Forecast Favourites

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I’m going to point you in the direction of an excellent podcast. Plus, I’ve looked at couple of Thursday’s races.

Racing’s Survival: Time to Break Free from Big Corp

I highly recommend checking out the excellent Barstewards podcast, where Lee Keyes interviews Matt Zarb Cousin. You can listen to it here.

Lee has crafted a non-confrontational discussion, and the interview highlights how racing desperately needs to distance itself from big corporate bookmakers. It’s refreshing to hear that even at this late stage, racing can find a way to save itself—if only its leadership had the vision to act.

Wouldn’t it be revolutionary if the BHA openly supported affordability checks for online casinos and slots, creating clear separation from those who risk destroying the sport as we know it? Sports betting should not be lumped together with online casinos. The rules for each should differ, and customers should manage separate accounts or wallets for each.

The crux of the issue is racing’s reluctance to challenge bookmakers. The authorities seem too intimidated, while big corporate bookmakers focus on steering people toward addictive online slots. This all stems from the introduction of FOBTs—designed to exploit addiction—which caused problems we had never seen before in gambling.

Affordability checks are sensible for casino games, but racing needs to strike out and establish itself as distinct from this parasitic relationship. Separate licences, separate taxation, and most importantly, separate rules are necessary.

The sport's survival depends on bold action—it's time to separate racing from the parasitic practices of corporate bookmakers before it’s too late.

Thursday Racing Highlights

The Listed Lady Godiva Mares' Novice Chase (1:55) at Warwick is Thursday’s standout contest.

Warwick

1:55 – You Wear It Well, a dual Grade 2 winner, was the classiest of these over hurdles. She made a solid start to her chasing career with a 2-length runner-up finish in a similar race at Bangor-on-Dee last month. She looks poised to secure a win over fences and is likely to be a strong favourite.

Cherie D'Am, who was useful over hurdles and placed in a Grade 1 at Aintree in April, shaped with promise on her chase debut when finishing 1½ lengths third in a strong Carlisle novice chase 49 days ago. She’ll need to step forward again to challenge You Wear It Well but can pick up races in this sphere, especially against her won sex.

At bigger odds, Telepathique catches the eye. She’s unbeaten in two chase starts, including a win here over 2 miles just 22 days ago. Open to further improvement, jockey Harry Cobden gave her an encouraging endorsement last time out:

“She’s very tough, jumps well, and she could almost definitely step up into Listed grade to get a bit of black type now. She obviously stays well, as she won over two and a half last time, but she's got enough boot for two. She's got plenty of options.”

You Wear It Well is a worthy favourite but short enough given her best hurdles form came over shorter and soft ground. On decent ground, Telepathique can outrun her odds and get into the places. I’m just hoping there isn’t a non-runner which is probably wishful thinking on my part.

Ben Pauling has won the concluding bumper (3:35) with the likes of Willoughby Court & Barters Hill in the past. I suspect his runner Legal Weapon could be one of his better bumper prospects.

Chelmsford

Elsewhere, Chelmsford hosts a Class 2-mile handicap (7:00). Blue Prince returned from a short break and a gelding operation to finish a promising 4th of 9 at Lingfield (7f) last month. He was doing his best work late on and, if he stays the mile, looks placed to go close in an open race with Jordan Williams taking off a handy 5lb.