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OH CAPTAIN…MY CAPTAIN ……
The rallying cry of the pupils taught by teacher John Keating,played by Robin Williams,in Dead Poets Society.
WHY…… you ask do I bring this up and at this time?
In teaching something different Keating opened eyes offering a new way of looking at things,outside the box as some would say,it not only shows independent thought but also from my perspective a willingness to go beyond conventional reasoning and challenge the orthodox prevailing opinions.
While some may disagree and pronounce me as ‘failing in my duties’ to the many during this time by not towing the line there are always alternatives that should be discussed but never see the light of day because of fear of upsetting authority views.While this pandemic has reached all parts of the world with daily death tolls announced in hundreds which total thousands overall are we getting the proper overall picture as many thousands die everyday throughout the world from various illness’ being included in the figures because they tested positive after dying and their demise being attributed to the current virus.
Just a thought?
Now onto our beloved sport and the current thinking of the powers that be!
So much ‘thought’ is going into rescheduling Classics the ‘little people’ whether they be owners,trainers,stable staff,the not so well known or well off jockeys besides all concerned & connected business’s need to be involved in some way so they don’t get left behind.I’ve expressed the view previously that the UK has too many courses for it’s budget to support in the way they should be and although I hate myself for saying this and the reason it’s likely to come about but it’s questionable whether all courses will survive in the long term.
I mentioned earlier that the Classics are being promoted to be the be all and end all of the heartbeat of racing ….NOT SO!Consider this,in the book Bull the founder of Timefoem Phil Bull questioned the need for ever increasing sums for the already well catered for group races asking “if the prizes didn’t go up would they stop breeding the best horses they can?”
I know my writing appears (and probably is) disjointed but I hope this doesn’t distract readers from taking aboard the views/opinions/messages put forward for you consideration.You may (dis)agree with them,think I should be locked up for my own safety and that of others but what I like to be is ..thought provoking…inspiring and make people THINK…..CARPE DIEM.
good luck to all & keep safeAh well,can’t say I’m surprised horse racing along with sport in general has been laid low.Guess now it’s a question of keeping fingers crossed this flu outbreak can be brought under control without unnecessary suffering.
However for me there are two bright spots although it will be a curtailed season at best the Racing Bible arrived yesterday and I can mull over,hopefully,what’s to come later in the year.
The other would be the cancellation of that god awful singing contest……they say every cloud has a silver lining.
Hope you and your loved ones keep safe.
good luck to allSeems the ‘theory’ went out of the window yesterday …still can’t win them all.
With sport in almost a daily flux wouldn’t be surprised if they aimed Moss Gill at the Lingfield Finals Day in the hope that racing’s still allowed to continue as long term one just can’t be sure.
Update
Counting winners only to £1 stake @ SP
total stakes £34 ……returns £61.65
good luck to allAs I was visiting had to watch Thursday’s live races @ Cheltenham on ITV.
God still as crap as ever!
Even had a segment with Matt Chapman appearing from a wheelie bin.
Would have made my year if Chapman had been locked in that bin and carted away with the rubbish.
If he does such a stunt again ….somebody please PLEASE have a padlock ready!
good luck to allWhile one can feel for connections of Goshen as they say the hurdles are there to be jumped.
With the outlook uncertain and in all probably racing will take place behind closed doors if at all I guess one must take what chance there is while the opportunity presents itself.So although such a race isn’t my usual hunting ground the 3 runner conditions event taking place at Dunstall Park this evening looks,to me,to afford PUDS a chance to nab a decent pot against a limited number of rivals.Taking the runners in racecard order ……
Watchable ……very much the veteran of the party,who to be fair has had a good time of it this winter being successful on three occasions and I believe the recent verdict he holds over the selection will be reversed.Has been held up in a prominent position in recent contests but tonight think connections will try to make all from stall one.
Moss Gill ….. improved his handicap mark almost two stone last year from 74 to 98 and then came to a shuddering halt at Catterick where as a well backed favourite trainers rep blamed the ground which was described as soft ,exactly the same as his previous run …..reason for poor run or excuse?.Most likely will prove to be the best of these over the long term but off a break and the trainer being 0/16 this year with only three placed doesn’t look good to me.Has two fair runs on the a/w.Much of the geldings reputation rests on runs at York which to me is very much a specialist course that all horses don’t take to and with usual hold up tactics may be forced wide and be disadvantaged as regard track position.
Puds ….. registered some good numbers last time on return from over 3 months off which didn’t particularly surprise me as I consider she’s a better mare on the a/w than turf.Also has some excellent turf form but for me will always show up better on an synthetic surfaces.Versatile as regard tactics from the two stall last time tried to make all only being swallowed up well inside the final furlong in a Listed race won by Hareem Queen who I rate.If Watchable wants to lead I can see her sitting just off the pace and swooping past to win.The Richard Hughes stable is in fine form 13/39 for 2020 so far and 4/7 in the last fortnight.Well that’s the theory!
good luck to allIt’s not often I subscribe to a horse being ‘unlucky’ but for Treacherous I think the label is hard to deny.Hampered,blocked,denied a clear run all could be used to describe his passage last weekend.Unfortunately this will also have not gone unnoticed by the bookmakers who will be very much on their guard for his next appearance.
With recent events Cheltenham has been very much in the balance and looks to have got away before more severe measures are possibly brought into force.While my main focus is the flat I do like to put forward a selection or two for consideration at the Festival & Aintree if I believe something suitable can be identified.In 2019 my sole selection was Pentland Hills and it’s back to the Triumph for this year where I’ve invested e/w @ 20/1 on the Willie Mullins BURNING VICTORY (bet made on Wednesday evening).For this race I like a horse that’s not run in the early part of the season in fact not run before new year with the selection fitting the bill and making a good stable debut at Fairyhouse after being purchased from France and a near 9 month absence.The form of her success doesn’t have depth due to the rivals immediately behind are relative new to the hurdling game,however doing everything wrong and still winning for me marked the selection out as smart.One may have concerns about the drying conditions as most of her form is on soft/heavy ground with the only attempt on anything better being in a Group 3 contest in France last summer which may have been a step too far as a May foal.So I’m prepared to allow the trainer to make the decision whether she takes her chance on the ground.
During my RaceCaller days I posted a piece concerning the intellectual capacity of the Labour front bench writing thus ……….
Four tables set out for an IQ test ……after completion the results were announced
1st the primate
2nd two wooden planks
the examiner then pointed out that Emily Thornberry & Diane Abbott were equal last as no sign of intelligence could be found in either.
Just when you thought none dimmer were around up pops shadow environmental minister Kerry McCarthy who during a meeting of the Agriculture Bill Committee stated ‘grouse are imported into this country in their millions just so they can be shot by people on an away day’
*grouse are native to uk & killed mostly for consumption*
Somebody pass the ‘sick bucket’…..god help us all if these people ever gain power!
good luck to allSeems with Sandown being washed away the spotlight falls on my local track,Dunstall Park.
Not a bad course despite it being down the pecking order as regards ‘class’ it’s a superb little track with good facilities excellent parking,no muddy fields,a hotel on site for overnight stays with food & drink available.
Now with the ‘promotion’ over down to the serious business on their high profile day of the year.Hate the way the card’s set out though with all the best racing coming early to suit the tv boys!
Although my main bet will come in the second race on the card the 6f sprint for the benefit of those that wish to read I shall also include my thoughts on the Lincoln Trial & the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes on which I won’t bore you with it’s history and name as I’m sure the tv pundits will want to impress you.
So first let me deal with the present favourite Embour ridden by a returning Ryan Moore,which I’m pretty sure has knocked a point or two off his price.After returning from a break this gelding has never been placed but I must say previous absences were of a much longer duration.While winning off a mark of 92 has never won off higher although came close last summer at Goodwood.Stable not exactly firing on all cylinders having two placed in the last fortnight from 9 runners.Not entirely sure who will put the pace to this race but suspect Desert Doctor will go forward to try to negate not the best of draws in this reduced field.Concierge will have his supporters and won in pleasing fashion last time but has never produced the numbers I look for which leaves me doubtful whether he’s capable of following up in this stronger contest.Wasntexpectingthat flatters to deceive and this is probably simply too tough an assignment,which brings me to TREACHEROUS e/w who has posted career high numbers in each of his last two outings,8 wins from 24 starts is good but if one considers only runs over 6f it becomes 6/12 and 5/9 on the a/w.It would be remiss of me not to point out that Embour does hold a verdict over the selection from April ’19 (selections only attempt at this grade).However it was the start of a poor period for the gelding and I’m prepared to give him a chance of at least hitting the frame.
Starting off affairs we have the Lincoln Trial handicap for which Fox Power is a red hot favourite due to in the main the weight turnaround with Via Serendipity.Fox’s handicap form is fairly thin on the ground and although his numbers for his last race were fair it was a conditions event which are a different kettle of fish to todays contest.By far on the numbers Goring comes out top but has never won with a triple digit rating,however he did register his third best set of figures when successful LTO,it should also be pointed out that this gelding seems to be a Lingfield specialist.Serendipity would need to return to the form of his last handicap win off just 1lb lower in Oct ’19 but recent runs to me suggest he’s being saved.The only other I would mention in this trial is Rathbone who’s had two recent encouraging runs on the a/w who try’s todays trip for the first time although stable form may be suspect but very little to go on of late.
Hannon & Moore team up for the feature event with Urban Icon who makes his a/w debut and seems to being supported after drifting in the betting market.Thought good enough to take his chance in last years Guineas hasn’t gone on since and for me leaves a little to be desired.I think that last comment can be applied to others here so making a case for any is tricky if not impossible.Habub has had two recent runs which I think you can consider neither to have been ideal first over 6f,never really going to get involved in this speed contest and then attempting to give weight all round 5lb to second top and 10lb+ to the rest was only beaten a little over two lengths registering some of his best numbers to date and perhaps is an e/w chance.
Well probably confused you as much as helped,hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts.
good luck to allJust as an update …all horses put forward here to £1 stake.
(but only counting winners as some were advised as e/w prospects)
total stakes £31 …..returns £48.65
the above returns are to SPPerhaps I should point out the above horses Kris & Nureyev raced during the late 70’s which gives an indication of how long I’ve followed this sport.
At a rather tender age I hit on the idea of using numbers (against the clock) to gauge the value of performances and started my own system but other things & work soon became a priority and with the time I had available fell back to using collateral form lines.This I used for many years to various degrees of success until I discovered Fineform purchasing the original & follow up books.Some here may recall those books which I think,as with me,showed punters that you only get the rewards out of the sport if you are prepared to put in the time & effort.Sadly no more with us the writer Clive Holt has passed on but left a legacy behind that will ensure his name lives on in the racing world.While using his ‘formula’ I enjoyed many years of fruitful betting but always had the nagging urge to return to my ‘roots’ …the numbers game.
I joined RaceCaller if memory serves me correct in February 2011 starting the original thread of this name the following January and during the next couple of years compiled my data and set about finding a consistent (profitable) way to employ the information collected.Although I found that it could be used for all trips and ground even if it differed from the ground on which the rating was earned provided the horse acted on the prevailing going.
Tried & tested over time it was refined into what I use today,while my choice to confine myself to sprints is purely personal as to me such races are the ones most likely to be run at a true pace.The pace angle also led to me favour handicaps to conditions or group contests where I find the same cannot be guaranteed.The final twist I employed was to create a standard for horses to meet in order to be considered as potential investments and then examined them using what I had picked up from Clive Holt’s books.This specialization I’ve found to bear fruit as I’ve had some tremendous results in some of the biggest & most hotly contested handicaps during the season.
Enough of the history behind my endeavours now for the business in hand.Putting forward for your consideration CORVAIR,who runs in the penultimate contest on today’s Lingfield card.This colt was given a break after three relatively quick runs toward the end of last year and on handicap debut produced his best numbers to date.A 2lb rise in his mark seems fair and although rivals can boast form in higher grade races none have the numbers to match.Although the selection is dropping down in trip I don’t expect this to be a problem and with a good draw I believe a bold showing is on the cards.
good luck to allThank you for you posting Kris & look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
From memory I recall the horse of the name being a fine miler trained by the legendary Sir Henry.
This was also a time for me when another exceptional horse had his reputation tainted by circumstances and never,in my opinion,got to show his true worth nor received the accolades deserved.Nureyev is the horse in question who was disqualified after hitting the post first in the 2000 Guineas.Although it’s hard to argue he hadn’t transgressed the rules as they stood at the time I believe he was quite simply the best miler around at the time but never raced again.
good luck to allSorry but today’s posting will be short and brief.
Had an early appointment at hospital and due to drops my vision at the moment is slightly blurred so please excuse any errors I may not notice.
With cards decimated luckily Lingfield where TOP BREEZE makes his 2020 bow is still on and fancy him to put up a good showing.
good luck to allHope you guys had a good day with loads of dosh coming your way.
Had a thought for the music being posted here…..how about
….’The Carnival is Over’ by the Australian group The Seekers
to end the proceedings?
good luck to allDon’t think any answers were provided as regard Street Parade staying 6f.
Pulled hard for the first couple of furlongs and not making much of an impression at the end.
Was the final result because he fought his jockey or just didn’t stay?
While this state of affairs remains with questions unanswered don’t believe in all honestly I can advise an investment on him again beyond the minimum trip.
good luck to allTelevision pundits on ITV make me laugh.So full of themselves and their opinions.Ran Hareem Queen down as they,as I did, point to most of her form being at Southwell.However I also pointed to runs at other tracks and why I was prepared to take what I considered was a reasonable risk on her performing on polytrack too.How their attitude changed as she blitzed her rivals in the straight and suddenly …what a wonderful filly she was!
My feelings on many of the ‘presenters’ on ITV racing coverage is quite simple …GET RID OF THEM!
While AP McCoy was a great rider as a commentator …..sorry Sir…your efforts leave much to be desired.
Luke Harvey & Fitzgerald …both a waste of time.
The main honcho Ed Chamberlin looks totally lost as to regard what racing is about.
While on screen John McCririck sometimes referred to the betting ring as ‘the village’ and for me his replacement Matt Chapman is ‘the village idiot’.
By far the best person there is Francesca Cumani ….know’s what she’s talking about and how to get it over without being patronizing.
I have mentioned only a few of the many they seem to have to hand and as above I would not only question the presenting skills but why do they need so many?
Today I’m undertaking another ‘risk’ once again with STREET PARADE as regard him getting 6f.Two attempts at the trip last July both ended with the gelding being well beaten and although not encouraging I should point to the fact that it started the period when his trainer aimed the horse quite high compared to the value of the races contested previously.Since returning to a level that seems to more inline with capabilities the selection has run consistently so I’m playing a small investment.
good luck to allWith Cheltenham very much on the horizon to me means not only the feast of the festival itself but the arrival of the Racing Bible and a return of flat racing to the turf,Until then there’s also Aintree and the climax to Meydam to look forward to with the a/w finals day added to the mix.It’s with this in mind that I go to Lingfield for a small bet this afternoon on Hareem Queen.While some of the interest has been taken away by the late defection of the overnight favourite it’ still remains an intriguing contest with more than one of today’s runners liable to turn up on finals day.Installed as new fav was Furious but without the necessary numbers to back up her form & a 154 day absence I prefer to watch rather than invest.Some may say the selection I’m putting forward for consideration is a Southwell fibresand specialist and although it’s true most of her racing as been at that course however there are also good runs to point to at Newcastle,even a run at Doncaster on turf,so at this point the evidence isn’t by any means conclusive.This being her polytrack debut doesn’t particularly concern me as this type of surface is widely used at training centre’s with some trainers having individual ones at the stables and thus available to all.This engaging filly since her initial runs over 6f & 7f during March/April last year was off the track until losing the maiden tag in quite taking fashion in Oct.Since then two more wins have followed with a placing in by far the toughest race she’s contested at Newcastle,behind Good Effort & Royal Birth following a two month break.However what appeals to me is the consistent way her numbers have improved since being dropped to the minimum trip.I will be very disappointed if she fails to at least hit the frame.
good luck to allWhat an enigma Equilateral is …does anybody understand this horse?
Although I wasn’t surprised by Waady’s run for me he’s always been an out & out five furlong sprinter.
After watching yesterdays race I’ve spent plenty of time trying,unsuccessfully,to gauge what makes Equilateral tick?
I’ve looked at from a time angle.going,distance even the number of runners involved all to no avail.With nothing really to suggest why..EXCEPT first run back from a break!
On five occasions on return of a break of 50+ days …he’s won FOUR.The only other win registered was on racing debut as a juvenile.
Make of it as you will and would love to know if anyone else can shed further light on the subject.
good luck to all
