Talking Horses

Today's best bets, by Chris Cook Thank God for Southwell! The Nottinghamshire course may lack atmosphere in the stands and quality on the track but it is keeping racing's show on the road. Today it races for the second time in a three-day span during which every other track has shut down. As yesterday, Kempton and Lingfield have abandoned for the day, despite their tracks being in a raceable condition, because they can't secure the attendance of enough ambulances. Apparently, the local health services are so stretched that all available resources are being directed elsewhere. In other terrible news, there will be no jump racing in Britain until Monday at the earliest, as Ffos Las have abandoned Saturday's card. Though officials there had been making optimistic noises, overnight temperatures dropped as low as -9C, which ended their hopes. So we must all make the most of Southwell and it looks to me as though Epsom trainer Jim Boyle plans to do just that, with a possible double today. His Harlech Castle (1.10) is the standout for me in the six-furlong handicap, carrying a 6lb penalty for winning over the course and distance nine days ago, when the going was standard to slow, as it is again today. The runner-up that day was Onceuponatime, who was again beaten in similar conditions here five days ago. He travelled well both times and will probably do so again but he seemed to have no more to offer at the finish of either race, so he's an unattractive favourite at 2-1 for me. Harlech Castle overcame trouble in running to win last time and seemed comfortably on top at the line. Anyone who imagines that 6lb is going to make all the difference is dreaming and he's the value at 3-1. Wotashirtfull (2.40) is a slightly more speculative bet at 4-1 because we haven't seen him since September. Still, he was only narrowly beaten after his last four-month break and I trust Boyle to have him ready. He is perfectly capable of winning off this mark and has run well in all four visits to Southwell, though he hasn't won here yet. No one could begrudge victory to the favourite in this race, The Tatling, running for the first time since he turned 13 last week. This summer will bring the 11th anniversary of his first win and it seems he retains his enthusiasm for the game, though he has, as they say, lost a yard or two of pace since winning the King's Stand at Royal Ascot in 2004. Another veteran, the 11-year-old Boundless Prospect (3.40) , is attractive at 11-4 for the closer. His 16 wins include five round here, the most recent of which came last month. Yes, he's up 8lb but the opposition is moderate enough for him to win again anyway. Tipping competition, day three Here's hoping you've all spent your day off poring over past results at Southwell, working out which horses go well on the Fibresand. Today, we'd like your tips, please, for these races, all at Southwell: the 2.40, the 3.10 and the 3.40 . This week's prize is a £50 bet with Ladbrokes, which certainly justifies a bit of form study, for those of you unfamiliar with recent results on the all-weather. 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 haven't joined in this week so far, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -6. For terms and conditions click here . Good luck! Standings after day two melonk +13.83 Harrytheactor +8 chris1623 +8 Viejo +6.33 coma88 +6.33 johnny909 +6 Rivercity +5.50 goofs +4 slackdad38 +4 WalthamstowLad +4 chiefhk +4 JDK1 +4 stee33 +2.33 diegoisgod +2.33 Brochdoll +2.33 suckzinclee +2.33 shrewdette +2.33 mike65ie +2 mightytigers2000 +2 Smidster +2 Mai11 +0 SussexRH -1.67 gashead1105 -1.67 sandiuk -1.67 cloudy75 -1.67 lasramblas -1.67 Hotspur61 -2 tiznow -2 Moscow08 -2 23skidoo -2 Harchibald -2 factormax -6 tom1977 -6 xwireman -6 flyingdustman -6 fatdeano -6 leviticus67 -6 keepitdusty -6 MillieJ -6 sangfroid -6 TheVic -6 Touche1 -6 smokincrooky -6 Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results. Click here for today's latest odds. And post your racing-related comments below.