Four days to go

November 1st is drawing ever closer, as we look forward to the official subscription launch of http://www.themarketexaminer.co.uk/.

We continue the build up with another look back at a notable event of 2010. As we mentioned the other day, we have never and never will try to claim that winning comes easily. With a win strike rate of around 17%, amidst average odds of around 7/1, losing spells have and will come along.

Yesterday we noted three of our biggest, successful movers of 2010. Today we look back at three of the biggest movers which made it as selections, only to not return the cash.

1) Date: 4th February; Track: Towcester; Selection: Nous Voila

When Alan Coogan's gelding Nous Voila turned up at Towcester back in February in a handicap hurdle, he was searching for his first win in more than four years. However this was a horse that was once rated at 133, now racing off 87, and it appeared that today was meant to be the day.

Put up as a selection at 10/1, he opened on course at 8/1 before being backed right down to 5/1 for the start of the race.

Things didn't go smoothly from this point onwards however. He didn't jump particularly smoothly, and even stumbled quite badly over one of the flights early on. Racing prominently, he was being shoved along to stay in contention and by the time the race neared the end he dropped tamely away to be extremely well beaten back in fifth place (the last of those to make it around.).

Fingers were burnt on that occassion, although it was interesting to see him win officially by a distance next time out - when he wasn't a selection for us - at an SP of 5/1.

2) Date: 10th April; Track: Chepstow; Selection: Stripe Me Blue

Stripe Me Blue was our only selection on Grand National Day this year. A 2pt win bet on at 5/1, he opened on course for his handicap hurdle at 7/2. It was his first time dropped back in distance a little for some time (Dec 2008) and he was being strongly fancied to make it a third career win.

Backed into favouritism at 15/8, he was set off in the lead and stayed there until there were two flights left to jump. Short of room a little, he was still in contention before failing to find much in the closing stages to finish in third place, beaten around three lengths.

Next time out, he slipped up at Sandown when going off an unfancied 16/1 shot and hasn't run since.

3) Date: 15th July; Track: Hamilton; Selection: Royal Holiday

We move to the summer for our third and final notable loser. Royal Holiday was racing over a mile at Hamilton and was looking for his first win as a three year old. His handicap mark had been tumbling since winning on the sand at Southwell in the August the year before and with Dale Swift taking off a further seven pounds, it appeared today was meant to be his day.

We put the gelding up as a selection at 10/1 in the morning, and by the time the market opened on course he was 13/2. At post time he had supported further, into 9/2.

In the race itself though he never showed a thing, racing in mid division before being ridden a couple of furlongs out, fading away to finish a very well beaten 9th/10.

Four races later, back at Southwell (his first race back there), he won at 16/1.

All these selections could obviously have been traded off for a profit given the price moves. Over time we have found backing at win-only is the way to go though - it just pays to take the rough with the smooth - and these days it was definitely the turn of the rough!

Fortunately of course over time getting this sort of value in our selections does return good profits so if you would like to join the service before we get going on November 1st please go to www.themarketexaminer.co.uk/join-now.

One month is £17.50; Three months is £50 (£16.66 a month); Six months is £90 (£15 a month); Twelve months is £160 (£13.33 a month).