Richard Dunwoody - Winning Tips From a CHAMPION

By Richard Dunwoody

WITH the weather relenting for a few days we can return to some serious racing and it is an enormous relief that the big Cheltenham looks safe from the frost and snow.

It is also great to see that the Tingle Creek has been saved and re-arranged for Prestbury Park this weekend and that means MASTER MINDED (Cheltenham, 13.55) can continue his preparation for the main event next March. The dual Queen Mother Champion Chase winner had left punters nonplussed and with burnt fingers in the 2010 renewal of the event, finishing a tired and miserable looking fourth behind Big Zeb. However, the ground may have been a bit too quick that day but more importantly, he was found to need a breathing operation. With that complete, Master Minded looked a much happier horse on his reappearance at Ascot and he duly obliged with the minimum of fuss, albeit with Albertas Run crashing out at the third last when hard driven. He jumped like a stag and bearing in mind he is only seven, looks back on track for the Cheltenham Festival next year. He is currently a best price of 4.0 and as low as 3.5 for the Champion Chase and fingers crossed, will be back to regain his crown.

Nicky Henderson has been able to keep his team on the move over the recent cold snap and the work done on the all-weather facility can be vital for DAVE'S DREAM (Cheltenham, 14.30). Little Josh will provide serious opposition but the selection was impressive on his seasonal bow at the Paddy Power meeting and has been reported as working superbly since. He simply cruised to victory over the 2m and should be able this step back in trip today.

Finally, AMERICAN SMOOTH (Wolverhampton, 18.50) will not have to be a superstar to win this poor maiden. The half-brother to plenty of winners was well backed to win on debut but ran as though needing the experience. He'll be straighter tonight.

Richard's selections:

13:55 Cheltenham 2pts win Master Minded at SP

14:30 Cheltenham 0.5pt e/w 1/4 1,2,3,4 Dave's Dream at SP

18:50 Wolverhampton 1pt win American Smooth at SP


About Richard Dunwoody

One of the greatest jockey’s in British racing history, Richard Dunwoody broke the previous record for the greatest number of career wins for a jump jockey of 1678 when Yorkshire Edition won at Wincanton. Richard went on to ride a career total of 1699 winners. That mark was finally beaten by Tony McCoy in August 2002. As an amateur jockey, he rode his first winner on Game Trust at Cheltenham in May 1983, and the following spring rode a four-timer at Hereford as a 7lb claimer. He was champion jockey for three seasons and is one of only four post war jockeys to have captured the illusive triple crown of the Gold Cup (Charter Party 1986), the Champion Hurdle (Kribensis 1990) and the Grand National (West Tip 1986 and Minnehoma 1994). Richard also rode more than 100 winners in ten consecutive seasons.  His best season saw him ride 197 winners in 1993/94. Yet, to most, he is most well known for his partnership with the iconic Desert Orchid. The pair won seven races, including the King George V1 Chase in 1989 and 1990.

Richard has undertaken various expeditions since hanging up his boots, including a 350-mile cross-country ski race to the Magnetic North Pole and in January this year completed an amazing 673 mile trek to the South Pole, something he considers his greatest ever achievement.

He joined the BBC racing team at Aintree this year, writes a column for the Daily Mirror pull-out section on Saturdays and is a consultant to the British Racing School at Newmarket, where he coaches young and up-and-coming jockeys.

Richard Dunwoody also runs his own highly successful racing service. Some of our winners since September : Lang Shining 9/2,Epic 7/2,Earlsmedic 7/2f,Ingleby Spirit 7/2f,Garton King 7/2,Dreamacha 10/3f,High Twelve 3/1f,Oldrik 11/4,Kartanian 11/4,Kilcrea Kim 5/2,Calypso Bay 5/2,Finch Flyer 9/4f,Vesuve 2/1,Physic Ability 2/1f & Mr Hudson 2/1. Last 2 months 14 points profit - 41% Strike-rate + 4 bets 4 winners last Thursday & Friday including Calypso Bay W5/2 by 9Ls.