The power of the internet got me in to trouble and then out of it again this week after my disastrous step in to the big wide world of tennis, and a Wimbledon bet that fell that fell at the very first hurdle when eventual champion Roger Federer saw off Djokovic and ended my treble before it had really begun, but it wasn’t the biggest loss and we all live to fight another day, though this weather is certainly wreaking havoc on the racing fixtures and leaving me scrapping around for some decent action.
Last Saturday saw me focussing all my attentions on the horse racing from Sandown especially the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, a Group One over a mile and a quarter that had everything – except for Frankel that is! As I am a firm believer in researching as much information as possible I read everything and anything on every reputable website I could find, before drawing my (incorrect) conclusion! Although there were nine runners my reading material let me delete most of them for various reasons – negative comments, ground concerns, lack of fitness, all the usual suspects – and with Nathaniel top of the laying pile after trainer John Gosden’s negative sounding comments about a classy horse who had been off the track for eight months and who (assumedly) would badly need the run. Add the fact that ten furlongs was surely below his best and although I was not confident enough to have a lay bet (thank goodness), I was happy to pass him over and end up backing Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso who I think may still be running (OK, so a dim and distant eighth which is bad enough), making the 9.8 I proudly “stole” on BETDAQ as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Funnily enough, I am actually a big fan of the Gosden yard (and they are on fire of late), so my losses only ate in to earlier profits from the improving Trade Commissioner who was backed as if defeat was out of the question, and duly hacked up in the 2.40pm and is way better than a handicapper. I managed to get on early at BETDAQ odds of 4.1 and was sorely tempted to trade out as he plummeted to 3.2 just before race time, but luckily I sat it out and watched him romp home though I did not make enough for another holiday just yet! He looks better than a handicapper to me but then that might be because the stable can do no wrong and only time will tell just how good he is I suppose?
Keeping an eye out I managed to read another load of articles from an interview with John Gosden on the Newmarket gallops Monday morning and he was so keen on Shantaram ahead of the opening race on the opening day of the Newmarket July meeting. As he seemed so keen on his chances (and had pulled out a stable mate who would have started odds on), so I had a decent punt on BETDAQ at odds of 3.5 and never really had a moments worry. Held up off the pace he came with a run when he needed to and stayed on nicely to win by close to four lengths, making me a few pounds in the process. Naturally, I had put less on than would normally be the case after the Nathaniel debacle but not such a bad week none the less.
Looking ahead Newmarket will be televised as will York, Haydock, and Newbury, so plenty to look forward to on the horses, plus football (UEFA Champions League Qualifying), and even Rugby League, so we should be able to magic up a few bets to keep us all from getting too bored until the new footie season “proper”.
In chronological order my first bet will be on the brilliant French filly Golden Lilac, who heads the betting in the Falmouth Stakes and again, John Gosden is the man I have listened to. He run Joviality here (as well as Elusive Kate, who will apparently need the run and hate the ground?), and she is certainly top class having won the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out. However, when asked about her chances he implied he felt he was aiming at second place if the dual French classic winning filly shows up in good form, and if he feels that I am not willing to claim I know better?
The weekend is full of quality racing but none of it looks easy to second guess and I will settle for one small each way bet at a double figure price. Richard Hannon has dominated the Newbury Super Sprint with four winners in the past nine runnings and although he could well strike again, I am more interested in why stable jockey Richard Hughes has headed off to Newmarket instead? He seems to have a great chance with Olympic Glory but I wonder if the call of Strong Suit in the July Cup at 3.20pm is the main reason? He was very very high class as a two year old and again at three when winning a total of five races, three at Group Two level, but a bitter disappointment when only tenth of eleven behind Frankel at Royal Ascot. Putting him back to this sprint trip of six furlongs is an interesting move and we will soon see if he has the pace to live with these hardened speedballs, but at 11.5 on BETDAQ to win and 3.6 the place, a little bet could yet pay decent dividends.
On Saturday I have decided I am going to have a pop at the old Rugby League Challenge Cup semi final which I know zero about, but since when has that stopped me having a bet? Wigan are so heavily odds on that I can only suggest a bet on the handicap with the BETDAQ odds of 1.9 giving away 10.5 points possibly worth a little look? Past games this season have seen wins for the favourites by 50-8 and 20-6 though last year, the final was a little closer at 28-18 so I do not want a repeat of that score, which would see us lose by half a point!
Finally, the football seems to be full of odds on shots early next week but a little accumulator may well pay off so here we go (and it’s something to bet on mid week)! On Tuesday, it seems obvious (famous last words) that Liberec (1.25), Molde (1.3), and Helsinki (1.3) will all win, and I intend to add BATE Borisov (1.2) and AEL Limassol (1.22) will win on Wednesday, so why not throw a point at the accumulator which pays over 3.6 and has to be worth a point.
This week’s suggested bets (odds correct at the time of writing):
Football:
1pt Win accumulator (all Champions League) – Liberec (1.25), Molde (1.3) and Helsinki Tuesday 17th July with BATE Borisov (1.2) and AEL Limassol (1.22) Wednesday, all prices with BETDAQ (where else?).
Horse racing:
3pts Win Golden Lilac 3.00pm Newmarket Friday at about 2.1 with BETDAQ
1pt Win 1pt Place Strong Suit 3.20pm Newmarket Saturday at 11.5 the win and 3.6 the place with BETDAQ.
Rugby League
2pts Win Wigan to beat Leeds Saturday by more than 10.5 points at BETDAQodds of 1.9
Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.
