Fantastic Days Racing

The race Mr Moonshine won yesterday panned out as expected as he made all jumping fluently and having his rivals in trouble from three out for a comfortable win and an additional 2.75PTS for the blog. Fantastic days racing today with three meetings at Haydock, Ascot and Huntingdon with one selection at Ascot.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +30.42

Ascot  1.00 Bishophill Jack 1PT WIN@7/1 various. PU (4/1)

Speculative selection today with a horse that is well thought of by the yard. He has gambled on for this first run in a handicap hurdle at Huntingdon last season but ran appallingly after which his train mentioned he was a big immature baby who would be better over fences this season. After his last run the trainer commented that “Bishophill Jack jumped and ran well but showed that he needs further. Today he steps up to 3 miles and off bottom weight with Jason Maguire on board he has to be given a chance at the price available.Well backed but another appalling run and never got into any rhythm before being pulled up. One to avoid for me from now on.

Hindsight and The Benefit of Twitter

Moonlight Drive travelled and jumped well yesterday in finishing 2^nd but I wish I could have withdrawn the Blog selection after reading the following tweet from Sean Quinn trainers son “We like Moonlight Drive but its his 1st spin over fences + he will definitely come on for the run” and after the race tweeted “MD...well don't say you weren't told. Nice horse though + we're happy enough” .  So consider yesterday a temporary loan to the bookmakers that we will get back with interest at a later stage of the season, as he remains a horse with a lot of potential and is one I will keep on my side. Two meetings today at Ascot and Haydock and there is one selection.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +27.67

Haydock 1.35 Mr Moonshine 1PT WIN @11/4 Paddy Power 1st (11/4)

I was at Carlisle a few weeks ago when Mr Moonshine comfortably beat my selection that day Hidden Keel and it was clearly no fluke. He travelled and jumped well and had my selection in trouble with over a circuit to go. Today is no easy task, as last time he was receiving weight from the field but today he has to give 8lb to his three very decent rivals, however I expect him to attempt to go out and try to make all and if he can get into a nice rhythm like at Carlisle I can see his putting pressure on his rivals jumping. As well as the weight concession there is an additional risk that after he put up a very impressive performance at Huntingdon last season he ran very flat in his following race. However the Sue Smith stable remain in good form and at the price available with the experience jumping fences I think he is a worthwhile bet. Made all jumped well, another comfortable winner

Another Winner Yesterday

Sole Survivor proved another profitable day for the blog, surprisingly drifting out to a SP of 12/1 having been advised at 10/1 and being backed during the morning to as low as 6/1. Always in the front rank he jumped ok early on, but started making mistakes from about 4 out and I must admit I thought he would drop away and finish mid field and be better for the run, but to his credit he showed great courage to battle back from the home turn and get up on the line. He is clearly a stayer and a step up in trip will suit next time out. So another 7.2PTs profit on the day.Three meetings tomorrow at Hereford, Market Rasen and Wincacton and there is one selection at Market  Rasen.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +28.67

Market Rasen 1.50 Moonlight Drive 1PT WIN @11/8 B365

This is a fairly competitive novice chase and I was immediately attracted to the booking of the champ AP McCoy for trainer John Quinn in the absence of suspended stable jockey Dougie Costello. Having gone into the form of the horse and visited the trainers website I can now understand why the jockey booking. John Quinn comments “this lad surprised me last season. I fell in love with him when I saw him at the Brightwells point-to-point to sale last year. However, I bought with a view to him being a long term project and he probably still is. Yet the speed he shows at home for a horse with his breeding is amazing. He won his novice hurdle at Wetherby from a well regarded horse in Trustan Times. We then ran him in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and it was a case of asking too much from him too soon. He has strengthened nicely through the summer months and he will now go novice chasing. Big horse, big future”.  Given the jockey booking I expect a big run today.

Almost Missed A Selection

Having just read an update on Paul Webbers website there is a horse running today which I almost missed as for some reason I have failed to get an e-mail from the Racing UK Nagme service

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +21.47

Warwick 15.00 Sole Survivor 1/2PT E/W  @10/1 Bet365 (1st 12/1)

Sole Survivor was a horse I was following last season who had three runs in bumpers. He is highly thought of by his stable and makes his debut today in a fairly competitive novice hurdle, although a couple of the shorter priced horses in the market look as though they need further than this minimum 2 mile trip. The latest stable view on the horse on their website  is “one of the best looking horses in the yard, has schooled so impressively and will hopefully make his debut over hurdles next week. We are getting excited about this horse”.  At his current price I think he is worth an investment. Looks to need further than minimum 2 mile trip but stayed on well from home turn to get there on the line for another nice priced winner.

More Competitive Days Racing

Much more competitive racing today at Hexham and Warwick, but having been through the cards there is nothing that jumps out as a betting opportunity.  As I have mentioned before the reason for doing my blog is to add further discipline to my betting and not go looking for selections when I have no strong opinions, which in the past has resulted in a number of unsuccessful bets.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +21.47

Poor Quality Racing Again

Having been spoilt with the high class racing at Cheltenham over the weekend today we once again have  two very low class cards at Fakenham and Folkestone with small fields and poor class horses and as a result there is no bet. Things should  improve as the week progresses and there will be some selections later in the week.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +21.47

A Bit of A Rant

Back from a fantastic three days racing at Cheltenham with plenty of future winners spotted for the blog over the coming months. 

There was one selection yesterday at Fontwell with It’s A Classic finishing 2^nd but I was very disappointed by the ride given by Mark Grant as this stamina testing race was run at crawl for 2 ½ circuits before the tempo increased and turned into a sprint from four out. As a result It’s A Classic who is an out and out stayer was outpaced dropping back to 5^th on the home turn before staying on up the home straight to take 2^nd but having no chance with winner Always Bold who had already gone clear. Having never ridden a horse in a race maybe I am being unfair on the jockey but having been a reader of races for over 20 years why the jockey didn’t go to the front and gradually increase the tempo  himself with over a circuit to go and uses the horses abundant stamina is beyond me.  Rant over as only 1PT lost on the day after what has been a very good week for the blog. Two cards today at Leicester and Plumpton and being a typical Monday with small fields and there is no selection.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +21.47