- This topic has 211 replies, 40 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 5 months ago by
.
- Posts
No offence intended AJ, but betting on Barney Curley, Richard Hills and second guessing Mark Johnstone jockey bookings is the quickest way to the poorhouse.
- Total Posts 17716
I agree entirely, diamond.
The point I was trying to make in my rather roundabout-inaccurate-say-what-I-want-to-say-without-actually-saying-it manner, was that the people to whom Racing For Change must sell this product remain blissfully unaware of the inherent intricacies and pitfalls. You know that trying to second-guess Mark Johnston and Dandy Nicholls is hellishly difficult, as do I, but newcomers don’t and I remain wildly sceptical about the length of time they’ll hang around only to be continually bemused by the rides given to their horses (whether accompanied by a startling market drift, or due to corruption or ineptitude).
Richard Hill’s performance aboard Hamloola serves as a perfect example. I don’t suspect for one second that the horse’s drift from 5/4 to 11/4 was anything other than genuine, but a relative newcomer backing that horse surely wouldn’t be satisfied with the jockey’s effort? If, in their short time as a ‘racegoer’, they’ve picked up that William Haggas is a very good trainer, Richard Hills a supposedly top class jockey and Hamdan Al Maktoum one of the biggest owners around, why in the name of all that is holy would they continue to pursue their new found interest on the back of such a result?
They won’t – and that’s just because of a race run honestly.
I guess I’ve become rapidly disillusioned with a sport that would rather show us half of one stewards’ enquiry and label it ‘progress’, than hack at its dark, putrid underbelly to show a willing to make integrity the number one priority. All I know is that I have seen enough in the last five days to finally convince me that British horse racing is no longer a viable betting medium.
No such problems for Culhane and Nelsons Bounty today. Had him a 9/1 shot myself…still I only have his public form to go on.Sport it aint.
He’s like Jekyll and Hyde, is Tony Culhane. Is there a better ‘job’ jockey around. Absolutely faultless when the money’s down….
A long line of bookmakers and value punters were seen lining up atop Gunthorpe Bridge tonight after financial slaughter at Nottingham racecourse.
Five favourites and one joint favourite did the business for a courseful of drinkers, tourists and novice racegoers leaving the opinion professionals and big price hunters bereft and lamenting a cruel world under the moonlight.
Not so everyone. A classy middle aged lady in a bright blue dress and high heel Blanek shoes was seen leaving the Martyn joint, laughing loudly while shoving crisp sheaves of twenty pound notes down her ample bosom after the unchallenged victory of heavily backed Divertimenti who, miraculously it must be said, managed to find the unwatered Golden Highway on the rail from a largely unpromising draw – something predicted well in advance by the Oracles and despite several other front runners in the race who er, couldn’t quite make the front on this occasion.
Sigh. Always another day, huh.
Nice one, Max.
Thin prices everywhere since the start of the month. Followers of the market top 3, 100 points ahead in August so far. Beans on toast for the value seekers amongst us.
Always tomorrow…
- Total Posts 17716
Are you able to find out if there have been an increased number of well-backed and/or big-priced maiden winners this season, Cav? How about an increase in the number of maiden winners not trained by the ‘usual’ suspects?
The victory of Prince James on the all-weather yesterday – beating the 1/3 favourite a shade comfortably having been dropped down to a more appropriate trip on his second start – struck me as strange, simply because he looked the sort of horse a smaller yard might attempt to exploit in nurseries and handicaps.
Moral Issue (3.15 Beverley) is a horse I’ll be keeping an eye on tomorrow in this respect.
Indeed, Cav! LOL. I’m laughing now, but I was pretty down earlier on.
Bertie Southstreet (say what?), who was pulling his handler’s arms off and gnashing his teeth like a lunatic before medicine time; Masta Plasta (who had been beaten three times in the same race before) and Rock Ace (no complaints there), were all heavily backed late doors AFTER I’d put bets on. Johnno’s class dropper Chilly Filly looked well and was heavily backed. I backed the Tregoning drifter (any price, any stake) who was tailed off after a mile despite looking a picture in the paddock. I was toying with the idea of asking Stuart Machin and/or the dapper Sam Turner what they thought of the run of the Tregoning horse – predicted accurately by someone despite a 3/1 forecast – but I let it go, as I always do.
The story of the night on the track was the whole course applauding Roy Bowring’s feats – particularly that of High Five Society, who, despite four completely failed attempts at a mile and a quarter and a hefty mark, won the opening mile and a quarter handicap in the style of Persian Punch, and the afore mentioned badly drawn Divertimenti, slaughtered out of sight up North only two days before who cantered home unchallenged. The owners had these two in doubles and were still celebrating loud and hearty in the Owners bar when I left. All right for some, huh.
You know that trying to second-guess Dandy Nicholls is hellishly difficult, as do I,
Very very few know Dandys plans and he will tell you the opposite you want to hear! I have just got back from Nottingham races and have been congratulating Trotter on his superb ride on
Regal Parade
on Sunday, funnily enough we never spoke about
Master Plasta
!
- Total Posts 17716
Are you able to find out if there have been an increased number of well-backed and/or big-priced maiden winners this season, Cav? How about an increase in the number of maiden winners not trained by the ‘usual’ suspects?
The victory of Prince James on the all-weather yesterday – beating the 1/3 favourite a shade comfortably having been dropped down to a more appropriate trip on his second start – struck me as strange, simply because he looked the sort of horse a smaller yard might attempt to exploit in nurseries and handicaps.
Moral Issue (3.15 Beverley) is a horse I’ll be keeping an eye on tomorrow in this respect.
Well, wasn’t that the story of my day?
Having finally convinced myself that betting on British horseracing is pointless, I spend an afternoon on the internet and end up backing Shewalksinbeauty, Moral Issue, Discanti, Gallic Star and Gritstone; the first four finishing second at 15/2, 33/1, 8/1 and 10/1 and the latter the subject of a god-awful ride from Joe Fanning, eventually coming home third.
As Steve Redgrave once said; ‘if any sees me going to bet again they have my permission to shoot me’.
Just to be helpful , I thought I’d post the in-running comments for Allanit in the 8:20 Kempton before he runs to save you reading them tomorrow.
"Raced freely, clear leader until str., headed 2f out, faded and eased." (14/1 op 7/1)Just to be helpful , I thought I’d post the in-running comments for Allanit in the 8:20 Kempton before he runs to save you reading them tomorrow.
"Raced freely, clear leader until str., headed 2f out, faded and eased." (14/1 op 7/1)The eternal optimist!
Any opinions on Culhanes ride of Brynfa Boy in the 5.10 at Newmarket? Held up today after racing prominently last four runs. Barely moved a muscle throughout and to my eyes made minimal effort.
Maybe something will come to light with the horse, the stewards should be taking a look.
- Total Posts 17716
I’ve e-mailed the BHA for clarification, Paul, because that was disgusting.
What did you make of Togiak’s performance at Fontwell on Wednesday? It was interesting to read that he was found to be lame in both front legs, having never been made competitive on his third start for David Pipe. Hadden Frost made no effort whatsoever – look at his proximity to the eventual winner on the back straight, and again as they turn in – and failed to mention, when questioned, that the horse wasn’t right.
Surely he’d have noticed?
Keep an eye on Ebony Diamond and Reaping The Reward, too. Quite what Timmy Murphy was up to at Wincanton and Perth respectively is anybody’s guess.
Brynfa Boy finished injured, so that would explain the lack of effort from the saddle.
Any opinions on the ride of Local Diktator in the 2:50 at Chepstow? Jockey sitting up in the saddle out of the stalls, horse switched left onto the far side rail, hands and heels all the way, a big pull taken at the furlong pole, horse running on again in the last 50 yards. Never a question asked of the horse at any stage during the race, imo.
Mmmm -tricky one that CR
On the one hand, only slightly slowly away, possibly looking to hold up at start. Rest of field went over to rail also. Pull at furlong pole explained by running up the behind of weakening horse in front.
On the other hand, everyone in front ‘busy’ but rider not asking for effort at any stage really.
One to keep an eye on I’d say but there was some circumstantial which
might
account for at least a couple of the aspects of your interpretation.
Good spot.
The pull was taken just outside the furlong pole when still three or four lengths behind Green Warrior and Hughes left a big gap on the far rail for Gannon to go through if she had wanted. The complete lack of any visual effort from the four furlong pole to the finish is very apparent imo.
As ever, at the slightest hint of interference or whip infringement, the stewards would be all over it, yet a questionable ride when it comes to the non trier rule isn’t even inquired into (as far as I know).
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.