Another week has slipped by since I last wrote, and I have been enjoying the proceeds of last weeks bets as well as giving some of them back of course (isn’t that always the way).
Those who heeded my advice (me!) came out on top by ten points or so and I know that snapping up some 8.0 the place with Betdaq about Brevity last Saturday certainly brought a smile to my face! As this was her first run in close to a year and she was only beaten a length in to third by her stable companion, she looks sure to win in the next few weeks though whether she is up to the Sun Chariot Stakes is another matter entirely, but you never know.
Not wanting to see the World through rose tinted glasses it is only fair to admit that while I was at Sandown I popped out the I-pad and had a decent seized bet on Everton to beat Queens Park Rangers, which looked like the banker of the day. Seventh place from last year versus newly promoted QPR who had been thumped at home the week before was surely like taking candy from a baby, and all my winning s from Brevity went on at odds of 1.4 with my beloved Betdaq, though now I wish my bet had not been taken! History will show a 0-1 home loss but wont show how gutted I was but then that’s gambling and we all know the risks.
One horse who really caught my eye for then future though ran at Lingfield on Thursday when Confucius Elite took second in a six-furlong maiden on the all-weather. Odds on favourite Integrity won easily enough, but the well backed second (from 7.8 to 6.4 on Betdaq) was seven length clear of the third and looks sure to be found a race by trainer Jim Boyle in the not so distant future.
Fresh from that debacle I downloaded a “guaranteed winning soccer system” from the internet which may well work, but is far too complicated for my addled brain. Suffice to say you back and lay various possibilities in the same match in a certain order but I got it horribly wrong! In a nutshell, I got in without a proper plan to get out and sat there sweating on a goal which finally came in the 82nd minute – I think I will stick to straight forward predictions from now on without the fancy statistics!
Looking ahead we have a great weekend in prospect starting this afternoon at Newmarket where they put on an eight race card including four maidens – how am I supposed to get any work done? At least thanks to modern technology I will not need to run to a bookies in the rain to place a bet and will use my I-phone instead to place my bets via the Betdaq app – easy.
I will be watching the betting carefully ahead of the fillies’ maiden at 1.50, as I like the look of Sir Michael Stoute’s unraced Shada who is well bred and holds a handful of fancy entries. The yard are a bit in and out this season so I will need to see a market move before being interested but I suspect she will stand out in the paddock and she is certainly one to consider if the market speaks in her favour.
One horse I will be backing regardless is the Brian Meehan trained Most Improved who could be just that in the 2.55. Even I know that the stables juveniles improve dramatically for their first run, and as this one was sent off favourite on his debut, he must have been showing plenty on the home gallops? Beaten a short head that day if he improves like all his stable mates he must have every chance this afternoon. Add all his fancy entries later in the season and I get more confident by the minute, and he will be my main or even only bet of the day.
Moving on to Saturday and my TV will be red hot with Newmarket, Goodwood and others all live on the box. Quality racing always attracts me (I am convinced they are all trying their best, right or wrong), and the Listed 2.50 at Newmarket will be my starting point Saturday. The ever consistent Lily’s Angel deserves another victory, but she may well have to settle for another place today with John Gosden’s impressive maiden winner Questing in opposition. The form of that race is working out well enough (runner up won since from dual winner Na Zdovorie), but it was the manner of her victory that caught the eye as she quickened up nicely to quickly put the race to bed and the fact that she has been off for a couple of months is my only real concern.
Breaking my normal rules I will be looking to LAY Monsieur Chevalier in the 3.30 at Newmarket if the ground remains good to firm or faster. He ran a blinder when runner up in the Golden Jubilee at Ascot but a stinker when fifteenth of sixteen last time out on a faster surface. Connections reported he hated the ground that day but as he is clear top rated, he seems sure to be a short price regardless and could be worth opposing?
For my final bet of the weekend I will risk a point on Prince Bishop in the 6.40 at Windsor Saturday evening with Frankie Dettori in the saddle. He was way better than these when trained in France but failed to cut the mustard in Dubai when last seen in the Dubai World Cup but that is a surface that horses seem to either take to – or not, with no half way house. With news board talk of how Godolphin buy and then ruin horses (?) they will be keen to put that rubbish to bed and this four year old is more than capable if they have him fit enough to do himself justice after five months off the track.
Summary of this week’s bets:
3pts Win MOST IMPROVED 2.55 Newmarket Friday
2pts Win QUESTING 2.50 Goodwood Saturday
1pt LAY Monsieur Chevalier 3.30 Newmarket Saturday but only if the going is officially good to firm or firm and at odds of 3.0 or less.
1pt Win PRINCE BISHOP 6.40 Windsor Saturday
