Waltzing Queen is expected to lead six rivals a merry dance in the Median Auction Maiden Stakes over a mile of ‘firm’ Bath today, when the only English race-track without a watering system stages a seven-race programme which, though difficult with four handicaps, offers this gilt-edged opportunity for beleaguered punters, numbed by vain scrutiny. It’s getting tougher.
Nowadays too much racing is saturated with run-on-the-mill handicaps and due to the high standard of computerisation available to BHA assessors it’s hard to pinpoint winners with confidence.
My modus operandi for a long time has involved specialising with set-weight races; two-year-olds, novice/maiden hurdles usually comprise a serious edge which profits every month. Period punting is essential because it eliminates the vexation of daily disappointments and introduces a phlegmatic approach.
Waltzing Queen needs to win for stud purposes and shrewd Newmarket-based trainer Rae Guest has certainly found an ideal slot for the consistent, hitherto luckless Helmet filly which has been placed in her last three races with emphasis on progression.
Thirteen days ago Waltzing Queen, an unconsidered 18/1 chance nearly pulled of a shock success in a Kempton handicap, beaten only three-quarters of a lengths by Golden Claim, a Golden Horn filly which stormed through to lead in the last strides.
Guest’s ‘punters’ will have been on for sure because Rae has founded much of his operation on successful gambles. It’s a wonderful way of funding ownership, as I remember only too well. You need to know what others don’t know in this game, being a step ahead; ‘paying for the privilege’ isn’t devious and certainly not criminality.
A punter once asked Barney Curley whether he fancied a forthcoming runner and the famous reply was, ‘when you pay for the privilege of owning a horse with me, I’ll tell you…!’
Twice-raced Whiteandblue ticks all the boxes I’m looking for in an eight-runner Novice Stakes over six furlongs of (watered!) ‘good to firm’ Catterick, bar one!
The form of Brian Smarts yard has left a lot to be desired this past fortnight and veteran jockey Graham Lee must have been extremely vexed with results but my time-handicap rules selections ultimately; Whiteandblue has plenty in hand and advised an each-way ‘special’ if they all run!
Make sure they do!
Finally what beats George Boughey’s white Jasmine in a Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over five furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Sandown tonight, will win!
Selections, Catterick, 1.15 Whiteandblue (e.w); Bath, 2.30 Waltzing Queen; Sandown, 6.3. White Jasmine (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