Poor Poor Poor

I have just updated the performance for March which shows another losing month and a total loss for the year of -4.86pts. This is a very poor effort compared to my performance over the past few years. However, my circumstances have changed significantly this year with the demands of my job significantly impacting on the amount of time I have been able to dedicate to form study, resulting in hardly any bets. With the pressures at work hopefully easing off now and Aintree on the horizon I will hopefully be able to find more time to blog over the coming weeks and at least get the year back into profit.

Bit Better Racing Today

Saturday 24^th March

Apologies for last Saturday’s selection who I was extremely bullish about, but Maringo Bay ran no sort of race at all and I am not aware of a reason for his poor performance.  I still believe there is a big handicap to be won by the horse but I think it will be next season now. The racing has been dire this week and nothing has interested me and until today where I will be backing one horse who has appeared on the blog before.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 = +15.52 2012 = -3.86

Stratford 2.00 Loose Chips 1PT WIN 3/1 @Bet 365

Loose Chip was a winning selection earlier in the season at Towcester and was disappointing just over a month ago at Ffos Las, when after travelling well behind the leaders turning in he stopped very quickly down the home straight as was almost pulled up. At the time it looked to me that something was amiss and it transpired that there was coughing in the Charlie Longsdon yard at the time. Assuming the horse has now recovered I feel this race is a good opportunity for him to get back to winning ways given the way he won a Towcester and that fact the trainer was aiming him for a big race at Sandown prior to his last run. 

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.

Work Commitments Getting In The Way!!!

Due to work commitments I am unable to update the blog at the moment or even find time to study the form and have a bet. 

February's Elusive Winner?

Back from a short break and after what has been a disastrous month for the blog. I hope to make the last selection a winning one. There are three meetings today at Bangor-On-Dee, Folkestone and Southwell with a selection running in the first at Southwell.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 = +19.52 2012 = +0.14

Southwell 2.00 Milgan Bay 1PT WIN @5/4 William Hill

Milgan Bay comes into this four runner handicap with the best form on offer with his third at Kempton on Boxing Day looking much stronger than Ring Bo Ree, given that the winner subsequently landed a Grade 2 novice chase and the runner-up won in a big-field handicap at Cheltenham. Ring Bo Ree has solid claims after two decent performances over C&D this year but I doubt is in the class of Milgan Bay. The trainer reported on his blog that Milgan Bay was in serious form and was hard to pull up after jumping his last set of 3 fences, prior to his run in a jumpers bumper at Kempton last time out when he finished third to subsequent winner Oscar Prairie.

Selection At Taunton

Loose Chip was very disappointing on Sunday. Cruising 3 out he stopped very quickly and although there was a doubt about the getting the trip I think there was probably another problem. No excuses for the other selection Maringo Bay who put to a good performance but was beaten by a classier horse. He remains of interest to me probably in staying handicaps later in the season although he does hold an entry in the 4 mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. Two meetings today at Wetherby and Taunton and there is one selection at Taunton.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 = +20.52 2012 = +1.14 Unplcd(8/1)

Taunton 2.00 Giordano Bruno 1/2PT E/W @7/1 Various

Giordano Bruno made an interesting debut at Taunton 6 weeks ago after almost 3 years off the course. Jumped out in front he caught my eye as he travelled smoothly throughout the race until lack of peak fitness caught up with him turning for home where he was passed by Darlan and Jump City. Once headed Richard Johnson gave him an easy time. I got the impression from this run that there is much more to come and although today is no easy task with natural progression I would not expect him to be out of the first three, although odds on favourite Urbain De Sivola may be a tough nut to crack I have a doubt that this tight track may not suit him. Held up in last never put in the race at any stage, clearly looking to get a handicap mark for later in the season? Reported finished lame.

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.