Losing Streak Broken

It was nice to break the losing run yesterday with Invictus travelling and jumping well for a comfortable win at Plumpton after a fantastic piece of race riding by Choc Thornton spotting and going for a gap on the inside of the hanging leader on the home turn. My second selection Annas Arch drifted badly in the market and always looked to be struggling on the soft ground and eventually finished 4^th. So a 1PT profit on the day. Two meetings today at Fontwell and Sedgefield. I was interested in Brackloon High who makes his novice chase debut in the 1.10 at Fontwell after an eye catching run over hurdles at Cheltenham last time, but not at the price available given I read somewhere the Noel Chance stable has not had a winner for over a year.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +28.42

Two Selections Today

Ballyfitz was well backed yesterday and was travelling well when making two horrendous mistakes down the back straight the 2^nd of which resulted in a unseated rider. Whether he would have been in contention at the end of the race if he hadn’t made those mistakes is difficult to say. That’s now five successive loser over the past two weeks but I’m not going to panic and will be using the same approach to my selections and continue to looking for value. There are two meetings today at Musselburgh and Plumpton and for a Monday the cards are very good and there are two selections.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +27.42

Plumpton 1.10 Invictus 1PT WIN@2/1 B365 1st (7/4)

I am prepared to take on the Irish raider and favourite Gift Of Dgab in this five runner novice chase with Invictus for two reason. Firstly I was very impressed with his fencing debut at Hereford a couple of weeks ago where he got into a nice rhythm and fenced quick and accurately and could be called the winner along way from home and secondly the form of the Alan King stable (8 winners in the past fortnight) compared with the Tony Martin stable who have only managed one winner in the same period. Travelled and jumped well Choc went for a gap on brave gap on inside going into home turn which proved a winning move.

Musselburgh 1.20 Anna’s Arch 1PT WIN@9/4 Boylesports 4th (10/3)

Anna’s Arch was a blog selection back in August when very easily defying a penalty in a bumper at Bangor after being heavily backed. Two subsequent runs in bumpers failed to deliver a 3^rd win( which is very difficult to achieve) and today he makes his novice hurdle debut in a very winnable race and from the market he has the ex winning flat racer Dimension to beat but I am always wary of flat horses starting their jumping careers at the age of 7. Weak in market and never travelling

It Could Be A Slog

No selection yesterday but it was interesting that Bishophill Jack who was a selection a couple of weeks ago when he  jumped appallingly managed to win a very weak handicap chase at Wetherby. Two meetings today at Kelso and Warwick and the selection comes from Kelso. 

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Kelso 2.30 Ballyfitz 1PT WIN@9/2 B365 Unseated rider (10/3F)

I was at Cheltenham recently when Ballyfitz finished 2^nd to Galaxy Rock and I remember at the time thinking “where did he come from” as he was doing his best work at the finish and really staying on up the hill. Although in the twilight of his career he ran well over these marathon trips last season finishing 4^th in the Welsh National and 2^nd in both the National trial at Haydock and in the Midlands National. The ground should not be an issue today and he has had a good break since Cheltenham whereas one or two of his rival have run much more recently in testing ground over these extended trips. With the stable in goodish form this represents a drop in class for Ballyfitz and I am expecting a very bold show.

Short Headed

The small margins of success and failure in gambling was clearly highlighted yesterday when a profit of 2.5pts was turned into a 1pt loss in the last stride as the selection Appleaday, who has made most was short headed on the line. That’s history now and with a great days racing with four competitive cards at Aintree, Chepstow, Sandown and Wetherby. There was one potential selection at the 12.55 at Sandown in Knight Pass who is very highly thought of but I was expecting to see some odds against but as that is not the case then there is no bet today.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +28.42 

Disappearance Of Posts Was Only Temporary

Apologies for no posts over the past few days but I have been away on business and been unable to find any time to study the racing. Two meetings today at Exeter and Sandown and there is one selection at Sandown to hopefully get December off to a winning start.

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Sandown 3.05 Appleaday 1PT WIN@5/2 Ladbrokes 2nd (13/8F)

This five runner handicap chase is not the most competitive and my preference is for the top weighted, front running grey Appleaday who has good form around the track and if the trainers comments re anything to go by should be up to winning a race like this as he comments on his website “Ran really well on his seasonal re-appearance at Sandown to finish third. He jumped superbly and we hope he'll win next time, possibly a return visit to Sandown on 2nd December is on the cards, as it appears to be his favourite track”. Beaten a short head - was caught on line having jumped really well.

Typical Monday

Two meeting today at Folkestone and Ffos Las but with small fields and short price favourites there is no selection once again.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +29.42

Very Poor Selection Yesterday

Saint Denis was a very poor selection yesterday. Although a bit of money came for him before the off he pulled to hard and was beaten over a mile and a half out and was eventually pulled up. One to avoid for the future as appears to be void of ability. On to today with two meetings at Carlisle and Leicester but there is no selection.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +29.42