Quiet Boxing Day

Plenty of meetings today but with the ground riding heavy at almost all meetings and the markets looking tight for the horses I was interested in there is no selection today.

P&L for 2012 -13.56

Time To Reflect

With his two market rivals being non runners  Zaplamation won very easily yesterday.

A day off and time to reflect today as there are only 4 jump races in a mixed meeting at Ffos Las and I don’t have a selection.

Since the Blog returned at the beginning of August I have had 7 bets 2 winners, 4 seconds and a third, but despite showing good form with my selections  I am showing a loss of 2.40pts. Looking back I would not have changed any of my selections, but probably have gone each-way the both times I selected Quaddick Lake, as he was running in large fairly competitive handicaps.

P&L for 2012 -7.82 

Total Frustration

Yesterday was a very frustrating day. Turning for home I was counting my winning as Quaddick Lake went into the lead travelling well and having been backed from 5/1 into 2/1 fav looked like he would easily land the gamble. Then another glance at the screen and I saw No Woman No  Cry staying on really well and I knew my fate half way before the last – another bl**dy second!!!!!

There are two meetings today at Ffos Las and Cartmel and the selection runs in the seller at the later track.

P&L for 2012 -8.92

Cartmel 5.20 Zaplamation  1PT WIN @ 2/1 B365(1st EvsF)

Zaplamation comes into this race in good form from the flat. Looking at the conditions of the race and his previous hurdles form he has an outstanding chance of taking this seller. Regular jockey Dougie Costello makes the journey to partner Zapmalation and it is his only ride at the meeting.
With his two market rivals being non runners this was a very easy win for Zaplamation and interestingly he was bought back in by the stable so there could be another opportunity in the coming weeks. With the R4 the bet was settled at 11/10 so only 1.1 profit on the day.

Back With A Big One

Apologies for the lack of blog postings over the past few weeks, but unfortunately I have been really business at work and working away has resulted in racing and the blog having to take a back seat. With Cheltenham having passed by in a haze of business meeting I am somewhat refreshed coming back to the blog with a big one (3 times my normal stake) in the hope of getting the winners flowing again.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 = +18.52 2012 = -0.86

Uttoxeter 3.20 Maringo Bay 1 and 1/2PT E/W @10/1 various PU 8/1 

I have selected Maringo Bay on his last two runs and though beaten into second on both occasions I have not been too disappointed as I have had to accept he has beaten by better horses, but tomorrow is different in that he makes is handicap debut in what I think is a below average Midlands National and I will be disappointed if he doesn’t win. There are many factors in his favour:-

1.   The booking of Noel Fehily. Trainer Charlie Mann mentioned in an interview when Noel took up the post of stable jockey to Emma Lavelle earlier this year that Noel would “still ride the good ones for him”

2.   Off a rating of 130 and a weight of 10-7 in this he look very attractively handicapped in comparison to the opposition

3.   His form is rock solid with both Alfie Spinner and Mics Delight who have beaten him in his last two runs running well at Cheltenham and when he won his novice hurdle last season at Ffos Las last season he beat Teaforthree who won the 4 miler at Cheltenham earlier in the week and Invictus who was one of the favourites foir the RSA chase before picking up an injury.

My only slight doubt is the ground which will be much quicker than he has run on previously and the fact he looks as though he has been crying out for a trip this is a big step up in distance from the three miles and less he has been running over so far this season, although he did hold an entry in the 4 miler at the festival, so hence the each way rather than straight win. 
Terrible performance. Never jumped with any fluency and once tempo increased there was no response and he was soon beat and pulled up.

Two For Today

A very quiet week on the betting front with just with just the one selection since last Saturday who was heavily backed from 11/1 into 9/2 Fav but then disappointed during the race not jumping as fluently as he had in previous races. There are two meetings today at Market Rasen and Ffos Las and there are selections at both meetings.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 = +22.08 2012 = +2.70

Ffos Las 2.00 Loose Chips 1PT WIN @11/4 Various Unplcd (10/3)

Loose Chip was a winning selection for the blog at Towcester about a month ago over two miles when winning at 7/1. He won very comfortably that day and  trainer Charlie Longsdon has the final of this EBF series as his long term objective. The stable also have a line to the favourite who they trained to win a NH Bumper earlier in the season, so at the price he represents good value to follow up.Poor effort weakened dramatically from home turn clearly something amiss.

Market Rasen  3.15 Maringo Bay 1/2PT E/W and 1/2PT WIN @7/2 various (2nd 5/2)

Maringo Bay was a selection last time in December when running 2^nd to Alfie Spinner at Chepstow. At the time I said it was money lent and today is the day to recoup the loses. His form in all this novice chases is solid with his third behind Invictus at Plumpton in December looking very impressive given the way Invictus won the grade 2  Reynoldstown chase yesterday at Ascot yesterday. Today he receives weight from his two market rivals and with the Charlie Mann stable in much better form than December I expect him to go very close although I have a lot of respect for favourite Mics Delight hence the strange staking recommendation. Well backed again and jumped exceptionally but just beaten by a classier horse. Has an entry in 4 mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and the 33/1 with William Hill looks tempting.

Quiet Day and a Few Thoughts

Renard again drifted in the market from the advised price but was too good for his rivals under a very positive Aidan Coleman ride to give another 3pts profit for the blog. Historically October and November tend to be my most profitable months of the season and this year is no exception. I am hoping by doing the blog it will add further discipline when I inevitably hit a bad run and stop me trying to “gamble” my way out of it, which I have tended to do in the past, thus eroding my profits. I remember a few years ago having an excellent November and then having 18 losing bets of the trot in a two week period in December, hopefully by doing the blog this won’t happen again. Three meetings today at Ffos Las, Kempton and Ludlow and having reviewed the cards there is no bet today.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +32.42