all surprised to see that there has been money for There's No Panic, but he still rates a fair bet at 14.013/1 or bigger in the 15:20.

He is the pick if the weights on his best form, has been targeted at this race for some time, and is thought to have benefitted from a breathing operation in the summer.

14:45 Ascot - Court Minstrel

Hopefully, it will not ride too testing at Ascot, because I can't resist making Court Minstrel my third and final selection in the 14:45.

I fear Dunraven Storm but I think that Court Minstrel is a horse going places this season given his ground. Ideally, he would want it faster than he is likely to get here, but he is a strong-traveller who looked very good when winning at Ayr in April and I strongly believe a mark of 149 underestimates his ability.

Back him at 7.06/1 or bigger. And he is another horse who I wouldn't put you off putting in an in-running lay at short odds to protect your stake. He really is a traveller.

*****

I love the Breeders' Cup and it was a bit odd watching events unfold at home on ATR last night, instead of being trackside.

But, in truth, it is not really a betting heat that I have warmed to down the years.

Now, that hasn't stopped me doing my conkers on it because of boredom-interest punts - though on one memorable occasion I was part of the British press and PR pack that copped a nice four-figure sum in the Pick Six in 2008 courtesy of Raven's Pass' Classic win - but absence from Santa Anita at least has the benefit of more detached and reasoned punting approach. So no bet it is then.

If I was going to get involved, I would probably back Romantica each-way at around 5-1 in the Filly & Mare Turf - I may have misread him, but I didn't detect that much confidence in favourite Dank when speaking to Ryan Moore earlier in the week - but this year I have vowed to just watch as a fan.

I expect my iron will to last until they are going in for the first tonight...

Recommended Bets

Back Temple Lord @ 15.014/1 or better - 14:10 Ascot
Back There's No Panic @ 14.013/1 or better - 15:20 Ascot
Back Court Minstrel @ 7.06/1 or better - 14:45 Ascot