Every selection posted before the off — the reasoning, the angle, the form reading behind it. Winners and losers both.
Five flat cards across Catterick, Nottingham, and Kempton. Two solid turf cards to dissect and an all-weather evening session with depth. Plenty of angles surfaced at big prices — the kind of day where the form study earns its keep regardless of results.
It's Irish Grand National Day at Fairyhouse... The National's are not ones I look at as betting opportunities whatsoever, but they're always ones I enjoy watching. Ben Pauling's The Jukebox Kid is at the top of the betting and looks a live chance, and if Jonjo O'Neill's Monbeg Genius puts it together he too could have a seriously live chance. It would be great to see the British win the Irish National back-to-back, after Rebecca Curtis trained Haiti Couleurs success last year. They're the two I'll be egging on, but my main focus today will be on our one bet at Kempton.
Yesterday just about summed up how the game can play you at times. Three selections, all disappointing, then the only other positive mention on the day wins easily at 6/1. A kick in the teeth. The jockey bookings leapt out on that, and I should’ve played the chance, but hindsight is wonderful. Three today, in hope of a positive turn.
A cracking day of racing ahead which will be a great watch all over. It was a grueling one to try and pick apart, which had me going round in circles in numerous races, so on that basis it is one I've decided to treat carefully on. There was one standout bet on the day though, who I right fancy at a decent Each-Way price.
Not a bad day of racing to have a study of, as there was plenty that peaked my interest, but I've come out of it with just the one bet, again on account of not being able to justify the prices. This is becoming a recurring theme, and I swear it is only getting harder and harder, which is unfortunately a testement to the bookmakers. They are definitely making the game harder and harder to beat. That said, there is one at Kempton I'm staggered to be getting such a price on, though it is in large part down to a morning drift in the betting.
A quieter day in comparison to Monday’s cards and it was very nearly a no bet, but there is a course specialist who I think is vastly overpriced on account of some rotten recent luck in-running, who remains weighted to be competitive. A wide draw to overcome, but with his running style, it may not be a bad thing. At long enough odds, I think he’ll be a fair bet here.
Not the worst of days racing on the cards for this Monday afternoon and evening. With a flurry of cards, I found it fairly easy to be knocking a fair list of interest together, but I just couldn't make most of them work for a bet for one reason or another. We go with one from a list of five, under a rider who is looking likely to be a cash machine in these races in particular.
The start of the Flat season at Doncaster continues today, with a few less competitive races which makes for greater betting appeal. We go there for one outsider who looks a worthy chance at a great Each-Way price, as well as one chanced in a small field over obstacles on a decent enough Ascot card.
One of the highlights of the racing season arrives today, with the Flat kicking off at Doncaster and The Lincoln Handicap as the feature. It's a cracking card that should offer some good early-season pointers, so I'll be watching closely. One selection stands out in the feature — a cracking Each-Way bet who just needs a bit of luck in-running. Should the gaps come in time, a huge run is on the cards.
Another quiet day during the lull in racing, perfectly exemplified by the fact my Tracker alerts have been silent for nearly a week now. Ordinarily it's rare to go a day with no alerts, but this is a real quiet patch. One bet found today, and it's one who won for us at a huge price in a race over these exact conditions back at the end of January.