Lucy Lulu looks the classic ‘thieving each-way’ for a seven-runner Novice Stakes over five furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta today; only two places on offer but finding another, apart from odds-on chance Papa Don’t Preach, will be nigh impossible. This-type bet was my trademark reason for betting seriously all those years ago!
Process of elimination, based on race-timing and nous, yielded tremendously consistent profit before it was possible to get on the journalistic ladder; nowadays, of course, I’m able to help readers make racing pay without a hint of ‘gambling’ which has become a dirty word with the bookmaking profession milking millions out of unsuspecting ‘mug punters!’
104-rated Papa Don’t Reach, mount of Hollie Doyle, must surely win but Charles Hills’ charge will be ludicrously priced and so, by including Lucy Lulu into an each-way double, Roger Fell’s ‘rep’ should represent a solid betting proposition under burgeoning apprentice Johnny Peate claiming full allowance of 7lbs, a major factor.
First leg of my double will be Marble Sands, one of six ‘decs’ for a Novices’ Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles of ‘good’ ground Newcastle, one of the toughest but fairest racetracks in the United Kingdom
Marble Sands, a ‘bumper’ winner last season when trained by veterinary surgeon Graeme McPherson, is now housed at the powerful Fergal O’Brien complex from where the Martaline gelding was journeyed to Lingfield eighteen days ago; result was a resounding TH mark when a length second to Paul Nicholls-trained Milan Bridge but should have won.
Talk about interference I’ve seen less on a busy early morning London tube train; hampered at the first, hit last when challenging this well-backed favourite represented one of the most unlucky losers imaginable under Kielan Woods but Marble Sands will probably be second favourite with three previous profile winners in opposition.
Replacement Lily Pinchin might be a jockey ‘turn-off’ for serious punters but there are few better!
Fergal casts his net far and wide, stable companion Becky The Boo is fancied for the five-runner Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles of ‘good’ Doncaster but will be hard-pressed to cope with Karlie, top-rated on the back of a creditable ‘quiet’ fourth at Newbury earlier this month; don’t oppose.
Incidentally there has been a lot of watering this month, thankfully my computation scrutiny means I’m on the case!
Watering causes strange results
one degree here at present bbrrrrrr!
Selections, Newcastle, 12.55 Marble Sands (e.w); Doncaster, 1.08 Karlie (e.w); Wolverhampton,. 4.30 Lucy Lulu (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