Principal Meeting Selections

[Formath]

It’s my 78th birthday today so I thought I might indulge myself. The selections are currently being supported and the trainer/jockey combos are statistically in form.

Ludlow
2.00 Simply A Legend
2.30 Benbens
3.00 Dancingtilmidnight
3.30 Roalco De Farges
4.00 (No selection but Big Casino is genearlly fancied)
4.30 Lorikarad
5.00 Pure Science

A lot of selections so to reduce the liability 5 x consecutive win DBLS and 4 x consecutive win TRBLS = 9 points risk so a double could see us home .

[Nathan Hughes]

Happy birthday cocker.
Good luck with your picks hopefully they will provide you with a nice Cheltenham kitty. 78 years old you make billion look like a young whipper snapper……

Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026

[Matron]

Happy Birthday to you.

[Formath]

Thanks for the birthday greetings. A pity my selections did not give rise to celebration . I thought I might try finding a couple of selections from fancied runners at the short odds end of the market in the Channel 4 races, March 1, supported by cross staking:

CROSS STAKING

This staking plan is employed when backing 2 horses in each race.
(An alternative to dutching and in times past it was used to support 1st and 2nd forecast favourites in 3 mile handicap chases at the Principal National Hunt meeting of the day.)

So, we maintain two groups A anf B

Always commence staking 1 point per bet in each group.
The stake for the selection in a Group is always equal to the number of losers not cancelled by winners in the other Group.
Make out a table for recording bets adding columns for date, time, meeting and horse’s name.
Always star or cross out the number of losers in the results columns as they are cancelled (probably not explained very
well – I mean on winning cancel by marking out the number of losers in the other column equal to the amount of stake points on the winner).

Nwb 2.05 Who Owns Me Lost*1, Brackloon High Lost*1.
Dnc 2.20 Toubeera L*1, Mayfair Music 15/8 x 1 = +2.
Nwb 2.40 Tullamore Dew L1, Summery Justice 9/2 x 1 = +4.5.
Dnc 2.55 Simply Ned L1, Turn Over Sivola L*1.
Nwb 3.15 Tigris L2, Seventh Sky L*2.
Dnc 3.30 Monbeg Dude L3, Court By Surprise L*3.
Nwb 3.50 Shangani 3/1 x 4 = +12, Ulck Du Lin L4.

Next stakes 1 & 4.

Altered the title of this thread as I always take note of market moves when making a selection nowadays. Down a couple of points today after suffering from no luck in running, which could have made the difference. I hope the jockey who was injured is recovering.

[Formath]

Forecast is for rain hereabouts this afternoon so I thought I might watch racing on TV sat by the stove and imbibe a couple of drams – it’s a hard life being an OAP . Omitted the maiden and bumper races from my calculations and sticking with the cross staking plan. Did I state no bets in any race with an odds-on runner? I can’t remember, my short term memory is shot to bits.

Hnt 2.30 Ratify, Little Jimmy
Sed 2.40 Big Sound, Madam Lilibet
Hnt 3.00 Thomas Junior, Embsay Crag
Sed 3.10 Mitchell’s way, See What Happens
Sed 3.40 Forward Flight, Ben Cee Pee
Hnt 4.00 Scotsbrook, No No Charlie
Sed 4.10 Bennys Well, Nail’m
Hnt 4.30 Glowinginthedark, Silver Gent
Sed 4.40 Tokyo Javlex, Bocamix

[Formath]

There is no fool like an old fool – down 5 points overall yesterday by cross staking and could have broke even on level stakes. TODAY there will be one selection a race to level stakes . Mind you the vibes are not good with all the withdrawals.

Southwell
2.30 Galway Jack
4.25 Walter De La Mare

Cloud Creeper and Barton Rose also ought to be thereabouts but most likely odds-on .

[Nathan Hughes]

There is no fool like an old fool

Try telling billion that.

Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026

[Formath]

Threequaters of a point in front yesterday – sensational, and hoping to build on that success . Nothing fancy just level stakes all the way.

Exe 2.00 Here’s Herbie
Nwc 2.50 Mr Syntax
Exe 3.00 Five Star Wilsham
Exe 3.30 Beforeall
Exe 4.30 Rugged Jack
Nwc 4.50 Storming Gale

[Formath]

Over 5 points profit yesterday and cooking by gas if I say so myself . However, today’s racing fare is not up to Festival class, so a note of caution is appropriate.

Catterick
2.15 Barneys Honour
2.45 Harris
3.45 Douchkirk (you may prefer Newdane Dancer if supported)
4.15 Dark An Dangerous
4.45 Silk And Roses
5.15 Molly Cat

[Formath]

Just threequarters of a point profit yesterday, but a profit is a profit . Looked at the two UK mainland jumps meetings again today but I am getting bored with this now . I thought to spice it up I might try applying another old staking plan to compare with level stakes. The plan was originally used for even money chances at roulette, so no bets shorter than 1-1.

The One Point Coup

1. The aim is to stake the absolute minimum to win a maimum of one point per coup.
2. Always start a new coup with arrears of one point.
3. Commence staking with one point.
4. Stakes remain at the same level until a winner.
5. After each winner stakes are raised by one point.
6. After a loser remain on the same stake.
7. Continue as above until the arrears are reduced to zero.

Results/Stke/Arrears
L/1/2 (lost 1 + theoretical 1 = 2)
L/1/3
1-1/1/2
L/2/4
5-2/2/0 (end of coup as +5 -4 = +1 point)

Car 2.10 Little Boy Boru
Car 2.40 Snuker
Wnc 3.00 Enchanting Smile
Wnc 3.35 Chesil Beach Boy
Car 3.45 Edmund
Car 4.15 Allied Answer
Wnc 4.35 Slaney Star
Car 4.45 Basford Ben
Wnc 5.05 Rossa Parks

[Formath]

Back again after after an enforced break -it’s an age thing, cn’t miss Cheltenham tho’. What to do? What to do? Plenty of free advice from all and sundry including your truly . Let’s think back:

For punters, "The only thing that matters is the odds" stated by Morton Coles (a successful punter) and advised for consideration by Ken Hussey (the Split Second). On that basis by acknowledged good form and the betting market:

1.30 (The point value can be whatever your pocket will stand of course )
Irving – 6 points staked
Vautour – 5 pts
Wicklow Brave – 3 pts
2.05
Dodging Bullets – 4 pts
Rock On Ruby – 4 pts
Trifolium – 5 pts
2.40
Cantlow – 2 pts
Hadrain’s Approach – 2 pts
Holywell – 2 pts
3.20
Hurricane Fly – 7 pts
My Tent Or Yours – 6 pts
The new One – 7 pts
4.00
Glens Melody – 2 pts
Highland retreat – 2 pts
Quevega – 15 pts
4.40
Foxrock – 4 pts
Shotgun Paddy – 4 pts
Shutthefrontdoor – 6 pts
5.15
Persian Snow – 1 pt
Present View – 2 pts
Buywise – 1 pt

[Formath]

Five points down with my varied staking yesterday, whilst at level stakes there was a seven point profit – what a WALLY ! . So today just selections by my order of merit for each race:

1.30 Faugheen, Red Sherlock, Rathvinden
2.05 Le Bec, Ballycasey, Corrin Wood
2.40 Dunguib, Bayan, Waaheb
3.20 Sire De Grugy, Arvika Ligeonniere, Hinterland
4.00 Balthazar King, Big Shu, Sire Collonges
4.40 Dawalan, Akdam, Baradari
5.15 Black Hercules, Killutagh Vic, Shaneshill

[Formath]

Could-a won! Should-a won yesterday, following the top-rated . So, just my top-rated today. By the way, they are carefully considered by recent form, time, market probability, yard etc and not just off the top of my head . What I am cr*p at is the backing plan .

1.30 Felix Yonger
2.05 Fingal Bay
2.40 Al Ferof
3.20 Annie Power
4.00 Colour Squadron
4.40 Indian Castle

[Formath]

Half a point down to level stakes on the top rated yesterday. Just ‘pattern of results’ – well that’s my excuse . Big fields mostly today so they could take some finding. In that case I checked out the top three in each race as far as I am concerned:

1.30 Calipto, Royal Irish Hussar, Guitar Pete
2.05 Never Enough Time, Cheltenian, Flaxen Flare
2.40 Kings Palace, Briar Hill, Captain Cutter
3.20 Bobs Worth, Sivianiaco Conti, On His Own
4.00 Pearlysteps, Thats Rhythm, Oscar Delta
4.40 Full Shift, Vieux Lion Rouge, Don Poli
5.15 Tanks For That, Next Sensation, Ned Buntline,

[Author]

Posts