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Ominous start to the day. Obviously, not the first time JP has done the bookmakers a nice turn with an outsider. And we know it won’t be the last. In fact considering what happened in the first race JP must be the toast of the layers. Of course the two fancied ones of his in the handicap hurdle will no doubt run stinkers.
Well that was one of the very few things I got right. Garbage efforts by both Scoir Mear and Sire Du Berlais.
Thankfully, we could both still rely on Robbie Power. I don’t think Sizing Codelco was at his best today but at least he won. In pessimistic mode I had thought that before the mistake Heron Heights was going to be the party pooper.
I think that was Apple’s Jade’s best performance of the season. Augusta Kate was beaten almost before she started. You can’t drop a horse out that far, least of all one who seemingly can’t jump.
The attentions of Dandy Mag didn’t help but Mega Fortune was badly outpaced. It wasn’t a very good week for Russell.
At Sandown Altior was much better than at Cheltenham. He has to be the best horse in training.
I did flag it up beforehand but it seems I was the only person who didn’t know Just A Par was going to run like a drain. Either he was badly prepared or he has gone completely.
Well, by hook or by crook, I made it to 5 days in a row profit, though from rather unlikely sources, in Theatre Guide, and Benbens, and also Sizing Codelco & Liveloughlaugh.
Very disappointed that Rock The Kasbah couldn’t do it, but chuffed to bits with both Theatre Guide & Benbens, and the 40’s on Theatre Guide was particularly helpful.
At Punchestown, Sizing Codelco showed those qualities I love so much once again, he just didn’t give up, and I’m not giving up on him now either. He gives me something to look forward to next season. I really like how Tizzard has campaigned him. I can see next season’s thread being top heavy with Tizzard horses.
I left the Handicap Hurdle to the last moment, and plumped for Livelovelaugh, who I was amazed to see at 20’s with Ladbrokes. It was my last bet of the season, and I had a fair old go each way. Decent return, but just a wee bit deflated, so close, and would have been some winner to go out on.
Of the rest, White Arm & Ptit Zig made a real fist of it, but the rest never really figured. Little Jon was my big loser of the day, and easily my biggest loser of the week.
Theinval, Ttebbob, Captain Von Trappe, and The Young Master, all let me down again, and they all look to be getting a “free transfer” from my list of cliff horses, and I’d be surprised if I go in again.
Apples Jade has proved herself this year……..eventually, and confirmed the promise she showed last year, while I’d totally go along with your comments on Altior & Davy Russell. The least said about Just A Par, the better, someone knew.
I’ll wind this thread up properly on Monday or Tuesday.
No rest for you Bob got Ascot this week and guineas meeting next week so expect more wisdom from you on these meetings mate.Big handicap sprint at Newmarket and i know how much you love those races
Well, that’s another season, and another thread, done and dusted.
Really enjoyed it this year, and it’s been a decent “season” for me, my Season running from Royal Ascot to the end of the jumps. 2015-16 was my second most successful season ever, and as my losing/winning season sequence normally runs WLWLWLWLW……I feared the worst for 16/17. Not a bit of it though, and I eclipsed last season, and can now say 2016-17 is my second most successful season ever. 15/16 saw Rule The World, and Cause of Causes give me 2 wins which were my 3rd and 4th single bets ever, and though I didn’t quite equal them, Wrath of Titans (more about him later) and Lisa O’Neil (more about her later too) went bloody close.
Started off this seasons thread off the back of my annual summer windfall from Aranhill Chief, and I went into Royal Ascot full of confidence. Even though I’m more of a jumps man, I do love the flat as well, and decided to take a weeks holiday for Royal Ascot. It did not to go to plan. Not pocket talking here, as I’ve only had 3 winning Royal Ascots anyway, but it was a huge letdown, with not only winning bets thin on the ground, but it was also the dullest Royal Ascot in living memory. Nothing much happened, with no particularly big stories, or blow away performances, I was gutted.
The summer didn’t continue too well either at Galway, a meeting I love, and I took a beating…….again. The other big meeting around this time though was much kinder to me. I enjoyed a few winners at Glorious Goodwood, including a chunky each way from one of my favourite flat horses, Belgian Bill, and I also had a real touch from Hoof It. Bet him at 22’s on the Friday Night, only to watch a monumental gamble take place on him, and he did the business at considerably shorter odds, to give me, after Aranhill Chief, a very healthy summer indeed. Happy Days.
Those 2 wins aside, it was fairly quiet on the winners front, in June and July, but things turned in August, and there were a couple of Saturdays which went very well, culminating in the last Saturday of the month, when Quebee, Dolphin Vista, and Captain Brown all scored. That was a good day. Other highlights from August included The Ebor Meeting. I always give this meeting a good go, and this meeting always gives me a kicking, but this season was different, and I had a good few winners, though the highlight was undoubtedly Thesme getting me each way money at 100’s in The Nunthorpe (I think that was the name of the race lol).
Confidence was again high going into September, and things got better again. Good few winners about, and Classic Seniority in The Ayr Bronze Cup was a real highlight at 20’s. As much as I continue to love the flat, I’ve never hidden my lack of interest in The Classics, to the extent that I’d never had a bet on The St Leger before, but I dipped my toe in the water this term, with a complete rag called Harbour Law at 33’s. To my undeducated eye, this looked a particularly weak renewal, and I’d seen a bit of promise from him before, so thought he was worth a pop. He was indeed, I was over the moon when he won, and I don’t think I’ll bet on The St Leger again, I’ll just keep my 100% record.
The good run got even better with one of my favourite Flat Races, The Cambridgeshire. I went for Spark Plug at 33’s when the entries came out, and with him being one of my favourite horses, I was strangely confident he was weighted to go close. I don’t watch replays of Flat Races very often, but I have watched this race over and over, and the sight of him firing up the stand side is a sight to behold. It was the September Holiday Weekend up here, and I was half pissed already watching it. After the race, I was considerably more pissed, happy happy days.
Pride of place in September though, goes to Wrath of Titans in The Kerry National. Love this race, but had a wretched record in it. When the entries came out, I quickly earmarked Wrath as my #1, he looked the standout, but no firms had priced it up. When they eventually did, Wrath was a general 33’s. I couldn’t believe it, I had him as near favourite, yet the various firms didn’t rate him, and that 33’s was widely available. I fired in, and had a proper go. Under Lisa O’Neil (yet more of her later) he scythed through the field in the latter stages, winning with a fair old bit to spare. To say I went mental would be an understatement, and is easily in my top 10 biggest winners ever. Over the moon. I was absolutely gutted to find out a couple of months ago, that the poor boy died. I don’t know what happened, but I hope he didn’t suffer. RIP son
October was pretty quiet, with not many winners about at all, and my favourite Flat Race, The Cesarewitch, cost me a fair few quid both Ante-Post, and on the day, couldn’t have got it more wrong. Another race where I didn’t have the winner, was The Munster National, but it turned out to be a race I’ll never forget. I was on Dare to Endeavour, but it was the winner, Tiger Roll, who absolutely blew me away. He was dynamite, and the ease in which he travelled into it, the ease at which he jumped, and the ease at which he won was incredible. I expected a fair few headlines afterwards hailing the performance, but bar the usual generic headlines……nothing. It was a real headscratcher, and I appeared to be the only one who was blown away by it. He went into my notebook for one race in particular, The 4 Miler at Cheltenham. That turned out to be a wise move.
At the tail end of the previous season, I had mentioned Native River as my Hennessy Gold Cup/Cheltenham Gold Cup Horse, and I had been given the ridiculous odds of 250-1. When I think of last November, I think of one race only, and his win in The Hennessy had me in dreamland. I was on him at 16’s for The Hennessy alone, but that mattered not a jot, and I thought I was in for a real chance at those odds. His win the following month in The Welsh National, was even more impressive than The Newbury win, and I knew then he was a player. Lowlight of this month was definitely my old pal Seeyouatmidnight taking in yet another Grade 1, this time in The Betfair. Predictably, he got stuffed, and got injured in the process The most discussed horse on the thread this year was undoubtedly Empire of Dirt, with me and stilvi being big fans, and though I didn’t bet him on the day, his win in The Troytown couldn’t have been more impressive, and as I had him at 1000’s for The Gold Cup, I was quietly confident.
Highlights of December were Thistlecrack winning The King George at 12’s for me, still can’t believe I got those odds, while Another Hero at 50’s, and Oscar Knight at 25’s, went so close to big wins, but I had to settle for place money, while despite my 1, 3, 4 in The Welsh National being incredibly frustrating with regards to my Trifecta, the place money at big odds for Houblon Des Obeaux, and Beg To Differ, softened the blow. Poor Beg to Differ was another not to survive the season.
Then came January and February, they were 2 long months. To be fair, this is the time of year when I concentrate more on Cheltenham Ante-Posts, and my stakes for my daily bets reduces, but still, winners were thin on the ground, and into February, I had to stop betting on Saturdays altogether, as everything was getting stuffed. My only winner of note was Ziga Boy in The Skybet, though I was particularly happy that he was an Ante-Post a fortnight before the race. Champagne West in The Thyestes was another rare highlight. He’s another I didn’t bet on the day, but he was another I had at 1000’s for The Gold Cup, and he was absolutely dynamite that day at Gowran Park. I maintain it was the best performance of the season. I was even selecting horses for the Saturday comps on here, without betting them, and they were getting stuffed as well, so confidence going into the all important month of March was severely dented.
My luck turned the Sunday before Cheltenham. Mad keen on Folsom Blue in the big chase in Ireland at 20’s, and he gave me a decent ew lift, as well as landing the forecast, and I was back up an running.
Everyting went right at Cheltenham this year. All my books were “green” going into it, bar The Stayers which I had scrapped early doors, and The Ryanair which I got wrong again, but not anywhere near the extent of last season.
Day 1, and Labaik at 40’s with Non Runner money back offer had to be the bet of the season, and he won it with plenty to spare. I was now well ahead Ante-Post, and also couldn’t possibly lose on the week, talk about pressure off. There were plenty other highlights during the week, from the likes of Ordinary World, Supasundae, Sutton Manor, and Sir Valentino, but really it was all about Tiger Roll and Cause of Causes.
I had banged the drum of Tiger Roll a few times, and he was an early shout of mine for The 4 Miler. Under Lisa O’Neil
he hit what seemed like every fence, and at one stage, I’m sure the pair of them ran onto the hurdles course, rattled the top of a few flights just for good measure, before returning to the pack. Despite those mistakes, bizarrely, it never looked in doubt, and I was confident the whole way round. He won it bloody easy, and though poor Edwulf broke down on the straight (he was well beaten at the time, and thankfully he’s Ok), nobody was getting near them, and it was one of the most impressive winners of the week. What a ride from O’Neil, she never seemed to panic, and after this season I owe her plenty, she really has done me a proper turn.That brings us on to the Wednesday, and that’s where things got really interesting. I had Tiger Roll in a few doubles with Cause of Causes at the Ante-Post prices, and I was, pardon the language, shitting myself. We all have those horses who we consider to be our horse, and Cause of Causes, is “my” horse. He’s been a cash machine for me over the years, and I was now waiting on him for my second biggest ever return. Never in doubt, and under the best amateur jock of recent times, Jamie Codd, he brought home the bacon. I was in the pub watching it, and though I’m known to scream the house down, in a public place, be it pub, course, bookies etc, I do try and keep things together, but I fairly went berserk, and it was a moment I will never forget. 3 or 4 guys on here knew what it meant, and what it was worth to me, and I’ll do well to top that moment. That I had Flying Tiger at 33’s to 50’s in the next, made things only more unreal.
Lowlight of Cheltenham was undoubtedly Empire of Dirt. He just wasn’t right, and though UDS was a fair winner, I can’t help but think that an on-song Empire would have taken care of him. I wouldn’t call Native River in The Gold Cup a “lowlight”. I was delighted to have such a ridiculous bet give me a run for my money, but having put the bet on last summer, to see him almost make it, was understandably a bit of an Anti-Climax. No complaints with what is a very genuine and deserved Gold Cup Winner in Sizing John, but I can’t help thinking of Native River drifting in the betting a fortnight before the race, after bleeding, and also the bug which clearly had got into the Tizzard yard…………….what might have been.
Aintree was a bit of a damp squib. Cause of Causes, who was my first horse bet for The National, way back last April, went so close. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t favourite, I thought he was nailed on, with no negatives about him, and though him placing won me a right few quid, the win would have been spectacular. Sizing Codelco though, in the earlier race though had won me a fair few bob, and he was quickly on all sort of lists of mine for next year, and he was the horse I took out of Aintree.
The season kind of fizzled out after that, with a dismal Ayr, and an “ok” Fairyhouse, but Punchestown came to the rescue, and I had a bloody good week, with plenty of winners about.
That’s that then, and as usual, apologies for rambling on, I’m aware that it can come across as a bit self indulgent, but I feel that a season long thread should be wrapped up properly.
It really was a season I’ll never forget, with Tiger Roll, Cause of Causes, and Wrath of Titans the real highlights, and Native River giving me a real thrill along the way. That’s 2 really profitable seasons in a row, and I’ll be full of dread going into next season, as it’ll be hard to do it 3 seasons in a row. Perfect time to wrap this up, as there’s not much for me until Royal Ascot, but looking forward to the break away from here, and I’ll try to pop in once a week now, just for the Saturday Comps, and my “systems” updates.
Many thanks to everybody who popped in, especially Stilvi, Moe, and Darren. No point in rabbiting on yourself, and I appreciated your contributions guys.
Onwards and upwards, and I’ll leave the thread with these bets, as my early Ante-Posts for next year, and ones I’m really looking forward to. I can’t possibly beat this one surely, but got plenty in my sights, including a fair few from the Tizzard camp. I’d say the Sutton Place bet is obviously a loser already, and I hope we get to see him over a fence, as I’m mad keen on him The 4 Miler, but these are my main ones so far (lifted from Cheltenham 2018 Bets thread)…………..
Sutton Place 50-1 Champion Hurdle – He was one of my main fancies for The Champion Hurdle this season, but it didn’t go according to plan, and fences were mentioned. He wasn’t seen at all though until the tail end of January, when he came back out and won in nice style at Naas. He then stepped up in trip at Navan next time, and probably won with a bit more in hand than it looked. Connections quickly dismissed any notion of Cheltenham this year, and that seem strange to me, he would surely have been a player in The Champion Hurdle. I asked for a price before his Naas win, and 50’s was the best I could get, which I think tells it’s own story. I actually think it’s a poor bet now, as 50’s is poor value for a horse who now looks more likely to go Stayers route, or could very well go over fences. I think I’ll easily be able to beat 50’s as the year goes on. Edit………pulled up lame in The Stayers at Punchestown, and assuming he’s ok, I’ll hope to see him in The 4 Miler, and he’s already made some perms at 20’s for that race.
Cause of Causes 125-1 Gold Cup – I’m wearing my Cause of Causes T-Shirt (Ok, it’s a onesie), drinking my Coffee out of my Cause of Causes mug as I type this, but I just think he’s worth one attempt at The Gold Cup. I wanted 200’s for him, but I didn’t get anywhere near it. After his win in The Cross Country, I would have him as potentially overpriced at 10’s for The 2018 Renewal of that race, but they must be tempted to win 4 different races at The Festival with him. Love him to bits, and have topped up at 66’s.
Tiger Roll 250-1 Gold Cup – I’m not quite wearing Tiger Roll slippers yet (they’re in the post), but I just love this horse as well. Not pocket talking, as I didn’t bet him that day, but his run in The Munster National blew me away, and I thought he was dynamite. He was a decent long term gamble for me for The 4 Miler, and he did it pretty easily to be honest. There’s surely more to come from him, and if he can keep on his feet, he’s tiny, then, don’t laugh, but I genuinely fancy him for this. Edit………….he is now my clear #1 for The Grand National, and 50’s is decent.
Bacchason 50-1 Ryanair, and 100-1 Gold Cup – Interesting that this boy didn’t go to Cheltenham, but I was hugely impressed with him at Gowran Park last time, and he must have a chance of progressing next year. Same connections as Un De Sceaux, and if they fancy sending UDS to The Gold Cup, then I think this boy could be an able deputy. He’s all potential at the moment, and a bit “leftfield”, but I like him. Another who I reckon I could get at bigger odds later in the year.
Samcro 100-1 Champion Hurdle – Highly regarded horse, and he’s been looked after carefully so far. Very much like Blow By Blow, who’s been given similar “Kid Gloves” treatment last season, I think he’s a star in the making. I can see him being the focus of a lot of discussion regarding whether or not he goes the Supreme/Neptune/Albert Bartlett route, but as I don’t really play those markets heavily Ante-Post, I thought I’d take a swing at the big one……..should he progress rapidly, and with the chance of Petit Mouchoir going chasing, and Apples Jade staying in The Mares. It’s helluva unlikely that he’all go Champion Hurdle, but worth a swing at it. As I said, I really think he’s a star in the making, and it’s very rare for me to be excited about a Novice Hurdler.
Sizing Codelco 100-1 Cheltenham Gold Cup – The Tizzard/Potts combination is dynamite just now, and I hope the hot streak can continue into next season with this guy. Loads to like about the way he fought off all comers at Aintree, and I couldn’t resist a go at that price with Paddy Power (took 66’s with Stan James as well). Connections rate him highly, and worth noting, that his poor run at Cheltenham was during that unfortunate spell, when there was clearly something affecting the yards runners. I’ve taken him at 500-1 for The Ladbroke Gold Cup/Cheltenham Gold Cup Double, and 33’s for The Ladbroke itself. Edit…..has came out and won at Punchestown, again, showing those battling qualities he’ll need for Cheltenham. He shouldn’t go up too much I hope for this recent win, and I’m still very excited about him.
Thank you guys for reading my nonsense, and be back properly on DLAP in June……………I’m now away to venture outside
he hit what seemed like every fence, and at one stage, I’m sure the pair of them ran onto the hurdles course, rattled the top of a few flights just for good measure, before returning to the pack. Despite those mistakes, bizarrely, it never looked in doubt, and I was confident the whole way round. He won it bloody easy, and though poor Edwulf broke down on the straight (he was well beaten at the time, and thankfully he’s Ok), nobody was getting near them, and it was one of the most impressive winners of the week. What a ride from O’Neil, she never seemed to panic, and after this season I owe her plenty, she really has done me a proper turn.
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