King Cabo, a completely unconsidered 80/1 chance on debut thirty-one days ago, is the only serious alternative to hot Godolphin-owned favourite Nations Pride in the six-runner Novice Stakes over a mile of Lingfield polytrack today and I’m looking forward to watching Luke Dace’s charge, which could well prove a surprise package.
Many years ago, when working closely with him for twelve extremely productive years, trainer Barry Hills would often say ‘I love surprises!’ and given he was patient with two-year-olds, and always loath to have any buttons pressed first-up, there were plenty; more often than not we turned them into lucrative successes, averaging more than a hundred winners a year.
Now we are both ‘aged’ but from way back Hills always maintained ‘you can’t beat experience’ and it’s significant his son Charles is now enjoying a tremendous spell based on wonderful education, guidance and common sense application (still supported by the 84-year-old ‘legend’) and I’m continuing to churn out a successful, profitable column from which, presumably, readers are benefitting considerably, if they stick to selections rigidly.
My modus operandi has always been based on simplicity; taking on short-priced favourites with each-way doubles/trebles has contributed to a comfortable existence (following a tardy start!) and King Cabo is a prime example judged on a personal time-handicap which I’ve been computing for decades, based on clocking with stop-watches and nowadays electrical timing, which is installed at all racecourses throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
Thankfully even National Hunt racing has woken up to the need for accurate timing and my idea of ‘running through a beam as they pass the starter’s rostrum’ was thankfully tried, tested and accepted.
If you watch racing on TV channels there is also serious ‘play’ on mph (miles per hour!) which enables time aficionados to gauge whether a race is being truly run and can be computed without fear of inaccuracy. ‘Time’ has certainly moved on and I’d like to think I’ve contributed.
During the next few months I’ll concentrate on the recommended trixies/daily patents, on Betfair betting exchange, which supplies every need for serious punting; hopefully, King Cabo will rule and spring a surprise under Daniel Muscott whose confidence is sky-high following patronage of several high-profile Newmarket trainers. A smashing chap, so dedicated.
On the soccer front Manchester United yet again supplied my ‘wages’ when failing to break down Rafael Benitez-inspired Everton and, realistically, ‘shorties’ are worth laying constantly with defensive strategies at the heart of so many experienced managers.
‘Raffa’ is one of several able to thwart enterprise with solidarity and discipline routine. How I’d love to play again!
Selections, Lingfield, 2.00 King Cabo (e.w); 3.30 Shobiz (e.w); Wolverhampton, 5.30 Wings Of A Dove (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