Nowt worse than seeing money go down the drain but it certainly knocked my confidence when Lifetime Legend fell at the second last as our 6/1 selection was drawing clear with every stride on the Doncaster racecourse Thursday; it happens, why me?
Seriously I’m able to cope with travesty but good-priced winners are difficult to find; vexingly the opportunity has gone because next time all the world and his wife will want to back this ‘Legend!’
Suddenness of basking in the sunshine of success to plunging into darkness of defeat comes as a real jolt and watching Lifetime Legend crumple at the penultimate flight will be etched for some time; I’m only human.
Anyway consolation of knowing I’m now back in good, consistent form, following a dismal January, spurs me into fastidious study and tonight Isladaay will not be a surprise if causing one in a very weak seven-runner 3-y-o Selling Stakes over a mile of Wolverhampton tapeta.
Eight failures will look uninspiring to the majority form of students but they may overlook the fact Isladaay achieved a BHA juvenile rating of 68 and, significantly, this is the best period imaginable for fillies/mares.
On my time-handicap this three-year-old Adaay filly is a snip and I’m encouraged by the booking of Lewis Edmunds; plain and simple 59-rated Isladaay should win and I’ll bet she does!
Opposing William Haggas is perilous and the ultra-consistent Newmarket-based trainer has found an excellent chance for thrice-raced True Icon in a six-runner Fillies’ Novice Stakes over six furlongs of Lingfield polytrack this afternoon; it’s imperative to get winning brackets for well-bred fillies and this three-year-old is by Churchill!
Unfortunately 70-rated True Icon will be a ‘shortie’ but represents a firm anchor for our trixie which, of course, was smashed on Town Moor when Lifetime Legend crashed out!
Last word on that debacle; when the first leg of a trixie prevails at good odds it’s possible to manipulate the other doubles by ‘cashing out’ or whatever on Betfair, it’s called hedging (your bets!) and, with a bookmaking mentality towards betting. I do it all the time, especially on ‘two places!’
Incidentally my computer reference to trainer-form indicates Paul Nicholls is experiencing problems but Alan King has finally turned the corner and could well have a succession of winners; take note, ‘Online!’
Selections, Lingfield, 3.30 True Icon; Wolverhampton, 5.45 Isladaay; Newbury, 4.45 Top Dog (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