The latest news and best bets in our daily horse racing blog, plus our weekly tipping competition
Paul Jones' daily Cheltenham Festival countdown stat
The Nicky Henderson-trained Bobs Worth was promoted to favouritism for the Neptune Investment Management Novice Hurdle following his Grade Two triumph at Cheltenham on Saturday but it is worth reflecting on his trainer's abysmal record in the race (0-21) before deciding whether we want to take the top price of 5-1.
It is not just the fact that the Henderson yard are 0-21 in the Neptune that should set alarm bells ringing but that Finian's Rainbow's fifth placing last season was just the second time since 1990 that any of their runners had even finished in the first ten.
Only Travado had previously mustered a top-ten finish in the previous 20 runnings and the subsequent Arkle Trophy winner could only manage seventh himself. In addition to Bobs Worth, the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle winner, Minella Class, and the expensive and exciting former point-to-point winner, Chablais, who won a warm novice hurdle at Kempton on King George VI Chase Day, are also well to the fore in this p articular market for the Henderson team.
Paul Jones is author of The Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide published by Weatherbys
Today's best bets, by Chris Cook
I'm in danger of following Guns Of Love (4.20) over a cliff but it seems to me that he's got his conditions at Taunton today. He won over the course and distance in November and, as that was his second success in three starts, he looked like a horse who was getting his act together over fences.
Two defeats since then have reminded me that he had never, ever won before those two successes and his career strike-rate is 7%. But he may have legitimate excuses. I thought he'd cope with the extra distance at Leicester, but he didn't and then the ground was too soggy at Huntingdon, where he got run down close home.
Back at Taunton on going that should be no worse than good to soft, over an extended two miles, he should be able to give his running. And the second-favourite is Kirbys Glen, who he beat at Huntingdon, even though the going didn't suit. Guns Of Love is only 2-1, which is just barely acceptable, but I'm going with him once more.
Paul Nicholls has stuck the first-time tongue tie on Teshali (3.50), who makes his handicap debut later on the card. This is a hot race but he's been assessed on the basis of some well-beaten efforts in novice hurdles, which always makes things hard for the handicapper.
I feel sure this David Johnson-owned horse can step up on that form and I note with interest that the fourth and the seventh from his latest race at Plumpton, where he was fifth, have won novice hurdles since then.
William's Way (1.30) is a tempting 3-1 (as I type) for the opener at Southwell, a marathon handicap for amateur riders. He has two wins and three seconds from six visits to this track and hacked up on his last visit, in January last year, under today's rider and off the same rating.
Tipping competition, day two
Well over half of you managed to end day one in profit, picking Teenage Idol (7-1), Festival King (11-2) or Straversjoy (5-2), or a combination of same. Shears39 was the only one to pick both of the bigger-priced two.
Today, we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 3.30 Southwell, 3.50 Taunton, 4.10 Folkestone.
This week's prize is a copy of The Cheltenham World of Jump Racing, a beautifully illustrated guide to the winter game, published by the Racing Post and written by Mick Fitzgerald.
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 yet joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today but you will start on -3.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Standings after day one
shears39 +11.50
johnny909 +8.50
slackdad38 +8.50
londonpatrick +8.50
Ellandback +7
pops2 +7
Esherhammer +7
StevenIrelandsGranny +7
tiznow +7
TiltEngine88 +5
Degs74 +3.50
SussexRH +3.50
ArkleBentos +3.50
snowy81 +3.50
SmokingGun1 +3.50
sandiuk +3.50
Brochdoll +3.50
moidadembums +3.50
sangfroid +3.50
Mulldog +0.50
tom1977 +0.50
melonk +0.50
simmorrissey +0.50
fatfrank29 +0.50
MillieJ +0.50
Fixxxer +0.50
William36 +0.50
JahLion +0.50
diegoisgod +0.50
Moscow08 +0.50
arunpaul +0.50
Ormrod76 +0.50
chiefhk +0.50
scandalous +0.50
erniemung -3
MauriceNL -3
Renzofan -3
xwireman -3
Mai11 -3
Copshaw -3
SepticPeg -3
carl31 -3
millario -3
oniztiptoes -3
ToffeeDan1 -3
MikeytheEel -3
millreef -3
Lameduck -3
BearRides -3
chanleyman -3
Harrytheactor -3
chris1623 -3
TL127 -3
23skidoo -3
robmct -3
orso -3
Templegate -3
twig28 -3
TheVic -3
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/feb/01/live-racing-february-1-2011
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