Catch Cunningham fits snugly into my daily modus operandi for an eight-runner Novice Stakes over five furlongs of Newcastle tapeta this afternoon, the sort of bet we traded on successfully during a golden spell of each-way doubles/trebles which paid off any debts and enabled several tozenhance financial status considerably; ‘untouchable’ best describes our operation in the 1980/90’s and with Betfair it’s possible to replicate a wonderful period, albeit to a lesser extent.
Purpose and objective was to find runners certain to be make the frame and thus take advantage of three place terms; for example if a price of about 5/1 (forecast for Catch Cunningham!) was obtained three times in a day, odds of a treble were 7/1 and of course with doubles, about 14/1; the ‘win’ was a matter of indifference, making the frame was absolutely necessary and needed but, it involved unrelenting commitment to form study and in my case time-computation, a speciality for decades which has enabled me to win the National Naps Table Championship a record EIGHT TIMES!
I’ll win it again!
Our methodology was termed ‘the knockout’ which meant, with aid of two prolific independent on-course bookmakers, extending the odds of our selections once the first had finished in the first three; you’d never believe how much chaos was caused on racetracks with major layers who were burdened with well-backed selections adroitly placed in betting shops throughout England.
Two rivals of Catch Cunningham are penalised 6lbs and on the long, unrelenting Gosforth Park climb it’s difficult to defy extra weight which equates to at least two lengths in the final analysis.
Rest of the programme looks tricky but last time Andrew Balding-trained course and distance winner Sunset Salute is an eye-catcher for a Novice Stakes over an extended seven furlongs of ‘good’ Chester.
What beats this twice-raced Twilight Son gelding, again the mount of talented stable apprentice, William Cox, will win but watch out for former ‘bumper’ winner C’Mon Kenny, a place chance and one for the not too distant future.
Also thrice-raced Zoltan Star, seventh in the Epsom ‘Woodcote’ three weeks ago and placed twice, should be firmly ‘on the premises’ in shallow-looking Maiden Stakes over five furlongs; don’t oppose Richard Hannon’s charge.
Selections, Newcastle, 1.15 Catch Cunningham (e.w); Chester, 2.10 Sunset Salute (e.w); 3.55 Zoltan Star (e.w).
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019