After 6 weeks, during which the racing had been consistently blighted by the weather, it was nice to have a weekend when all of the key meetings took place (and were always likely to do so !).
However, the twin issues of disappearing prices and uncertain ground, were quick to reappear on the scene !Saturday
Both of the above issues impacted Saturday - and quite significantly…
My list of 4 likely bets, drawn up on Friday, turned to dust on Saturday morning - as the price of each of my fancies had shortened to the point where there was no value left.
It’s a tough situation to deal with - but as I didn’t feel any of them were ‘certainties’, I set about finding some alternatives, which did offer some value.
Ultimately, I ended with a completely different 4 Best bets - but alas, things didn’t work out well…
The first of them to run, was Severano at Ascot.
I originally fancied Demachine for the race - but significant support saw him usurp Severano at the head of the market.
As I thought Severano slightly more likely to win the race, it was a relatively easy decision to switch allegiance.
In the race itself, Severano set off in a prominent position and seemed to be jumping well.
However, around half way, he started to lose his position - and a few fences later, he was pulled up.
It subsequently transpired that he’d suffered a heart attack.
Not the best way to begin proceedings…
Meanwhile, Demachine looked like rubbing salt into the wounds, when he ranged up alongside long time leader, Remastered, approaching the final fence.
However, the leader was was as game as a pebble and after a good jump at the last, repelled his challenge….
In the next Ascot race, I was forced to switch from Newtide to Yalltari - following a huge price drop on the former.
I still covered him in the Matrix; along with favourite, Jerrysback.
In the race itself, Jerrysback landed on the third fence - which effectively ended his challenge; whilst both Newtide and Yalltari appeared to find the ground too quick (I was expecting almost heavy, but it certainly wasn’t that).
In fairness, Yalltari did battle gamely - but the leaders were always going a shade too fast for him and he never looked to be in his comfort zone.
He weakened badly up the home straight - and unbelievably, he too subsequently lost his life :(
I’d like to say that things went better at Haydock - and whilst I guess they did, that was mainly because that couldn’t have gone worse !
In the Rendlesham hurdle, my plan had been to side with Third Wind - but his price was destroyed overnight and so I switched Main Fact.
In truth, I wasn’t too unhappy with the move - as I believed the heavy ground would suit him better.
However, as with Ascot, the ground wasn’t as bad as expected - and that suited Third Wind much better.
He travelled sweetly though the race - and found sufficient after the last to withstand the late challenge of Lisnagar Oscar.
Main Fact on the other hand, got outpaced with half a mile to run - and could only stay on for a distant fourth place.
The only consolation, was that I did cover Third Wind in the Matrix…
The final Best bet to run was in the Grand National trial.
In this race, I switched from Enqard to Achille - and turning for home, I was ruing that move !
Enqard seemed to travelling all over the leader, and touched 1.4 IR.
However his stamina was unproven - and between the final 2 fences his stride began to shorten.
Meanwhile, Achille was making relentless progress - and Charlie Deutch seemed to have produced him with the perfect challenge, when he jumped into the lead over the final fence.
However, Lord du Mesnil was ultra game in front - responded - and ultimately proved too strong for Achille.
The perfect end to the perfect day :(
There was one final Matrix bet at Ascot - and Kid Commando ran a respectable race to finish fifth.
There were no excuses on ground or price - he had his chance but wasn’t quite good enough.
In the big race of the day, Cyrname went from looking likely to hose up, to beaten, in a matter of strides.
Unsurprisingly, he was subsequently found to have a breathing issue.
I guess after what happened with Severano and Yalltari, he might consider himself lucky…
It can be a tough game at times.
Sunday
Having been thwarted by the unexpected ground conditions on Saturday, I was disinclined to take too many risks on Sunday.
The main action was at Newbury - and whilst I might have taken a few chances if I’d been completely sure of underfoot conditions, I was a little suspicious of an official going description, which suggested the ground would be on the soft side of good…
However, the description was spot on - if anything the ground looked ‘good’ to me (an observation backed up by the fact that time for the big race was just 2.5 seconds outside standard !).
Trying to get your head round such huge going changes in such a short period of time, is very hard.
Anyway, I settled for just the one Best bet on the day - The Gallantway, in the penultimate race on the card.
The attraction of him, was that he looked highly likely to run his race - and wasn’t going to be too bothered, whatever the ground !
However, what I’d not fully factored in, was his inability to jump !!
In truth, I did know he was vulnerable to a rival who brought along his ‘A’ game - but in reality, none of them needed to.
He was just poor: never jumping with any fluency - and looking completely outclassed alongside Enrilo.
It says much for his attitude that he kept plugging away, until the second last - at which point Enrilo strode on.
He had to withstand a couple of late challenges - which he did - whilst The Gallantway faded back into fourth.
It was a poor effort…
In a way, it was made even worse, because my reading of the other races on the card, was pretty good !
I suggested Secret Investor as a Matrix bet in the Denman chase - and under a well judge ride from Bryony Frost, he held off favourite Clan Des Obeaux.
He was 10/1 this morning - but returned at 14/1 (and with a BSP of 18.7).
In the following Game Spirit chase, I would have been pretty keen on Sceau Royal - if I’d been sure the ground was going to be quick.
However, I wasn’t - and at around 3/1, I don’t like to take too many chances.
Needless to say, he was a comfortable winner.
Finally, in the Betfair hurdle, I covered 5 against the field for the Matrix.
In truth, most of them ran disappointingly - but Soaring Glory didn’t - and he came home a comfortable winner (which is the main object of the exercise !).
He was 15/2 this morning - but as with Secret Investor, returned a bigger price (17/2 - with a BSP of 12.5).
If you are following the Matrix bets (non Best bets), then it will generally be worth looking to back them on the exchanges - even taking BSP (they don’t receive the same level of support of the Best bets).
And so ended a rather frustrating weekend !
Things had been going quite nicely (from a betting perspective), so I guess we were due one.
With that out of our system, I’ll hopefully be back in form next weekend (assuming ofcourse, that the prices hold up - and the weather doesn’t make a mess of things :) )
TVB.
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