SOUTH Wales Argus racing writer Melissa Jones had to settle for second place in the race to be crowned Britain’s top tipster in a national competition.

Our Melissa had led the Racing Post/Coral £6,000 NAPS contest for nearly two months as its newest entrant, but was overtaken by Paul Kealy of the Racing Post’s Weekender on Monday.

Each tipster has picked one horse per day since October 25 as their best bet of the day (NAP) running through until the final day of the jump season yesterday.

Her last throw of the dice saw her tip Ballytober in the 3.20 at Perth but the Philip Hobbs-trained horse failed to win and she had to concede defeat to her rival Kealy.

“Until the final week of my first season in the Racing Post NAPS table it could not have gone any better,” said Melissa.

“I thoroughly enjoyed taking part and it was a shame I couldn’t quite hold on but well done to Paul.”

The Argus scribe missed out on the £4,000 first prize but did enough to claim the £1,500 for second place ahead of writers from the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and newspapers all over the country.

Now she’s set to start all over again as the flat season tipping competition under way today.