Abbie Power and Vieux Carre look obvious selections for divisions of the Novice Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Thirsk this afternoon, after not a lot of close scrutinising!
Having achieving yet another result, on a short-priced priced favourite in the European Football Championships, when Switzerland sensationally held France to a draw in ninety minutes, my focus switched onto the eight-race North Yorkshire card; by virtue of ‘marrying’ my time-handicap with Racing Research Form Data analysis it was soon apparent two progressive two-year-olds, advantaged by fillies’ allowances were clear ‘best-in’ on recent last time efforts. It’s my intention to play them in an each-way ‘professional special’ double and perhaps further indulge myself with the treble in our daily patent, which again struck twice over the weekend, courtesy of good-priced winners.
Confidence is key to success but it’s so easy to get carried away which is why my findings are based on a consistent, business-like approach to profiting from betting on soccer and horse-racing.
Scoring goals always gave me tremendous pleasure but from a position of centre forward it wasn’t difficult, given the players around me; I learned not to get above myself and have carried this mindset throughout life from twenty years of age, when I retired because the prospect of earning a top wage (at best!) of £20 as a professional didn’t appeal. Who wants to be a slave?
Journalism was much more appealing and self-taught I ‘crashed’ my way into the newspaper world by timing/reading races, and becoming reliable; my stop-watch gave me an edge and, typically, fast-time Abbie Power appeals strongly on the basis of a cracking time-figure over five furlongs on the stiff Hamilton track five weeks ago.
A 25/1 shot Abbie Power was no match for 1/2 favourite Atomic Force but finished three lengths and upwards clear of the rest, a good sign of solid form and over an extra furlong Iain Jardine’s charge is unopposable.
Thrice-raced Vieux Carre, though beaten a head by Favourite Child at Pontefract only last week, hit her best mark to date and is ‘expected’ by in-form trainer, David O’Meara.
None of four other meetings, including the obligatory Kempton ‘Wednesday-nighter’, makes any appeal but Kentucky Hardboot certainly does in a ten-runner Novices’ Hurdle over two miles of ‘good’ ground Worcester.
Selections, Thirsk, 1.00 Abbie Power; 1.30 Vieux Carre; Worcester, 4.50 Kentucky Hardboot (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