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Yeah Bobby many thanks for allowing the invasion
Looks like I am on a diet of one winner per day at Punchestown pretty much apart from one day but to be honest I have shown a decent profit with my places too and would be even more in front if I took care with my typing!! Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Only bet a few today
EMBRACING CHANGE FUTURAMIC
Futuramic is a bit of a punt but EC has been laid out for this big style IMO
AURORE D’ESTRUVAL is a nice traveller and maybe the drop back in trip a little will suit.
TOON RIVER and CAPTAIN VON TRAPPE.
NOT FOR BURNING if it gets in and CHAMPAGANE AT TARA
Well thats me lot for Punche and once again thanks Bobby for allowing the hijacking GOOD MAN
And good luck guys
PUNCHESTOWN
3:10 The job is right 14-1
5:00 Wrath of Titans 20-1 NAP
5:35 The Romford Pele 28-1 (hopefully will be ridden positively)Ew patent
Well thankfully Cup Final turned the week and it has been about trying to find a little more profit (without taking too many chances) over the last two days. I need the big priced winners because if you are backing in the 1/1-2/1 range you probably need a 50-60% strike rate and history would show I come up well short. That doesn’t stop me trying and Invitation Only and Jer’s Girl have both managed to justify relatively short odds this week.
On to today and we have the usual low-key opener. Will the weight difference and shorter distance help Cantlow reverse form? I doubt it, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Thunder And Roses is another Gigginstown horse I followed (with little success) in his early days. He was awful in the National Hunt Chase but then popped up in an Irish National. He badly needs the visor and in particular being reunited with Katie Walsh to spark him into life. I haven’t backed him yet but despite the lack of market confidence (he is out to 25/1) I might still be tempted.
I missed the early price but I think Slowmotion looks the part and have taken her to make the most of the 10lbs she gets from Limini.
I thought Apple’s Jade was exceptional at Aintree. Why the trainer was immediately waffling on about the World Hurdle is beyond me. She has bags of pace (off an interrupted preparation she quickened clear of the winner at Cheltenham and was ultimately outstayed) and jumps brilliantly. Hopefully, she is impressive today and will be campaigned as a Champion Hurdle horse unless she clearly shows that she actually needs a step up in trip.
The market has probably got the staying handicap correct with the less exposed types at the head. I can’t decide between them.
To my eyes the handicap hurdle looks even more competitive than a Coral Cup. Very disappointing JP couldn’t have entered a few more! Sorry VTC but I backed De Name Escapes Me last night. I am worried by the absence because I thought he would have taken a nice prize before now. Pretty sure he was entered for one of the big handicaps and was pulled. He is on a nice weight if nothing is amiss. It goes without saying there are a host of dangers.
I have gone with the obvious pair, Stretchingthetruth and Rathnure Rebel, in the bumper. Their point form has received big boosts although the latter hasn’t been on track for two years so has clearly had problems. I will be keeping an eye on Professional Quest although I would strongly argue with the Racing Post comment that he has a ‘good jockey booked’.
Good luck all.
You’re more than welcome Raymo cheers.
There’s your winners there, Embracing Change & Captain Von Trappe, nearly included them myself, and totally agree EC, looks like this has always been the plan.
Good luck
I like your bet a lot ATP, and if this comes in I will be a very happy boy.
Best of luck (obviously lol)
Looks like a solid week stilvi for you, no easy feat at a meeting like this.
Yeah, work permitting, hoping to catch Apples Jade, and until she suggests otherwise, first plan surely has to be Champion Hurdle. Obviously know a lot more today.
Yup, another poor opening race, but I’ll cheer on old Quantitativeeasing anyway.
Slowmotion does look solid, be amazed if she’s not involved.
Very happy to see your support for Da Name Escapes Me & Thunder and Roses. It seems that those horses which have had more than one of us on this thread backing them this week, have ran very well. A good omen.
Good luck today.
Busy day for me today as well, meeting up with my son and his wife this afternoon.
I’ve stuck a couple on and hope they can bring a very good week to a good end.
I’m with you Bobby on TULSA JACK in the 3.10 at Punchestown, who if he is
anywhere near his form of the Cork National, would have have a decent chance here and at
16/1 he’s worth an e/w.I’m also having a punt on DICOSIMO in the 5.35 at Punchestown, who hasn’t
been the luckiest of horses. I had a bet on him when I had my day at Cheltenham, but he came
to grief at the 4th. That was his 2nd fall in a row so he is a bit chancy, there is also the
fact that he is carrying a lot of weight which generally doesn’t bode well in this, but I think
he is a very decent horse and at 33/1 5 places with PP I think he is worth the risk.I’ve also bet the 3 and 4 that I’ve put in Jac and Bob Rolf’s competition. I can catch up with
them later and hope I hit something right.Best of luck Bobby…and the rest of the happy band of invaders to your thread
Ended with one winner for a small loss on the day. Not too disappointed.
Thunder And Roses ran better but is still not finishing his races off. Not sure it is purely down to a rise in the weights. If they can get him right it would seem sensible to let Katie Walsh keep the ride.
It is pretty annoying when you take on a favourite who under performs and then your own horse under performs even more. It doesn’t help when the jockey turns in a woeful effort as well. That’s pretty much the story of Slowmotion.
I must admit to some concern when Apple’s Jade set out to make it but although she didn’t jump quite as well she still won with plenty in hand. The biggest concern though is what keeps coming out of the trainer’s mouth after her races. He is suddenly proclaiming her his best juvenile ever. Everyone already knew that. Can anyone remember Scolardy? He was saying that the Aintree run took a lot out of her, now he is talking about running her in France. What would be the point? Gigginstown certainly don’t need the cash. She looks like a smallish, light-framed sort who would benefit from a nice long break. It appears the trainer wants to get her beat. She would be 5/1 with everyone for the Champion if the trainer wasn’t continually talking nonsense.
Another shocker from Geraghty in the handicap chase.
What a surprise he then wins the big pot with a degree of comfort. This was the day for him, it wasn’t the day for De Name Escapes Me. At the point when he was just about to challenge for a place he immediately hit reverse and it is hard to believe he was ready for race like this. I suspect the market will tell everyone when he is.
Stretchingthetruth looks a promising type who will probably be even better on quicker ground. Either the jock has misjudged the pace very badly or Rathnure Rebel was another Noel Meade horse not fit enough to do himself justice. There was a little bit of market support for Professional Guest but he showed next-to-nothing and looks a big, immature chasing type.
Big thanks to VTC for ‘hosting’ the week’s chat. Enjoyable stuff although mixed with a tinge of sadness that it brings the curtain down on the jump’s season.
You’re welcome Stilvi, and I really enjoyed the chat all week. Many thanks to You, Raymo, BigG, Moehat, Homer, and Atthepost, been good fun, and good to see a few winners kicking about.
Yeah, these trainers can make a fool of themselves way too often, but delighted to see Apples Jade win, and looking forward to seeing her next season. Totally agree, France would do nothing for her, win or lose, and I hope they don’t ruin a promising sort.
Don’t want to talk about The Mares Hurdle. I knew Limini was worth opposing, and I was pretty confident of having the winner, amongst the Harrington pair, but not to be.
Thunder and Roses definitely runs better with Katie Walsh in the saddle, and with another couple of pounds off of him, then a big pot just might come his way again next year.
I thought that Da Name Escape Me was going to sweep round the field, very much like Cup Final, but as you say, he seemed to go into reverse quickly, and it was like he hit a brick wall. I mentioned that the prolonged break didn’t concern me…….maybe it should have.
Betting wise it was another decent day for me, and to get a profit, 4 out of 5 days at The Punchestown Festival was a good feeling.
In the 1510, as mentioned, Thunder and Roses paid for the race, and I got my money back with a pre-race lay on him. He was huge odds before the off, and I had a good go at 70’s and 75’s. Not to be, but they gave me a good spin. The Job Is Right never got into contention, but I haven’t completely lost hope with him either, and I’ll be checking him out next season. I was cursing myself when Forgotten Gold got placed though. I nearly bet him each way in the morning at the bigger odds, but decided to stick with the 2. He’s ultra consistent, and deserves a fair prize.
I had a very decent lift from Katkeau at Uttoxeter, and most of that went the way of Pleasant Company, and Wrath of Titans. I’ve gave Pleasant Company a good few mentions this year, and it’s always great when they repay you. Very much like earlier winner, Fletchers Flyer, he looks of serious interest for the big staying chases next year. A very decent return for me, and chuffed to bits with him.
I’d cooled on Sky Khan before the off, and he only had a few quid on, but as promised, if I was ahead, I would hammer the last race, and I certainly did. Chesterfield Avenue gave me a good spin, while Da Name Escapes Me flatterd to deceive…………and that brings me on to The Romford Pele. If he’d won, it would have been a huge return, and what a buzz, and yet again I found myself screaming like a banshee. So bloody close, and he more than paid for the race, laying in running, though didn’t quite go as low as I would have liked, but I suppose that was down to how well Anibale Fly was travelling.
Another good day then, with 1 losing race, 1 evens, and 2 winners. Highlight of the week was probably Cup Final, especially as we were all on him……………that was a great moment, was some buzz haha.
As for this thread, I’ll now wrap it up tomorrow, as running out of time tonight.
Well done again Bobby, and thanks for the hospitality this week, I’ve thoroughly
enjoyed itToday was nearly a wash out for me, in fact if it hadn’t been for Mrs BigG taking
too long doing, I don’t know…. whatever it is that women do getting ready to go out,
I wouldn’t have got Russian Realm in the 2.50 at Goodwood. I hadn’t even looked at the
race, and hadn’t intended having a punt, but as I was sitting twiddling my thumbs I had
a last minute bet on him (bet at 12/1…..returned at 14s) which covered my washout today,
but not my ante post bets on Buratino, who was really disappointing.I’m not going to complain, I’ve had a great week, fun wise and financially, and I’ve also
got my two decent bets on the 1000 Guineas tomorrow with out denting my Betvictor account
balance. I hope Frankie can do the double as I’ve got Nathra at 10s and a speculative e/w
on Aljazzi at 66s, although Betvictor have now gone 80/1…….bloody cheek, I’ll just have
to have a couple more quid on him.I’m sad to see the jumps finished, it’s what I love to get stuck into. I’ll still enjoy
the flat, but in truth I’m already hankering after the tapes being raised again. My first
visit to Cheltenham on Gold Cup day was the highlight of my year, I came away with a big
enough pot to have Mrs BigG talking about shoes and handbags and other life essentials, but
win or lose it would still have been better than I could have imagined. I’ll, God willing,
definitely be there next year on Gold Cup day.In the meantime, good luck with the flat guys
Once again thanks Bobby for allowing the thread invasion. It has been a fun week even though I blew out today at Punchestown. Backing the first two and exacta and forecast in the Guineas makes today another profitable day though!!
Cheers Bobby
Yeah Graham, like yourself and stilvi, gutted that that’s the jumps are over. I like the flat as well, in fact I like it more every year, but the period between Punchestown and Royal Ascot is the weakest of the year for me, not much to float my boat. Time to “venture” outside lol.
Oops, forgot to wrap this up.
Well, that’s that then, and another thread over and done with.
Always a sad time when the season comes to an end, but I’ll have a quick look over it.
After promising to take a decent break at the end of the last thread, I was straight back into it the next day. Took a wee while to get going, and I still think of that day in The Dash at Epsom, when I had the 2,3,4……that nearly floored me, but I only had to wait a couple of days before a whopping return from Aranhill Chief at Roscommon. He came in at 16’s but was a lot better on the exchanges, and that kept me going through the summer. A summer that included a “so-so” Royal Ascot & Glorious Goodwood, and a losing Galway, though if Udododontu had held off War Envoy on The Thursday of Royal Ascot, then I’d have got a near 5 figure return. That was still a good day though, and again, kept me going without not too many winners about.
August was fairly quiet, but that win from Heartbreak City at York was a belter, before my excellent September. It was easily (at that time) my second most profitable month ever, with the likes of Tatlisu winning the Ayr Silver Cup at big odds, followed by Poyle Vinnie going agonisingly close in The Gold Cup. I had Vinnie at various odds from 50’s to 66’s, and also in an each way double with Tatlisu, so another good day, though a winning, rather than ew double would have been awesome.
Very confident after The September then, and what followed was a dismal, and I mean dismal, October. Went to the 2 day York Meeting, and bet in 9 of the races over the 2 days………and I don’t think I even had a horse placed. I then watched The Cesarewitch on the big screen at the course. I turned round to my mate and said “I’m no quite sure why I haven’t bet Grumeti?”. Watched Grumeti go on to land it at 66’s, and that summed up my October.
The real action then kicked in in November, and my first big bet was Double Ross in The Paddy Power. Not quoted in the ante-post list, I was mad keen on him, and added him to the market myself. This lead to Stan James alone pricing him at 33’s, and I was on, with a big each way go. If it had been just a bit drier, he’d have won, and with him leading at the last, it was still a great effort, and set me up for the season.
First proper big win was Minella Foru in The Paddy Power, antepost at 20’s, and I was very thankful for this, as Rossvoss in the same race was my biggest loser of the season.
The following months were just superb, with my most successful Aintree ever, off the back of my 2nd best Cheltenham, and Heartbreak City at that whopping 28’s. Highlights were obviously Cause of Causes and Rule The World. As I’ve prattled on about before, I napped Cause of Causes for The Kim Muir, when he wasn’t even quoted, and like Double Ross, had to add him myself. I was offered 20’s, and I gave it a proper go. Him scything through the field, well what a feeling.
I only had to wait 3 weeks for an even better one. Rule The World, although not my #1 by any stretch on the day, still did the business, and having him at 180’s was fab. Both he and Cause of Causes make my top 5 biggest winners ever, and to have them in the space of 3 weeks gave me for the second time this season, my most profitable month in racing ever. Happy Happy days. Having Vics Canvas placed at 100’s made it even sweeter, and coming days after having Ballyadam Approach placed at 66’s in The Irish National, it really was a week and a half.
Finishing off the season with a decent Punchestown summed up the season perfectly, and I’m very very sorry to see it end.
As well as those mentioned, other enjoyable winners in the bigger races away from The Festivals were The Young Master (Bet365 Gold Cup), Mountainous (Welsh National), My Murphy (Thyestes), Ziga Boy (Skybet), Theatre Guide (Betbright Chase), Village Vic (Caspian Caviar) and Carlingford Lough (Irish Hennessy). Apologies for wee bit of self indulgence, but I’m not shy in talking about my losers, so in a decent season, something wrong if I don’t enjoy the winners
Losers there were though, and of course, plenty of them.
As I said, October was torture, as bad a run as you could imagine, and it really does drain you. This was the season where I did my own “books” a lot more. I’ve always did them for Gold Cup and National, but had started to experiment with it a bit more this year after kind of “stumbling” into one for the 2014 Welsh National. When it works, it’s great, but when it doesn’t…….deary me. Don’t really know how I managed to do it so badly, but The Ryanair was a textbook market. Textbook in how not to do it. Bet a stack of them, and put more than a few quid on. Didn’t get close to a penny back on any of them, and it was a very costly financial exercise. Amateur hour.
As I mentioned, Rossvoss was my biggest loser of the season, fancied him like mad, but he was nowhere. Ryanair aside, The Scottish National, normally a very good race for me, had a lot more invested on it than normal after Aintree, and it cost me a good few quid. Top Wood falling, and bringing down Folsom Blue, brought me back to earth quickly. Other notable big losers were 2 decent bets in The Hennessy, If In Doubt and Houblon Des Obeaux flopping, and I had another decent bet on Houblon at Ascot. Again, he was nowhere. Sternrubin in The Betfair, and John Constable Ante-Post for Scottish Champion Hurdle were other notably big losers. I’m hoping to get that money back from John Constable on Saturday in The Swinton
For a thread like this, unforgivable to miss out on a few exactas and trifectas, but I managed to manage it lol. Astracad/ Third Intention at Chepstow, Little Jon/Upepito at Newbury, were 2 that I managed not to put and leaving Champagne West out of The Trifecta at literally the last second in The Caspian Caviar was a costly blunder. The biggest error though was my winning trifecta on Cloudy Too, Virak & Fingal Bay in The Peter Marsh. I mentioned it on my other thread, and then forgot to stick it on this one. Seriously…..FFS!!! I’d still have had a losing return, but it would look a lot more respectable.
Betting aside, few other thoughts. Not a penny involved, but just fab to see Sprinter and Cue Card have the season they had, just brilliant. Not so good was the WPM/Ricci/Walsh debacle at Cheltenham. It was a farce, and was a bit re-assuring to see other people come round to the problem this year. I had a big losing Cheltenham last year, and didn’t want to go on about it too much, as it might look like sour grapes, but I didn’t enjoy them winning everything, keeping their star horses apart, and well, just their whole cloak and dagger approach.
That’s about that then, and though left with a big chunky minus figure on this thread, it’ll make me even more determined to get a better figure next year.
Definitely time for a wee break, I really need it, and the period between Punchestown and Royal Ascot is the best time of the year to do it. Apologies for rambling on, but no point in doing a season long thread, and not wrapping it up properly. I might start a new one in time for The Dash at Epsom, but I’ll probably give myself a proper break and wait for Royal Ascot.
Final figure -£1482.20
I know I go on about it Bobby but you do post a hell of a lot of terrific threads and comments and as always it is a pleasure to read them!!
It is good that we agree sometimes and disagree at others too!! I like a nice open discussion and it is nice to think that not everyone agrees with me!!
Anyway another compliment regarding this thread!!
WELL DONE and A GREAT READ !!! Many many thanks
Thanks Raymo, really enjoyed it this season, and thanks for the kind comments…….can’t wait to start it all off again real soon
bob just start a thread for wokingham i know you love these big field races thread in royal ascot forum
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