Talking Horses: Bookies can't agree on Jet Setting, plus Tuesday tips

Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook

If, like me, you’ve become rather bored of all major bookmakers offering essentially the same prices about the runners in major races, it may interest you to know that William Hill are just 4-1 about Jet Setting for the QEII on Saturday. I had concluded it must be a typo, that they had probably meant 14-1. But no. I’m now told that their odds compilers are pretty keen on her chance.

Jet Setting’s odds with other firms range from 8-1 to 14-1 and it’s most unusual to see such a disparity just days before a Group One. I do think that Hill’s should have pushed out their odds about one or two of the others, if they’re so keen on taking a view, though in fairness they are joint top price about Minding at 3-1.

You’ll remember that Jet Setting beat Minding a head in the Irish Guineas but the general view is that that was a bit flukey, the result of hock-deep going and the favourite clocking her head on the starting stalls. Minding won three Group Ones through the summer. Jet Setting was well held in two others but hosed up in a Group Three last time on her favoured soft / heavy.

It won’t be that on Saturday but perhaps there will be enough juice in the ground to make it interesting. If you fancy Jet Setting, don’t just take the price at your local Hill’s.

Today’s nap is a 7-2 shot, Opt Out (4.55) in a seven-furlong handicap at Musselburgh. This chestnut was switched from Alistair Whillans to David O’Meara in midsummer and has shown signs of a revival in his last two outings, having failed to win since an identical race last October.

His rating now is 4lb below the one he had that day and I also note that four of his seven wins have been at Musselburgh. I think his recent form has been good enough to win this but the extended mile at Hamilton was just too far, while the soft at Ayr was just too testing. Here’s hoping he gets his Goldilocks conditions today.

Josephine Gordon must be on a high right now, as she is essentially over the line in the race to be champion apprentice. She has a couple of good chances at Wolverhampton tonight and perhaps her confidence will travel down the reins.

Prancelina (7.15) is a baffling 16-1 for a sprint handicap, having won over the course and distance last month on her only previous handicap start. She’s only 4lb higher, albeit in a stronger race, and is nicely drawn to take a handy position in stall three.

She’s by a good, new sprinting sire out of a mare who’s already got two sprinters that rated much higher than her current rating. What’s not to like? While the drift may be worrying, she was allowed to go off at 16-1 when she won last time.

I note in passing that Four Candles makes his debut in the 7.45pm and move on to For Shia And Lula (8.45), Gordon’s other big chance. Three times a winner over this course and distance since the Tapeta was put down, For Shia And Lula is on a long losing run, with the result that he’s now more than a stone below his last winning mark.

Since he did well to be second at Chelmsford last time, this may be the time to show some faith in him. He’s 11-2.

We are no longer able to continue with competitions every week, but they will still run in the biggest weeks (Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and maybe one or two others, as well as the Christmas quiz).

We’ll still have a Talking Horses each day for tips, analysis and news, so we very much hope you’ll join us to chew over whatever racing happens to be going on and post your tips or racing-related comments below.