Intriguing Lady grabbed my attention after computing the eight-runner Nursery Handicap field over seven furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta tonight, when Jack Mitchell becomes the fifth jockey in as many outings to partner this Mark Johnston-trained Fascinating Rock filly; enough boxes are ticked to justify support if we can obtain odds of 3/1 or better.
Many factors make for a betting proposition and pricing is so important; for instance on a level stake approach it’s best to stick with lowest acceptable odds which suit long-term profit projection. There was a time when odds against was acceptable, one moved it to ‘bottle’ (2’s!) but now, in an attempt to minimise the number of wagers, I’m into the habit of wanting ‘carpet’ which is 3/1!
I don’t need to bet, unless the price is right, and am prepared to be patient because backing horses is all about investing in a product; gambling doesn’t come into my calculations which are based on a personal time-handicap in specialist non-handicap races unless, of course, we know something that no one else knows, like Glentaneous recently, for example.
‘Glen’ was one that got away, to all intents and purposes and now he’s gone, to Australia!
If you recall I napped Glentaneous for the ‘Cambridgeshire’ having obtained odds of more than 100/1 only to see him withdrawn because of firm ground; my money went down the drain but was recovered in kind when the Gleneagles gelding bolted up at 6/1 a week or so later on an easy Nottingham surface. Earlier this week he was sold at Newmarket to Australian Bloodstock for ONE-HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND POUNDS!
Buying and selling formed part of my horse-racing modus operandi and ran in tandem with journalism which still fascinates; I’ll submit copy for readers/punters until my dying day which, hopefully, will be in the distant future, if another pacemaker replacement can be implemented, in time!
In the meantime consistent medicines and drinking plenty of water seem to be staving off breathing problems; I’ll certainly breathe a sigh of relief if rapidly improving Intriguing Lady replicates her recent ‘career-best’ on a similar surface at Newcastle; I’ll bet she does.
Realistically, to profit seriuosly, it’s necessary to play each-way doubles and trebles (Trixie bet!) on Betfair which is why confinement to only three horses per day is my strict discipline, to protect you!
I’ve always tried to explain reasoning but too many words (and talk!) are superfluous and what really really counts is the selection panel not becoming a result of boring prognosis; let the editor know if my missives are indeed tiresome!
Selections, Musselburgh, 1.00 Minella Plus; Wolverhampton, 5.00 Intriguing Lady (e.w); 6.30 Themoonsaballoon (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