First things first and I hope you all had a happy and profitable Christmas and are looking forward to 2012 when I fully intend to give you plenty of profitable bets and lays that you can place with BETDAQ, pinching the best odds available and having fun in the process.
Last week was a hack’s dream with the stories almost writing themselves with some outstanding efforts from both horse and saddle, plus the obligatory yuletide retirement (jockey Mark Bradburne), so plenty to talk about. Kauto Star deserves to take top billing this week, rolling back the years to land the King George from Kempton and roared home by an appreciative crowd who understood they were watching history being made. Personally, I felt rather two faced having lumped on Long Run at 2.4 and 2.3 in the morning yet still cheering his conqueror home while wiping a tear from my eye (and no, I don’t care who knows it). Five King George victories puts him up with the elite of the chasing game, yet still I read of idiots telling us he isn’t fit to share a stable with the likes of Desert Orchid – why oh why can’t we just revel in the glory of a true champion who can only beat the horses he races against?
Second place was the best I could hope for against Kauto Star which was no good financially, but followed a pattern as Rock On Ruby was beaten a neck by Binocular in the Christmas Hurdle thirty five minutes earlier. I had snapped up plenty on BETDAQ at 2.9 and 2,8 and am convinced he would and should have won if he had only put in a good jump at the last, and yet again Binocular wins when I don’t back him, yet always loses when I do!
The following day saw two brilliant performances starting with my favourite Sprinter Sacre (2.2 with BETDAQ), who destroyed Champion Hurdle runner up Peddlers Cross with an almost perfect round of jumping that saw him leap (sorry) to the head of the betting for the Arkle Chase next March. I have been singing his praises for some time based on reading everything I can about the Nicky Henderson trained star and I suspect he could be one of my Festival bankers for 2012 if he keeps his winning record over fences intact. The next big Henderson star on view was Finian’s Rainbow, a top quality Champion Chase prospect and who started at odds of 1.4 with BETDAQ to win on his seasonal reappearance. Always going well in a small field of only the six runners it looked a matter of how far he would win by until an error four out looked to have put him out of contention. Barry Geraghty showed the difference between the best and the rest jockey wise as he refused to panic and allowed his mount as much time as needed to get back in to an even stride. One other advantage of betting with BETDAQ is that you cannot tear up a betting slip in frustration as I would have done here, and good job to as he was brought with a power packed run to win going away at the line for one of the rides of the season in my book (and wallet).
Having broken even last week thanks to the football with win bets on Newcastle and Spurs though I do fond that embarrassing as racing is my number one love! Still, profit is profit wherever it comes from I suppose, and this week I am going to add darts to the portfolio even though I backed a loser in Phil Taylor who may now be past his prime. A point on Simon Whitlock at 7.8 (BETDAQ) could be worth an interest as he seems to have an easier route for a few more matches and is always a crowd favourite. His much talked about injury does not seem to be hampering him in the slightest, and while his better fancied rivals have struggled on occasions, he has gone about his business with the minimum of fuss so far.
Football will hopefully be my main profit maker once again, starting with a bet on BOLTON who I fancy can see off Wolves at odds around the 2.3 mark with BETDAQ. They have had more shots on target than you would think for a team fighting deep in the relegation zone and know full well that a new manager puts their very livelihoods at risk and although I admit I had hoped for bigger odds, I still think home advantage can get them home in front by the final whistle.
Value has always been the name of the game as far as I am concerned, and WIGAN have played some decent football without getting the rub of the green of late. 5.8 (BETDAQ) looks too big for me away to Stoke even if it is a hard place to go in search of points, but a small bet will not lose us too much but could yet pay very handsome dividends.
For my last and biggest football bet, CHARLTON are on fire of late and have only lost one away game so far this season with nine wins and two draws, and the 2.1 (BETDAQ) to win at Leyton Orient is too tempting. The home team have already lost six games at home this season so all the boxes are ticked and a three point bet has to be the one for me this Saturday.
Finally, one small horse-racing bet will do for me this weekend when Nicky Henderson will be represented by one of two options in the Challow Hurdle from Newbury, currently due of at 3.05. Assuming Fingal Bay turns up he seems sure to go off favourite for trainer Philip Hobbs, leaving my choice as the value option with either impressive French import Captain Conan (won by fifteen lengths when last seen at Auteuil or unbeaten Top Of The Range with both held in very high regard and in with serious chances, though at this stage odds are completely unknown, even with my beloved BETDAQ!
With my bets out of the way, all that is left is for me to wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year, and a promise that I intend to help with that to the best of my abilities.
This week’s suggested bets:
Darts
1pt Win Simon Whitlock to win PDC Darts Championship at 7.8 (BETDAQ Odds).
Football
1pt Win BOLTON to beat Wolves at 2.3 or thereabouts with BETDAQ
1pt Win WIGAN to beat Stokes at 5.8 or thereabouts with BETDAQ
3pts Win CHARLTON to beat Leyton Orient at 2.1 or thereabouts with BETDAQ
Horse Racing
1pt Win Nicky Henderson’s selected of CAPTAIN CONAN or TOP OF THE RANGE 3.05 Newbury Saturday (Challow Hurdle)
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